The Esalen Institute, commonly called Esalen, a non-profit American retreat centre ..Alan Watts gave the first lecture at Esalen in January 1962.
The British thinker and writer, relocated to California and played a central part in the counter-culture of the 1960s.
Watts became a leading light in the Human Potential Movement and was affiliated to the Esalen Institute. Although he had no academic background in eastern religions and no knowledge of oriental languages, his elegant writings caught the popular imagination and enjoyed considerable success.
