>> EVERY YEAR, TENS OF THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE COME TO THE MIDDLE OF
THE DESERT TO CREATE A TEMPORARY
CITY OF EPIC PROPORTIONS.
THEY BUILD MAGNIFICENT
STRUCTURES, ART INSTALLATIONS,
AND VEHICLES THAT TEST THE
BOUNDARIES OF FORM AND FUNCTION.
AND WHEN THE WEEK IS OVER, THEY
BURN IT ALL DOWN...
AND LEAVE WITHOUT A TRACE.
BUT WHY?
WHY DO HUMANS DO ANY OF THE
THINGS WE DO?
WE CREATE LINES, SYMBOLS,
CITY-STATES, RELATIONSHIPS,
EXPERIENCES.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
HOW DO WE COME TO EXIST?
AND IS THERE A REASON?
THIS CONTROVERSIAL EVENT SO
CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE CHAOTIC
YET POETIC STRUCTURE OF LIFE
ITSELF.
>> WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
WHAT DO YOU LIVE FOR?
HMM.
WE CAME TO GET A PARTIAL ANSWER
TO THAT.
>> THE BURNING MAN FESTIVAL IS
REBORN ANEW EACH YEAR.
IT STARTS AS AN EMPTY PLAYA AND
SOON FILLS WITH LIFE.
>> FROM, BASICALLY, IT'S JUST
PLAIN NOTHING ON THE DESERT TO
SOMETHING WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW.
MY FIRST IMPRESSION WAS THAT
SOMEBODY CAME OUT HERE, YOU
KNOW, MONTHS AND YEARS AHEAD
JUST TO BE AT THIS THING, MAN.
YOU KNOW, THEY BURNED THIS DOWN
LAST YEAR.
>> AS IN LIFE, THE BIRTHING
PROCESS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.
PEOPLE WAIT IN LINE FOR HOURS TO
ENTER THIS NEW WORLD.
>> WELCOME HOME, EVERYBODY.
SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST SO FRIED
FROM GETTING HERE, YOU KIND OF
HAVE TO BE GENTLE WITH THEM.
>> THIS FEELS LIKE HOME.
YOU CAN BE YOURSELF HERE.
YOU CAN BE EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE.
EVERYBODY WILL LOVE YOU ANYWAY,
JUST LIKE HOME.
[ BELL RINGS ]
>> I TRAVELED NINE HOURS A DAY
HERE, AND I KNOW I'M FINALLY
HOME.
>> BURNING MAN IS FAMILY.
BURNING MAN IS HOME.
BURNING MAN'S A WAY OF LIFE.
IT'S A LIFESTYLE.
>> THIS IS THE PLAYA.
THIS IS OUR HOME.
OUT THERE -- THAT'S THE DEFAULT
WORLD.
THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT TO DEAL
WITH ALL THE CRAP, YOU KNOW?
90% OF LIFE IS CRAP.
THIS IS OUR LITTLE GETAWAY.
>> IT'S KIND OF THE THING YOU
LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YEAR.
>> PEOPLE BUSY THEMSELVES
SETTING UP CAMPS, ART
INSTALLATIONS, THEIR HOME FOR
THE NEXT WEEK.
PARTICIPANTS MAKE THIS TEMPORARY
COMMUNITY A TRUE CITY INDEED.
THERE'S A HOSPITAL, POST OFFICE,
POLICE, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AN
AIRPORT, A RADIO STATION, A
NEWSPAPER, A CENSUS, AND PLENTY
OF NIGHTLIFE.
>> HONESTLY, IT'S JUST A HUGE
FUCKING PARTY IN THE DESERT.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE GET THE
NOTION THAT IT'S JUST EVERYBODY
COMING OUT HERE, GETTING
DRUNK AND HIGH.
MY CONCEPT IS YOU COME OUT HERE
AND YOU SEE ALL THIS DIFFERENT
ART AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
YOU SEE EVERYBODY'S INNER SELF
BEING DISPLAYED, AND THAT'S WHAT
IT IS TO ME.
>> IN THE CENTER OF
BLACK ROCK CITY STANDS THE MAN.
THE TEMPLE OF TRANSITIONS
COMPLETES THE CITY.
>> IT'S THE LARGEST TEMPORARY
STRUCTURE EVER BUILT IN THE
WORLD.
>> THE TEMPLE OF TRANSITION IS
THE COMPLEX OF TEMPLES.
THE ONE ALL THE WAY TO THE LEFT
IS BIRTH.
THE NEXT ONE IS GROWTH.
THE ONE BEHIND THE CENTRAL ONE
IS UNION.
THE ONE TO THE LEFT OF THAT IS
DECAY, AND THE ONE ALL THE WAY
TO THE RIGHT, UP FRONT, IS
DEATH, AND THE CENTRAL TOWER IS
FOR GRATITUDE.
>> IT SYMBOLIZES THE
SPIRITUALITY OF THE PLAYA.
>> MANY PEOPLE COME TO
BURNING MAN IN SEARCH OF
ANSWERS.
>> IT'S THE BEST PLACE EVER --
A PLACE YOU CAN TRULY FIND
YOURSELF.
>> THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUS
CAPSULE ASKS THE QUESTIONS SO
MANY ASK OF THEMSELVES --
WHO ARE YOU?
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
>> I DON'T THINK I HAVE A
GODDAMN ANSWER FOR THAT.
ONCE UPON A TIME...
I WAS SENT AWAY TO CHINA, AND I
TRAINED IN THE SHAOLIN
MONASTERY.
AND I THOUGHT, "HEY, WHAT'S THE
MEANING OF LIFE THERE?"
NOT A SINGLE MONK THERE COULD
ANSWER ME.
I CAME BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
HUNG OUT WITH ALL THE HIPPIES I
COULD AND DID ALL THE DRUGS I
COULD.
EVEN THOSE HIPPIES AND THEIR
DRUGS CAN'T TELL ME WHAT IT'S
ABOUT.
THAT'S A FUNNY THING.
>> MANY PEOPLE HAVE MORE
QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS.
>> THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE IS THE
QUESTION MARK.
>> CAN YOU DESIGN A COMPUTER
THAT WILL UNDERSTAND WHY IT
EXISTS?
>> IF WE KNEW THE MEANING OF
LIFE, THIS BOOTH WOULD NOT
EXIST.
>> WE ALWAYS ACT LIKE WE KNOW
EVERYTHING, BUT ACTUALLY, WE'RE
JUST POOR LITTLE HUMANS.
WE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING.
>> I'M JUST HERE TO GET MORE
ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS, BUT I
KNOW I'LL LEAVE WITH MORE
QUESTIONS, WHICH NEED MORE
ANSWERS.
>> I THINK ASKING QUESTIONS IS
ENOUGH.
>> I WAS ASKED YESTERDAY WHO I
WAS.
SHE SAID, "WHO ARE YOU?"
I COULD NOT ANSWER THAT
QUESTION.
>> THIS PLACE, IT REALLY LETS
YOU TAP INTO A PRIMAL PART OF
YOURSELF AND TAKE DOWN SOME
WALLS, WHICH -- BASICALLY, IT
TAKES DOWN ALL THE WALLS.
>> I'M NO LONGER A VIRGIN!
[ BELL RINGS ]
ULTIMATELY SPEAKING, I THINK
EVERYONE IS IN SEARCH FOR THEIR
OWN IDENTITY.
>> I'M GONNA GO OUT INTO THAT
PLAYA, AND I'M GONNA FIND WHAT I
NEED TONIGHT.
>> MAYBE PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH
WHY THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY
DON'T KNOW HOW THEY CAME TO BE.
THE PLAYA EXISTED BEFORE ANYONE
CAME TO INHABIT IT.
HOW DID ALL OF THIS COME TO
EXIST?
>> THAT'S A RATHER BIG QUESTION.
>> I FIND IT HARD TO ARTICULATE
MY THOUGHTS.
>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY, HOW WE GOT
HERE, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WILL
EVER KNOW.
I THINK IT'S A TOTAL MYSTERY.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT IT IN A
SMALLER SENSE.
HOW DID WE GET OUT HERE ON THE
PLAYA?
>> IN A CAR.
>> I WAS PULLED HERE BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT -- THAT GOD WANTED TO SHOW
ME.
>> BURNING MAN, FOR ME, IS THE
MOST SPIRITUAL THING.
>> LIKE YOU AND ME, THE AIR, THE
EARTH, THE FIRE, THE FORESTS,
EVERYTHING IS GOD.
GOD IS EVERYTHING.
>> I'M READY NOW TO OPEN MY
THIRD EYE.
YOU ARE GOD. I AM GOD.
WE ARE ALL GOD.
THE UNIVERSE IS A FRACTAL, AND
WE'RE ALL WANDERING THROUGH THE
FRACTAL, AND WE'RE KIND OF LOST.
>> I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DEFINE
MYSELF BY A "SPECIFIC" RELIGION
BECAUSE THAT IS JUST REALLY --
IT TAKES AWAY FROM TOO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> IT IS NOT JUST HINDU OR
BUDDHIST OR CHRISTIAN.
>> WE STILL CONNECT WITH THE
SAME CELLS OF BUDDHA AND JESUS
AND MUHAMMAD, YOU KNOW.
THE CELLS JUST KEEP REPRODUCING.
WE ALL HAVE SOMEWHAT OF THAT IN
OUR SOULS.
>> ACTUALLY, AROUND THE TIME I
COULD THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOD,
THAT'S THE SAME TIME I STOPPED
BELIEVING THAT THERE WAS A GOD.
I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH,
AND I FOUND THAT OTHER PEOPLE
THAT DIDN'T BELIEVE IN GOD, AND
THOSE PEOPLE WERE CALLED
ATHEISTS.
>> I'M AN ATHEIST BY FAITH.
I HAVE FAITH THAT THERE'S NO
GOD.
>> AND THEN I STARTED TO
QUESTION THAT, AND I SAID,
"WELL, I DON'T KNOW THERE'S NO
GOD."
>> Both: BRAD IS THE MAN BEHIND
THE CURTAIN!
>> PEOPLE AT CHURCH ARE GOING
FOR THE EXPERIENCE.
>> BUT JESUS KIND OF HAD IT
RIGHT.
>> I FOUND THAT MY CONNECTION TO
DIVINITY WAS THROUGH THE
GODDESS.
>> I BELIEVE IN GOD, AND I THINK
EVERYONE'S WORSHIPPING THE SAME
GOD.
>> EVERY ONE OF US WILL LOOK AT
THE ORIGINAL DEITY AS A
DIFFERENT ASPECT, BUT HE LOVES
US ALL EQUALLY.
>> MANY PEOPLE HAVE STUDIED
THIS.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT
THIS.
LEARNED RELIGIOUS FIGURES
THROUGHOUT HISTORY.
WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT OVER THIS.
SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.
>> THE MOST -- WORST VIOLENCE IN
HISTORY HAS BEEN OVER THAT
QUESTION.
>> BUT THEN I STUMBLED ACROSS
ANOTHER THEORY THAT WE SHOULDN'T
BE LOOKING AT WHAT MAY OR MAY
NOT BE.
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT WE
DON'T KNOW AND EXPLORING THE
POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT -- OF WHAT
WE COULD KNOW, SO I BECAME A
POSSIBILIANIST.
>> WHEN I REALIZED THAT GOD
REALLY WAS A TOO ABSTRACT AND
PROBABLY ARCHAIC NOTION THAT
SCIENCE HAS HELPED US TO RID
OURSELVES OF.
>> A SUPERSTITION.
>> MM-HMM, A SUPERSTITION.
>> I MEAN, SCIENCE STATES THAT
WE'RE ALL MADE OF ATOMS.
ATOMS ARE ALL MADE OF THREE
SUBATOMIC PARTICLES.
THOSE SUBATOMIC PARTICLES ARE
MADE OF EVEN MORE PARTICLES.
BUT THEY'VE PROVEN THAT THOSE
PARTICLES ARE MADE OF PURE
ENERGY.
THAT MEANS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF
US IS A BEING OF PURE ENERGY.
>> WHAT IF WE HERE, TODAY,
INSTEAD OF ASKING, YOU KNOW,
"WHAT IS A SUPREME BEING?" AGREE
TO SAY, "BEING IS SUPREME."
>> HOW DID WE COME TO EXIST?
OH, WELL, MONKEYS.
>> [ Laughing ] YEAH, MONKEYS,
YEAH, TADPOLES.
>> YES.
>> AND IT STARTED OFF TADPOLES.
>> AND THEN WE EVOLVED, AND THEN
WE EVOLVED SOME MORE, AND NOW WE
HAVE A LARGE BRAIN AND SMALL
TESTICLES.
>> PEOPLE THINK WE CAME FROM
MONKEYS.
I BEG TO DIFFER.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
>> WHERE DO YOU THINK WE CAME
FROM?
>> I CAME FROM MY MAMA'S VAGINA.
>> EXISTENCE OF IT -- IT'S LIKE
A FORCE THAT PUSHES ALL THE TIME
TO MANIFEST ITSELF IN WHATEVER
WAY IT CAN, HOWEVER IT CAN BURST
THROUGH INTO EXISTENCE.
IT SEEMS TO BE THIS DRIVING
FORCE WITH NO REAL DESIGN OR
PURPOSE OTHER THAN JUST TO
EXIST.
>> I THINK THAT CREATION IS
EVOLUTION AND VICE VERSA.
I THINK THAT WE'RE JUST NOT DONE
WITH CREATION NECESSARILY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE EVOLVING.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN
HAPPENING SINCE THE BEGINNING.
SOMEWHERE ALONG THE PATH, IT WAS
TIME FOR THIS EXPERIENCE.
>> I THINK WE ARE AS SIGNIFICANT
AS ALL OTHER BEINGS IN THE
UNIVERSE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S SOME --
HUMANS, IN MY OPINION, ARE NOT
THE PENULTIMATE EVOLUTIONARY
SPECIES.
THE SKULL HAS A LIMITED CAPACITY
FOR SQUEEZING MORE STUFF IN
THERE, SO, IN THAT REGARD, WE
MAY BE ONE OF THE LAST, OR
CERTAINLY ONE OF THE LATER,
EVOLUTIONARY BEINGS IN TERMS OF
THE CEREBRAL CORTEX, BUT I THINK
THERE'S LOTS OF EVOLUTION THAT
WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
>> WE'RE SIGNIFICANT TO ONE
ANOTHER, BUT IN THE UNIVERSE,
NO.
WE'RE LIKE MICRO, MICRO, LITTLE
BITS OF DUST.
>> IT'S ALL GOOD -- ALL, ALL,
ALL GOOD.
IT'S ALL FOR US.
IT'S ALL -- THE WHOLE UNIVERSE
IS FOR US -- FOR ME, FOR YOU,
FOR -- FOR US.
AMAZING.
>> I FEEL LIKE THE WORLD --
EARTH, THE UNIVERSE -- IT'S LIKE
OUR PLAYGROUND.
IT'S WHAT GOD GAVE TO US...
TO DO WHATEVER WE WANT WITH IT,
YOU KNOW?
THE POSSIBILITIES ARE TRULY
ENDLESS.
>> I MEAN, WE'RE JUST VERY TINY
THINGS IN THIS UNIVERSE.
LIKE, "TINY" DOESN'T EVEN
DESCRIBE IT.
WE'RE LIKE A GERM ON A GERM'S
ASS IN THIS UNIVERSE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THE MORE PEOPLE
REALIZE HOW SMALL THEY ARE, THE
MORE THEY COULD REALLY
EXPERIENCE THEIR LIFE AND GET
THE MOST OUT OF LIFE.
>> THE ALL, THE INFINITE, THE
SOURCE, GOD, WHATEVER YOU WANT
TO CALL IT.
THE SOURCE -- IT'S TO CREATE
MORE OF ITSELF, OR IT'S TO TRY
OUT THINGS.
IT'S TO TRY OUT A FESTIVAL OF
ART WITH 50,000 PEOPLE.
IT'S TO TRY OUT HAVING SEX WITH
A LOVED ONE.
IT'S TO TRY OUT GIVING BIRTH.
IT'S TO TRY OUT BEING A CHILD.
IT'S TRYING OUT EVERYTHING AND
CREATE A BETTER EXISTENCE.
EACH ONE OF US IS A LITTLE POINT
OF LITTLE, TINY HAIR ON THE
WHOLENESS THAT IS SOURCE.
>> WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE IN IS
RIGHT.
LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR SOUL TELLS
YOU.
>> I CONSIDER BURNING MAN TO BE
LIKE BOOT CAMP FOR THE SOUL.
>> BURNING MAN IS A PLACE WHERE
I SACRIFICE MY BODY TO GIVE MY
SOUL BLESSED.
>> THIS IS A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL PLACE.
EVERYBODY IS SO UNIQUE BUT ALL
THE SAME IN RELATION TO THE
DESERT.
EVERYONE'S JUST TRYING TO GET
BY.
DOING MUCH BETTER HERE THAN I
WAS LAST YEAR.
IT TOOK ME THREE AND A HALF DAYS
TO GET INTO IT.
ONCE YOU GET IT, YOU GET IT.
>> WE HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE --
OR SO IT SEEMS.
AND THOUGH WE CAN'T REMEMBER, WE
LIVE IN OUR DREAMS.
WE LIVE IN OUR MINDS -- OR SO WE
THINK.
AND YET OUR BODIES ARE NOT OUR
HOME.
OUR BODIES ARE A TOOL -- A TOOL
THAT WE USE TO SEE, TO FEEL, TO
PREEN, AND TO ABUSE.
THE STRENGTH OF OUR BODY COMES
FROM OUR MIND.
MIND OVER MATTER -- THE SECRET
DEFINED.
THE SECRET WE KNOW, YET HAVE
UNLEARNED, BECAUSE OF SOCIETY
OUR HEADS HAVE TURNED AWAY FROM
THAT WHICH IS MASTER OF ALL --
THE ONE AND ONLY, THE HUMAN
SOUL.
>> LIKE, WE REALLY -- YEAH, WE
HAVE SOULS, FOR SURE.
OUR BODY'S JUST A SHELL.
>> I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SPIRIT
BEINGS, THAT WE ARE
CONSCIOUSNESS IN A VAST FORM,
AND THAT WE TAKE ON THIS
PARTICULAR KIND OF HUMAN FORM AS
A WAY OF LEARNING VERY SPECIFIC
LESSONS.
>> THE ARC OF THE SOUL IS A
LONG, LONG, LONG ARC.
SOMETIMES WE INCARNATE INTO
DIFFERENT SPACES, PLACES,
PLANETS, DIFFERENT KINDS OF
BODIES.
>> THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT IS PRESENT THROUGHOUT OUR
WHOLE BODY, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S
OUR SPIRIT.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SOUL.
DOES IT GO ON FOREVER?
I DON'T KNOW.
IT COULD JUST LIKE BURN UP IN
THE BIG CENTRAL STAR OUT
SOMEWHERE IN THE UNIVERSE.
WE COULD DISSIPATE AND JUST, YOU
KNOW, OUR VIBRATION WILL BE
PICKED UP THROUGH -- ECHO OUT
THROUGH THE UNIVERSE.
>> WE ARE HERE TO EXPERIENCE
THAT WHICH OUR SOULS WERE
CURIOUS ABOUT.
>> WE'RE ON A BIT OF A MISSION
HERE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL EARTH.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE SPIRIT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THESE BODIES,
HAVING AN EXPERIENCE, AND IT'S
NOT ALL -- IT'S NOT WHAT IT
APPEARS TO BE.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE
GOING ON THAT WE -- WE DON'T LET
OURSELVES SEE.
THERE'S SPIRITS EVERYWHERE.
THERE'S LIFE EVERYWHERE.
WE'RE NOT ALONE.
WE NEVER WERE ALONE.
>> THERE'S ALWAYS THE QUESTION
ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE THE
ONLY INTELLIGENT BEINGS LIKE
OURSELVES HERE.
THAT MAY NOT BE TRUE AND
PROBABLY IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE
UNIVERSE IS SO BIG, THERE'S SO
MANY POSSIBILITIES, THAT THERE'S
LIKELY TO BE OTHER
MANIFESTATIONS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
AND INTELLIGENCE AND SPIRIT LIKE
WE HAVE, SO WE'RE CERTAINLY
SIGNIFICANT IN THAT WE'RE THE
WELL IN OUR PART OF THE
UNIVERSE.
>> I'M -- I AM AN ALIEN IN EVERY
SENSE OF THE WORD AND WHATEVER
SENSE YOU THINK THAT IS.
WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS
UNIVERSE.
THERE IS LIFE ON ALL DIFFERENT
KINDS OF LEVELS ALL AROUND US,
STUFF THAT WE CAN SEE AND STUFF
THAT WE CAN'T SEE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS.
WE LIVE IN ONE DIMENSION.
OUR SENSES CAN ONLY EXPERIENCE
THIS MUCH IN THIS DIMENSION.
SO THAT'S ALL WE GET TO
EXPERIENCE.
DO YOU KNOW HOW FAR THAT GOES,
YOU KNOW?
AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY
OVERTONES TO THIS REALITY.
THERE'S SO MANY DIMENSIONS.
IT'S RIDICULOUS.
LIKE, WHO KNOWS HOW -- LIKE,
THERE'S INFINITESIMAL AMOUNT OF
DIMENSIONS.
HOW COULD THERE NOT BE?
>> SHOW ME THE SMOKING GUN.
>> WE'RE ALL ALIENS.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> WE'RE TRANSPLANTS.
>> WE'RE FUCKING ZOMBIES JUST
RUNNING AROUND TRYING TO KILL
EACH OTHER IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND
PUT EACH OTHER DOWN, AND IT
SHOULDN'T BE LIKE THAT.
>> LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE BEHAVE,
YOU KNOW, TO SEE WHAT THEY
REALLY, DEEPLY BELIEVE.
>> WE MAY NEVER KNOW HOW WE CAME
TO EXIST, BUT WE CAN EXPLORE THE
WAYS WE CHOOSE TO LIVE OUR LIVES
AND WHY.
>> YOUR PERCEPTION AND THE WAY
THAT YOU DEAL WITH THINGS THAT
MAKE YOUR REALITY.
>> REALITY, I GUESS, WOULD BE AN
AGREED-UPON PERCEPTION BY THE
MAJORITY.
[ INDISTINCT CHANTING ]
>> REALITY IS THE MOVIE.
IT'S BASICALLY WHAT IS PROJECTED
ON THE MARBLE.
THAT IS YOUR REALITY.
IT CAN BE ALTERED.
IT CAN BE FAKED.
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S NOT FAKE.
IT'S NOT "THE MATRIX."
IT'S NOT A FAKE THING.
>> REALITY IS ABOUT PERCEPTION.
AND EVERY TIME YOU PUT YOURSELF
OUT THERE AND GO THROUGH SOME
DIFFERENT BARRIER, YOU REALIZE,
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON WHERE YOU
WERE, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVE.
>> WE HAVE A LOT MORE CHOICE
THAN WE GIVE OURSELVES CREDIT
FOR FOR WHAT THINGS WILL BECOME.
THAT'S WHERE THE MEANING COMES
IN.
EVERYTHING LOOKS INEVITABLE IN
RETROSPECT, AND, LIKE, IT
MUST'VE BEEN PART OF SOME DIVINE
PLAN, BUT IN THE MOMENT, THERE'S
ALWAYS A CHOICE FOR THINGS TO GO
ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WAY.
>> BURNING MAN?
BURNING MAN IS TO ESCAPE HAVING
TO FIGURE OUT ALL THESE OTHER
PEOPLE'S REALITIES AND JUST
TRY AND CREATE ONE UNIFIED
FRONT OF A REALITY AND KNOW THAT
EVERYBODY HERE, NO MATTER WHO
THEY ARE, THEY SUPPORT THIS
PLACE AND THEY CARE ABOUT YOU.
>> AS IN LIFE, THE INHABITANTS
OF BURNING MAN CREATE A
COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT
RULES THE LAND.
[ INDISTINCT CHANTING ]
>> THE MISSION OF THE
BURNING MAN PROJECT IS WRAPPED
AROUND THE 10 PRINCIPLES, AND
JUST CLARIFY INTENTION.
AND I THINK, SORT OF ALL OF
THESE COMBINED, WE REALLY DO.
THE CULTURE IS A PATTERN.
AND IT'S A WAY OF LIFE, AND...
SO, IN THAT, WE'VE COME A LONG
WAY.
WE WERE JUST A LITTLE GROUP WITH
OUR OWN INCIPIENT ETHOS, AND
WE'VE JUST BECOME INCREASINGLY
AWARE OF WHO WE ARE, AND, AS
WE'VE DONE SO, WE'VE GAINED A
PERSPECTIVE ON THE GREATER
WORLD.
>> ANYONE MAY BE A PART OF THIS
COMMUNITY.
THEY WELCOME AND RESPECT THE
STRANGER.
NO PREREQUISITES EXIST FOR
PARTICIPATION IN THE BURNING MAN
COMMUNITY.
>> THE PRINCIPLE OF RADICAL
INCLUSION CERTAINLY CAME OUT OF
THE EXPERIENCE OF LOOKING AROUND
AND REALIZING THAT WE HAD
CORPORATE LEADERS HERE, WE HAD
CAFé WORKERS, WE HAVE TRUCK
DRIVERS, WE HAVE BEEKEEPERS.
>> PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD TO EXPERIENCE BURNING MAN.
>> THERE ARE TIMES I DON'T FEEL
I BELONG HERE.
THE ARTISTIC CREATIVITY IS
BEYOND MY SCOPE.
THE INTELLECTUAL CREATIVITY HERE
IS BEYOND MY SCOPE.
I STILL FEEL INVOLVED.
I STILL FEEL PART OF THE
COMMUNITY, AND I'M THANKFUL FOR
IT.
>> THEY'RE JUST SUCH ACCEPTING
PEOPLE.
>> IT'S OPEN-MINDED.
THE MESSAGE IS CREATIVITY.
>> IT PUSHES YOUR BOUNDARIES,
AND IF YOU'RE WORKING TOWARDS
SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A
SHY PERSON, IT'LL HELP YOU BUILD
ON THAT.
BY THE END OF THE WEEK, YOU
MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST OUTGOING
PERSON EVER, BUT IT DEFINITELY
WILL HELP YOU BECOME MORE
COMFORTABLE BEING IN FRONT OF A
CROWD OR TALKING TO STRANGERS OR
DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU
REALLY NEED TO WORK ON BECAUSE
THESE PEOPLE, THEY HEAL YOU.
>> THE RADICAL ACCEPTANCE AND
INCLUSION IS AMAZING.
THERE'S ALWAYS THAT MOMENT WHERE
IT CLICKS AND YOU GET IT.
>> THE BURNING MAN COMMUNITY
ENCOURAGES THE INDIVIDUAL TO
DISCOVER, EXERCISE, AND RELY ON
HIS OR HER INNER RESOURCES.
>> THIS IS SURVIVAL CAMPING, AND
IT'S VERY COOL.
>> PEOPLE GET DEPLETED.
THEY GET TIRED. THEY GET HURT.
THEY -- THEY JUST GET BEAT DOWN
IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.
>> I GOT THE NAME "BOY SCOUT"
BECAUSE I WAS PREPARED THE FIRST
YEAR AS A NEWBIE.
I WAS PREPARED FOR ANYTHING.
AND IT TURNED OUT THAT I WAS
PREPARED FOR NOTHING AT ALL.
>> [ SIGHS ]
THE MEANING OF LIFE...
IS TO SURVIVE, ISN'T IT?
>> WHAT SUCKS ABOUT LIFE IS
BEING IN A WORLD WHERE YOU FEEL
YOU NEED TO BE A CERTAIN WAY IN
WHICH TO SURVIVE, AND SEEING SO
MANY PEOPLE NOT SURVIVING HURTS.
>> BURNING MAN, FOR ME, IS ABOUT
THE SIMPLICITY OF THE PLAYA AND
HOW THERE'S VERY LITTLE HERE,
AND YOU HAVE TO BE RELIANT ON
YOURSELF -- RADICAL
SELF-RELIANCE.
BRING WHAT YOU NEED.
>> IF I WERE TO SUM IT UP, I
WOULD USE THE TERM "SURVIVAL" AS
BEING THE MEANING OF LIFE, BUT
THAT'S A PRETTY VAGUE TERM.
I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY
CAPTURES THE ESSENCE.
WALKING DIFFERENT PATHS, SEEING
DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES, AND
CREATING THOSE POSSIBILITIES
THROUGH OUR EXISTENCE AND OUR
WALKING OF THOSE PATHS.
>> WE'RE BIOLOGICAL ORGANISMS,
AND WE -- OUR PURPOSE IS TO
PROCREATE AND SURVIVE.
SO WE DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO
SURVIVE.
>> LIFE'S VERY SIMPLE.
YOU EAT, DRINK, SEX.
>> SEX IS A BIG PART OF THE
MEANING OF LIFE.
>> WELL, IT'S ONE OF THOSE
THINGS THAT MAKES LIFE A LITTLE
BETTER.
>> MM-HMM.
IT'S HOW PEOPLE MIX TOGETHER.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND BECOME OTHER PEOPLE.
>> YES.
AND THEN THEY MIX TOGETHER AND
BECOME OTHER PEOPLE AND THEN
OTHER PEOPLE AND THEN OTHER
PEOPLE.
>> AND THEN THE ONES THAT, LIKE,
MIX TOGETHER THE LONGEST ARE THE
ONES THAT LAST.
>> THE LONGEST.
>> REPRODUCTION -- NOT JUST
HUMAN BEINGS.
ALL LIFE -- ALL LIFE IS HERE ON
THIS PLANET TO REPRODUCE, TO
KEEP IT GOING FORWARD, TO KEEP
LIFE EVOLVING AND CONTINUOUSLY
BECOMING WHATEVER IT IS MEANT TO
BE.
WE ARE A COSMIC ACCIDENT MOST
LIKELY, BUT WE -- THE DINOSAURS
WERE HERE, AND THEY KEPT
REPRODUCING UNTIL THEY GOT WIPED
OUT.
>> IS SEX MEANINGFUL?
FUCK YEAH!
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
SEX IS THE REASON WHY EVERY
HUMAN BEING ON THIS PLANET IS
HERE.
OUR DRIVE TO POPULATE HAS MADE
HUMAN BEINGS THE DOMINANT
LIFE-FORM ON THIS PLANET, AND
ALTHOUGH -- AND AS SMALL AS THIS
PLANET IS, IT'S STILL -- WE'RE
STILL DOMINANT.
>> SOMETIMES IT'S JUST SEX.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST ATHLETICISM.
>> HMM, INTERESTING.
>> A WORKOUT.
>> THE MEANING OF LIFE, WHEN
YOU'RE A GUY, IS TO BE WITH AS
MANY WOMEN AS POSSIBLE AND NOT
LET YOUR CURRENT GIRLFRIEND FIND
OUT ABOUT IT.
>> IF SHE GOES DOWN ON YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> IF HE GOES DOWN ON YOU.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> IT'S A PHYSICAL WAY TO
EXPRESS LOVE, AND IT'S NOT
ALWAYS ABOUT THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO BE IN
LOVE WITH SOMEBODY TO HAVE SEX
WITH THEM, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
SO REPRESSED, GENERALLY
SPEAKING, IT'S IMPORTANT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS
ABOUT BURNING MAN.
IT'S LIKE ONE OF THOSE PLACES
WHERE IT'S JUST OKAY TO DO THOSE
THINGS.
>> TEMPTATION IS EVERYWHERE.
>> LOVE -- THAT'S WHEN IT'S --
THAT'S WHERE IT AT, MAN, RIGHT?
THAT'S TRUE FOR ME, ANYWAY.
>> I DON'T THINK RANDOM SEX IS
MEANINGFUL.
I THINK RANDOM SEX IS FUN.
MEANINGFUL SEX IS MEANINGFUL.
>> SEX IS MEANINGFUL WITH THE
RIGHT PERSON, AND IT
PARTICULARLY WAS THIS MORNING.
>> IF SEX WASN'T MEANINGFUL,
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE PUT SUCH A
GREAT DESIRE AND SUCH PLEASURE
IN IT.
>> SEX IS VERY MEANINGFUL.
IT'S AT THE POINT OF RELEASE FOR
THE INDIVIDUAL AS ONE OF THE FEW
TIMES THAT YOUR MIND IS ACTUALLY
CLEARED.
AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT DRIVES PEOPLE FOR
THAT PURSUIT OF SEX.
THEY MAY NOT REALIZE THAT IT'S
THAT MOMENT OF HAVING A CLEARED
MIND.
>> YOU CAN BE ENLIGHTENED WHEN
YOU ORGASM.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF
RELATIONSHIPS IS THE SEXUAL
CHEMISTRY THAT THE PARTNERSHIP
HAS AND THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE
WITHIN ONE ANOTHER.
>> AND TRUST.
>> AND THE TRUST.
>> MOST OF ALL THROUGH THAT.
>> YEAH.
>> THE SACRED CONNECTION THAT
YOU GET.
>> IT'S A SACRED -- SOMETHING
SACRED.
IT'S A SACRED CONNECTION,
EXACTLY.
>> AND IT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, IN, YOU KNOW, MANY
CASES, THERE'S NO SACRED
CONNECTION, BUT WHEN IT IS
MEANINGFUL IS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING
THAT...
>> SACRED SPACE CONNECTION.
>> ...WITH YOUR PARTNER THAT
YOU, YOU KNOW, ARE SHARING THE
LOVE AND THAT FEEL WITH.
AND IT JUST...
>> FLOATS.
>> INTEGRATING THEIR SPIRIT AND
THEIR MINDS AND THEIR BODIES AND
THEIR SENSES.
SENSES REPRESENT THE PASSIONS
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE AND HOW
CAN WE EXULT THOSE FEELINGS IN
CREATIVE UNION WITH ALL THAT IS,
AND MAYBE FINDING THAT UNION
WITHIN A DANCE OF LOVEMAKING
THAT IS LIFE ITSELF.
SO YOU CAN ALWAYS FEEL SATISFIED
WITH YOURSELF, WHETHER IT'S
ORGASMIC SENSUALITY OR WHETHER
IT'S PERSONAL.
>> IT IS PLEASURE, BUT IT'S --
I THINK IT NECESSITATES A
DISCIPLINE TO BE ABLE TO
DISTANCE ONESELF FROM JUST THE
FLASHING LIGHTS AND SOME TITS
AND ASS AND WHATEVER, AND BE
ABLE TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING
LONGER TERM.
>> THE MEANING OF MY LIFE...
HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE
LAST YEAR.
LAST YEAR I WAS DEEPLY IN LOVE
HERE WITH A MAN I CARED FOR VERY
MUCH.
AND I HAD ANOTHER MAN WAITING
FOR ME AT HOME.
>> IT'S A NATURAL DRUG.
>> I MEAN, WELL, I MEAN, THE
QUESTION IS LIKE...
USING IT TO TRY TO FILL A VOID.
>> SOME PEOPLE DO USE IT TO TRY
TO FILL A VOID.
>> YEAH, WHICH I'VE DONE THAT
FOR A WHILE, NO.
THAT FUCKED ME UP PRETTY GOOD.
>> I DON'T HAVE EITHER OF THOSE
LOVELY MEN ANYMORE IN MY LIFE.
HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT LOVING
BOTH OF THEM AND LOVING EVERYONE
AROUND ME...
IS GIVING ME WHAT I NEED IN MY
LIFE BECAUSE, BY GIVING MY LOVE,
I GET IT BACK 10 TIMES.
>> TO BE HONEST, I LIVE SO I CAN
HAVE A CONNECTION HERE TO
SOMEONE ELSE.
I AM MY OWN PERSON.
BUT I HAVE A DEEP FEELING AND
NEED TO HAVE SOMEONE CLOSE HERE.
>> I THINK THE MEANING OF LIFE
IS HAVING A SOUL MATE.
>> AH!
>> AH, MOMMY!
>> YOU LIVE FOR LOVE.
I LIVE FOR LOVE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S TRUE.
LIKE, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY
SEARCHES FOR.
>> AND CONNECTION, YOU KNOW WHAT
I MEAN?
>> HOW DOES --
>> AND EXPERIENCE AND ADVENTURE.
>> I THINK WE ALL REALLY WANT
CONNECTION, AND THAT'S PART OF
THE MEANING OF LIFE, TOO,
WHETHER IT'S TO ANOTHER PERSON
OR TO, LIKE, A UNIVERSAL SPIRIT,
AND TRUTHS WE ALL KNOW.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME
GOING.
IT'S JUST A FEELING LIKE I WILL
EVENTUALLY CONNECT TO A
UNIVERSAL SOURCE AND A HARD
CONNECTION WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE
MEANING OF LIFE?
'CAUSE I'M SURE YOU HAVE IDEAS.
>> I DO, AND IT'S PART OF WHY I
ASKED YOU TO MARRY ME TONIGHT.
>> I GOT MARRIED LAST NIGHT, AND
I MET MY WIFE HERE IN 2009
DURING EVOLUTION, WHEN WE'VE
EVOLVED, AND NOW WE'VE
SURMOUNTED A RITE OF PASSAGE.
WE'RE UNIFIED.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
BURNING MAN'S CHANGED MY LIFE.
IT SAVED MY LIFE.
YOU SAVED MY LIFE.
EMILY, I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE MY
WIFE.
I LOVE YOU.
>> I USED TO LIVE
EXCLUSLIVEY -- EXCLUSLEY --
EXCLUSIVELY FOR MY GIRLFRIEND.
BUT THAT ENDED A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND RIGHT NOW I'M JUST SEEKING
MYSELF.
TRYING TO FIND SOME MEANING TO
REPLACE HER.
>> WHAT SUCKS ABOUT LIFE IS...
LOVE THAT WAS DESTINED TO BE
BUT IS NOT FATED TO BE.
UNREQUITED LOVE -- THAT'S WHAT
THAT MEANS.
>> I JUST WANT TO KIND OF VENT,
I GUESS.
IT IS THURSDAY, TECHNICALLY,
BUT -- WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AND I
DON'T KNOW.
IT'S WEIRD TO FEEL LONELY AT
BURNING MAN.
I DIDN'T ACTUALLY THINK IT COULD
HAPPEN OR FEEL THAT WAY 'CAUSE
YOU ARE SO CONNECTED WITH SO
MANY PEOPLE.
BUT I'M FEELING IT.
I'M FEELING THE LONELINESS, AND
IT'S KIND OF TRIPPING ME OUT.
AND I'VE ASKED THE UNIVERSE,
LIKE, IS THIS GOOD FOR ME?
DO I NEED TO FEEL THIS?
>> AND I SHOULD NOT...
LIVE TOTALLY FOR ANYONE ELSE.
>> BUT, I MEAN, AT BURNING MAN,
I FIND -- I WANT TO FIND
CONNECTION.
LIKE, I WANT TO FIND PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO LOVE AS MUCH AS I DO...
OR SOMEONE TO LOVE AS MUCH AS I
DO, I GUESS.
>> I STILL GOT SOME PART OF ME
THAT FEELS UNFULFILLED.
>> THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO
FIND TRUE HAPPINESS, AND THAT IS
ALSO THE MOST DIFFICULT THING
FOR US HUMANS, SOMEHOW, TO DO
BECAUSE WE ARE A SELF-SABOTAGING
RACE, FOR SOME REASON.
>> WHY DO I SUFFER
UNNECESSARILY?
WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL
THESE THINGS THAT I DON'T LIKE?
>> THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO
EXPERIENCE POLARITIES, TO
EXPERIENCE GREAT JOY AND LOVE
AND ITS POLARITY, ITS BEING,
BUT ONLY IF YOU KNOW PAIN DO YOU
KNOW LOVE, AND AS CLICHé AS THAT
SOUNDS, IT'S ALL LOVE.
>> EXPERIENCE...
THE DUALITY -- THE WOMAN AND THE
MAN...
THE SUN AND THE MOON, THE
FARAWAY GALAXIES AND OUR INNER
SELF.
>> OF COURSE I'VE KNOWN A LOT OF
PAIN IN MY LIFE.
BUT I'VE GAINED A LOT OF LOVE.
AND...
THE PAIN NEVER LEAVES.
BUT...
IT HAS ITS PLACE.
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT
IT'S AN ACCIDENT THAT THERE'S SO
MUCH BEAUTY IN THE WORLD AND
THAT THERE'S SO MUCH CHAOS AND
UGLINESS AND DESTRUCTION, TOO.
I BELIEVE IN POLARITIES AND...
THAT, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE LIGHT,
YOU NEED DARKNESS.
TO HAVE DARKNESS, YOU NEED
LIGHT.
TO HAVE COLORS, YOU NEED BOTH.
>> EVERYTHING ABOUT LOVE MAKES
US BIGGER...
LESS FEARFUL.
IT ALLOWS US TO BE VULNERABLE.
UM...
AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE SCARED,
WE'RE NOT --
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GIVE, UM --
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE
LOVE WHEN WE'RE SCARED BECAUSE
WE DON'T WANT TO BE VULNERABLE.
SO WE PROTECT OURSELVES.
WE GET SMALLER.
WE GET MORE NARROW.
BUT WHEN WE STOP BEING SCARED,
WE CAN GIVE MORE LOVE.
>> THAT SURVIVAL INSTINCT DOES
TELL US TO DO THE HOUSE AND DO
THE KIDS AND PROTECT THAT --
PROTECT THAT NEST, AND MAYBE
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
CHANGING WITH THE EVOLUTION OF
OUR CONSCIOUSNESS IS THAT, NOT
THAT WE WON'T STILL HAVE THOSE
THINGS BUT THAT MAYBE WE'LL
UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE THINGS ARE
ACHIEVABLE AND NOW WE CAN...
>> GO ON TO SOMETHING BIGGER?
>> YEAH, WE CAN LAYER ON MORE
COMPLEXITY.
WE CAN CARE ABOUT OUR FAMILY,
BUT ALSO CARE ABOUT OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> THIS COMMUNITY VALUES
CREATIVITY COOPERATION AND
COLLABORATION.
THEY STRIVE TO PRODUCE, PROMOTE,
AND PROTECT SOCIAL NETWORKS,
PUBLIC SPACES, WORKS OF ART, AND
METHODS OF COMMUNICATION THAT
ENABLE SUCH INTERACTION.
>> EVEN IF WE'RE -- RIGHT, SOME
PEOPLE DON'T, BUT SOME PEOPLE
HAVE MORE FOOD THAN THEY NEED.
ONCE PEOPLE BUST OUT AND START
SHARING, YOU KNOW, LIKE, "LOOK,
WE ALL HAVE IT," THEN THERE'S
PLENTY FOR EVERYBODY.
>> THE REASON WHY THERE'S SO
MANY HUMANS ON THE EARTH IS
BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO BE
COOPERATIVE AND HOW TO -- TO
DEVELOP, I GUESS, A TEAM
MENTALITY.
THE TRIBALISM AND ALL OF THAT
WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
>> THERE ARE A FEW MOMENTS WHEN
THINGS WEREN'T WORKING
PERFECTLY, BUT WE ALL KIND OF
STUCK TOGETHER AND MADE IT
HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHAT COMMUNITY AND LIFE
IS ABOUT.
>> THE ONLY REASON THAT THIS
EXISTS IS BECAUSE WE ARE ALL
ABLE TO PUT OUR RESOURCES
TOGETHER AND DO WHAT WE DO BEST
AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
LIKE, WHEN YOU GET A GROUP OF
PEOPLE, AND IT'S LIKE, "OH, I'M
A GREAT BUILDER," OR "I'M GOOD
AT" -- I DON'T KNOW -- "COOKING
FOOD," AND "I'M GOOD AT THIS,"
AND LIKE, YOU GET THEM ALL IN
ONE PLACE.
IT'S TAPPING INTO EVERYONE, WHAT
THEY DO BEST, BECAUSE WE'RE ALL
AMAZING AND WE'RE ALL AWESOME
AND WE ALL DO GREAT THINGS, BUT
ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU DO
REALLY GOOD AND YOU MAKE THAT --
YOU BRING THAT TO THE PLATE, AND
IF WE ALL DO THAT AND THEN WE
ALL WORK TOGETHER...
>> WE'VE ALL LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
WORKING WITH PEOPLE AND HOW TO
INTEGRATE EVERYBODY'S IDEAS AND
EVERYBODY'S CREATIVITY IN A WAY
THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE WHOLE
AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUAL, AND
IT'S BEEN ROCKY AT TIMES.
I'M NOT GONNA LIE.
BUT WE ALL CAME TOGETHER, AND WE
MADE THIS HAPPEN AS A COMMUNITY.
>> THE THINGS THAT ARE MOST
MEANINGFUL IN LIFE ARE COMMUNITY
AND FINDING THE SPACE WITHIN
YOURSELF TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE
AND TO RELY ON THAT COMMUNITY.
>> IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO
DO A BIG PROJECT, SO WE HAD TO
LEARN HOW DO YOU MAKE A
FLAMETHROWER.
YOU KNOW, HOW CAN YOU -- WE HAD
TO KEEP ASKING PEOPLE 'CAUSE WE
DIDN'T KNOW.
WE'D NEVER DONE IT BEFORE.
SO IT ENDS UP BEING A BIG
PROJECT.
YOU'RE NOT A SPECTATOR.
>> THIS COMMUNITY IS COMMITTED
TO A RADICALLY PARTICIPATORY
ETHIC.
[ UP-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS ]
THEY BELIEVE THAT TRANSFORMATIVE
CHANGE, WHETHER IN THE
INDIVIDUAL OR IN SOCIETY, CAN
OCCUR ONLY THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF
DEEPLY PERSONAL PARTICIPATION.
THEY ACHIEVE BEING THROUGH
DOING.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO WORK.
EVERYONE IS INVITED TO PLAY.
WE MAKE THE WORLD REAL THROUGH
ACTIONS THAT OPEN THE HEART.
>> WE JUST PULL ALL THE PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
YOU KNOW, "HEY, WE'VE GOT A
CRAZY IDEA."
WE CAN SAY, "WELL, WHAT IF WE
DID THIS?" AND "CAN WE DO THAT?"
AND THEN SUDDENLY IT'S LIKE,
"OH, THIS IS GONNA WORK," YOU
KNOW?
SO, WE BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE,
AND THERE'S CORE STAFF, PAID
PEOPLE, CONTRACTORS, VOLUNTEERS,
VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERS,
VOLUNTEERS WHO JUST WORK TO SET
THE FRAMEWORK, AND THEN EVERYONE
ELSE SHOWS UP, AND THEY'VE BEEN
WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF JUST AS
HARD AS WE HAVE FOR WHATEVER
THEIR THING IS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S THIS
COLLECTIVE THING.
WE ALL DO IT TO EACH OTHER
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE
LOVE IT, BUT WE ALL BUILD
THIS CITY TOGETHER.
>> BURNING MAN HAS CREATED THIS
COMMUNITY FOR ME.
I GET TO BE A DOER AND RADICALLY
PARTICIPATE, AND I LEARN MORE
HERE IN LIKE TWO WEEKS RUNNING
A PROJECT THAN I DO AT MY JOB IN
THE REAL WORLD -- "THE REAL
WORLD."
>> THEY ARE THE FOLKS THAT BUILD
THE PLAYA FOR US.
YOU KNOW, THEY BUILD OUR TEMPLE,
THEY BUILD OUR MAN, THEY BUILD
THE FUCKING CITY FOR US.
>> THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THIS
SPECIES CAN TALK HAS GIVEN US
THE ABILITY TO SAY WHAT WE DO OR
DON'T LIKE.
>> RADICAL SELF-EXPRESSION
ARISES FROM THE UNIQUE GIFTS OF
THE INDIVIDUAL.
NO ONE OTHER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL
OR A COLLABORATING GROUP CAN
DETERMINE ITS CONTENT.
IT IS OFFERED AS A GIFT TO
OTHERS.
>> I THINK WHAT IT MEANS TO A
LOT OF PEOPLE IS INCLUSION,
SELF-EXPRESSION, AND...
DOING WHAT YOU ENJOY.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PROBABLY
52 OR 53 WEEKS A YEAR.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> NOT JUST ONE WEEK.
>> YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE REASON
ANY OF US IS EVEN HERE IS JUST
BECAUSE OF THE -- YOU KNOW, THE
JOY OF CREATION.
SOME SORT OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND
POTENTIALITY COULD MANIFEST, AND
THEREFORE HAS, AND INTO THIS
ABUNDANT DIVERSITY OF
EVERYTHING, AND THEN WE, AS
PEOPLE AND CREATURES, HAVE THEN
CREATED THINGS ON TOP OF THAT
AND ON TOP OF THAT AND ON TOP OF
THAT, SHEERLY FOR THE -- YOU
KNOW, JUST FOR THE SHEER JOY OF
CREATIVITY.
>> IT'S LIKE AN EXCUSE TO EXPAND
YOUR HORIZONS A BIT.
>> THIS IS THE BIGGEST
EXPRESSION OF FREEDOM THAT I
THINK HAS EVER EXISTED ON THE
PLANET EARTH.
>> OCCASIONALLY YOU SEE WHERE
GOD TOUCHES THE GROUND AND YOU
GET BEAUTIFUL ART, AND YOU COULD
SEE THE HAND OF GOD IN THAT
BEAUTY.
>> WHAT AMAZES ME MOST ABOUT
THE IMAGINATION OF PEOPLE TO
CREATE SUCH INCREDIBLE ART
PROJECTS -- EVERY YEAR, THINGS
THAT APPEAR JUST TOTALLY BLOW MY
MIND.
>> WE ALL DIG EACH OTHER'S STUFF
SO MUCH THAT YOU'RE REALLY
INTRODUCING THEM TO A LITTLE
GLIMMER OF THEIR OWN DIVINITY,
NOT TO BE ALL HIPPIE-HOO-HAH
ABOUT IT, BUT YOU KNOW, TO KNOW
THAT YOU CAN DO THINGS IN THE
WORLD -- MANIFEST, CREATE THE
UNIVERSE AROUND YOU, BE WITH
OTHER PEOPLE IN A WAY OF YOUR
CHOOSING -- I THINK THAT'S ONE
OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS.
>> FOR ART TO BE ANY GOOD, IT
HAS TO CONFRONT THE UNKNOWN.
>> WHEN I MAKE MY ART, IT'S A
VERY SACRED THING FOR ME, AND
I FEEL MORE CONNECTED TO THE
DIVINE AT THAT MOMENT THAN ANY
OTHER MOMENT.
THE MUSES ARE A MANIFESTATION OF
HER -- HER -- HER BEING ON THIS
PLANE.
SO, TO BE IN THIS AND TO SEE
THIS CRAZY ENERGY THAT'S HERE IS
PRETTY LUSCIOUS AND LOVELY AND
INSPIRING.
>> LIVES BECOME WHERE WE TRY OUT
THINGS.
YOU GET TO CREATE THINGS AND,
YOU KNOW, WE WRITE A BOOK OR WE
CREATE A PIECE OF ART OR WE HAVE
A THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING, AND
THAT GETS CREATED IN THE
UNIVERSE.
>> YOU CAN CREATE AND WE CREATE
AND WE CREATE AND CREATE AND
CREATE, AND THERE ARE NO LIMITS.
TRULY THERE ARE NO LIMITS.
>> WHY DO WE GET CREATE ART?
>> I THINK THAT'S JUST FOR
PHYSICAL ENJOYMENT.
WE'RE ATTRACTED TO LIGHTS AND TO
SHINY THINGS, PRETTY THINGS.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE UGLY THINGS.
>> WHEN I COME HERE, I DON'T
MAKE ANY ART AT ALL.
I ONLY DRINK FROM THE WELL, AND
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS OASIS.
>> ART IS A BUSINESS, RIGHT?
I MEAN, PEOPLE PAY MONEY TO GO
TO A MUSEUM WHERE I WORK.
I GET PAID TO WORK AT A PLACE
WHERE PEOPLE PAY TO GO ON THEIR
DAY OFF -- RIGHT.
SO PEOPLE COME HERE -- IF YOU
COME HERE TO EXPERIENCE THE ART,
WHAT DO YOU GET?
WHAT DO YOU GET FOR YOUR MONEY?
>> THE BURNING MAN COMMUNITY IS
DEVOTED TO ACTS OF GIVING.
THE VALUE OF A GIFT IS
UNCONDITIONAL.
GIFTING DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE A
RETURN OR AN EXCHANGE FOR
SOMETHING OF EQUAL VALUE.
>> PEOPLE ARE DOING THINGS THAT
DON'T MAKE SENSE FINANCIALLY,
BUT THEY'RE INVESTING IN IT, AND
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
>> DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY
YOU HAVE.
>> THE LOVE AND THE SHARING AND
HOW PEOPLE HELP EACH OTHER AND
HOW THINGS ARE MAGICAL HERE.
>> THE IDEA OF BURNING MAN IS TO
BRING AN IDEA OF NO CASH,
SHARING, FAMILY, AND GIFTING.
YOU START OFF IN LITTLE CENTERS
AND YOU WORK OUT FROM THERE, AND
PEOPLE WILL COME HERE AND KIND
OF ABSORB WHAT'S GOING ON HERE
AND TAKE A LITTLE PIECE OF THAT
INTO THEIR LITTLE CORNER OF THE
WORLD.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE
READY TO STEP AWAY FROM MONETARY
TRANSACTIONS.
BUT BEING ABLE TO GIFT...
SOMETHING, AND IT'S NOT
NECESSARILY AN ITEM.
IT CAN BE YOUR TIME.
YOUR INSIGHTS.
GIFTING THOSE THINGS, I THINK,
HELPS BRING PEOPLE AROUND TO A
SLIGHTLY -- HELPS THEM SHIFT
THEIR PERSPECTIVE A LITTLE BIT.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, NOW, WE'VE
GONE SO FAR OFF THE TRACK
BY MODERN CULTURE AND COVERING
THE PLANET IN CONCRETE THAT
WE'VE MISSED A VERY IMPORTANT
TURNING POINT.
THIS IS AN INTERSECTION.
RIGHT NOW, I THINK, AS A
SPECIES, WE FACE PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE'RE
EVER GONNA FACE -- NOT WHETHER
WE'RE GONNA SURVIVE OR NOT, BUT
WHETHER WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY
EVOLVE.
>> YOU WANT TO WORK 9:00 TO 5:00
AND MAKE MONEY FOR A FUCKING
CORPORATION THAT DOESN'T GIVE A
FUCK ABOUT YOU AND SLAVE AWAY
AND SAVE AWAY AND BECOME
SOCIETY'S LITTLE BITCH AND NOT
THINK FOR YOURSELF, NOT HAVE ONE
SOLID THOUGHT THAT ACTUALLY
COMES FROM YOU AND LIVE YOUR
LIFE BEING TOLD HOW YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE.
>> I KILL MYSELF WITH THE WAY I
LIVE -- DRINKING, SMOKING.
YOU KNOW?
BUT 51 WEEKS OF THE YEAR, IT'S
SO HARD.
>> IS MONEY MEANINGFUL?
IT'S MEANINGFUL IF YOU NEED A
SANDWICH.
>> [ LAUGHS ]
TO EAT AND SURVIVE.
>> YEAH, IF YOU NEED TO SURVIVE
IN THE WORLD, IT'S GODDAMN
MEANINGFUL.
IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER
A DOLLAR MEANS ANYTHING,
PROBABLY NOT, BUT, YOU KNOW,
SOCIETY SAYS IT IS, AND WE LIVE
IN SOCIETY, SO IT DOES.
>> THE HARD, DRIVEN PURSUIT FOR
MONEY, THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM.
>> SOCIETY GENERALLY ENDS UP
BEING A TIERED SYSTEM, AND I
DON'T THINK SOCIETY SHOULD BE A
TIERED SYSTEM.
I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY.
>> THE COMMUNITY OUT HERE HAS
REALLY HAD AN IMPRESSION ON ME.
THERE'S REALLY A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY, AND THE GIFTING
ECONOMY IS REALLY COOL BECAUSE I
THINK EVERYONE HERE IS JUST ON
SUCH A SAME PAGE HERE AT
BURNING MAN THAT YOU CAN THINK
SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED, AND IT
WILL COMPLETELY MANIFEST ITSELF
IN YOUR LIFE.
>> BEING PART OF THIS COMMUNITY
AND HELP PEOPLE OUT, AND I DO
STUFF, OF COURSE, IN RETURN.
>> THEN THAT'S WHAT YOU GET.
YOU GET WHATEVER YOU WANT.
I MEAN, I THINK, HONESTLY,
BURNING MAN IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF
IT, HONESTLY.
IT'S LIKE WHAT YOU REALLY -- AS
MEANINGFUL AS YOU WANT IT TO BE,
THAT'S HOW MEANINGFUL IT'LL
BRING BACK TO YOU.
>> ONE OF THE BIG MEANINGS OF
LIFE IS GIVING YOURSELF TO
OTHERS, AND I THINK THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT BURNING MAN HAS
KIND OF MADE MORE APPARENT TO
ME JUST BECAUSE WE KIND OF KNOW
THAT.
YOU KNOW THAT YOU FEEL GOOD WHEN
YOU'RE GIVING AND YOU'RE SHARING
AND THERE'S COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S
AMAZING HOW YOU REALIZE HOW
CONNECTED EVERYONE IS, EVEN
THOUGH YOU DON'T THINK THAT YOU
ARE.
>> * IT MUST BE FREE
* IT'S A RIGHT
* THE WATER, AIR, AND LAND
* DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE
HEADED? *
>> PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO TAKE
YOU IN AND FEED YOU AND PARTY
WITH YOU, AND THAT'S A REALLY
NEAT THING, AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS
FIND THAT IN THE DEFAULT WORLD.
>> IT'S A CHANGE HOW IT IS AS
AN ADULT, YOU KNOW, UP HERE, TO
SEE THOSE OTHER WAYS OF
GIFTING -- ALL THE, YOU KNOW,
THE GIFTING KIND OF PHILOSOPHY.
IT'S AMAZING. IT'S SO DIFFERENT.
>> IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE
SPIRIT OF GIFTING, THIS
COMMUNITY SEEKS TO CREATE SOCIAL
ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE UNMEDIATED
BY COMMERCIAL SPONSORSHIPS,
TRANSACTIONS, OR ADVERTISING.
THEY STAND READY TO PROTECT OUR
CULTURE FROM SUCH EXPLOITATION.
THEY RESIST THE SUBSTITUTION OF
CONSUMPTION FOR PARTICIPATORY
EXPERIENCE.
>> WORKS JUST BECAUSE A BUNCH OF
POWER-HUNGRY, SELFISH
INDIVIDUALS WHO KNOW NOTHING
ABOUT SHARING IN LIFE WITH
OTHERS.
>> 21st CENTURY IS GONNA BE
ABOUT RESOURCE WARS.
>> THERE'S INFINITE RESOURCES
FOR EVERY PERSON THAT'S ALIVE.
>> PEOPLE LIKE WAR.
>> MM-HMM.
>> OTHERWISE IT WOULDN'T EXIST.
IF EVERYONE SAID, "NO, I DON'T
WANT A WAR," HOW CAN IT EXIST?
SOMEBODY CREATES WAR BECAUSE
THEY'RE ENJOYING THE FUCK OUT OF
IT.
>> PEOPLE ARE A BUNCH OF
ASSHOLES.
>> SOMETIMES, AS A SPECIES, WE
DO THINGS THAT ARE JUST
INCREDIBLY STUPID.
>> IF WE'RE GONNA MODERATE OUR
CONSUMPTION, WE HAVE TO FIND OUR
SATISFACTIONS APART FROM --
APART FROM CONSUMPTION.
>> IT'S JUST FEAR THAT THE OTHER
MAN HAS SOMETHING THAT I WANT,
AND THE ILLUSION THAT WHAT I
WANT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING OF
VALUE.
>> THERE'S A BELIEF IN
OWNERSHIP.
THERE'S AVARICE. THERE'S GREED.
>> BUT I THINK THAT WAR IS
ACTUALLY MORE EXCITING THAN
PEACE.
>> YEAH?
WHY?
>> DUDE, IT'S FULL OF
ADRENALINE.
AND THAT CAN BE A GREAT FEELING.
IT'S VERY SELF-RIGHTEOUS.
>> IT'S POWER -- IT'S POWERFUL
IF YOU CAN SHOOT YOUR OPPONENT.
>> WAR, I THINK, STARTS WITH
DEFENSE AND AGGRESSION, AND
THAT, YOU KNOW, GOES BACK TO
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR, YOU KNOW?
TERRITORIAL, UM...
[ CLEARS THROAT ]
...AND PROTECTING YOUR OWN.
THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE DARKNESS
IN THE WORLD, I THINK.
WAR IS PART OF THAT.
BUT WE'RE DIMINISHING IT, I
THINK.
IT'S GETTING BETTER.
AND I HAVE FAITH THAT IT WILL
CONTINUE TO.
>> LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO FIGHT.
>> LIFE IS DEFINITELY TOO SHORT.
>> AND WE NEED TO MAKE THIS THE
BEST EXPERIENCE EVER AND REALIZE
THAT EVERYTHING YOU LEARN HERE,
WE NEED TO TAKE BACK TO OUR
REALITY AND MAKE THE WORLD A
BETTER PLACE BECAUSE, IN
REALITY, IT SUCKS.
PEOPLE HATE EACH OTHER, AND
THERE'S TOO MANY WARS.
>> WHAT SUCKS ABOUT LIFE IS THE
PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT SUCK.
>> WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MAKE
THINGS BETTER FOR OTHER PEOPLE
AND OTHER CREATURES AND OTHER
THINGS THAT EXIST HERE AMONG
US.
>> IT'S LIKE LEARNING HOW TO
REALLY APPRECIATE THE CAKE WE'RE
EATING.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE JUST SNARFING
IT, AND WE'RE COMPLAINING.
>> FILL YOUR MIND AND NOT YOUR
POCKETS.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
>> THEY VALUE CIVIL SOCIETY.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ORGANIZE
EVENTS SHOULD ASSUME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC
WELFARE AND ENDEAVOR TO
COMMUNICATE CIVIC
RESPONSIBILITIES TO
PARTICIPANTS.
THEY MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY
FOR CONDUCTING EVENTS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL, STATE,
AND FEDERAL LAWS.
>> "BUT IF WE TRULY COMBINE THE
DIVINE WITH THE MIND, WE STILL
FIND THAT THIS WORLD, AFTER ALL,
CAN BE KIND, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE
INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT
MANKIND, WITH DESIGN, TO BE
CONFINED TO PERPETUAL GRIND."
>> WE NEED TO GET RID OF MAJOR
CORPORATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE
TO PROFIT.
THEY'RE POISONING US THROUGH
FOOD.
THEY'RE RUINING OUR DNA.
>> [ SINGING INDISTINCTLY ]
>> OUR ECONOMY IS SO BAD, AND SO
MANY PEOPLE WHO USED TO HAVE
JOBS DON'T HAVE JOBS ANYMORE.
IT MAKES IT A LOT DIFFERENT WHEN
YOU DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BUY ALL
THE THINGS THAT THE CORPORATIONS
ARE FORCING DOWN OUR THROAT.
>> THERE'S CHANGES AFOOT.
>> I THINK THE DEFAULT WORLD'S
GONNA HAVE TO SHIFT.
IT'S GONNA SHIFT.
>> OH, SHIT!
>> THE SHIFT'S GONNA HIT THE
FAN.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> I REALLY FEEL LIKE RIGHT NOW
WE ARE ON TOP OF SOME SORT OF
TSUNAMI WAVE THAT WE'RE JUST
KIND OF RIDING ON, AND WE'LL
SEE, YOU KNOW, SOON WHERE IT
LANDS.
>> AND WE'RE GONNA CO-CREATE
WHERE IT LANDS.
>> WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA
CO-CREATE IT.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT THAT'S
WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS THAT PEOPLE ARE -- THE MEDIA
AND CORPORATIONS AND SOCIETY --
LIKE, THAT PART OF SOCIETY --
DOES SUCH A GOOD WAY OF, LIKE,
DISATTACHING YOURSELF FROM ONE
ANOTHER BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE
POWER OF WHEN WE COME TOGETHER
AND OF WHEN WE'RE ALIGNED WITH
EACH OTHER, AND SO THEY DO
EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO
MAKE US DIFFERENT FROM ONE
ANOTHER.
>> WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED, SO
WE ALL CHANGE WHAT WE ALL DO, SO
IT'S LIKE WE ALL -- WE ARE ALL
ONE IN A SENSE, SO WE ALL AFFECT
EVERYTHING.
SO, IF WE ARE NOT GOOD TO NATURE
AND GOOD TO, LIKE, LIFE, AND
GOOD TO ONE ANOTHER AND GOOD TO
THE EARTH, LIKE, WE ARE
DEFINITELY NOT GOOD TO
OURSELVES.
[ INDISTINCT CHANTING ]
>> WE'VE GOTTEN SO LAZY THAT WE
THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO
THINGS FOR US.
>> IT DOESN'T TAKE A GOVERNING
BODY OVER ALL TO SAY YOU'RE
DOING WRONG OR YOU'RE DOING
RIGHT.
I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS WHEN
THEY'RE FUCKING UP.
>> WHEN WE WAKE UP TO THE
REALIZATION THAT WE'RE VERY
HIGH SPIRITUAL BEINGS, WE HAVE A
FRAGMENT OF GOD WITHIN US,
WE CAN DO ANYTHING.
THERE'S NO LIMITATIONS PLACED ON
US EXCEPT THE ONES WE PLACE ON
OURSELVES, AND THAT'S WHAT'S SO
IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS IS THAT
WE'RE SHOWING THE WORLD THAT WE
CAN COME TOGETHER AS A BIG,
HUGE, GIGANTIC GROUP AND
FUNCTION IN TOTAL HARMONY.
>> WE LOVE BURNING MAN BECAUSE
IT'S A SLICE OF HOW SOCIETY
COULD BE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD LAST
MORE THAN TWO WEEKS IN THIS
IDYLLIC, WONDERFUL PLAYA.
BUT LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, BE KIND,
DON'T BE A JERK.
>> ACTUALLY, I DO KNOW THE
MEANING OF LIFE.
ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW THE MEANING
OF LIFE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FOR IT IN
SOME GURU OR SOME YOGA POSE OR
SOME CHANTING MANTRA AND GIVING
THANKS TO THE EAST AND ALL THAT
STUFF.
THAT'S ALL COOL.
THAT'S ALL FINE AND DANDY.
BUT THE UNIVERSE DOESN'T THINK
ABOUT THINGS.
THE UNIVERSE DOESN'T JUDGE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE CEREMONY.
IT JUST DOES. IT IS.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S CLICHé, BUT YOU
ARE THE CHANGE.
SO JUST BE SILLY.
[ CHUCKLES ]
AND LOVE EACH OTHER, YOU KNOW,
AND FUCKING -- I DON'T KNOW.
JUST GO FLY WITH THE EAGLE.
>> YOUR MEANING OF LIFE IS WHAT
YOU CONTRIBUTE TO THE UNIVERSE.
>> YES.
IT'S "HOW CAN I BETTER THE
UNIVERSE?"
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC.
>> "HOW CAN I USE THE INNATE
GIFTS THAT WERE GIVEN TO ME"...
>> I TOTALLY AGREE.
>> ..."TO THE FULLEST CAPACITY?"
>> AND I'VE ACTUALLY HAD THIS
THOUGHT RECENTLY WHERE PEOPLE
ARE ALWAYS SO FOCUSED ON, LIKE,
THEIR CONTRIBUTION HAVING TO BE,
LIKE, ON SUCH A BIG SCALE.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND I RECENTLY THINK, LIKE,
YOU JUST HAVE TO PICK ONE
THING -- ONE THING YOU'RE GOOD
AT, AND YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO
REALIZE HOW THAT'S IMPACTING.
YOU JUST NEED TO DO IT, AND IF
EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD JUST
STICKS TO THAT ONE THING AND
EVERYBODY DOES THAT ONE THING
THEY'RE GOOD AT IT, WHEN YOU ADD
IT ALL UP, I MEAN, THAT'S A
SHITLOAD OF THINGS.
[ LAUGHS ]
>> YEAH, THAT'S A SHITLOAD OF
SYNERGY RIGHT THERE, YEAH.
>> YEAH.
>> LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOOD!
YOU'RE RIGHT!
YOU'RE A HUMAN BEING!
AND YOU'RE HERE.
AND YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON.
[ INHALES DEEPLY ]
YOU'RE A HUMAN BEING, AND YOU'RE
HERE FOR A REASON.
YOU'RE HERE TO DO SOMETHING.
>> INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN KNOWN
TO CHANGE SOCIETY.
>> YES.
>> USUALLY AT THEIR OWN --
THEY PROBABLY HAVE TO DIE FIRST.
>> WE CAN MAKE THE WORLD BETTER.
>> PEOPLE HAD BETTER WISE UP AND
START REVERSING THE POPULATION
EXPLOSION, OR MOTHER EARTH IS
GONNA DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT'LL
WIPE US ALL OUT BEFORE WE WIPE
OURSELVES OUT.
>> HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW.
>> CORRECT.
>> LEAVE NO TRACE BEHIND.
>> THIS COMMUNITY RESPECTS THE
ENVIRONMENT AND ARE COMMITTED TO
LEAVING NO PHYSICAL TRACE OF
THEIR ACTIVITIES.
THEY CLEAN UP AFTER THEMSELVES
AND ENDEAVOR, WHENEVER POSSIBLE,
TO LEAVE SUCH PLACES IN A BETTER
STATE THAN THEY FOUND THEM.
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY IN, LIKE,
NATIONAL PARKLANDS RIGHT NOW,
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST "LEAVE
NO TRACE" REALLY MEANS "LEAVE NO
TRACE."
>> IT'S THE LARGEST NO-TRACE
EVENT IN THE WORLD.
TWO WEEKS AFTER WE LEAVE HERE,
THE ONLY THING LEFT IS A FEW
TIRE TRACKS.
THEY'VE EVEN SCRAPED THE GROUNDS
WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC...
>> I KIND OF FEEL LIKE I'M
FORTUNATE -- I GET TO DO ABOUT
FOUR PARTS OF BURNING MAN.
I GET TO GO TO A VERY EARLY PART
WHEN I'M LITERALLY ONE OF THE
FIRST 50 PEOPLE, 30 PEOPLE TO
MOVE OUT HERE, AND NOW ALL OF
YOU PEOPLE ARE CAMPING IN MY
YARD -- NO.
AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER WEEK
WHERE WE'RE DOING A LOT MORE
BUILDING, A LOT MORE BUILDING,
AND DEPARTMENTS ARE STARTING TO
SHOW UP, AND THEN THERE'S THE
WEEK OF, AND THEN THERE'S THE
WEEK AFTER, AND I DO ADMIT ON
LIKE, MONDAY, EVEN SUNDAY, WHEN
PEOPLE START TO JUST PULL UP
THEIR STAKES AND GO AWAY, I'M
KIND OF LIKE, "DARN!"
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER GET
TO DO IT ALL.
BUT I'VE GOTTEN USED TO THAT
CYCLE, AND THAT'S NATURAL, AND
IN A WAY, EACH OF THOSE FOUR
SECTIONS HAS A LOT TO OFFER.
>> YOU'RE LIKE "THE
BURNING MAN."
THEY'RE ALL -- "BURN THE MAN!"
AND THEY'RE ALL GOING LIKE THIS,
ALL THESE THINGS, TO GET THE MAN
BURNED.
>> THE CREATOR WENT INTO THE MAN
TONIGHT, AND HE WAS CO-CREATING
ALL ALONG.
HE EXPLODED IN THE HEART AND
WENT BACK TO THE SOURCE, HIS
BELOVED, PASSIONATE CREATOR.
>> IT'S VERY PRIMITIVE.
I THINK IT'S DEEP IN A LOT OF
PEOPLE'S HEARTS AND SOULS.
[ FIREWORKS EXPLODING ]
>> AS THE FESTIVAL INEVITABLY
DRAWS TO AN END, ONE IS REMINDED
THAT AN UNESCAPABLE PART OF LIFE
IS DEATH.
>> THE MAN BURNS, AND WE
DISAPPEAR WITHOUT A TRACE.
>> BUT WE WERE HERE.
>> BUT THEN ULTIMATELY, WE ARE
ALL JUST DUST.
>> WHAT SUCKS ABOUT LIFE -- THE
DEATH.
THE ENDING.
>> WHERE THEY GO WHEN YOU DIE --
I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK PROBABLY OUR ENERGY
STAYS PUT.
DON'T KNOW IF I BELIEVE IN
REINCARNATION OR JUST...
THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU PASS ON,
YOUR ENERGY STAYS AROUND AND
BECOMES SOMETHING ELSE.
>> "NOW THAT YOU ARE GONE, YOU
ARE EVERYWHERE" MADE ME FEEL
GOOD ABOUT THE PASSING OF MY
PARENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM...
BUT I SORT OF -- WHEN I GO,
MAYBE I'D JUST LIKE TO BE DUMPED
IN THE OCEAN AND FED ON BY LIFE
OR SOMETHING.
I MEAN, I WANT THE WORMS TO GET
ME.
>> I ACTUALLY DON'T BELIEVE
THERE'S A HEAVEN AND HELL.
I ACTUALLY THINK WHEN WE GO
UNDERGROUND, WE JUST ROT, YOU
KNOW?
YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO BE
FUCKING ALIVE, AND, YOU KNOW,
WHEN THAT SHIT'S WRECKED, YOU
KNOW, WHEN IT'S SNUFFED OUT,
IT SNUFFS OUT.
>> I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IN
REINCARNATION.
I DEFINITELY BELIEVE WE HAVE OLD
SOULS WITHIN US THAT WE'RE
RE-LIVING DIFFERENT AREAS OF
DIFFERENT LIVES.
>> THERE'S A CONTINUITY TO
BEING, WITHOUT A DOUBT.
WE HAVE TOO MUCH TO LEARN IN ONE
LIFETIME.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TOO
MUCH TO FIGURE OUT.
SO IT TAKES TIME TO KIND OF
WORK OUT ALL THE KINKS.
>> AT THE END, WE ALL FIGURE IT
OUT.
>> AND THE WHOLE POINT IS TO
PERPETUATE OURSELVES AND TO KEEP
LIVING.
AND YET WE'RE THE ONLY ANIMAL
THAT WILL [GRUNTS] WHEN WE GET
DEPRESSED.
AND I GUESS THAT'S THE NEXT
STAGE OF IT.
AND WHAT THIS WHOLE PLACE MEANS
TO ME IS THAT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE
THE ONLY ANIMAL THAT WILL END
ITS OWN LIFE, WE ARE ALSO, TO MY
ESTIMATION, THE ONLY CREATURE ON
THIS PLANET THAT WILL DO ALL OF
BURNING MAN JUST FOR THE SAKE OF
IT.
AND IT'S THAT WIDE SPECTRUM
BETWEEN THOSE TWO QUALITIES THAT
HUMANS -- ALL HUMANS -- SHARE IS
SOMEWHERE IN THAT GULF IS MAYBE
THE MEANING.
>> TO ME, I FEEL LIKE I'M AT A
POINT WHERE, LIKE, I WAKE UP IN
THE MORNING, AND I'M JUST LIKE,
"WHY DON'T I JUST GO HOP IN
FRONT OF TRAFFIC?"
I LOOK AT LIFE AS A PATHWAY TO
DEATH.
I GUESS THAT'S KIND OF
PESSIMISTIC.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MEANING OF
LIFE IS.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.
>> THE THOUGHT OF SUICIDE CAME
INTO MY HEAD, AND I THOUGHT,
"WHY?
WHY LIVE?"
AND THEN SOMETHING TOLD ME TO
VERBALIZE THAT.
AND SO I TURNED TO MY FRIEND
MEREDITH, AND I SAID, "WHY ARE
WE LIVING?
WHY CONTINUE ON WITH LIFE IF I'M
SO ALONE AND THINGS ARE SO
DIFFICULT?
WHY NOT END IT?"
AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THE MEANING
OF LIFE IS TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS
WITH PEOPLE AND THAT EVEN THOUGH
IT'S DISAPPOINTING AND EVEN
THOUGH WE HURT EACH OTHER, THAT
THE POINT OF LIFE IS TO
EXPERIENCE THINGS FROM OUR OWN
PERSPECTIVE AND WITH OTHER
PEOPLE AND TO SHARE THOSE
EXPERIENCES AND THOSE
PERSPECTIVES WITH ONE ANOTHER
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE LEARN.
AND BURNING MAN FITS IN TO THAT
VERY STRONGLY, I THINK, BECAUSE
WE ALL COME HERE, AND PEOPLE ARE
OPEN TO ONE ANOTHER.
>> [ Sobbing ] SORRY.
I JUST CAME FROM THE TEMPLE.
I LOST A DEAR ONE TO ME LAST
YEAR.
WE SHARED A BURNING MAN
EXPERIENCE THAT WAS -- IT WAS
HORRIBLE.
IT WAS NOTHING LIKE ANY OTHER
YEAR I'VE BEEN HERE.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE,
AND I LOVE EVERYONE HERE.
AND HE WENT HOME, AND HE HUNG
HIMSELF.
I WAS VERY GRATEFUL THIS YEAR
THAT THERE WAS A PLACE LIKE A
TEMPLE WHERE I CAN GO, THAT I
CAN LEAVE HIM HERE, BECAUSE THIS
IS WHERE HE BELONGS.
>> I JUST CAME FROM THE TEMPLE
AND LOST SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL TO
ME THIS YEAR, AND IT'S --
BURNING MAN HAS BEEN TO ME A
SPIRITUAL-GROWTH OPPORTUNITY.
>> I HAD A MOMENT WITH A COUPLE
GUYS IN THE TEMPLE.
AND A GENTLEMAN HAD A DEATH IN
THE FAMILY.
HIS FATHER DIED.
AND I JUST SAT THERE AND
COMFORTED HIM FOR A WHILE, AND
IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL GOOD THAT
I WAS ABLE TO GIVE MY HEART OUT
AND MAKE SOMEBODY FEEL BETTER
ABOUT THEMSELVES.
>> MORTALITY -- YOU GOT TO
HESITATE.
YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL.
YOU DON'T WANT TO LOSE THAT
LIFE.
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.
ENJOY IT.
ACCEPT IT.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.
>> ON SATURDAY NIGHT, WHEN THE
MAN BURNS, IT'S A BIG PARTY.
YOU'LL FIND OUT ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
50,000 PEOPLE -- SILENCE,
SERENITY.
IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.
>> IF YOU WOULD BE SO GENUINE AS
TO REACH OUT TO THOSE AROUND
YOU, TO REACH OUT TO THOSE NEXT
TO YOU, AND WE CAN ALL BE
CONNECTED AS THE TEMPLE BURNS.
[ FIRE CRACKLING ]
>> IT'S ALL ABOUT THE RELEASE.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S JOYFUL,
WHETHER IT'S SORROW -- WHATEVER
IT IS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE
RELEASE.
AND BURNING IT IS THE WAY TO
RELEASE IT.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALL
HERE -- WE'RE TRYING TO DO
TODAY.
IT'S BECOME -- BEING LIKE THE
PHOENIX, REALLY -- TRANSFORM
OURSELVES, EVOLVE.
LET THAT OLD PART OF OURSELVES
DIE.
LET GO OF THINGS.
I WROTE SOMETHING INSIDE OF A
LETTER I PUT WITH MY LOVE'S
ASHES.
HE PASSED AWAY ABOUT FOUR YEARS
AGO.
I PUT SOME OF HIS ASHES INTO THE
TEMPLE TO BE BURNED.
>> I CAST MY GRIEF HERE, AND
ALSO MY INTENTIONS FOR WHAT I
WANT TO DO NEXT.
>> IT IS LIKE A REBIRTH.
I FEEL LIKE THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE
TO DO.
I KNOW I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME.
>> I THINK FOR ME, IT WAS A SLOW
BURN INSIDE.
>> IT WAS AS IF ALL OF THE
ENERGY OF THE SPIRITS ARE
SPIRALING UPWARD.
>> CHANGING THE WINDS OF THE
WORLD.
>> BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT WE
TAKE THE CITY DOWN AND PUT IT
BACK UP AGAIN, WE GET TO GO
THROUGH A FULL BIRTH-DEATH CYCLE
EVERY YEAR HERE.
>> I THINK ONE OF THE MEANINGS
HAS TO DO WITH CYCLES -- CYCLES
OF LIFE.
>> AS THE TEMPLE AND ALL OF
THE -- YOU KNOW, THE MAN AND ALL
OF THESE VERY TEMPORARY,
BEAUTIFUL THINGS REMIND US, LIFE
REALLY IS SHORT, AND THERE IS NO
SECOND CHANCE.
THIS REALLY IS IT.
SO LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST,
REALLY, AND LOVE AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE.
>> WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END?
YOU DIE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR WHOLE LIFE
HAS BEEN WASTED.
WE ALL NEED TO WAKE UP TO THIS.
>> IMMEDIATE EXPERIENCE IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT TOUCHSTONE OF
VALUE WITHIN THIS CULTURE.
NO IDEA CAN SUBSTITUTE FOR THIS
EXPERIENCE.
>> LIFE IS SO SHORT.
LIKE...
YOU SHOULD BE PASSIONATE ABOUT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND, LIKE,
YOU SHOULD BE NICE TO PEOPLE
AND, YEAH, LIKE, DO WHAT YOU
NEED TO DO.
>> LIFE IS SHOCKINGLY SHORT.
IT'S ONE REASON I THINK I COME
TO BURNING MAN -- 'CAUSE LIFE IS
SO TRAGICALLY SHORT.
AND YOU CAN MISS THE WHOLE
THING.
>> LIFE'S FOR LIVING.
>> DO IT NOW.
>> AND IT'S REALLY SHORT, SO,
YOU KNOW, MIGHT AS WELL HAVE
FUN.
>> ONE THING I'M GONNA TELL YOU
IS THAT NOW IS ALL YOU HAVE.
APPRECIATE THE DIVINITY OF THIS
MOMENT.
NOW IS ALL YOU HAVE.
TIME IS A CONSTRUCT THAT WE
APPLY TO MAKE SENSE OF CHANGE,
BUT ALL CHANGE OCCURS IN THE
PRESENT.
THE PAST AND THE FUTURE ARE ONLY
CONCEPTS THAT MAKE SENSE OF THIS
CHANGE.
SO ENJOY, EMBRACE.
NOW IS ALL YOU HAVE.
>> STOP THINKING ABOUT THE
FUTURE AND THE PAST AND STAY IN
THE MOMENT OF NOW.
AND THEN IT'S SO MUCH EASIER
'CAUSE THE HUMAN BRAIN ALWAYS
WANTS TO GO, "OH, MAN, LOOK WHAT
HAPPENED TO ME."
>> I THINK THAT IF YOU SPEND ALL
OF YOUR TIME SEARCHING FOR THE
MEANING, THEN YOU KIND OF MISS
THE POINT.
>> IF WE'RE CHASING SOMETHING
THAT WE THINK EXISTS, BUT WE'RE
NOT SURE, WE'RE NOT REALLY
LIVING.
ONLY WHEN WE LET GO OF THESE
POSSIBILITIES AND LET GO OF THE
FUTURE OR DESIRES, THAT'S WHEN
WE START TO LIVE.
>> ENJOY ABSOLUTELY EVERY SINGLE
SECOND TO ITS FULLEST.
>> WORD!
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> THIS MOMENT NOW IN SINGULARLY
TIME -- IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL THING THAT WE ALL HAVE
THIS MOMENT TO SHARE.
>> "TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE TO
ENJOY WHAT YOU CAN TODAY."
>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TRY AND
HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS,
AND EVERYBODY WORK TOGETHER.
TO ME, THAT'S HAPPINESS.
>> IT RECONNECTS YOU TO THE
PRESENT.
IT MAKES THE PRESENT MEANINGFUL.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALL LIVING
IN A WORLD THAT IS MORE
MEANINGFUL THAN ANYTHING ANY OF
US EVER EXPERIENCED EVER.
>> WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
>> WHAT IS REALITY?
CAN WE ANSWER A QUESTION WITH A
QUESTION?
>> [ LAUGHS ]
>> WHAT IS IT WORTH TO YOU?
>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?
>> FIND YOURSELF, THEN YOU GO
FIND MEANING.
>> MEDITATE, PRAYER, TAKE CARE
OF YOURSELF, TAKE CARE OF THE
PEOPLE AROUND YOU.
>> WE ARE HERE TO CREATE AND
LIVE AND HAVE LOTS OF
EXPERIENCES IN LIFE AND SHARE
AND LOVE AND EAT WELL AND MAKE
LOVE AND GIVE LOVE AND SHARE
LOVE WITH EVERYBODY IN THE WHOLE
WORLD.
>> "WITH THIS CRAZY LIFE I LIVE,
I TRULY LIVE."
"I LOVE MYSELF RIGHT NOW TOTALLY
AS I AM."
>> SIMPLY, THE MEANING OF LIFE
IS LOVE.
>> I THINK IT'S -- LIFE'S ABOUT
GETTING OUT THERE AND MAKING A
DIFFERENCE IN OTHER PEOPLE'S
LIVES.
>> THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO DO
THE RIGHT THING AND TO HELP
OTHERS.
>> LIFE IS ABOUT CARING AS MUCH
AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN FOR EVERYONE
AROUND YOU AND FEELING THAT
INNER CONNECTION BETWEEN
EVERYTHING AND THEN LETTING THAT
FLOW AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
>> I LOVE EVERYBODY.
I LOVE YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT I
LOVE YOU.
>> IF EVERYONE TREATED EACH
OTHER LIKE THE HOTEL CONCIERGE,
THE WORLD WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT
PLACE.
THERE MIGHT BE JUST A LITTLE TOO
MUCH EGO.
WELL, MAYBE ONE DAY WE'LL CUT
THAT OUT.
>> JUST CONNECT.
>> THE MEANING OF LIFE IS TO
CONNECT WITH AND ENJOY THE
PEOPLE THAT WE LOVE AND TO LEARN
OUR SOUL'S PURPOSE FOR BEING
HERE AND TO BE IN SERVICE AND TO
GROW, EXPLORE, AND HAVE FUN.
>> TO MANIFEST YOURSELF AS THE
MOST COMPASSIONATE PERSON YOU
COULD BE, TO STAY PRESENT, TO BE
KIND AND GENEROUS, TO LOVE, TO
DARE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE, TO GO
OUT THERE AND HAVE SOME KIDS,
HAVE A FAMILY, SEE THINGS.
>> SPREAD THE MESSAGE.
>> YEAH, SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF
LIFE.
>> OF LOVE.
OF LOVE.
>> OF LOVE.
>> I THINK THE PURPOSE OF LIFE
IS TRYING TO REACH YOUR FULL
SPIRITUAL SELF, TO RESPECT ALL
THINGS -- PEOPLE, THE EARTH, AND
THE ANIMALS, TRYING TO REACH
YOUR HIGHEST LEVEL AND BE HAPPY
WITH YOURSELF AND TO LEARN TO
LOVE YOURSELF.
>> I FEEL LIKE, JUST, THE
OVERALL MEANING OF LIFE IS JUST
TO LIVE IT.
>> MAKE IT GOOD.
MAKE IT BIG.
MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, AS GOOD AS
YOU CAN.
STEP IT UP.
>> REACH INTO THE IMAGINAL --
SOURCE SOMETHING IN THE IMAGINAL
REALM, AND THEN PHYSICALLY
MANIFEST IT IN 3-D REALITY, AND
THEN PARTICIPATE INSIDE OF OUR
OWN CREATIONS.
AND THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A
CREATOR -- A BEING THAT CAN
CREATE WORLDS THAT DIDN'T EXIST
BEFORE -- SOMETHING FROM SOME
PLACE OF KNOWING THAT IS UNSEEN,
AND THAT IS WHAT WE CALL OUR
IMAGINATION.
>> BURNING MAN, FOR ME, IS A SEA
OF CREATIVE POSSIBILITY -- THE
PLAY OF THE IMAGINATION AND,
AT THE END, THE ATTEMPT TO KIND
OF COMPENSATE FOR A LOT OF THE
THINGS THAT ARE LIMITING US IN A
LARGER CULTURE.
AND THEN HOPEFULLY, WE CAN TAKE
THESE CONNECTIONS, THIS
INSPIRATION, THESE EXPERIENCES,
BACK INTO THAT WORLD AND, YOU
KNOW, POTENTIALLY REFORM IT.
>> WE SHOULD EXALT CREATIVITY.
WE SHOULD EXALT COMMUNITY.
WE SHOULD EXALT A SENSE OF,
LIKE, BEING THE BEST OF WHO WE
CAN BE.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE HERE REALLY
SHINE.
THEY'RE FRIENDLY, THEY'RE
ENGAGED WITH EACH OTHER.
THEY FEEL ALIVE.
SO REMEMBER YOU'RE ALIVE.
REMEMBER LIFE IS SHORT, AND
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME DOING
MEANINGLESS THINGS.
AND TRY AND FIND SOMETHING THAT
YOU LOVE AND PEOPLE THAT YOU
LOVE TO DO IT WITH, AND LIVE AS
ACTIVELY AND PASSIONATELY AS YOU
POSSIBLY CAN.
>> THE MEANING OF LIFE FOR ME IS
LOVE.
>> LIFE IS ABOUT LOVING
YOURSELF, LOVING OTHER PEOPLE,
LOVING THE UNIVERSE AND THE
WORLD -- THE EARTH THAT WE LIVE
ON.
>> I THINK THAT THE MEANING OF
LIFE IS LOVE.
>> I LOVE YOU.
>> WHILE I KNOW YOU'RE STRONG,
MAY YOUR JOURNEY BE LONG.
AND NOW I WISH YOU THE BEST OF
LUCK.