The Workshop

A problem when talking about spiritual inquiries is that the content is far beyond words, that the words make the ideas and experiences seem trite and clichéd and sentimental, a trinity of new age horror. It is little surprise that the great religious figures were brilliant teachers who used parables and metaphors and analogies to help explain the concepts they were imparting, often making them appear simple rather than our typical tactic of making the words cripple under ideological fervor. I have a few modest examples: “The human condition”; “Enlightenment”; “You are a unique Snowflake.” This documentary allowed us to see the actions of the people behind the words. Its credibility lies not in the doctrines preached, but in observing objectively the wordless ramifications, the resulting ease of mind and spirit.

Two reviews from netflix:

1. I watched this on recommendation from someone else without asking why they said I should watch it and I regret that. I would recommend this to anyone who is doing a discover themselves thing. This is how NOT to do it. I feel somewhere between pity, disgust and annoyance with every person in this film. Like most of the other reviewers point out, its a bunch of priveleged white folks with a lot of disposable time and income and very little consideration for their partners feelings or physical health and therefore lives. The guru is creepy. The director is a middle-aged child. Im all for open relationships if thats what everyone agrees on, Im all for monogamy if thats what everyone agrees on. Selling orgies with strangers as a way to enlightenment and encouraging people to knowingly destroy relationships they leave at home is reprehensible. Even the Kama Sutra had a strong thread of mutual respect and this has none of that. On top of that the cinematography and music sucked. The narration and interviews are empty and dull. The ONLY redeeming part Id say is the bit with the dance in the pool. That was actually quite beautiful. If you are looking for yourself - read a book, seek friendships, new activities and help others. If you are looking for sex with strangers, seek craigslist.

2) The Workshop is not what it pretends to be, but it is better than I had expected. Basically, it's a documentary that chronicles a new age self-help therapy retreat designed to put people in touch with their "true selves." Ugh. Everyone claims to be looking for the same thing ("who am I?"), and by the end of the film, they all seem to have found something, but what that something is exactly is never really identified. The harmless airheads who populate these cult-like retreats never speak in specifics. With them, philosophy is always replaced with empty platitudes, and self-reflection is nothing more than giving oneself permission to be self-absorbed. What they actually get for their money is an introductory course in nudism, partner swapping, and group sex. The entire week of "introspection" is administered by an aging grey-haired hippie who looks a bit like George Carlin but talks more like Hugh Hefner. Basically, he's a high-priced charlatan who probably has an eight-figure bank account in the Caymans. I think that it's safe to assume that most of these people were really just interested in getting laid, or at least that's how they come across. That's the part I enjoyed most... not the getting laid part (although that's fun too), but the figuring-them-out part. I love the idea of nudist colonies, sex weekends, and orgy nights (Bring.It.On.), but at least be adult enough to admit it. Not surprisingly, the best looking men are also the ones who whine the most, cry the most, and p*ss me off the most. The women, god bless 'em, are more upfront. Anyway, it's a fun film to watch if what you want to see are a bunch of middle-aged average Joes and Janes trying to convince themselves that it's ok to be trashy. Too bad they had to pay so much to do it. Recommended to all of my fellow freaks

The difficulty with observing people who are opening themselves up to exploratory inquiry is that we, ourselves, are watching from a closed position. With our emotional and psychological barricades in a bulwark, the vulnerability we see others partaking in looks false or gooey, but rarely does it appear the way it must feel for those undergoing it. That unbelieving perspective, however, could use a good dose of this fellow’s on-camera admission: “Maybe this is bullshit, but why not play with it? What else am I doing?”

Most discernible? The shaking anxiety of Ken removing his clothes at the beginning of the film and the ease with which everyone does so at the end. The Workshop B+ Orgies A- Slothrop for always being a prophet of orgies A+

Koko: I totally agree with everything you wrote, except for the part about Slothrop being a prophet of orgies. If you want to contend for that title, you'll need to speak with Monsieur de Sade.