2008.05.06 13:00 - Winged gentleavs

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    The guardian at this meeting was Pema Pera and the comments are his. 

     

    That afternoon, I was again asleep in Japan, and this time Genesis was the guardian on duty in the tea house. She sent me the following chat log, to which I have added my comments. The session started with Stim and Genesis meeting outside the tea house.

    Stim Morane: Hi Gen!
    genesis Zhangsun: Hey Stim!
    genesis Zhangsun: Are you coming to join me in PaB?
    Stim Morane: yes!
    genesis Zhangsun: Fantastic!
    genesis Zhangsun: Are there others?
    Stim Morane: It’s a bit early.
    Stim Morane: Shall we just sit here in the garden?
    genesis Zhangsun: Ah yes I can see that there are people meditating
    genesis Zhangsun: sure since the weather is so nice ;)
    Stim Morane: OK
    genesis Zhangsun: So how do you feel about SL today?
    Stim Morane: I’m neutral. But it depends on the “use” … for this particular exploration, I’ll decide in a year or so. For others, I can already see it’s a fantastic advance. And you?
    genesis Zhangsun: Of course I feel it is too early to make any conclusions but I am really enjoying it so far just have to watch for as you said maintaining the “balance” between SL and RL
    genesis Zhangsun: It is easy to get sucked in
    Stim Morane: I’ve been so busy with some RL issues in the last few days, I haven’t been tempted … but I’ll try to visit this PaB group once a day now.
    genesis Zhangsun: wonderful
    genesis Zhangsun: Care to share these RL issues?
    Stim Morane: OK, just teaching and related work. I teach at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, and it’s the end of a semester here.
    genesis Zhangsun: right so a lot of end of semester work

    Thorberg stopped by to join them.

    Thorberg Nordlicht: hello
    Stim Morane: Hello!
    genesis Zhangsun: Oh yes hello Thorberg
    genesis Zhangsun: Welcome
    Thorberg Nordlicht: you here for the Play as Being discussion?
    genesis Zhangsun: Yes
    Stim Morane: Yes, we are.
    genesis Zhangsun: Nice to meet you I don’t think we have met but I recognize you from P’s blog
    Thorberg Nordlicht: oh, good; i’ve never stopped by for the 1 PM meeting; I’ve always come at 7 PM after 6 PM Zazen
    Thorberg Nordlicht: nice to meet you
    Stim Morane: Same here
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I first met Dakini Rhode and Pema Pera and joined the group a few days ago
    Stim Morane: Gen, does having wings change your RL body sense?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I’ve met quite a few people in a few days, and it’s hard to keep track of who I’ve met before and who I haven’t.
    genesis Zhangsun: A little bit I feel as though I am taking up more space but not in a density more of a feeling of expansiveness perhaps its pleasant I have to say :)
    genesis Zhangsun: though sometimes I worry about bumping people
    genesis Zhangsun: isn’t that funny even though I know it won’t hurt them
    genesis Zhangsun: worry about invading other people’s space
    Stim Morane: That sounds very positive … and intriguing. It’s pretty easy to affect one’s sense of size, etc in that way.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: It’s interesting that our RL sense of personal space carries over to SL.
    genesis Zhangsun: YES! Exactly
    genesis Zhangsun: I find that so interesting
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I’m always uncomfortable when avitars stand too close in SL.
    genesis Zhangsun: me too!!
    Thorberg Nordlicht: Find my self backing away.
    Stim Morane: I wonder if that will continue. I’m a total novice here.
    genesis Zhangsun: its very interesting to consider where those avatars are from
    genesis Zhangsun: what nationality
    genesis Zhangsun: that determines a lot of what personal space means I find

    The conversation continued to probe really interesting aspects of the interplay beween Real Life and Second Life.

    Thorberg Nordlicht: It’s fascinating to see what RL feelings transfer to SL and which ones don’t.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: For example, I’m afraid of heights in RL, but since my avitar can fly in SL, heights don’t bother me at all here.
    Stim Morane: I’m interested in transfer going from SL to RL … I appreciate your pointing out that the reverse can happen too.
    Stim Morane: I wondered about the “heights” issue too, but have only explored it a little.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: Yes, I know what you mean about SL–>RL
    genesis Zhangsun: One I have noticed recently is that people in RL at times look like avatars to me
    Stim Morane: That’s really weird and interesting.
    genesis Zhangsun: its a little frightening
    Stim Morane: I suppose any incentive to look more closely than we usually do will have consequences like that.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: We all rehearse conversations with people in our “inner monolog” in our heads, and I find sometimes my inner dialog starts to feel like SL chat.
    Stim Morane: I noticed that just a minute ago.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: Like somewhere deep in my brain, it doesn’t really distinguish between RL conversation and SL conversation….
    genesis Zhangsun: maybe thats why SL conversations can be so fluid
    Thorberg Nordlicht: it’s all just communicating with other people.
    genesis Zhangsun: so stream of consciousness
    genesis Zhangsun: something we don’t do in regular life which is probably necessary for the brain to process
    Stim Morane: I also spent some time last week concentrating on camera controls. And at the end of the session, I felt quite disoriented in RL.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: Some people report that they’ve had RL dreams about being in SL and it never occurs to them in the dream that SL is different than RL.
    genesis Zhangsun: Yes Stim I often feel disoriented
    Thorberg Nordlicht: There again, it suggests that deep in our brains there’s not as much distinction as you might expect.
    genesis Zhangsun: Yes that is truly an interesting phenomena isn’t it dreaming about SL
    genesis Zhangsun: has it happened to either of you?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I haven’t dreamed I’m in SL… not yet at least, but other people I’ve talked to in SL have mentioned it.
    genesis Zhangsun: I have had some dreams that have blended both SL and RL together
    Stim Morane: I haven’t had those dreams yet, but the principle sounds right.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: interesting
    genesis Zhangsun: yes sometimes the people appear as they do in RL but then they hold SL objects
    genesis Zhangsun: or vice a versa
    Thorberg Nordlicht: haha
    Thorberg Nordlicht: that’s really interesting
    Thorberg Nordlicht: Do you spend a lot of time in SL?
    genesis Zhangsun: not really
    genesis Zhangsun: well I guess more recently

    The discussion moved to modes of transportation.

    Stim Morane: Almost anything in the way of a “face” and “situation” will seem convincing to the mind at some level. Even the slightest sketch.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I find I want some SL features in RL sometimes just for a moment and then think “oh that’s right, this is RL, can’t do that” — things like flying or alt-drag to move camera around.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: wouln’t that be nice if we could do that in RL
    genesis Zhangsun: or teleport!
    Thorberg Nordlicht: some part of me really wants that
    Stim Morane: That’s the sort of thing that people will come to expect.
    genesis Zhangsun: I am always thinking about how much easier it would if I could teleport
    Thorberg Nordlicht: oh, yes! absolutely: teleport in RL!
    Thorberg Nordlicht: both to get somewhere quickly and also to just dissapear from where you were
    genesis Zhangsun: SL almost makes me more impatient with RL, the instant gratification here is a little dangerous I think
    Stim Morane: I get the impression that flying and teleporting are the preferred modes of movement in SL. The oldtimers seem to rely on them.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: yes, that’s right, flying and teleporing are the norm
    Stim Morane: I see
    Thorberg Nordlicht: walking is mostly for short distances and for exploring the immediate area
    Stim Morane: It’s funny because I prefer just to stroll about.
    genesis Zhangsun: Have you ever flown over the sea?
    Stim Morane: Yes
    Thorberg Nordlicht: yes, strolling about is fine for exploring the local area
    genesis Zhangsun: That is strange experience
    Stim Morane: I agree
    genesis Zhangsun: I feel as though I am flying into nothingness
    Stim Morane: I quite enjoyed it for a while … but I had the same impression as you.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: also, have you discovered yet that you can fly under water?
    genesis Zhangsun: its exhilarating and scary at the same time
    Thorberg Nordlicht: and walk around on the bottom of rivers and lakes?
    Stim Morane: No, haven’t tried the underwater version. I think Pema mentioned it though.
    genesis Zhangsun: really that is a different perspective isn’t it I should do that as a balance to my flying
    genesis Zhangsun: I think that would make me feel more integrated into SL
    genesis Zhangsun: crawling around in the muck and not only soaring through the air

    Stim raised the question of the connection of all this to the Play as Being exploration.

    Stim Morane: So will all these new opportunities contribute to PaB? Or are they simply features of SL that don’t bear crucially on the PaB issue?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: under water in SL is “clean” just like everywhere else
    genesis Zhangsun: what do you mean by that Stim?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: don’t really relate specifically to PlayAsBeing
    genesis Zhangsun: or what do you think?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: often we get “off topic”
    Stim Morane: When Pema and I first discussed the “play as Being” idea, it wasn’t linked to the extra degrees of freedom intrinsic to SL.
    genesis Zhangsun: Oh I find getting “off topic” crucial to getting on topic they are part of the same thing
    Thorberg Nordlicht: have either of you tried Pema’s idea of taking a 9 second timeout every 15 minues in RL?
    Stim Morane: Yes, Gen. That is something we did discuss. So I stand corrected.

    A typical example of getting off topic in a friendly way happens when new participants drop in. This time it was Isen.

    genesis Zhangsun: Hi Isen!
    genesis Zhangsun: Welcome
    genesis Zhangsun: thank you for joining us
    Isen Enzo: ’sup?
    Stim Morane: Hi Isen!
    Isen Enzo: Hello Stim.
    genesis Zhangsun: ’sup wid u?
    Isen Enzo: Helping an av from Dakini’s sangha…
    Isen Enzo: a longtime cat friend has kindey failure..
    genesis Zhangsun: how was that?
    Isen Enzo: and will be euthanized…
    genesis Zhangsun: oh my that is too bad
    Thorberg Nordlicht: sad :-(
    Isen Enzo: she wanted to talk…
    Stim Morane: Yes
    Isen Enzo: yes..
    Isen Enzo: Stim, got your gassho goin?
    Isen Enzo: woo hoo!!
    Isen Enzo: lookin goooood.
    Stim Morane: yes, well it’s sort of cheating. But I am accustomed to such gestures in RL too.
    Isen Enzo: I remembered who It was I marched with from BZC
    Stim Morane: Usually people don’t know how to respond, unless I’m actually at the monastery here.
    Isen Enzo: Alan Senauke and Blanche Hartman…
    Isen Enzo: (my memory is poor)
    Thorberg Nordlicht: oh, i know Blanche from San Francisco Zen Center
    Isen Enzo: Thor, I spend a couple weeks each fall at GG
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I’ve also been going up to a tiny, rural zendo called Jikoji on Skyline in the Santa Cruz mountains on Sunday morning
    Isen Enzo: (are we PaBing?)
    Stim Morane: that’s a good question. I’ve been resisting pestering Pema re that.
    genesis Zhangsun: Interesting that you say that Isen because we were discussing before you came in what is PaB
    Thorberg Nordlicht: ah, Isen is bringing us back “on topic”

    Isn’t that interesting? By shaking the conversation up, Isen did indeed bring it back on topic. The whole dynamics of the PaB group is so fascinating!

    genesis Zhangsun: when is happening?
    genesis Zhangsun: what do you think?
    Stim Morane: Yes. Thorberg, I haven’t tried the specific format Pema devised for attending to Play as Being. It’s related to things I’ve been teaching for some time, and that I discussed with him before this SL group started.
    Isen Enzo: I like the “PaBing” sound…
    Isen Enzo: like the zendo bell..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I was asking whether anyone was trying Pema’s notion of taking 9 seconds out every 15 minutes during your day in RL
    Isen Enzo: I’ve not..
    Stim Morane: I look forward to seeing how it plays out
    genesis Zhangsun: I have been doing it pretty consistently for one week
    Isen Enzo: have to set a timer…
    Isen Enzo: Wow, gen- how do you do it?
    Isen Enzo: a wrist timer?
    genesis Zhangsun: could you elaborate?
    genesis Zhangsun: ah yes the timing
    Stim Morane: it’s a radical departure from traditional methods, because even if you do it for 10 hours a day, the amount of “attending” involved is only 6 minutes. Tradionally that wouldn’t be considered enuf.
    genesis Zhangsun: well I am often working on my computer so then I am aware of time that way
    genesis Zhangsun: otherwise I estimate
    Isen Enzo: aha
    Stim Morane: Yes, that is a good idea for several reasons
    genesis Zhangsun: this is why I say “pretty” consistently
    Isen Enzo: maybe it’s a little like a gatha…
    Stim Morane: Yes, that’s more or less the hop
    Isen Enzo: trying to extend into most of the time…
    Stim Morane: *hope
    Isen Enzo: hoop
    Stim Morane: that too
    Isen Enzo: hop
    Stim Morane: right
    genesis Zhangsun: I have missed so I am unclear is anyone else doing the PaB practice?
    Stim Morane: I think there are several
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I’m not specifically doing the 9 seconds every 15 minutes practice, but I do try to do the same at random times by keying it off of random events like everytime i hear a bell ring or when my cell phone beeps, stuff like that
    Stim Morane: This may become the norm. Pema would probably be open to it

    Yes, he would! :-)

    Isen Enzo: Bell
    Isen Enzo: oop
    Thorberg Nordlicht: Also, I have a formal practice that by now is extending into RL anyway, so I often spontaneously “reset” when I’m deeply immersed in what i’m doing
    genesis Zhangsun: I actually have a chime set on my computer that reminds me
    Stim Morane: ultimately that is the idea anyway
    genesis Zhangsun: so I also do it to a “bell”
    Isen Enzo: “Bell of attention” is a TNH idea I think…
    Isen Enzo: Thich Nhat Hahn…
    genesis Zhangsun: What does it feel like for you all when you are in those 9 seconds?
    Isen Enzo: attentive…
    Isen Enzo: not necessiarily focused..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: feels like “waking up to the big picture” when I’ve been deeply immersed in a specific task
    Thorberg Nordlicht: like “oh, I’m really sitting here doing this” instead of being lost in details
    Isen Enzo: like looking up out of a hole I’ve been digging…
    Isen Enzo: head up..
    Isen Enzo: not down..
    Stim Morane: good answers
    genesis Zhangsun: yes very
    Isen Enzo: eyes out ….
    Isen Enzo: not in…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: esspecially helpful when i was getting stressed by the details
    genesis Zhangsun: I feel out and in
    genesis Zhangsun: like one eye out and one eye in
    Stim Morane: and if you’re at the computer, it’s also an opportunity to stretch
    Thorberg Nordlicht: TNH has someone ring a bell at random intervals when he lectures in front of a group
    Isen Enzo: nice..
    Stim Morane: Yes, this is also a traditional way of timing formal sitting sessions
    Isen Enzo: a gentle THWACK…

    I found it fascinating to read all that. Normally we don’t talk that much about the specific experiences people have while working with PaB, and I have not felt the need to push much in that direction, beyond some gentle prodding and questioning. So I enjoyed this little peek into the various ways of practice of those gathered here. By this time, Stim had to leave.a

    Stim Morane: I have to go. Nice to see all of you!
    Thorberg Nordlicht: also, when we’re immersed in “temple cleaning” at SFZC, someone walks around randomly ringing a bell to remind us to be mindful of our work
    genesis Zhangsun: Nice chatting thank you stopping by Stim
    Thorberg Nordlicht: nice to see you, too Stim; hope to see you again soon
    Stim Morane: Bye Gen, Thorberg and Isen!
    Thorberg Nordlicht: good bye bye for now
    genesis Zhangsun: namaste
    genesis Zhangsun: So Thor do you meditate regularly for longer periods of time than 9 seconds?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: yes, I sit Zazen at SFZC on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings, and at JiKoji on Sunday mornings.
    genesis Zhangsun: How do you think the 9 second approach compares to these longer meditations
    Thorberg Nordlicht: And then I try to practice synchronizing a string of beads with my breathing every night before going to bed
    Thorberg Nordlicht: well, if I didn’t have any other practice, i think it would be a nice start
    genesis Zhangsun: why is that?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: but since I already have a formal/regular practice that starts to carry over into everyday life, I tend to just spontaneously “wake up” other times without setting a timer or anything like that
    Thorberg Nordlicht: in the absence of any other practice, the 9 second techique would be a good way to get started
    Isen Enzo: Do you sit, gen?
    Isen Enzo: any start is likely good..
    genesis Zhangsun: Yes I guess this is why I ask because I find the 9 second practice good but I couldn’t do it without having a longer meditation
    Isen Enzo: I agree..
    genesis Zhangsun: because otherwise the 9 seconds just feels like stopping and not really anything else
    Isen Enzo: yes.
    Isen Enzo: a little alert during the day…
    genesis Zhangsun: when I do a longer meditation I am able to “tap” myself back into the space or place I was able to in a longer meditation
    genesis Zhangsun: in the 9 seconds

    That was a very nice way to summarize it: 9-second practice as reminders. And indeed, my hope has been from the beginning that the 1% time tax of the 9-second intervals would plough back into the remaining 891 seconds in each quarter hour. Thor voiced a similar opinion. And yes, I too think that combining frequent tiny intervals with fewer longer intervals of meditation is a great idea, if one can bring up both the time and discipline necessary.

    Isen Enzo: but I agree- I think longer time is important…
    Isen Enzo: yes.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I think of the 9 second interval as a way to “catch your breath” but the real point is to have mindfulness carry over into everything we do even when it’s not in the bounds of the 9 seconds
    genesis Zhangsun: I find it crucial to do both
    Isen Enzo: I’ve heard it takes about 20 min for the whole “fight/flight” thing to poop out…
    genesis Zhangsun: the meditation for really going “deep” and the 9 seconds to integrate this throughout the rest of the day
    Isen Enzo: and then to kind of “settle in” after about 20 min..
    genesis Zhangsun: could you elaborate a bit on the fight/flight thing?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I find that when my mind is really restless, it takes me about 39 minutes to finally find the “still point”, and then the end bell rings :-)
    Isen Enzo: might be the idea behing longer retreat/sesshins…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: 39 out of the 40 minute zazen session to get settled and then the bell rings
    Isen Enzo: to get ’settled in’ and then try to maintain it for longer periods…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I’ve never participated in a whole day sesshin
    Isen Enzo: Heard an interesting idea last night…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: yes? what’s that?
    Isen Enzo: and waking from sleep at that time is very beneficial..
    Isen Enzo: the whole REM and watever cycles..
    Isen Enzo: makes it good to rise quickly from sleep at about 6 hhrs ..
    Isen Enzo: and begin then…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: hmmm, interesting
    Isen Enzo: like at practice sessions/sesshins…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: SFZC has a “beginners sitting” scheduled with a light schedule soon
    Isen Enzo: I will talk to this person more to get a better understanding..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: think i’m going to try that to ease my way into longer sittings
    Thorberg Nordlicht: before I go for an all day sitting

    The conversation moved on to the challenges and rewards of regular practice.

    Isen Enzo: Do you sit daily?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: I try to
    Isen Enzo: I think its a good thing…
    Isen Enzo: cumulative, maybe..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: as with regular exercise, i stick with daily practice for a while and fall out of the habit for a while
    genesis Zhangsun: i try too and I also do yoga everyday
    Thorberg Nordlicht: i find participation in a sanga very helpful to “encourage practice”
    Isen Enzo: Discipline is hard!!
    Isen Enzo: yes-sanghas good..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: if i try to do it entirely on my own i go in cycles
    Isen Enzo: support…
    Isen Enzo: I do yoga every morn..
    Isen Enzo: then zazen.
    Thorberg Nordlicht: yes, and there’s also a group energy (for lack of a better term) about sitting with a group instead of sitting alone
    genesis Zhangsun: yes support is important
    Thorberg Nordlicht: even when we do Zazen in SL :-)
    genesis Zhangsun: to feel connected to others, motivated
    Isen Enzo: every other day- free weights between Y and Z
    Isen Enzo: Hard to start sometimes..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: :-)
    Isen Enzo: but halfway through….
    Isen Enzo: eeeasy…
    genesis Zhangsun: can’t live without it
    Thorberg Nordlicht: yes! true of evercise, and true of meditation
    Isen Enzo: funny, that…
    Isen Enzo: we resist, even though we want the discipline…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: some of my best meditation sessions have been when i least wanted to start
    Isen Enzo: what’s with that?
    Isen Enzo: a Mara thing?
    Thorberg Nordlicht: i don’t know!
    Thorberg Nordlicht: wondered that myself
    Isen Enzo: don’t want to do what I wanna do…
    Isen Enzo: geez…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: i have times when i think “my mind is just so agitated today, i just can’t do it” but start anyway, and when the dust settles is wonderful
    Isen Enzo: Might be just a hesitation thingie…
    Isen Enzo: at GG, I hear the bell at morn- I get up…
    Isen Enzo: boing!!!
    Isen Enzo: up!!
    Isen Enzo: no hesitation…
    Isen Enzo: easier…
    genesis Zhangsun: those are the days you need it most perhaps?
    Isen Enzo: no time to hesitate..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: yes, that must be it
    genesis Zhangsun: that is why I love PaB
    genesis Zhangsun: no hesitation

    Another interesting idea that struck me. Yes, I have been very familiar with not wanting to practice and yet doing it and then often feeling a deep sense of reward but I hadn’t quite connected that with PaB — perhaps the playfulness of it all makes it less forbidding to get into it than a traditional form of mediation practice. Yet I can imagine that we can learn to get into a frame of mind in which simply entering a PaB session is as profound a gesture as going to sit on a mediation cushion.

    Isen Enzo: If I wait, I procrastinate..
    Isen Enzo: hmmm
    genesis Zhangsun: its like improvisation
    Isen Enzo: maybe the whole dukkha thing…
    genesis Zhangsun: jump in and take what is there and run with it
    Thorberg Nordlicht: Suzuki roshi says “we” don’t do Zazen, “Zazen does Zazen”

    Yes, yes! Being playing Being.

    genesis Zhangsun: what is there now not what you want to be there
    Isen Enzo: never happy…
    genesis Zhangsun: looking for the perfect moment, the perfect state of mind
    genesis Zhangsun: better just to jump in
    Thorberg Nordlicht: maybe it’s when the illusion of self is most resistance that “big mind” is most anxious to break through (so to speak)
    Isen Enzo: always dissatisfied…
    genesis Zhangsun: there will never be a perfect moment
    Isen Enzo: I’d probably complain if it rained…
    genesis Zhangsun: now is the perfect moment
    Isen Enzo: Well off to lunch for this av…
    Thorberg Nordlicht: ok, nice seeing you
    Isen Enzo: Gentleavs… it’s been a pleasure.

    Even just reading a transcript, I often have to laugh out loud reading Isen’s remarks. Gentleavs . . . .

    genesis Zhangsun: Nice to have you!
    genesis Zhangsun: Thank you
    Isen Enzo: See you all later..
    Thorberg Nordlicht: good bye bye for now
    Thorberg Nordlicht: so, genesis, i’ve only been coming around for a week or so and i can’t keep track of who i’ve met and who i haven’t
    Thorberg Nordlicht: so forgive me if we’ve talked before and i don’t remember

    At this moment Terri dropped in.

    Thorberg Nordlicht: oh, hello
    genesis Zhangsun: Hi Terri this is Thor
    Thorberg Nordlicht: another angel! gotta get some wings
    Thorberg Nordlicht: hello Terri
    Terri Holrych: hi
    genesis Zhangsun: Please sit and join us
    Terri Holrych: hi thor
    genesis Zhangsun: I like your look
    Terri Holrych: thanks lol
    Thorberg Nordlicht: actually, i’ve got to leave now myself
    genesis Zhangsun: No Thor we haven’t spoken before but I have read some blogs where your name was mentioned
    Thorberg Nordlicht: sorry to get up and leave right when you arrives Terri
    genesis Zhangsun: so no problem
    Thorberg Nordlicht: nothing personal
    Terri Holrych: its ok
    genesis Zhangsun: Thanks for joining Thor
    Thorberg Nordlicht: well, hope to see you both again soon
    Thorberg Nordlicht: i’ll probably be back for 6 PM Zazen tonight and 7 PM PlayAsBeing
    genesis Zhangsun: namaste
    Thorberg Nordlicht: maybe see you then
    Thorberg Nordlicht: good bye bye for now
    genesis Zhangsun: bye
    Terri Holrych: peace
    Terri Holrych: so how have you been
    genesis Zhangsun: Hey Terri hows it going?
    Terri Holrych: ok
    Terri Holrych: what session were you having
    genesis Zhangsun: Play as Being
    Terri Holrych: oh yeah
    Terri Holrych: i thought i missed it haha
    genesis Zhangsun: yeah Pema probably mentioned it
    Terri Holrych: i thought it was at 1
    Terri Holrych: lol
    genesis Zhangsun: its happening all the time 7am 1pm 7pm and 1 am
    genesis Zhangsun: Yeah it was at 1
    Terri Holrych: yea
    Terri Holrych: ok
    Terri Holrych: lol
    genesis Zhangsun: but I thought I would bring you in by tp but then things seemed to have ended
    Terri Holrych: oh sorry
    Terri Holrych: lol
    genesis Zhangsun: not your fault
    genesis Zhangsun: Lets PLAY!

    This was the end of the chat log that Genesis had sent me. However, when I woke up and went into SL, a bit later, I found both Genesis and Terri still in-world.

    genesis Zhangsun: Hey Pema!
    genesis Zhangsun: Will you joing us
    Terri Holrych: what was their names on sl
    Terri Holrych: hi pema
    Pema Pera: Hi there!
    genesis Zhangsun: Hi!
    Terri Holrych: we’re angels
    genesis Zhangsun: We just finished a PaB session and then Terri came in for the tail end
    Pema Pera: haha, what a surprise to find people here at 6 am in the morning . . . but of course that is my local time in Kyoto :-)
    genesis Zhangsun: Yeah dark angel and white angel
    Terri Holrych: ooo
    Terri Holrych: i didnt get up until 9 am
    Pema Pera: I can be a copper-colored angel?

    I was refering to the color of my new long hair, above which I had re-installed the white shining halo that I had received at the recent angel’s dancing party. Amazing how you quickly gather quite a lot of stuff in SL! I was then given a set of black wings by Terri.

    Terri Holrych: ok
    Terri Holrych: lemme see
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Terri Holrych: omg
    Pema Pera: hahahah
    Pema Pera: oh well

    I had just made the typical beginner’s mistake of wearing the box in which the wings were packed, rather than the wings itself.

    genesis Zhangsun: you were a cardboard angel
    genesis Zhangsun: or crate wood angel
    Pema Pera: yes
    Pema Pera: they were cutting me out
    Pema Pera: I was cut out to be an angel, you know
    genesis Zhangsun: i think you are
    genesis Zhangsun: you’ve got the halo
    genesis Zhangsun: So how is being in Kyoto?
    Terri Holrych: all my halos are no transfer
    genesis Zhangsun: There you go!
    genesis Zhangsun: Nice wings
    Terri Holrych: does that mean i cant give them away
    Pema Pera: wow, thank you!
    Pema Pera: well well
    Terri Holrych: yw
    Terri Holrych: lol

    Tara joined us, and was besumed finding a bunch of angel-wannebees. She was followed by Zorbeklegras.

    Pema Pera: hi Tara!
    Tara Farmer: he he
    Tara Farmer: halo city
    Tara Farmer: hey guys
    Terri Holrych: i got a lot of stuff from freebie malls
    Pema Pera: And hi Zor!
    Tara Farmer: yeah sure, we’re alll a bunch of angels
    Terri Holrych: lol we all have wings
    genesis Zhangsun: we talked a bit in the PaB session about the wings
    Tara Farmer winks
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: Hello all.. Hi Pema :)
    Terri Holrych: hi zorb
    Pema Pera: come join us Zor, we seem to be having a party
    genesis Zhangsun: Wow hi Tara you are loveley!
    Pema Pera: I just dropped in myself
    genesis Zhangsun: Hi Zor
    Tara Farmer: thanks genesis
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: hihi thats right… with nice outfits :)
    Terri Holrych: that dance party was hot last nite
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Pema Pera: would you like to have a halo, Zor?
    Tara Farmer: hey Z, you are pretty dapper in that zoot suit
    genesis Zhangsun: and so was the after party LOL
    genesis Zhangsun: ;)
    Terri Holrych: lol yup
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger wonders if he should not find wings… sure! that certainly would fit me
    genesis Zhangsun: Join the club Zor
    Terri Holrych: i can give you black wings like pemas
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: hihi thank you Pema, and thanx Terri for the proposal
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger accepted your inventory offer.
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: aaaaah! I feel better!
    Terri Holrych: lol

    Zor looked happy, in his dark suit with a copy of my black wings which Terri had given me.

    Tara Farmer: does everyone know that if you hit page up and the up arrow that it makes you fly?
    Tara Farmer: i just found that out
    Tara Farmer: I knew you could fly
    Tara Farmer: but not like that
    Terri Holrych: i just usually use the button
    Terri Holrych: i did not know that
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Pema Pera: yes, I prefer the arrows
    Terri Holrych: cool
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: oh :)… yes, i almost everytime use the arrows too
    Terri Holrych: cool
    Terri Holrych: pema looks hot like that
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Pema Pera: haha
    You shout: Middling, feel free to join us!
    Tara Farmer: he he
    Tara Farmer: sorry z, didn’t mean to sit IN you
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: well… that was a pleasure… a lil unusual, thats all
    Tara Farmer: LOL
    Storm Nordwind: ooo sparkly
    Tara Farmer: like in Ghost

    Storm, too, looked a little surprised finding all of our winged presences here in front of the tea house.

    Pema Pera: Hi Storm!
    Storm Nordwind: Hi guys
    Tara Farmer: hey stormy
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: aah yes, remember that…
    genesis Zhangsun: Hi Storm!
    Storm Nordwind: Hi genesis
    Pema Pera: do you have a halo Storm?
    Storm Nordwind: Not to my knowledge
    Tara Farmer: i think he has horns
    Storm Nordwind: Not in SL anyway
    Tara Farmer snickers
    Storm Nordwind accepted your inventory offer.

    I had handed Storm a copy of my halo, and then Middling stopped by.

    Tara Farmer: hi middling
    Middling Bosatsu: hallo.
    Pema Pera: Hi there Middling
    Middling Bosatsu: hallo, hallo all.
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: Hello Midding :)
    Middling Bosatsu: I was here several days ago and it was very quiet.
    Tara Farmer: we sure are a motley crew
    genesis Zhangsun: to say the least
    genesis Zhangsun: :)
    Pema Pera: Storm, we used your beach front balloons the other day
    Storm Nordwind: Cool
    Tara Farmer: i didn’t
    Pema Pera: have you gone for a balloon ride, Middling?
    Tara Farmer: i cannot get it to work
    Tara Farmer: :(
    Middling Bosatsu: No, can’t say I have…
    Storm Nordwind: I’ll show you how Tara
    Pema Pera: well, Tara should get a chance soon!
    Tara Farmer waves her hands
    Terri Holrych: i love the ballons
    Tara Farmer: “I wanna go”
    Pema Pera: if we go for a ride near the beach
    Terri Holrych: last nite we went
    Tara Farmer: can we all fit storm
    Tara Farmer: ?
    Pema Pera: we will make a great “first impression” on our neighbors
    Pema Pera: or “second impression”
    Pema Pera: on those neighbors we met yesterday
    Tara Farmer: he he
    Terri Holrych: we sat in laps
    Terri Holrych: hahah
    Tara Farmer: ha haterri
    Terri Holrych: yeah we went and danced with them
    Pema Pera: Storm, I made all the land group deeded

    We lingered for a while longer, before moving to the beach.

    Storm Nordwind: Currently they will take two at a time. But I have an infinite supply of balloons
    Pema Pera: no storm
    Pema Pera: four at a time
    Pema Pera: we did it yesterday
    Pema Pera: at the beach!!
    Terri Holrych: we had 4
    Storm Nordwind: Thanks pema. The 1/2 sim is probably top priority
    Storm Nordwind: Cool!
    Pema Pera: can you program a single balloon trip for ALL the land?
    Pema Pera: will take a long time but fun
    Pema Pera: Middling, we gather here four times a day, believe it or not . . .
    Storm Nordwind: Probably can if I ever find out where all the land is!!
    Middling Bosatsu: Pema,I can believe it.
    Pema Pera: you now can see it
    Pema Pera: groups color
    Pema Pera: turquoise
    Pema Pera: from the air
    Storm Nordwind: Yes
    Pema Pera: if you fly from here to there (beach)

    I was talking with Storm about how to recognize the land I had bought and then had deeded to the three-person group `playasbeinghere’ with Storm, Dakini and me as members. Storm then changed his white halo to a deep red, in constrast to the brightly shining white haloes of ours.

    Terri Holrych: i like storms outfit
    genesis Zhangsun: Red halo is a nice touch
    Pema Pera: http://playasbeing.wordpress.com/ is a summary of what we do Middling
    Pema Pera: great, Storm
    Pema Pera: a red wind rising
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Storm Nordwind: A slipped halo
    Terri Holrych: i transformed
    genesis Zhangsun: yes you did!

    Terri looked like a younger red-robed monk, so I commented:

    Pema Pera: you look like Storm’s younger sister
    Terri Holrych: hehe
    genesis Zhangsun: LOL
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: Hihihi :)
    Middling Bosatsu: Pema, I’ll take a look.
    Terri Holrych: wanna see vajrayogini again
    genesis Zhangsun: yeah!
    Pema Pera: feel free to drop by whenever you like, Middling, our conversations range for the deeply serious to the quite bizarre
    genesis Zhangsun: lets see it!
    Pema Pera: yeah 2!

    Terri then showed us her Vajrayogini form, as she had done the day before.

    Terri Holrych: hehe
    Middling Bosatsu: ‘play as being’ itself provokes some thought 8?)
    Pema Pera: the other younger sister of Storm, the wild one
    Terri Holrych: i want to make a cape
    Terri Holrych: but havent figured it out
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Middling Bosatsu: Storm, I am impressed by the gos chen!
    Terri Holrych: the wot
    Middling Bosatsu: The monastic robes.
    Terri Holrych: i like the big prayer wheels
    Terri Holrych: kool
    Storm Nordwind: Thank you. I have to do without the saffron though
    Middling Bosatsu: Ah! the wheels - but they’re going *backwards.
    Tara Farmer: Red Terri
    Terri Holrych: you make a yellow undershirt
    Tara Farmer: sweet
    Storm Nordwind: I already have a blue undershirt to get the blue edges
    Terri Holrych: but i dunno how to make a top robe
    Middling Bosatsu: Perhaps a two-colour undershirt?
    Terri Holrych: yeah all i do is make clothes since i got on here
    Terri Holrych: lol
    Storm Nordwind: I have the top vest but not the over the shoulder robe
    Pema Pera: How about a beach party? shall we show Storm how to fit four people in a balloon?

    Tara then transformed in a new and splended outfit, deep red and queen like.

    Pema Pera: lovely, Tara!!
    Pema Pera: royal!
    Tara Farmer: yeah yeah
    Tara Farmer: this is My RED TARA outfit
    Terri Holrych: loves it
    Pema Pera: quite a motley party indeed
    Tara Farmer: let’s go to the beach for cryin out loud
    Middling Bosatsu: Tara! Zoosh, that is *very* red.
    Terri Holrych: ok
    Pema Pera: Storm, wanna lead the way?
    Storm Nordwind: If we’re going to the beach then I will change into beach costume!
    Pema Pera: fine!
    Terri Holrych: i think i am redy for the beach
    Pema Pera: Middling, I’ll tp you when we’re there
    Storm Nordwind: Does everyone have the LM?
    Pema Pera: Hi Zor, we’re going to the beach
    genesis Zhangsun: I don’t think you need more sun Terri
    Tara Farmer: i don’t
    Pema Pera: hahaha
    genesis Zhangsun: better break out the sunscreen
    Middling Bosatsu: Thanks. I’ll wait to see.
    Pema Pera: we can tp each other
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: Ok, I will let you go folks… and see you soon :)
    Tara Farmer: LOL
    Tara Farmer: Bye Z
    Pema Pera: ask me or storm
    Tara Farmer: why don’t you wanna come?
    Pema Pera: bye Zor!
    Zorbeklegras Rodenberger: Bye :) see you!

    I asked Storm for a teleport, not being sure which of our beach properties he had chosen. I found him there in an early twentieth century beach suit. Tara soon followed, and once again she was left dangling in the air. I don’t know how she does that, but I do know that she somehow blames me for it, since it seems to happen when I am around, even if someone else does the tp-ing :-).

    Tara Farmer: oh christ
    Tara Farmer: stuck again
    Tara Farmer: PEMA!
    genesis Zhangsun: Storm!!!
    Middling Bosatsu: and here we are…
    Tara Farmer: ahh there we go
    genesis Zhangsun: Wow nice pecs
    Storm Nordwind smiles!
    Storm Nordwind: Any more?
    Pema Pera: Terri went offline?
    genesis Zhangsun: yeah I guess so I will watch for if she comes back
    Storm Nordwind: OK show me how to get 4 in my balloon!
    Pema Pera: well, Tara!
    Pema Pera: I hope my wings are not in the way :>)
    Storm Nordwind: two to go
    Pema Pera: are you all waiting in the wings?
    Pema Pera: haha
    Middling Bosatsu: after you…
    Pema Pera: YOU are waiting in MY wings!
    Pema Pera: hahaha

    I had acquired Middling as a passenger superposed on my avatar, wings and all. No matter how often he tried, he kept landing in my lap.

    Storm Nordwind: It’s not yet built for 4
    genesis Zhangsun: LOL
    Pema Pera: well I guess we are getting there
    Tara Farmer: LOL
    genesis Zhangsun: this is hilarious
    Pema Pera: three now
    Tara Farmer: a clown balloon!
    Middling Bosatsu: it’s determined to keep me on this side…
    genesis Zhangsun: i promise i don’t have cooties
    Pema Pera: I never knew about the expression of waiting in the wings . . .. .
    genesis Zhangsun: one of you can come over here
    Tara Farmer has cooties
    Tara Farmer: LOL
    Storm Nordwind thinks you can get antibiotics for cooties now
    Middling Bosatsu: hang on…
    Tara Farmer: ha ha
    Pema Pera: Middling, we can’t keep meeting like this . . ..
    Middling Bosatsu: No, I think the script has other purposes…
    Tara Farmer: ROFL
    Pema Pera: I suggest Middling goes with Storm in the next balloon

    We were finally getting ready for the balloon ride.

    Tara Farmer: cmon storm, you can sit in me
    Storm Nordwind: I need to separate the script when i have some (?!) spare time
    genesis Zhangsun: In PaB were talking about personal space this is a perfect place to be after that conversation
    Pema Pera: hahaha
    Storm Nordwind: Launch it on trip 3
    Pema Pera: we all play like one giant Being
    Middling Bosatsu: It does raise questions about the self.
    Storm Nordwind: hehe
    Storm Nordwind: See if it flies yu like that!
    genesis Zhangsun: All of our molecules blending together
    Tara Farmer: beam me up stormy
    Storm Nordwind: I’m gonna lauch you
    Balloon whispers: Welcome to the Storm’s tour balloon.
    Balloon whispers: Destination Coastal Round Trip
    Balloon whispers: Please remain seated during the tour.
    Tara Farmer: AWESOME!
    Pema Pera: Vulcan body melt
    Tara Farmer: thats mind meld
    Middling Bosatsu: that’s amazing.
    Tara Farmer: get it right
    Tara Farmer is a die hard trekkie
    Pema Pera: not in our case, Tara
    Balloon whispers: Warning! Sim boundary crossing
    Pema Pera: I love the way your mantel moves, Tara
    genesis Zhangsun: me too!!!
    Tara Farmer: thanks pema
    genesis Zhangsun: you are too beautiful
    Tara Farmer: and genesis
    Tara Farmer: genesis, sweet thing!
    Pema Pera: look at Storm behind us in the following balloon
    Tara Farmer: if you would like when we are done i can show you where i got this dress
    Pema Pera: the other day we had a parade of four balloons!
    genesis Zhangsun: and the hair?

    Storm’s balloon was too far for text chat range, so he IMed me.

    Pema Pera: Storm’s IM: Get people to try forced sunset with ctrl-shift-N
    Middling Bosatsu: Wow.
    Tara Farmer: yes maam
    genesis Zhangsun: you really need the hair
    genesis Zhangsun: with the dress
    Pema Pera: nice sunlight that way!
    Balloon whispers: Warning! Sim boundary crossing
    Middling Bosatsu: Yup, the sunset makes it much better.
    Balloon whispers: Into the VOID!
    Pema Pera: what a crew: an angel, a princess, and a four-armed something

    I was refering to Middling who had resigned himself to remaining superposed with me. Genesis was angelic and Tara royal.

    genesis Zhangsun: OOOO the VOID!
    Tara Farmer: i’m a queen thanks
    Pema Pera: YEAH!
    Pema Pera: sorry, Queen
    Tara Farmer: LOL
    Tara Farmer: ha ha
    Pema Pera: I just wanted to give you room for growth ;>)
    Balloon whispers: Warning! Sim boundary crossing
    Tara Farmer: LOL
    Tara Farmer: thanks pema
    Middling Bosatsu: The floor is especially good - looking down. This is an excellent balloon.
    genesis Zhangsun: It makes me so happy to be in this balloon with you all I am just breaking out in smiles in giggles in RL…lots of funny looks from people around me
    genesis Zhangsun: it is so cozy!!
    Tara Farmer: genesis, i love this shit
    Pema Pera: hahaha, yes, yes!
    Balloon whispers: We are over the North Coastal area
    Tara Farmer: i will have to take you to the ambipod too
    Pema Pera: are you in a coffee shop, Gen?
    Pema Pera: when I was in the train the other day, people were _really_ looking at me giggling
    genesis Zhangsun: it feels like being in a kid in a tree house with good friends
    Pema Pera: the electric morning ;>)
    genesis Zhangsun: Yes Pema I am
    Pema Pera: Raven?
    genesis Zhangsun: no
    genesis Zhangsun: Leila Cafe Leila
    Tara Farmer: i see the waves crashing on the beach below

    I explained how Genesis and I first met, about a month ago.

    Pema Pera: Tara, Gen and I met in a coffee shop in Berkeley in RL while I was demonstrating SL to Stim . .
    Tara Farmer: cool
    Pema Pera: funny world crossings
    Pema Pera: yes, the sea is great here
    Middling Bosatsu: ! Berkeley. Wow.
    genesis Zhangsun: oh wow Stim!!! I never put that connection together until now
    Pema Pera: wonder what neighbors we meet today!
    Pema Pera: in SL
    Pema Pera: yesterday we went dancing
    Balloon whispers: Warning! Sim boundary crossing
    genesis Zhangsun: but amazing when I met Stim I knew it was him I just had that feeling
    genesis Zhangsun: so funny
    Balloon whispers: We are over the East Coastal area
    Pema Pera: yes, SL and RL are far more intimate with each other than people think at first
    Pema Pera: what a lovely break from Rieul

    We naturally circled back to RL/SL connections.

    genesis Zhangsun: Rl crossing in SL it is so surreal so mind bending that you just know that REALITY doesn’t exist
    Pema Pera: the sea, the breeze , the sun
    Pema Pera: yes, neither SL nor RL exist
    Tara Farmer: ohh you look weird Pema/middling
    Pema Pera: all illusion, but very interestingly so — and appearance is in some sense real appearance
    Pema Pera: haha, Tara
    genesis Zhangsun: Yes Pema/Middling you look bizarre
    Middling Bosatsu: They do; they’re simply empty. That’s why either SL or RL can be beautiful.
    genesis Zhangsun: I LOVE IT!!!
    Pema Pera: can you make a four-armed Tara too?
    Tara Farmer: pema is all hair
    Pema Pera: yes, Middling!
    Pema Pera: ooooooooo
    Pema Pera: Tara!!!!!!!
    Pema Pera: we lost our queen
    genesis Zhangsun: oh no Tara!!

    Somehow Tara had dropped off from our balloon, but then she flew up and in a very agile way teamed up with Storm in his balloon.

    Pema Pera: ah, she is safely with Storm now
    Pema Pera: she abdicated I guess
    Middling Bosatsu: She’s a Queen of the Air just now I think.
    You shout: Tara, did you abdicate?
    Tara Farmer: i always walk off edges and such
    Tara Farmer: its fun
    Storm Nordwind: time to land
    Tara Farmer: hey pema, can you hear me?
    Pema Pera: by all means
    Pema Pera: yes
    Pema Pera: yes, Tara
    genesis Zhangsun: cool
    Pema Pera: but only if you shout
    Pema Pera: from balloon to balloon
    Middling Bosatsu: Well, that was excellent. Storm, my compliments.
    Tara Farmer: he he
    Tara Farmer: that was fun!
    Storm Nordwind: Did you guys set sunset?
    genesis Zhangsun: Really amazing stuff Storm!
    Pema Pera: so I don’t know what you might have told Storm ;>)

    I was telling Tara that her conversation with Storm, while riding in his balloon, was outside earshot for us.

    Storm Nordwind: Thank you Middling
    Tara Farmer: i set sunsett
    Pema Pera: yes, Storm
    Tara Farmer: ha hapema
    Pema Pera: well, I really should go now
    Storm Nordwind: Come over the bridge to the rock
    Tara Farmer: i told him you were a guru
    Pema Pera: It is 7 am here
    Pema Pera: NO YOU DIDN”T
    Tara Farmer laughs maniacally
    Pema Pera: GRRRRRRRR
    Pema Pera: watch out
    Tara Farmer: he he
    Pema Pera: I have BLACK wings . . .
    Pema Pera: gonna get you for that
    Tara Farmer: he he
    Tara Farmer pokes Pema
    Pema Pera pokes back

    I was ready to say goodbye.

    Tara Farmer: hey terri
    Pema Pera: Hi Terri!
    Pema Pera: Well, i really should go
    Terri Holrych: thanks
    Pema Pera: a few land transactions IMs and blog writing and — gasp — even RL work to do
    Pema Pera: so great seeing you all here!
    Terri Holrych: omg
    Pema Pera: ?
    Terri Holrych: :)
    Terri Holrych: work
    Tara Farmer: bye guys
    Pema Pera: bye Storm, see you later!
    Storm Nordwind: yes bfn!
    Pema Pera: bye all
    Terri Holrych: storm is hawt

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