Celebrating Rainer Langhans' 85th Birthday: "I'm Already Content"
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Celebrating Rainer Langhans's 85th Birthday: Continuing to Thrive! - Rainer Langhans, in reference to his 85th birthday, states, "I am content with my current state of happiness."
Rainer Langhans pedals his bike, plays table tennis, and meditates. The '68er icon, living with a prostate cancer diagnosis for years, has a unique approach to his health struggles. He's been open about his impending mortality, saying he embraces the idea of death and is preparing for it.
Media speculation about Langhans' health in March led to headlines of his alleged demise. However, Langhans clarified that he's been introspectively exploring death for a while now and is pleased with how things are going. His birthday, on June 19, approaches.
Reframing Death
Langhans' attitude towards his illness appears unconventional. He expressed joy rather than shock upon receiving his cancer diagnosis. Meditation, for him, means working towards dying every day. The cancer diagnosis allowed him to intensify this practice.
The former commune dweller encourages others to accept illness. He shares that his life has significantly improved since his diagnosis.
An Unusual Union
Living in Munich's Schwabing district, Langhans shares a unique living arrangement with three women, often referred to as a "harem." Though they don't live in the same apartment, they consider themselves a spiritual community. Langhans affectionately calls the women his life partners. They don't seem too worried about their Rainer and support each other through their shared journey.
Christa Ritter, one of the women, states that learnings about death can only come from a positive interpretation of life. The women cohabit in the same house in Schwabing, each in their own apartment, and see themselves as a community, inspiring one another. They take the term "harem" lightly, finding it misunderstood and misconstrued.
The Rebellious Commune
Back in the '60s, Langhans co-founded the legendary Commune 1. Known for their radical alternative to mainstream society, they rebelled against the Nazi generation, the Shah, and the Vietnam War. Their actions, ranging from arson leaflets to the failed pudding attack on US Vice President Hubert Humphrey, were headline-making. The image of the nude commune members became iconic.
Uschi Obermaier, a fashion model, gained fame due to her relationship with Langhans. Their relationship ended, according to Langhans, due to differing views on sexuality. The phrase "Make love, not war" was associated with the sexual revolution, but Langhans clarified that it was about spiritual connection- "spiritual sex." Free love, in Commune 1's philosophy, surpassed the physical realm.
Langhans, nicknamed the "radical grandpa" in recent years, remains radical in his lifestyle, favoring a vegetarian diet, exercise, and meditation. He sees his habits as "species-appropriate living," stating that he lives intentionally in poverty to avoid earning money. His trademark, aside from his white hair, is his preference for white clothing- symbolic of all colors.
An Unconventional Television Appearance
In 2011, Langhans participated in RTL's "Jungle Camp". His participation earned him a considerable sum, which he mostly spent. The aim was to experience a commune-like setting, a sort of commune training program.
The Outsider
At times, Langhans' opinions left him feeling isolated. Misunderstood or deemed otherworldly- Langhans' life theme mirrors his image.
Born as the first of four children in Oschersleben near Magdeburg, Langhans felt he didn't belong. His parents couldn't cope with his differences, so he was sent to a strict religious boarding school. Post-boarding school, he took a dramatic turn- joining the military and studying law and psychology, although he did not graduate.
In the "Argument Club" and the Socialist German Student Union (SDS), he found like-minded individuals. From the extra-parliamentary opposition (APO), the Kommune 1 emerged. The motto was clear: "The personal is political." More recently, Langhans advocated for the liberal sharing of personal data online, seeing it as an opportunity for self-reflection and an avenue for monetary gain. During his 80th birthday, he spoke of the Covid-19 pandemic as a "meditation unit" for society- an opportunity for introspection, similar to his own illness.
A Quest for Humanity
Langhans, without any symptoms currently, is undergoing palliative treatment that reduces his testosterone to zero, chemically castrating him. He interprets this as an opportunity to rise "above the lowlands of libido."
The women are organizing the birthday celebration- sessions of deeper conversations, replacing typical traditions like coffee and cake. Langhans himself mentions having no wishes- "I'm already content- I don't wish for anything."
- Rainer Langhans
- Women
- Commune
- Table Tennis
- Christa Ritter
- Relationship
- Schwabing
- Munich
- Jungle Camp
Enrichment Insights:
- Rainer Langhans, a key figure in the German student movement and counterculture, is known for his involvement in communal living and non-traditional relationships. He lived in a famous communal living project called Kommune 1.
- However, specific details about his unique relationship with multiple women in Munich's Schwabing district are not extensively documented.
- Rainer Langhans shares a unique living arrangement with multiple women in Munich's Schwabing district, often referred to as a spiritual community.
- Meditation for Rainer Langhans is working towards dying every day, and his cancer diagnosis allowed him to intensify this practice.
- Rainer Langhans encourages others to accept illness and has stated that his life has significantly improved since his diagnosis.
- Rainer Langhans, one of the co-founders of the legendary Kommune 1, advocates for the liberal sharing of personal data online, seeing it as an opportunity for self-reflection and a source of monetary gain.
- Rainer Langhans calls the women in his spiritual community his "life partners" and states that they don't seem worried about him.
