The Rainbow People
I’ve always said that if I was born earlier, I would most probably join the hippie movement in America. I’ve always liked how free-spirited the hippies were, how they embraced nature, and how they lived their lives undisturbed by the rush for money, power and fame. I like how they lived their lives in pursuit of their dreams and betterment in a spiritual sense… In some ways, I have lived my life in such a way, by leaving home in New Jersey and hitchhiking all the way to Los Angeles so that I could pursue the Dharma more deeply.
Recently, I came across this article about a group of people who embrace the hippie lifestyle, also known as the Rainbow People. They have large gatherings around the world where they can express themselves freely and be close to nature. When I looked at the pictures, I thought… Wow, there are so many people who are spiritually and environmentally conscious… and I thought it was really wonderful because I envision our retreat center, Kechara Forest Retreat, as a gathering place for spiritually inclined people who wish to experience or live in a conscious community…. a place where green living, self-sustainability, and spiritual growth can be achieved.
Take a look at these wonderful pictures and notice how happy and at peace these people are, just by being close to nature. Truly, lasting peace and happiness is not achieved through outer wealth, but by developing our inner wealth.
Tsem Rinpoche
Somewhere Under the Rainbow: Fascinating photo series captures life inside Rainbow Gatherings, where thousands of attendees listen to music, decorate their faces and embrace nature
In one photo, dozens of men, women and children joyfully hold hands as they form three human circles in a forest in Bosnia. In another, a young child with a painted face sits on the grass amid a group of women who are decorating each others’ bodies. These fascinating photos capture life inside ‘Rainbow Gatherings’, which intend to promote ideals such as peace, harmony and freedom. The vibrant gatherings, which consist of temporary communities of ‘Rainbow People’, take place annually in the U.S. and elsewhere. Strongly associated with the hippie lifestyle, they seek to establish a space away from consumerism, capitalism, and the mass media.
Photographer Matjaz Krivic spent 19 years traveling to gatherings across the world in a bid to capture the events’ ‘free’ atmosphere. His photo series, ‘Somewhere Under the Rainbow’, shows an array of people, including small children, having fun and embracing nature. ‘Rainbow Gathering’ attendees do not have to pay and there is no one specific leader, said Mr Krivic, who posts some of his images online. ‘The magic hat goes around and you put money if you have or if you want,’ he told CNN. ‘(But) nobody needs to pay for the food. Everybody is welcome to go and eat there.’ He added that the events have a ‘nice energy’ and feature ‘beautiful’ music that encompasses the area.
‘Rainbow Gatherings’, which feature activities like yoga and meditation, have been taking place since 1972, when the first one was held in Colorado. The original event was apparently organized by alternative youth ‘tribes’ from Northern California and the Pacific Northwest. The gatherings typically take place during the summer and are attended by thousands of people.
At peace: Men, women and children hold hands as they form three human circles at the Bosnia International Rainbow Gathering in 2005
Young and old: A child with a painted face sits on the grass amid a group of women who are decorating each others' bodies in Bulgaria
Loving: A man and woman embrace at a 'Rainbow Gathering'. The events intend to promote ideals such as peace, harmony and freedom
A couple relax together at the Hungary World Rainbow Gathering 2014 (left), while two musicians play at a 2003 gathering in France (right)
Joined together: Matjaz Krivic spent 19 years traveling to gatherings across the world in a bid to capture the events' 'free' atmosphere
Face paint: The photographer captured this photo of a girl painting her brother's face at Bulgaria International Rainbow Gathering in 2005
A man splashes around in a lake at Pakistan Regional Gathering 1998 (left), while two nude toddlers run across a stream in Ukraine (right)
Having fun: The vibrant gatherings, which consist of temporary communities of 'Rainbow People', take place annually in the U.S. and elsewhere. Above, two children are pictured playing on makeshift swings at the Germany International Rainbow Gathering in 2004
Strongly associated with hippies, the gatherings seek to establish a space away from consumerism, capitalism, and the mass media
[Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3103895/Somewhere-rainbow-Fascinating-photo-series-captures-life-inside-Rainbow-Gatherings-thousands-attendees-listen-music-decorate-faces-embrace-nature.html]
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The Rainbow People living freely in group is a counter-culture, in existence since 1970. It is a loose affiliation of individuals, some hippies and nomadic groups lives for multitude of reasons such as prayer and meditation. The gatherings attract thousands of campers, from different parts of the country. They emphasize a spiritual focus towards peace, love, and unity and those who attend share the same interest in intentional communities and ecology. The gatherings seek to establish a space away from the busy city life , coming to live in nature. Sadly the group has changed over the years, with heavier drug use and incidents of violence. So much so its ban in certain places. Despite the controversies, the Rainbow People still exists. Looking at those pictures in this post tells all.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
It’s really an enjoyable read and to learn about the rainbow people. Interesting people and interesting lifestyle. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for this really interesting write up!👍😍👏
The Rainbow people are so carefree. From the picture I can feel that they are so in peace and in harmony with everyone and the nature. They and just lay down and sit on the grass, field and swim so freely, not like us city people who are so cautious of cleanliness and comfort. The activities such as yoga and meditation are great to encourage everyone to have a calm mind and be focus. Interesting article and thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
Fascinating pictures showing how happy those people so called hippies or
Rainbow People. The vibrant gatherings of ‘Rainbow People’, take place annually in the U.S……its a gathering which they seek to establish a space away from the city life , to promote peace, harmony and freedom.The people who are spiritually and environmentally conscious… too.So KFR can be like this place where we can embrace mother nature.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article and those beautiful pictures. .
This is a really cool movement/culture/tradition, I really love the fact that they are so carefree and yet they are so spiritually conscious. Nature is truly amazing, if only we were to embrace nature wholeheartedly, I’m sure that our entire perspective on life will be different.
From the look on their faces, I see love, peace and harmony, they exude a peaceful energy and by just looking at the pictures, I feel very calmed and I really do admire their lifestyle. Although they do not have much but this is exactly what makes them beautiful, less attachments and more of embracing nature.
I’ve never really been exposed to the hippie movement, I used to find them too airy fairy. But I did have the privilege to befriend a few hippies in my life, mostly Europeans. Their lifestyle, carefree spirit and even words of wisdom have left memorable impressions.
Two advice come to mind right now.
“Life is simpler when you don’t have choices”
“Through the eyes of a beggar, you will see a different side of mankind”
I think this is a wonderful way to live, to embrace nature, and be undisturbed by the rush for money, power and fame. We read about it, we acknowledge it, some of us even yearn it but few of us actually do it. There will never be a right time to start, the right time has always been NOW.
Being different from mass consumerism can give people the time and space to reflect on what matters to them the most.
Wow I love this! Look at these beautiful RAINBOW people.
Used to wear clothes like them and go to nature gathering festivals.I think if I did have the good merits to know about Buddhism… this would be the kind of path I could have taken Lol.
Amazing pics, thank you Rinpoche for sharing and yes KFR is getting to be like this place but in a more clean, organised, sophisticated manner which helps the city people go through the transition from city living to living with nature. In the end we will always come to our roots that is one with nature.
To be honest, this should actually be the way that all of us should be living and how the world should be like.
Today’s world is all about money, fame, war, politics, rules and etc, we don’t have any idea what freedom actually is. We think that by having a job, being away from our parents and going out to party with friends is freedom but we should see how the rainbow people are living and compare their freedom with ours.
The way the Rainbow people are living should be the way all of us should be living.
It is really important to teach the younger generation about Mother nature and to love and respect the Earth we live on instead of exploiting it.
I think the way that the rainbow people are able to live like that is because they are willing to sacrifice materialistic goods for the kind of freedom they have.
In a way, i feel like this is how mankind should be living. I feel that mankind should live without boundaries, within rules holding us down. We should be able to be free with our actions and free with the way we see the world. This is true human rights. Where everyone is treated equally dispite the difference in religion and other views.
But this lifestyle is too late to adopt for most of us. To live the way these people do we need to let go of all our attachments, which is hard for most of us as we were brought up to live a completely different lifestyle. Our attachments is what causes us to suffer. We have so much, yet we are not as happy as those you have to little. Why? Because they are less attached. We must learn to slowly let go of our attachments if we want to live a happier life.
It seems there’s no leaders or organizations for Rainbow people yet this particular group of people could just gather together for their yearly event to pray for peace on this planet. What I like about this idea is that they focus out and put their energy into loving and appreciating mother nature where we live in. The impact of rapid development in the world for example food processing industry alone has destroyed the earth on different levels. Therefore the concept of taking care of the planet starting from our lifestyle is vital.
Found this interesting quote on internet:
When the earth is ravaged and the animals are dying, a new tribe of people shall come unto the earth from many colors, classes, creeds, and who by their actions and deeds shall make the earth green again. They will be known as the warriors of the Rainbow — Old Native American Prophecy