The guardian at this meeting was Pema Pera and the comments are his.
That night, at 1 am SL time, I sat quietly in the tea house, without anybody else stopping by. However, a little while earlier, I had run into various friends, old and new, so let me report that here. First, Dakini and I met to talk about some details of how to set land permissions. While we were doing so, Gino walked by.
Pema Pera: Hi Gino!
Gino Yuya: Hi!
Gino Yuya: Nice place here!
Pema Pera: have you been here before?
Gino Yuya: Nope. Just doing some research…
Dakini Rhode: hi Gino
Gino Yuya: Hi!
Pema Pera: we also have daily meetings of various kinds
Gino Yuya: What kind of meetings do you guys hold here?
Pema Pera: Dakini here leads zen sittings
Pema Pera: and I started an initiative called Play as Being
Gino Yuya: Virtual mindfulness?
Dakini Rhode: yes!
Pema Pera: http://playasbeing.wordpress.com/
Gino Yuya: Interesting!
Pema Pera: every day zen at 6 pm SLT
Pema Pera: and Play at 1 and 7 both am and pm
Pema Pera: so five times a day something ;>)
Pema Pera: you’re most welcome to stop by
We quickly got into a serious conversation. This is one of the great things about Rieul, that you can meet interesting people just by standing there, and watching who passes by!
Gino Yuya: We do something like that in RL where I live… a co-dreaming workshop.
Gino Yuya: I am curious… Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?
Pema Pera: that sounds interesting!
Pema Pera: co-dreaming?
Pema Pera: sure
Gino Yuya: Yes. Most religious traditions view the real world as a dream. We use that as a starting premise.
Pema Pera: great start!!
Gino Yuya: So for example, you guys dreamed me up which is why I am here right now.
Pema Pera: perhaps we can look at the dream differently
Pema Pera: not us dreaming up you
Pema Pera: but rather Being dreaming up all of us
Pema Pera: or whatever name you want to use
Pema Pera: Suchness
Pema Pera: Emptiness
Pema Pera: Openness
Gino Yuya: How many people attend your workshops?
Pema Pera: various, half a dozen on average or so
Dakini Rhode: i have over 100 in my group, but usually 6-10 at each sitting
Gino Yuya: Are you happy with 2nd life as a medium for interaction?
Pema Pera: SL is great for interactions, yes
Gino Yuya: There is the inner state, and then there is the story.
Pema Pera: for example, the three of us meeting here now
Gino Yuya: How would you change things if you could?
Gino Yuya: e.g., features, etc.
Genesis dropped by as well.
Pema Pera: hi Genesis!
Dakini Rhode: hey Gen!
Gino Yuya: Hi!
genesis Zhangsun: Hi Pem! Hi Dakini!
Pema Pera: Genesis, meet Gino
genesis Zhangsun: How are you Dakini?
Dakini Rhode: i’m well, genesis
Pema Pera: Gino is behind you, Gen
genesis Zhangsun: Howdy Gino!
Gino Yuya: The titles above your name are associated with this clan?
Gino Yuya: Hi!
Gino Yuya: Greetings from Hong Kong!
Pema Pera: greetings from Kyoto
genesis Zhangsun: Greetings from California
Gino Yuya: What does Guardian mean?
Pema Pera: it is related to play as being
Pema Pera: we gather four times a day
Pema Pera: and talk about reality
Pema Pera: and Guardian is the title for a person who is there to greet visitors
Pema Pera: guarding the house so to speak, and the atmosphere
Dakini Rhode: haha i’m an Arhat to bug Storm
Pema Pera: hahahaha
Pema Pera: I wondered about that
Pema Pera: Storm is a neighbor
Dakini Rhode: not really
Gino Yuya: Reality… one of my favorite topics!
Dakini Rhode: wow Gino you dropped into the right place
Pema Pera: we have many running jokes here
Pema Pera: http://playasbeing.wordpress.com/ may amuse you
Dakini Rhode: it just turned out that way :-)
Pema Pera: if you come back at 1 am SLT
Pema Pera: I’d be happy to talk more about reality
Gino and I had more in common than I had expected.
Gino Yuya: I am hosting a conference here in Hong Kong on the topic next year
Pema Pera: what is your conference?
Gino Yuya: http://www.consciousness.arizona.edu/hongkong.htm
Pema Pera: Gen, Gino just walked by here a few minutes ago
genesis Zhangsun: amazing
Dakini Rhode: i’m getting used to these things
Pema Pera: Oh Tucson conferences
Pema Pera: I gave a talk there in 1996 and 1998
Pema Pera: ;>)
Gino Yuya: Yes. Will be in Hong Kong next year!
Gino Yuya: With Dave and Stuart.
Pema Pera: ah, the odd years
Pema Pera: yes
Pema Pera: in 1999 it was in Tokyo
Pema Pera: I attended there too, fun meeting
Pema Pera: at the UN universtity there
Gino Yuya: HK will be a fun event as well!
Pema Pera: thanks for the pointer
Gino Yuya: Looking at hosting the poster sessions in the virtual world.
Gino Yuya: in addition to the real world.
Pema Pera: please do stop by at any of the 1 or 7 am or pm times!
Pema Pera: great meeting you
Pema Pera: let’s continue!
We talked a bit more about how to let activities grow in virtual worlds.
Gino Yuya: Was interested in features you guys felt could help make such experiences better.
Pema Pera: we have many!
Pema Pera: mostly human interaction features
Gino Yuya: Like shared video playback, web browsing, etc.
Pema Pera: but they translate into technical ones too.
Gino Yuya: Community building and support, etc.
Pema Pera: Please have a look at the paper in my profile
Gino Yuya: How do I do that?
Pema Pera: first page
Pema Pera: right click on my avatar
Pema Pera: select profile
Pema Pera: are you new to SL?
Gino Yuya: yes. Just researching.
Gino Yuya: How do I right click on the mac?
Pema Pera: command + mouse click
Pema Pera: the apple symbol left to the space bar
Gino Yuya: Amazing.
Gino Yuya: You are exactly the person I am looking for.
Pema Pera: well, you’ve found me ;>)
Pema Pera: let’s talk more later!
Gino Yuya: OK.
A while later, after doing some scouting around, I stopped by the tea house, and found Gen and Solo deep into conversation.
Solobill Laville: we have the ability to make choices
Solobill Laville: Hey, Pema!
Pema Pera: hi Gen and Solo!
Solobill Laville: welcome
genesis Zhangsun: Hey!
genesis Zhangsun: Welcome back!
genesis Zhangsun: we are having a lovely discussion!
Solobill Laville: we’ve been getting to know each other a bit
Pema Pera: can’t stay long
Pema Pera: wish I could !
Pema Pera: and could join
Pema Pera: have to run but was kept here by several problems
Solobill Laville: that is ok, you’re a busy cultivator!
Solobill Laville: can we help with anything?
genesis Zhangsun: yes i guess that is the nature of being a cultivator
Solobill Laville: good tea…
genesis Zhangsun: really good tea
genesis Zhangsun: how come mine never does that?
Solobill Laville: maybe it’s my cushion
genesis Zhangsun: i think you are slipping something in there when I am not looking
Solobill Laville: a “floater” mickey
Solobill Laville: lol
genesis Zhangsun: i need to learn how to rez those
genesis Zhangsun: it would come in handy
genesis Zhangsun: :)
All that was in reaction to Solo floating above his cushion after having drunk his green tea.
Pema Pera: I’ll have to run
Pema Pera: buy some land — as usual ;>)
Solobill Laville: i can continue our conversation Gen, if you’d like
Pema Pera: then off to RL
Solobill Laville: ok, by pema
genesis Zhangsun: yes please Solo
Pema Pera: sorry to have interrupted
Solobill Laville: no, great to see you
Solobill Laville: take care
genesis Zhangsun: Pema lets discuss the Bar later I will think of some ideas
genesis Zhangsun: meanwhile
genesis Zhangsun: ciao!
It then clicked for me, the notion of finding Gen and Solo talking here, even outside the four scheduled sessions, together with the idea of a pub. I had been thinking about how nice it would be, at some point in the future, to have 24 hours/day presence here in Rieul, for anyone interested in talking about reality . . . .
Pema Pera: and so nice to see you here talking
Pema Pera: even outside regular hours
Pema Pera: the Pub, Gen, yes
Pema Pera: actually
genesis Zhangsun: yes Pub
Pema Pera: my idea for the Pub was
Pema Pera: to have that “open” for 24 hours
Pema Pera: with the regular meetings four times a day still here
Pema Pera: unless we have a large group and don’t fit
Pema Pera: just a thought
genesis Zhangsun: sure that sounds appropriate
Solobill Laville: there’s always the halll of appearance
Pema Pera: that too yes
Pema Pera: but that’ s very big and less cosy
Pema Pera: more for scheduled meetings rather than shooting the breeze
Solobill Laville: it can be moded, there are others too
genesis Zhangsun: i like the idea of wanderers dropping in a for a brew and a chat about Being
Solobill Laville: yep
genesis Zhangsun: I see something almost medevil
Pema Pera: yes
Pema Pera: exactly
genesis Zhangsun: like knights tying up their horses outside
Pema Pera: okay, have to run — c u!
genesis Zhangsun: ok bye!!
Solobill Laville: bye
genesis Zhangsun: take care of yourself
