Spirituality vs. Religion at Burning Man

[H.G.Crosby]

yes and "Festival" puts us in a whole 'Nother Tax Bracket, which is why we're

NOT GOING TO RELEASE THE SUPERSTAR DJ LINE-UPS BEFORE THE EVENT.


seriously, if i go on one burning crusade this "season" it is this....

can we go back to "Random" before the state of Nevada decides that we are a "Music Festival" and should be taxed as an entertainment venue?

sorry to side track here, but the word "Festival" sticks in my craw, too.

Awesome Simon! I hadn't thought of that. There's wisdom on them thar ePlaya. Don't release the lineup!! (of DJ preachers)

yeah, kate the librarian is not going to be happy with me, or any of the Large Sound Camps for that matter.





tough titties, you gotta do what you gotta do.

well, there goes your VIP status and access to backstage, etc etc etc...

nice job, schmucko.

[some seeing eye]

Apple doesn't leak their product plans in advance of the event and look where that has got them. In fact that could be a strategy: DJ lineup release, a black turtleneck event, Monday night, main event. Or your could only disclose the lineup to volunteer demoopers.

[Roberto Dobbisano]

in all seriousness, the state of nevada does have a point if Name Brand, Superstar DJ's are ADVERTISING their sets and times and locations on the playa in Defaultia beforehand....(Oh, Hello FuckBook....)

and there is a GUIDE as to when/where these superstar DJs will be playing available online in one neat package...the state of nevada can easily argue that a SCHEDULE of Musical Performers = A Music Festival and Hence, should be Taxed as such, as opposed to it's current status.


Just Sayin'...


actually, Just Warnin'....

[some seeing eye]

Maybe trade a backstage pass, early entry and a commissary pass in exchange for not publishing the schedule? And convert to a nonprofit sooner rather than later? It is an "educational" "religion", right?

(seriously)

[tatonka]

I used to reliously get messed up in the 60's and 70's so Im going to Burningman for my 1st time to rekindle my old religion

[Ugly Dougly]

I think that most people who think they are "atheists" are really "anti-Christians", since their only frame of religious reference is Christianity, which is one of teh most twisted religions on the planet.

A "spiritual" experience may be simply the sense of awe seeing the gigantic flames leaping out of the man, and celebrating this among 70,000 of your closest friends.

Do you return to Defaultia with a different point of view or feeling? Most religious ceremonies try - and usually fail - to create that elevated sense.

The experience of the sublime involves a self-forgetfulness where personal fear is replaced by a sense of well-being and security when confronted with an object exhibiting superior might, and is similar to the experience of the tragic. The "tragic consciousness" is the capacity to gain an exalted state of consciousness from the realization of the unavoidable suffering destined for all men and that there are oppositions in life that can never be resolved, most notably that of the "forgiving generosity of deity" subsumed to "inexorable fate".

[H.G.Crosby]

as is with any religious experience, should we not also consider the pilgrimage?

[Ugly Dougly]

Yeah, minus all the dualistic, misogynous bullshit, the Islamic Hajj is a great example. Not much poi-spinning and even less nudity, however.

[Simon of the Playa]

i was thinking about the process vs. final product.

journey vs. destination.

we spend all year thinking about, planning for, arguing over and then journeying to, many times from halfway around the globe, all to come to a place, a "magic" place, for one week, to do what we do.

the temple is anti climatic if anything....an alarm clock which reminds me its time to clean up.


and start then start the whole process over again. The 51 other weeks is spent in a pilgrimage of sorts.

[H.G.Crosby]

i hope the anthro major is paying attention...

[Roberto Dobbisano]

.

[Ugly Dougly]

Ah, you're thinking a ritual process, like Brazilian Carnaval or Muharram. A transformative cult ritual, with interactive preparation for the festival forming the bulk of the particpant's spiritual renewal, reenforcing the tribal members' interconnectedness.
That's enough buzz words for now.

[Simon of the Playa]

i really love this.

[media]

[Roberto Dobbisano]

even more than gifting, the process involves SHARING.

cross cultural gifting.

[Aurelia]

Thank you Yggy and Simon
This thread was audacious at best
and needed you

[BBadger]

I think one of the things that impressed me most about BM, and to a great extent ePlaya, was that I found it nearly devoid of spirituality. Yeah, there's the Man and the there's a Temple, and there are these pseudo-Pagan rituals and all that, but they're really just... knock-offs of the "real thing." It's like those sea monsters and boats that float around on the open playa: it's great because we know it's not real, and yet it's awesome all the same. And all the symbolism, the themes, the art...? It's like one awesome feint to throw the outside observers off.

I was fooled. I had mixed up Burning Man with the Rainbow Family Gathering, thinking it was a collection of hippies sitting in circles and bitching about what hippies bitch about. When I arrived, I found that nothing matched my preconceptions. Instead, we have a nice festival that makes no apologies for what it is. There's no bitching about the pollution it causes, the lack of "spiritual" music and ritual, penance and sacrifice, etc. Rather, it's people wanting to make something great for the sake of making something great, and also why the "principles" seem to actually work: you're not doing it to fulfill some obligation, or some payment for the sin of enjoying yourself, or because some deeper force is watching what you do. No. You're doing it because you want to. It's like gifting something: it's not an exchange of presents, it's given.

Maybe people are "spiritual" because they can't just enjoy the moment for what it is. Looking in from the outside, maybe it seems that way too: What the hell is going on here? These guys can't be enjoying themselves that much without feeling guilty about it or doing it for some other motive.

But that's how it is.

So fuck that spirituality bullshit, and stop ruining the moment with illusions of deeper meaning. All the meaning you need is in front of you. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[Simon of the Playa]

holy shit, that talking meat cake just nailed it like jesus on a cross...

[Turtleburp]

I just read the "made me cry" bit to Bumble who informed me that she was not surprised because we are, and I quote, utter cunts (her word not mine)







don't worry I'll dip her toothbrush in the toilet for that

[Simon of the Playa]

wow, this thread could be a discussion....

[tamarakay]

There is a huge difference between spiritual and religion. Yes, religion can and does feed on guilt, but spirituality (at least to me) does not. Perhaps it's just how I describe the feeling of being in the moment and that connection I get with myself when I create art or bond with another person. Perhaps we all say the same things, but with different words.

One thing I do know is that I don't belittle someone else for their thoughts and or feelings. My spirituality/religiousness is mine. Your's is yours. You having your beliefs in no way threatens mine and I have no desire to put you or your beliefs down or make fun of them. They just are.

[lucky420]

tamarakay

One thing I do know is that I don't belittle someone else for their thoughts and or feelings. My spirituality/religiousness is mine. Your's is yours. You having your beliefs in no way threatens mine and I have no desire to put you or your beliefs down or make fun of them. They just are.

One of the many reasons why I love this woman

[lemur]

LETS ALL BE REALLY SERIOUS AND DEEP.

[FIGJAM]

Well, ok, but there has to be a time limit!

[171/348]

It is what it is.

[mgb327]

LETS ALL BE REALLY SERIOUS AND DEEP.

Stroke at 2000 meters.

[Martiena]

tamarakay

One thing I do know is that I don't belittle someone else for their thoughts and or feelings. My spirituality/religiousness is mine. Your's is yours. You having your beliefs in no way threatens mine and I have no desire to put you or your beliefs down or make fun of them. They just are.

One of the many reasons why I love this woman

Well said, I'm in total agreement!

[Ugly Dougly]

Nice. I liked the pedal-powered hearse. And the kids were cute.

There's a quote from Emerson or Muir or Rumi or Campbell that I should share at this point, but I am too lazy. Go find it yourself.

[lemur]

Nice. I liked the pedal-powered hearse. And the kids were cute.

There's a quote from Emerson or Muir or Rumi or Campbell that I should share at this point, but I am too lazy. Go find it yourself.

is it ok if this is how i read your quote?

Spirituality vs. Religion at Burning Man?

Go find it yourself.

[Ugly Dougly]

If I may be abstruse:

The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
These two emerge together but differ in name
The unity is said to be the mystery
Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders

[ygmir]

If I may be abstruse:

The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named is not the eternal name
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth
The named is the mother of myriad things
Thus, constantly without desire, one observes its essence
Constantly with desire, one observes its manifestations
These two emerge together but differ in name
The unity is said to be the mystery
Mystery of mysteries, the door to all wonders

and here I thought all wonders were behind the green door.