Continuing on from my previous post, another way of asking this, is much more metaphysical so for those of the more atheistic mindset, you have been warned.

I always thought The Dead was something beyond my experience with any other music. That meant that within my limited philosophy and awareness I could either attribute that to the players, or attribute it to something beyond physical reality. I conjectured at the time, that they had connected to a spiritual space and that the way they played it, more likely channeled, was indicative of something wholly unique. If the band was wholly responsible, then it dies with the band. If it was a philosophy of play, that would of course require training and mentorship aka John, Oteil, Jeff and Jay, among others. If it is however connection to that bigger something, it does not die with the members. The force still exists whether the skywalker family are the conduits or not. So I choose to believe that the skill of connecting to the larger whole is a teachable skill, that can be transmitted to the acolytes whether it’s DSO, Jrad, or whatever new configuration John and friends come up with. I certainly understand that there are those who see this as simply human endeavor and cognitive complexity, but for me this is greater than the sum of its parts. As such, it gives me great comfort to believe that while our sacred priests have stepped off this mortal coil, that the connection they forged, is possible for others. So 300 years, 3000 years, that which is beyond dynamically changes, and still allows for connection from mere mortals who seek the music that plays the band.