"You cannot mistake the similarities between the high of athletic performance with that of religious experience" says Michael Murphy, who draws parallels between mystical moments reported by athletes and those of mystics and yogis, and cites the religious heritage of both East and West as a basis for understanding spiritual experiences arrived at through physical activity. Murphy gathered such experiences from the entire spectrum of sports and physical adventure -- moments of illumination, ecstasy, out-of-body experiences, altered perceptions of time and space, and exceptional feats of strength and endurance.  All the better to appreciate the gifts and capacities of the vehicle we are given to navigate our world, both physical and subtle. We also talk with Murphy about the mystical aspects of golf, which he describes as "the mystery school for Republicans."
     Michael Murphy, the co-founder of the Esalen Institute and Esalen's Center for Theory and Research, is the author "Golf in the Kingdom" and "The Future of the Body: Explorations into the Further Evolution of Human Nature".
From the Archives: This live interview was recorded on July 12, 1995 on the nationally syndicated radio program The Laura Lee Show. See more at www.lauralee.com

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