Temple Burn -- one hour of silence and reverence possible?

[Simon of the Playa]

the temple is wherever you find it.




remember man, that thou art dust.

[ZaphodBurner]

The 2005 temple burn happened the day everybody learned that the gulf coast had been destroyed and Katrina had flooded New Orleans. There were newspaper articles on the steps showing bodies floating in the streets of NOLA. Massive reason for the crowd to be solemn because you could hear people crying, and they meant it.

Some fratboy kept pointing his kewl green laser at the temple until a DPW dude very convincingly told him if he saw it again he was going to shove it up the guy's ass. Which would have been peacekeeping because others around the ignorant prick were equally pissed. I'm a huge fan of silence at the temple burn. It shouldn't be too much to ask the WooHoos to be quiet for an hour but this is what "fresh blood" brings to the deeper meanings of Burning Man.

Nothing induces calm and solemnity like a bunch of people yelling "SHUT FUCK UP!!!" "DOWN IN FRONT!!!" Somehow, though, everything became quiet. This was the other side of the burn. This was meaningful, and for a moment all you could hear was the crackling of the fire.

WOW!

...Then, naturally, some coke-head thirtysomething starts blathering about her job and her medical insurance, which is what they do.

It is what it is, friends, which is a party in the desert. It'll be better this year; but only if you make it so.

[lemur]

YOUR LASER POINTER IS HARSHING MY SOLEMNITY DUUUDE!!!

[*Kat*]

I also do not like the noise and laser pointers during the temple burn. I think it is because I am magically drawn to the temple again and again during the week. I have never left anything behind there to be burned but it fascinates me to watch the transformation that happens in people when they approach the temple. During the week, it is such a special, quiet place.

So in 2011, my friend and me decided to stay away from the hubbub of the temple burn. We went way out on the playa - far enough to still be able to make it out in the distance but away from all the noise. It was beautiful: The lights of BRC, the temple, the mountains and the sky overflowing with stars. We watched the burn from afar and the only thing we could hear were the gasps from the crowd as the structure collapsed. It had a truly apocalyptic feeling. We stayed out there til sunrise transformed the playa - one art car passed us by in the distance with a lot of people following it, it was almost like watching pilgrims setting out on a new journey. Most beautiful temple burn ever!

If you seek silence - go out there and watch it from a distance. You can't ask 50.000 people to be silent anyway.

By the way: This is my favourite picture of the temple from 2011:

[DoctorIknow]

For some, death can be cause for celebration and should be acted upon appropriately.

I think it was 4, maybe 6 burns ago, but the Rangers started, or contributed, to making a very successful wave about 15 minutes before the burn.

They would run around with the circular rhythm of people screaming their lungs out, arms waving, and each person would yell as long as they could: just enough breath expelled at great volume to set the speed of the rhythm.

It was incredible to be at 6 and hear the thousands screaming their hearts out over at 12, and then 1, then 2 , , closer,,, then 4, then 5 and take in a deep breath....wait for it, wait.... and yell/scream it all out.

For me, where I had been to the Temple that year grieving and letting go of two loved ones, it was the final release, more geared toward being at peace than all my tears and mental gymnastics trying to deal.

I doubt I was the only one. I saw many crying as they were screaming.

And for all those hyper protective of their idea that all should be silent out there, after the wave, and during the burn, it was the quietest I'd ever heard it.

[Marscrumbs]

I love the temple burn. I'm glad that it doesn't incorporate fireworks. It is a sacred experience to me and enjoy in peace and respect. I'm an not alone but obviously it's not a universal feeling.

[DrYes]

I love the temple burn. I'm glad that it doesn't incorporate fireworks. It is a sacred experience to me and enjoy in peace and respect. I'm an not alone but obviously it's not a universal feeling.

The idea that 'peace and quiet' is synonymous with respect is a subjective cultural one. Personally, I find the faux-spirituality of Temple burn to be kind of gross. It reeks of privileged Westerner.

[Marscrumbs]

I love the temple burn. I'm glad that it doesn't incorporate fireworks. It is a sacred experience to me and enjoy in peace and respect. I'm an not alone but obviously it's not a universal feeling.

The idea that 'peace and quiet' is synonymous with respect is a subjective cultural one. Personally, I find the faux-spirituality of Temple burn to be kind of gross. It reeks of privileged Westerner.

I find many of the privileged Westerners leave after the Man burns Saturday so not to be inconvienced at the gate. Some consider the whole Burning Man experience invalid from our inescapable Western identity. But I understand in India they really know how to party as to put us to shame.

Then I just enjoy a good bon fire with a few thousand friends.

PS. At least we don't have to ask people to turn off their cell phones here.

[vargaso]

I love the temple burn. I'm glad that it doesn't incorporate fireworks. It is a sacred experience to me and enjoy in peace and respect. I'm an not alone but obviously it's not a universal feeling.

The idea that 'peace and quiet' is synonymous with respect is a subjective cultural one. Personally, I find the faux-spirituality of Temple burn to be kind of gross. It reeks of privileged Westerner.

I find many of the privileged Westerners leave after the Man burns Saturday so not to be inconvienced at the gate. Some consider the whole Burning Man experience invalid from our inescapable Western identity. But I understand in India they really know how to party as to put us to shame.

Then I just enjoy a good bon fire with a few thousand friends.

PS. At least we don't have to ask people to turn off their cell phones here.

Well, there is coverage now, which I think is awful, but inevitable. I love the temple, of course, but have only seen one temple burn in all my years of going. I'm one of those who leaves Sunday morning, nice easy exodus. Does that make me a "privileged Westerner?" OF COURSE IT DOES, I'm at Burning Man. Just like you. But whatever, everyone, even privileged Westerners, seeks and hopefully finds their own source. As for it being quiet? Good luck with that. As some have mentioned, there have been quiet temple burns, and it wasn't admonishment or a pre-determined policy that made it that way. If it happens organically, great. If it doesn't happen at all, great. If you want to ensure a quiet burn, do as another poster mentioned and head out to deep playa. The fire is so damn big you'll have no problem seeing it from there. You'll find what you need if you let go of trying to control others' responses.

[vargaso]

the temple is wherever you find it.




remember man, that thou art dust.

That is unbelievably beautiful.

[Ugly Dougly]

When the simoom strikes, so many of us are huddled and choose to feel miserable rather than dancing and enjoying the beauty.