An agnostic burner’s point of view

[wh..sh]

True enough as long it's said across the board for literally everything in the unmanifested and manifested universe. Brahmananda Saraswati says that "everything is enlightened"... I apologize for the cheap comic book comment, that was out of place.

Yes, it is important to clarify that when I mean self, I mean the observing self and not the egoistic self. And applies to oneness that is both the unmanifested and manifested (ayakta and yakta). Vedas, Gita and other Hindu teaching are fundamentally so different and at a different plane from what most Hindus practice. Unfortunately, most teachings have been watered down through the channel of communication. And only very few choosen ones were allowed to read vedas and holy scriptures. So, wasn't really for the masses.

Naah, no worries. Now, can you refer me to some cheap comics? I am really curious to read one
I am quite impressed with your knowledge in Hinduism.

[unjonharley]

Fetishizing any kind of scary ghosts inhabiting yourself or the world around you does indeed count as theism. The usual suspects -- hippies beaten about the head with any flavor of fundamentalism through their childhoods. Spirituality runs in to fill the gaping void in their lives after high school teaches them "God" is dead. There was no God to begin with.

Oh, and fuck the Temple.

This is the world donanation of gods and ghosts impressed on the mind..

I believe/think there is some thing more.. Some would call it another dimension because of the ghost, gobblens, witch craft and "holy smokes" attached to the mind from birth on..

That other dimension ( if you will ) exists.. Not some where out there.. But in the ever expanding mind.. If a glimpse of what could be comes into view. It is beaten down with a god stick. It's the mind control that keep drawing the humans back from greater things..

[Simon of the Playa]

]]
I accept no titles for my beliefs.. I try to deal in logic in this matter..

I refuse to believe in the raving of one paranoid schizophrenic that heard voices 4000 years ago.. Or a adulterous and his/her bastard murderous son.. All that heard voices.. Followed by a cop killer.. That hid out on the desert for forty years Eating desert weeds and bug shit.. Claiming he was hearing voices.. Flim flaming his outlaw crew in to believing the voices told him to write the law in stone.. Then leading then in a war to take other peoples land.. The land that the first nut jods voices claim as his.. From that point on there has been war after war and mass murder the world over in the belief of these paranoid schizophrenic voices..

That could be a great play or movie, damn

i believe in Charlton Heston.

[unjonharley]

i believe in Charlton Heston.

The spin doctors spun up a great story there.. Then Hollywood took it's liberties to the max..

[Simon of the Playa]

unjon.....psssst....


it's PEOPLE!

[unjonharley]

unjon.....psssst....


it's PEOPLE!

My (sub theme art) for Metropolis, Was a small tractor named the UNJON DEAR..
It was representing the Smallville Farms severing the greater Metropolis with Soylent Green.. I enjoy myself while very few got the drift.. That made it more fun for me..

[ygmir]

unjon.....psssst....


it's PEOPLE!

[graidawg]

so much for radical inclusion.
the more posts on here i read the more i realise that all of the principles of burning man are totally ignored. It seems the longer someone has been burning the less they mean to that burner.
eplaya is a wonderful place but many of the people on here seem to forget
burning man isnt just a week camping trip in the desert
the amount of work and care people spend on it, the people who havent been and think its will be a something outside the mainstream, we the burners who have been owe it to them to uphold the ideals of Black Rock City.
if we don't we will end up with just another festival
in the last year i have seen people who simply do not care about the ideals or principles, they take defaultia to burning man instead of the other way round.

just try explaining burning man to yourself if you can do it without including any of the principles. then ask yourself if you apply them outside of the place we call home.
now ask yourself a different question, how many of your defaultia principles do you need to take to Black rock city. Or to explain who you are to someone when you are home.

Don't bring defaultia to Burning Man, take Burning Man to defaultia.

[unjonharley]

so much for radical inclusion.
the more posts on here i read the more i realise that all of the principles of burning man are totally ignored. It seems the longer someone has been burning the less they mean to that burner.
eplaya is a wonderful place but many of the people on here seem to forget
burning man isnt just a week camping trip in the desert
the amount of work and care people spend on it, the people who havent been and think its will be a something outside the mainstream, we the burners who have been owe it to them to uphold the ideals of Black Rock City.
if we don't we will end up with just another festival
in the last year i have seen people who simply do not care about the ideals or principles, they take defaultia to burning man instead of the other way round.

just try explaining burning man to yourself if you can do it without including any of the principles. then ask yourself if you apply them outside of the place we call home.
now ask yourself a different question, how many of your defaultia principles do you need to take to Black rock city. Or to explain who you are to someone when you are home.

Don't bring defaultia to Burning Man, take Burning Man to defaultia.

HUH?

[5280MeV]

so much for radical inclusion.

I don't get this either.

One of the things that I *like* about the BM culture is that radical inclusion means anyone is welcome, that is anyone capable of surviving in 100 degree heat, dust storms, cold nights, all using nothing but their own resources. Part of this hardening against the elements blends in with hardening against ridicule and criticism. That is to say, being welcome to do your thing on the playa does not mean that you will not be criticized or even made fun of to some degree.

While there is no reason to celebrate people being assholes, the ability to speak freely without being immediately ostracized or shunned is an incredible asset. For example, Bob's criticisms of the Temple burn really make me think - and there are a lot of groups and organizations where making such a criticism would be a huge issue.

The hard edge serves a purpose - without it unpopular viewpoints would be stifled, and various cultural taboos would form. It can sting, but so does the afternoon sun and the dust cracking your heels open. Nothing is easy on the playa, but everything is more rewarding there.

[Bob]

Nice, coming from a monarchy sans constitution in which your head of state is the supreme governor of your state religion.

[cowboyangel]

graidawg, your point is taken, but this' yet another weird thread, this time on agnosticism. It's ok we all have our own ideas. I can tell you something too. The playa is radically different than eplaya, which is a playground for opinion and thought, hostility, stupidity, the sublime and practical. It is a place to mourn our losses and friends or media people who we liked. It's ok man, you don't have to be the Black Rock Gestapo. Maybe one day, eplaya will attain the same sublimity as the real playa.

[unjonharley]

graidawg, your point is taken, but this' yet another weird thread, this time on agnosticism. It's ok we all have our own ideas. I can tell you something too. The playa is radically different than eplaya, which is a playground for opinion and thought, hostility, stupidity, the sublime and practical. It is a place to mourn our losses and friends or media people who we liked. It's ok man, you don't have to be the Black Rock Gestapo. Maybe one day, eplaya will attain the same sublimity as the real playa.

Well that helped clear thing up a little.. I'd still like to hear from dawg on how is rant fits onto this thread.. I read it and drew a blank..

[ibdave]

Don't bring defaultia to Burning Man, take Burning Man to defaultia.

because this is true

[The CO]

I am god, and I've a few things to tell you:

1-Stop with the prayers. They're keeping me up at night. Consider life a do-ocracy and get going.

2-There is a reason I have not shown up in a long time.

3-Everyone I talk to, jesus, mohammed, buddah, zoraster, the lot, I keep stressing this one thing: be nice to people. What is tough to understand about that?

4-You're doing it wrong.

[TomServo]

This thread took a strange turn. I've felt neither criticized nor ridiculed..and I don't think anyone else has either. I just whipped up my little speech, while walking from a particularly evangelical NA meeting. I wasn't trying to criticize theists or atheists, I just wanted to put into words, my beliefs...and how Burning Man fits into them. Do you talk to Cthulhu CO?

[The CO]

Cthulhu's always sleeping when I call....

[oneeyeddick]

That's because he is a diabetic and needs more nappy time than the rest of those smaller semi-dieties.

[theCryptofishist]

When you say "nappy time" are you talking about Cthulhu's adult diaper needs?

[TomServo]

[youtube][/youtube]

[wh..sh]

I wasn't trying to criticize theists or atheists, I just wanted to put into words, my beliefs...and how Burning Man fits into them.

What you found at burning man is what some people find in their belief called god. Different source, different reasoning but the journey is the same.

[TomServo]

I called it a spiritual experience, not a god

[Bob]

Liquor leads to desire.
Desire leads to suffering.
Suffering leads to incessant internet posts.
Internet posts lead to cocktail recipes.
Twas ever thus.

[ygmir]

When you say "nappy time" are you talking about Cthulhu's adult diaper needs?

or hair style

[5280MeV]

Liquor leads to desire.
Desire leads to suffering.
Suffering leads to incessant internet posts.
Internet posts lead to cocktail recipes.
Twas ever thus.

And ever shall be.

In Yeast's name we pray.

A-a-men, A-a-men, A-a-A-a-men

F-er-ment, F-er-ment, F-E-e-Er-ment... (burp)

[Simon of the Playa]

YOU FUCKOS DONT DESERVE THE TEN PRINCIPLES!

[graidawg]

sorry that post was when not entiirely sober.
perhaps i should explain a little.
first i get really pissed off whever anyone attacks anyone elses belieifs, especially with a threat of violence - violence should serve one purpose the defence of self or others from physical harm.
my main point though was how people who have been to Bm more than once choose to ignore the principles when it suits them, to exclude people on eplaya or too belltitle them for disagreein, yes i know eplaya isnt the playa but its all that many of us have for the rest of the year.
i get pissed off when people who can easily afford going to bm still attempt to save money they don't need to save Even if it means causing problems to othe burners who really do need to save money
for example the many posts which say something to the effect of

if $40 means the difference between going and not going perhaps you should thing about your priorities abit harder

i realise that for many of the people here bm is just ttitd but for many others its there reason for working, the thing they look forward to from exodus till they get home. everyday I see attacks in the media or here in conversation attacks on others for being different, for not thinking the same way, for choosing to want things that are different from what we are told to want. at least here can we not keep any opinion from becoming an assault.

like i said before dont bring defaultia here please, try to remember that feeling of inclusion that we all have at BRC and the shock and true offence when we see something that doesnt fit there.

or maybe i am just being a bit too sensitive and see comments posted as being a personal attack on my family and freinds.

[graidawg]

YOU FUCKOS DONT DESERVE THE TEN PRINCIPLES!

maybe simon they just need someone to stand up for them, along with the other guidelines people forget when it becomes to difficult or inconvenient (or can save them 30 bucks)

[theCryptofishist]

But I like dancing around the golden calf.

[Elorrum]

This is a topic for declaration and conflict, rarely discussion. It's personal, and for myself, more and more I prefer to keep it a private choice. Who else needs to know what I've decided about this?