(Kim Iversen) American trans school shooter Robin (formerly Robert) Westman, 23, who is not Russian, somehow manages to write a whole "manifesto" in the Eurasian Cyrillic script and/or in the Russian language? How fake and transparent can special ops agents get with these false flag mass shootings and the make-believe history of these "shooters"? Rense.com
What's GIDEON? It's the new AI about to be launched to flag anyone who dares to criticize the state of Israel, its genocide, or anyone trying to FREE Palestine or launch a BDS movement...
From the CEO’s Desk: From the Beach to Black Rock City and the World in 1986, a small group gathered on Baker Beach for the first burn, not yet imagining what would become Black Rock City.
That initial connection sparked a global culture. Now, with Black Rock City just days away, Marian Goodell shares her thoughts. In the spirit of transparency, Burning Man is keeping it real with the Burner global community.
Please don't dial 911 [at our] screams of pleasure
There aren't really sex ORGIES at Burning Man, are there? No, no, well, I mean, I suppose it depends on how you define "orgy." Are there tents with mattresses inside and naked people horsing around in a Bacchic manner? Well, yeah, sometimes. It depends on the attendees. Anyone can have any kind of tent. Come to our ECSTATIC MEDITATION TENT (jhanic-piti) on the Playa by the smoking dragon structure where "No sex, please; we're Ameboids and Gatchularians" is our motto if it's a non-orgy you want. But if it's an orgy of diversion and hedonistic distractions, keep going to the Orgy Dome.
Come hear the Buddha's "Fire Sermon" or read it below.*
WARNING: Adults only! Orgy in progress.
In days, there will be a gathering of people in the Black Rock Desert, celebrating and putting into practice a culture of creativity, innovation, and connection.
The Burning Man Project has been supporting and encouraging this Burning Man cultural movement since 1986.
Burning Man migrated from the beach in San Francisco, to the Nevada desert and then out into the world.
In 2023, 74,000 people came together in Black Rock City and, incredibly, an additional 95,000 people participated in official Burning Man Regional Events (regionals) around the world.
I didn't mean to cling! I was just curious
Specific to Black Rock City this year, we can’t wait for the Curiouser & Curiouser convening. We expect the metropolis to bring together nearly 70,000 participants, including similar levels of first-time Burners on the Playa as in the past.
Those who are new will discover as they acculturate with the Survival Guide what community—at Burning Man events and in the world—is truly all about:
Let’s remember, we were all newbies once, and with that wide-eyed expression caught up in awe and joy we went on to do more and bigger things. From building a wilderness camping experience in Black Rock City as an experiment in civics to achieving our nonprofit goals, no one said it would be easy.
Tantric sex is better for intimacy in dating.
And the goal remains the same—to make the world better. The key to our collective success is the long-term survival of the Burning Man culture and our continued ability to inspire participation—in Northern Nevada and worldwide.
In this moment of societal division, isolation, and a decline in people connecting, the antidote is more togetherness, mental well-being, and creativity.
On one occasion the Buddha was dwelling in Gaya, at Gaya’s Head, together with 1,000 meditators. There he addressed them: “Meditators, all is burning! And what, meditators, is the 'all' that is burning?
“The eye is burning.
“Forms [visual objects] are burning, eye-consciousness is burning, eye-contact is burning, and whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition — whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant — that too is burning.
“Burning with what? Burning with the fire of lust, with the fire of hatred, with the fire of delusion; burning with rebirth, aging, and death; with sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, I say.
“The ear is burning…
“The nose is burning…
“The tongue is burning...
“The body is burning…
“The mind is burning
Maitreya: What is the "all" that is burning?
and whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition — whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant — that, too, is burning.
“Burning with what? Burning with the fire of lust, with the fire of hatred, with the fire of delusion; burning with rebirth, aging, and death; with sorrow, lamentation, pain, displeasure, and despair, I say.
“Seeing thus, meditators, the instructed noble disciple experiences dispassion [disillusionment, revulsion, letting go] towards the eye, towards forms, towards eye-consciousness, towards eye-contact, towards whatever feeling arises with eye-contact as condition — whether pleasant or painful or neither-painful-nor-pleasant...
Bomjon, the Nepalese boy meditator, perhaps practicing tummo, spontaneously catches on fire.
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“One experiences revulsion towards the ear…towards the mind…towards whatever feeling arises with mind-contact as condition….
“Experiencing revulsion, one becomes dispassionate. Through dispassionone's mind is liberated.
“When it is liberated, there comes the knowledge: ‘It’s liberated.’ One understands, ‘Destroyed is rebirth, the utmost life has been lived, what had to be done has been done, and there is no more [of this to come] for this state of being.’”
This is what the Buddha said. Elated, those meditators delighted in the Blessed One’s statement. And while this discourse was being spoken, the minds of the thousand meditators were liberated from the taints by letting go (nonclinging).
This giant symbolic man will burn. He'll be set on fire. Think of the symbolism! Eh, don't think.
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DANGER: Dust storms may strike. No refunds.
Burning Man culture is more relevant than ever. This is exactly what it offers through art, music, learning, leadership, and civic engagement.
In the early years, annual ticket revenue was sufficient, but it alone does not fund Black Rock City and all the other ways the nonprofit brings Burning Man culture to the world.
Since becoming a nonprofit in 2011, philanthropic support has been increasingly vital. It is even more important today given lower ticket sales to this year’s event.
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It is easy to hypothesize about why we’re in this moment, but let’s not forget that while the movement is vibrant, any culture is impacted by what is happening in broader society. Moods and societal values change, economic forecasts and consumer confidence fluctuates, local, state, and federal laws shift, the weather patterns become unpredictable, and costs rise,
But one thing remains: Our passion and commitment to bringing more Burning Man culture to the world is steadfast. More (COMMENTS)
Aug. 25, 2024: Rain and mud problems
(KCAL) It's last year all over again, when we were trapped in a mud flood of desert rain and slop clay
It might rain and become muddy. Pack accordingly. Bring mud tires and trip insurance.
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Y'know things are bad when ya pray for drought
The desert is an unforgiving place. It's not really that it's hot. That's not what makes it a "desert." What makes it one is temperature extremes. Sure, it's hot in the day and you'll die of dehydration. But in the night, you'll freeze to death and die of predation. Jinn, snakes, coyotes, scorpions, shapeshifters, the wilderness is not the place to be wandering. But if lost, travel by evening or night when it's cooler.
These new oversized mud tires keep me unstuck
If you happen to be driving to a new city in the desert that pops up once a year for a week, bring mud tires, a raincoat, galoshes, boots, and chains to get hauled out of mud and sand traps. Today, Sunday, Aug. 25th, is the first day of Burning Man 2024. Problem. The gates are locked to Black Rock City due to rain. Burners and Newbies must have sensed this when they were buying tickets like previous years. Form a line. Pull a tarp over your art installation. And wait for the water to soak in the ground before driving and getting stuck in the soup like last year.
UPDATE: I’ve now caught four mice this week, three the first two days, and haven’t seen any traces of new mice activity around my kitchen or elsewhere.
They’re really cute and sentient [feeling] and freaked out. I kinda like ’em. I don’t get this whole attitude of “exterminate/poison my own house.” It’s expensive, it’s aggressive, it’s stupid, and it’s bad for ME, too. This is way easier.
If you have experience removing mice from your building in a sane and compassionate way, please send your thoughts.
~ Thank you, Noah
Many replies, many compassionate solutions
I just caught three mice the humane way for catch and release. (See below for photos).
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Need a monkey? Use a monkey trap.
Hi, Noah.
If you can find where these little beings are entering your dwelling, you can block the entry with a spray foam product: "Great Stuff: Insulating Foam Sealant." You’ll need to reinforce the foam with some steel wool, however — otherwise they can chew their way back in.
~ Cheers, Mike
Dear Noah, et al., here at the Halifax Shambhala Centre, and also in my flat [apartment], we use the high-pitched frequency sound producers that plug into electrical outlets in all rooms. They are sold at hardware stores [about $20].
It takes about a month for them to move elsewhere, but the mice seem to hate it so much they do leave – and new ones just pass through very briefly.
~ Cheers, David
Mice are smart, kind, but reproduce too much
I’ve used cheap, simple Have a Heart-style traps I found on ebay.com by searching ‘mouse trap’… I put a little peanut butter inside, then let the mice go [catch here and release elsewhere] a few blocks away in a park. I haven’t had mice now for six months, and I used to have a ton of them, eating stuff on counters and pooping everywhere.
[Fear] And their poop is supposed to be awful. Some sort of disease is related to it.
Would love to hear from others on what they’ve done, so I can share with our readers who want to be compassionate when it comes to this common problem.
~Yours, Way
Everyone, until we plugged in our high frequency sound repeller thing, we used the Have-a-Heart traps successfully.
However, here in the Haight Ashbury [neighborhood of San Francisco] the mice prefer organic crumbly feta over organic crunchy peanut butter. (Your mice may vary).
~ Sean
I have used the “[ultra-high frequency] sound” [no sound to you] device also, but find a product called Shake Away which you can get online. This is an organic repellent of bobcat and fox urine. No odor to you. You place it in the holes they come in. Under conditions of snow and rain it is best sprinkled around the perimeter of the building. It works well and is not harmful to anyone.
I use the number online to order direct, which saves money for me but may be a moot point for you as you will have it shipped to Canada. Perhaps, in Canada there is a product made there. Humane collection of the urine is assured.
Make sure all food products or any other attractive mice materials are not available, i.e., good housekeeping practices.
The shake away is not harmful to us or pets, and I have read the sound [device] does not harm pets or animals. I have one in my chicken coop with no effect on the birds.
~ Cheers, Merle
Concluding advice:
I find marching around with a flute gets them to follow me and then I can lead them out the door.
~ Yours, Chris
Easy. It's a free, humane method, and they don’t die of fright.
Cats are great, but not if you like mice/rats. (You know folks have rodents as pets. They’re smart, sweet, and can do as many tricks as dogs)… Cats also have issues with destroying birds if they’re outside, and they may not be fully happy living inside only, but that’s another question others will know more about.
Don't worry. You're about to be released into wild
Anyways, this is what I do:
…paper towel roll or brown bag, peanut butter or something on one end, half off the counter over a (tall) trash can. They fall, get the peanut butter and something to hide in, you put the lid on, walk/bike/take them to nature/a park or put ’em outside as you would with humane traps, yay!
I have to do this somewhat regularly, but it keeps them out of the house for weeks on end and prevents them from making a mouse hotel in the basement or whatever. (They can’t settle in). They’re cute, so don’t kill ’em! ~ Metta
Bonus: From an expert: Creative Ways to Drive Out Mice. More ideas and photos: Ban Glue Traps: Here’s an Easy Alternative. via Imgur, Reddit: This f'ing ingeniously simple mouse trap really works. Thank you, Reddit! More
Compiled by Waylon Lewis, founder of Elephant Journal and how of Walk the Talk Show with Waylon Lewis. He is a first-generation American Buddhist "Dharma Brat." Voted #1 in U.S.... BIO
It's days like this in LA, sunny and green from the pre-spring rains, that the mind takes to wondering about Zen and SaintSoshin Maura O'Halloran (\oh hollerin\), who attained (kensho) in the Zen tradition.
Maura "Soshin" O'Halloran (1955-1982) was an Irish Zen Buddhist nun known for her book, Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind, which was posthumously published.
She was one of the "first of few Western women allowed to practice in a traditional Japanese Zen monastery."
What is the true nature of things?
O'Halloran was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents then moved back to Ireland when she was 4-years-old. She was educated in a convent school in County Dublin and later attended Trinity College Dublin.
She graduated with a joint degree in mathematical economics/statistics and sociology. Shortly after her graduation, O'Halloran traveled to northern Japan, where she studied to become a Zen monastic at Tōshō-ji in Tokyo and at Kannonji (Iwate Prefecture). More
After the ecstasy, the laundry...and always the dishes.
Commonweal readers already know of Maura O'Halloran, 23, whose mother, Ruth O'Halloran, wrote about her daughter's life in an essay published on Feb. 28, 1992.
A scholarship student at Trinity College, Dublin, who "early gave promise of a rare spirituality," Maura O'Halloran left a waitressing job in Harvard Square at age 23 to begin an apprenticeship as a Buddhist monastic at a zendo in Japan.
There, too, she showed uncommon gifts early on: She glimpsed enlightenment almost immediately and solved koans with the aplomb of a veteran Zen master. She stayed at the zendo for most of two years, resolved to "not stop until I reach complete enlightenment."
In 1982, intending to return to her family in Dublin, she had set out on a trip through Asia when she was killed in a bus accident in Thailand.
Since then "Maura-san," or "Soshin" -- celebrated during her lifetime in the Japanese media as an anomaly of anomalies, a female Irish Zen monastic -- has come to be regarded as a Buddhist bodhisattva or "saint of compassion."
Now, prompted by the Commonweal article, Tuttle & Co. has published the journal Maura "Soshin" O'Halloran kept while at the Buddhist monastery, along with letters she wrote to her family and a series of delicate, lovely drawings by her younger sister, Elizabeth.
Together they form a remarkable record of a life fully lived, a unique and inspiring and even heartbreaking book.
On one level Soshin's personal journal is an account of her determined progress toward Zen enlightenment (satori).
In an afterword, the American Zen monastic Patricia Dai-En Bennage sees it as a "record of a pure heart" (soshin) and a summary of her way, or teaching: "intense meditation, known as zazen, for long hours in natural...
More
Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind: The Life and Letters of an Irish Zen Saint
One of the most beloved Buddhist books of all time — having inspired popular musicians, artists, a documentary film, and countless readers — is now available in an expanded new edition, loaded with illustrations and extras.
It's absolutely absorbing from start to finish. This is a true story to truly fall in love with.
At only 24, Maura O'Halloran left her Irish-American family in the States and traveled to Japan, where she began studying under a Zen Buddhist master.
She would herself become recognized as a Zen master, in an uncommonly brief amount of time.
What mighty lass made a go of Zen and satori?
Pure Heart, Enlightened Mind is Maura O'Halloran's beautifully-written account of her journey. These journal entries and letters home reveal astonishing, wise-beyond-her-years humor, compassion, wisdom, and commitment.
This expanded edition includes never-before-seen entries and poems, the author's unfinished novel, and an afterword that discusses the book's cultural impact.
It will be a must have for her fans and admirers and will surely find her thousands of new ones. More
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