The following report published with permission from Spiritual Lifestyles
The WSC’s three-day conference in Erehwon began with a spectacular fireworks display depicting all the religious symbols in the night sky. Attendees representing all religious traditions came, many along with entourages in tow, some sprinkling flower petals on the ground for their holy leaders' feet to walk upon, others sprinkling holy water on each other. Each one wore the garb of their tradition. All kinds of religious objects were brought: incense, prayer wheels, prayer beads, prayer rugs, prayer flags, meditation cushions, special meditation shawls with mantras or holy symbols imprinted on the cloth, zen robes, sadhu dhotis with matching orange shawls, sacred vibuti ash, crosses, jewelry inscribed with Om and other religious symbols, begging bowls, drums, god and goddess deities in gold, bronze, silver, brass and plastic (glow in the dark), crystals, yantras, pyramids, peacock feathers, photo-realistic paintings of Jesus, Mary and saints, talismans, and more.
People who were hoping to meet their next guru also came, and they were happy to pay the high entrance fees and to be recognized among their peers as spiritual seekers, some of whom had been seeking over thirty years. Many attendees could be heard boasting about how many years that had been meditating. Everyone clearly was pleased with themselves for being there. Feather Truthseeker, a fire-walker from Santa Fe said, “I feel so special!” Arjuna Rabinowitz, a yoga teacher from Marin County, said, “It’s a great event, sister. My spiritual family is all here.”
Attendees were given different colored badges to wear depending on their religious affiliation. People with the same ideologies met each other at designated locations marked by flags with their colors. They tended to stay together as a team for the entire 3 days.
In an unofficial report, several apparent members of a non-duality group were distributing flyers stating “If there was a Conference for Jnanis, no one would come.” Conference security staff escorted them off the premises.
It was a truly festive event. Tents, stages, and booths were arranged in a circle, with a main event tent at the center. The spiritual musicians were there, many with their latest CD's for sale. Many people were dancing ecstatically, arms raised to the sky.
There was a special satvic vegetarian food tent, with communal tables. Only holy water was used and all food was either blessed by prayers or disbursed as prasad, depending on which line you queued in.
There was a special tent set up to buy books written by the participants, photographs of their holy blissful faces, and CD's of their talks. Bibles, Torahs, Korans, and other holy books, as well as truckloads of religious objects were sold, along with tapes, videos, and DVD’s. Specially printed stationary, stickers, pens, and notebooks with the conference logo were available along with yoga mats, yoga bags, yoga clothing and yoga towels also embroidered with the conference logo.
Great fire pits were dug in the ground for all sacred rituals. Monks chanted round the clock accompanied by celebrity musicians and singers. Musical instruments were also available to purchase. One yogi was buried in a box to demonstrate his siddhi skill of stopping the breath. When he was lifted out after 72 hours, the crowds began prostrating to him with reverence and awe. People lined up to register for his “supernatural powers” course.
There were forums and discussion panels to attend every hour. Popular religious leaders were chosen to begin and end each session with special prayers and blessings. Although some arguments broke out among panelists who were proselytizing their own point of view, most everyone recognized that the way to handle these outbursts was to refer to the spiritually correct code that they were not the “doers,” particularly the neo-Advaitins. When questions were allowed from the audience, most everyone remembered not to use personal references such as “I” or “you.” Those who paid the V.I.P. entrance fee received transmissions, special initiations and dikshas, custom mantras, and spiritual names. Barbers were available to shave the heads of the newly ordained monks. One retired professor, an eclectic seeker, exclaimed, "I have always wanted to wear ochre sadhu robes and shave my head!" Film makers were eagerly interviewing new monks as they emerged from the "spiritual make-over" tent.
Continued in Part Two, Report on the World Spirituality Conference
