Pure mind festivals?

[Stuparod]

OK, simple agenda - I'm on the Buddhafield Festival team - and we don't have bars on site - we ask drug dealers to leave, and strongly discourage visible personal use of any recreational drugs.

WTF!? Was the response from some people at previous Buddhafields. Some tried it out, some couldn't handle it and left. Everyone else had a great time.

So - the Topic is - can you do it? I get into a debate on global warming - and there's 80 people crammed in there, all wide awake and relaxed. Great debate! I cram into an Exstatic Dance marque - and everyone is bright eyed and beautiful. I sit to meditate in a bender with 60 or so others - and it's quiet and peaceful, with no-one trying to sell me ketamine. The weather gets up overnight - and I hear someone pushing in a peg on my tent that had blown loose. My tent blows down - and I'm put up for the night, with kids - until it calms down.

Do you go the festivals to save the planet - or forget the planet?

[Donkey]

If you can meditate well enough, you don't need any drugs.

[llcoolphil]

If you can meditate well enough, you don't need any drugs.

[worm]

you don't want a load of battered people trying to discuss global warming anyway.

[Stuparod]

Though why risk it?

More seriously, its a horses for courses thing isn't it. Buddhafield sounds like it has a particular kind of vibe which i reckon would probably be fun for a weekend - you don't want a load of battered people trying to discuss global warming anyway. And the only Budddhist friend I have - he posts on here occasionally - is testament to the fact that you need neither drink nor drugs to get bouncin at a festival.

[Stuparod]

Precisely! The last thing I want to be is smashed when I meet that fascinating person, hear this amazing idea - or see some wonderful performance, artwork, a great band or whatever - and want to get involved. I can't do it when I'm a wreck. I tried this out when going clubbing a few years back - I convinced a bunch of guys who came with me to stay sober - and it was amazing. They stayed cool, danced way better than the drunks around us - and we was magnetic! The girls liked what they were seeing. It works just as well at festivals.

[Alcatraz]

Precisely! The last thing I want to be is smashed when I meet that fascinating person, hear this amazing idea - or see some wonderful performance, artwork, a great band or whatever - and want to get involved. I can't do it when I'm a wreck. I tried this out when going clubbing a few years back - I convinced a bunch of guys who came with me to stay sober - and it was amazing. They stayed cool, danced way better than the drunks around us - and we was magnetic! The girls liked what they were seeing. It works just as well at festivals.

[philipsteak]

Precisely! The last thing I want to be is smashed when I meet that fascinating person, hear this amazing idea - or see some wonderful performance, artwork, a great band or whatever - and want to get involved. I can't do it when I'm a wreck. I tried this out when going clubbing a few years back - I convinced a bunch of guys who came with me to stay sober - and it was amazing. They stayed cool, danced way better than the drunks around us - and we was magnetic! The girls liked what they were seeing. It works just as well at festivals.

[PeterD]

I dont take drugs, and the drinks I have had this year could be counted on one hand. I would love a sober festival. Off to google Budhafields.

[mj2004]

Yep, would totally be up for that. Was off my t*ts at Glastonbury and have only done one fest where I haven't dabbled now I'm a bit older and have a little one and hopefully have another one on the way next time will be a sober one. I want to remember more!

[nightcrawler13]

i've heard of buddhafields before, sounds like fun since mostly everyone would be sober

but being the only sober in the village, such as glastonbury, would be less fun

[worm]

A sober festival isn't for me. I spend enough time in sobriety without having my leisure time restricted.

[Donkey]

I've asked for time off to go to this one. With the drug fuelled pagan orgies of the Wickerman festival already booked up for the week after; this could add a good sense of balance to the summer revelries.

Thanks for posting about this Stuparod, I had never heard of Buddahfield before.

[Stuparod]

Nice mix of replies I've done Glastonbury both ways - and enjoyed it either way (the ticket process is almost impossible now, so I haven't bothered to try) I must admit I did enjoy watching one lone drunk on a Thursday afternoon at Buddhafield, who realised he was the odd one out, so he disappeared. Next day he reappeared, sober and really got into it, going great guns in the dance tent. Result! Me? I run hot showers and either hot tubs or a sauna as part of the BF site crew. I have given up trying to do that at Glastonbury, despite it being a major need, right? I do showers at Sunrise and Out of the Ordinary - and want to try more.

[rexclark]

A sober festival isn't for me. I spend enough time in sobriety without having my leisure time restricted.

[rabid]

Do you go the festivals to save the planet - or forget the planet?

[greenfairy43]

I've asked for time off to go to this one. With the drug fuelled pagan orgies of the Wickerman festival already booked up for the week after; this could add a good sense of balance to the summer revelries.

Thanks for posting about this Stuparod, I had never heard of Buddahfield before.

[greenfairy43]

And the only Budddhist friend I have - he posts on here occasionally - is testament to the fact that you need neither drink nor drugs to get bouncin at a festival.

[rexclark]

Damn. I must've gone to a different Wickerman.

[Stuparod]

Can you really save the planet by going to a festival?

[Stuparod]

No rabid, you can't! Running out of oil will help.. Until then it's damage limitation.. WE are going to go to festivals anyway - instead of flying to Thailand. That's one plus. So it's solar and wind powered rather than chugging diesel generators everywhere, another plus. It's composting loos rather than the big flush and I, for one, have learned a lot more about how to live better on this world at festivals than I ever learnt trolling around Sainsburys..

The point of Buddhafield is it's a meeting of minds and a celebration of nature, of creativity, with a ceremonial side that seems to have a major impact, particularly when you do it with a clear head.

but the debate isn't going anywhere much, so I'll move on. Thanks all

[rabid]

No rabid, you can't! Running out of oil will help.. Until then it's damage limitation.. WE are going to go to festivals anyway - instead of flying to Thailand. That's one plus. So it's solar and wind powered rather than chugging diesel generators everywhere, another plus. It's composting loos rather than the big flush and I, for one, have learned a lot more about how to live better on this world at festivals than I ever learnt trolling around Sainsburys..

The point of Buddhafield is it's a meeting of minds and a celebration of nature, of creativity, with a ceremonial side that seems to have a major impact, particularly when you do it with a clear head.

but the debate isn't going anywhere much, so I'll move on. Thanks all

[grumpyhack]

Glasto comes at the end of a heavy load of work for me and the odd drink and Glasto ciggie does help speed up the slowing down process (if you follow that). The problem is then getting back up to speed after a chilled out week.

[llcoolphil]

Out of interest why is it important we preserve man on the planet anyway (the planet doesnt need saving, it has that covered)?

[Donkey]

Got my time booked off for this. Thank you Stuparod for the plug, I had never heard of Buddhafield before!