Friedrich Ochsenhorn: good evening, mongo
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: just going to check inside the t-house really quickly
Mongo McGinnis: so one is in the tea house
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: nope, just us and the sunset
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i didn’t mean to disturb you. your bubble said you were ‘busy’
Mongo McGinnis: i was distracted by stuff going on in rl
Mongo McGinnis: whatever rl is?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: ah. well, i’m not sure if we have met before. I’m hanging around for the Play as Meeting meeting
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: heh. sounds like you are…
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I wonder what’s a more elusive concept - ‘real’ or ‘life’
Mongo McGinnis: i better get going see you later
Mongo McGinnis: ????
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: ok. have you heard of our Play as Being group?
Mongo McGinnis: yep pema has included me before
Mongo McGinnis: i am a reg at the zazen at 6 pm sl time
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: great. well, don’t let me hold you up, but I’m gonna stick around for a bit
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i haven’t made it to a zazen session yet, but hope to soon.
Mongo McGinnis: ttfn
After Mongo left, Rowan arrived.
Rowan Masala: Hi Friedrich
Rowan Masala: No one for the meeting tonight?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: good evening, rowan!
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: well, we had one visitor, who was actually here before me, but he has disappeared!
Rowan Masala: ah!
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: how are you tonight?
Rowan Masala: I’m good.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: (this morning? whatever)
Rowan Masala: Was hoping to round some folks up for a pajama party at Tradewinds
Rowan Masala: but Stevenaia and Pema aren’t online.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i might be up for an adventure. i’m gonna stick around here until 10:30 or so
Rowan Masala: k
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i don’t have any pj’s
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: but I often sleep in a t-shirt ;-)
Rowan Masala: perfect :)
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: this is actually my first time “guarding” a slot
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: its different
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i had to block off the time and commit. less casual than dropping in.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i am not particularly disciplined about my discipline
Rowan Masala: me neither
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: my involvement is a bit spotty, though I was lucky enough to hop on board at the start
Rowan Masala: and how long has it been going on?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: april 1, but it wasn’t a fool’s joke ;-)
Rowan Masala laughs
The conversation moved to PaB.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: how did you hear about the group?
Rowan Masala: Stevenaia
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: well, perhaps it was - depends on whose doing the telling and listening
Rowan Masala nods, smiling
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: so, i suppose you have been briefed on the concept.
Rowan Masala: 9 second meditations and then sharing is about all I’ve been told
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: but I would be happy to share my perspective, if you want to be fashionably late to your party
Rowan Masala: But I never quite understood if we were all supposed to meditate at the same time or just whenever
Rowan Masala: absolutely
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: well, for starters, you should take a peek at this companion blog, if you haven’t http://playasbeing.wordpress.com/
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: the faq is a decent place to start, and all of the convesations that happen here get posted too (w/ everyone’s permision)
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i think, in a nutshell, you’ve got it. 9 second pauses every 15 minutes.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: in a way, there isn’t much more to it than that. though, suprisingly, that turns out to be quite substantial
Rowan Masala: and do you normally sort of call the time for that reflection?
Sky Szimmer: hi there.
Rowan Masala: so that all do it together?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: hi sky! hi
Rowan Masala: Hi Sky
Sky dropped by but probably didn’t stay long.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: not really. its quite personal and individual. everyone interprets it in their own way
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i can speak best for myself, and i must admit, i haven’t dove headfirst into the practice yet
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i am striving to maintain an even keel at once an hour, not even every 15
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: many people pause, reflect on their awareness, self, and/or being, and some jot down a quick note aftwards
Rowan Masala nods
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: no expectations though. whatever happens, happens.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: then, we meet here, 4 times a day to share our thoughts and experiences
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: very informal. many drop by whenever they can.
Rowan Masala nods
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: the fun thing is that SL turns out to be a wonderful environment to explore the nature of being and reality
Rowan Masala: yes–Pema and I began a discussion about immersion in avatars as it relates to RL being
Rowan Masala: I look forward to continuing that discussion with the group
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i have learned alot by trying this on. things i was rationally skeptical about. the experience is its own evidence
Johnson dropped in.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: hi johnson. how are you?
Rowan Masala: Hi Johnson
Johnson Euler: Hi guys.
Johnson Euler: I’m in the middle of a course.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: no worries. folks have been in and out all evening
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: Rowan: I hope I am not being too redundant with you last visit. I am not sure where you left off.
Rowan Masala: no, the reminders are good–thank you
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: have you tried the 9-second practice yet?
Rowan Masala: not yet
Rowan Masala: how do you time it?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i don’t, really. a deep breath takes longer for me than 9 seconds
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I think its ok to go over ;-)
Rowan Masala smiles
Rowan Masala: ok
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I usually just start with a breath and see where it takes me
Johnson Euler: I was doing the 9 second today. I’m off on vacation doing coursework. The 9 second was helping keep me sane.
Whatever the merits of the 9-sec practice are, it is so encouraging to hear so many reports like this, testifying that it actually has made a difference! That by itself is the most important starting point. We can take it from there and then try to figure out what to do with it further, sharing ideas, suggestions, experiences, working hypotheses.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: the central question is, when it comes to a mindful practice, what happens when you trade duration for frequency
Rowan Masala smiles
Rowan Masala: right–now I remember
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: oh, i was a mess w/out a schedule. much harder for me to maintain on vacation
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: but, sounds like you need more relaxing vacations ;-)
Rowan Masala: Hi Rajah
Rajah Yalin: Namaste
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i mean, who (thinks they) has time to meditate 2 hours a day…
Johnson Euler: It’s really hard to do coursework after a 50-60 hour work week.
Johnson Euler: Hello Rajah.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: hi raja. welcome
Rajah Yalin: I do
Rajah had dropped in, and answered Fred’s rethorical question :-).
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: admirable.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: you caught us in the middle of a conversation
Johnson Euler: By the way, Rowan, nice slippers.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: footsies?
Rowan Masala grins
Rajah Yalin: yeah I’m not sure what its about, I just saw about meditating 2 hours a day
Rowan Masala: click one
Rowan Masala: if you have your sound on
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: no problem. we’re part of a working group that is exploring the question of what happens if you integrate short micro-meditations thorughout your life
Rajah Yalin nods.
Rajah Yalin: I’ve been doing PaB
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: oh. Great. we haven’t met yet.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I’m filling in for the guardian of tonight’s slot
Rowan Masala: I think I’m going to head over to the pajama party now. Would anyone like to join me, or like the LM for later?
Rajah Yalin: ah
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: make you a deal - I’ll IM you when we finish up, and perhapass you can TP me?
Johnson Euler: Ah, I had to click on the slippers a few times to get it. “I love trash.”
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: oh, or I can take the LM
Rowan Masala: sounds good
Johnson Euler: Oscar the grouch.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: outside of his can
Fred steered the conversation back to Play as Being.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: raja - have you tried out the PaB practice?
Rajah Yalin nods.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I am curious to hear your reactions, as one with a more regular, traditional one
Rajah Yalin: seems short but seems like a large accomplishment when you take into consideration how much is being done daily
Rajah Yalin: keeps the positive energies going
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: yes. I have been surprised at how it has seeped into the rest of my day
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: as the place where I return to, by default
Again, how encouraging to read about the 9-sec practice having such clear actual effects, whatever the effects are. It’s like a steamship. Getting under steam and starting to really move is by far the hardest. Once you are under steam, choosing direction is a lot easier — just play with the rudders.
Rajah Yalin: I tend to accidentally, without thinking, go over 9 seconds sometimes
Johnson Euler: Then people around you think you’re zombied out. That’s a danger.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: well, my interpretation of the rules are as guidlines or suggestoins
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: heh. as long as you don’t go over 15 minutes. then you might overlap w/ the next break.
Rajah Yalin: :P
Rajah Yalin: I don’t think it turns me into a ‘zombie’ hehe
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: i have wondered how this differes from just zoning out
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: its more deliberate, for sure
Rajah Yalin: actually, meditating keeps me from being a zombie
Johnson Euler: Yes, I think you’re right. My mind wants to meditate by default. If I do it in a controlled way, it keeps me from wandering at inopportune times.
Rajah Yalin: we had a girl come in today who is interested in tai chi and buddhism, she’s just started to get into it - I was going to tell her about PaB but forgot - I think since she is just starting meditating it would be a good way to introduce her to it
Rajah Yalin: i invited her to tonight’s sangha, it was good to have her
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: please do. feel free to send her to the web site.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: http://playasbeing.wordpress.com/ - it’s a decent introduction, and has the slurl to find us
Rajah Yalin nods.
Rajah Yalin: heh I’m on there :P
And so Rajah is. There is so much coming and going these days in the tea house, unless someone has the time to read all the blog entries, and in addition to remember what he or she read, there will be a lot more amusing situations like this, where a guardian is recommending someone to read their own words, as interesting material to study :-).
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: well, i am going to get going. I have to pack for a trip. i may drop by this pj party for a few mintues too.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: great meeting you Raja, and seeing you again Johnson.
Rajah Yalin: good to meet you too - i have yet to meet all the guardians - where are you going if you dont mind me asking?
Johnson Euler: Good seeing you again Fred.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: Sure. I am attending a good friend’s wedding in Minnesota
Johnson Euler: I enjoy these meetings but may be scarce until my current course is over.
Johnson Euler: Oh, where abouts in Mn?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: 1sec. rl calls.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: just north of minneapolis.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I’ve been up to the boundary waters before, but I couldn’t talk any of my friends into a camping excursion
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: :-(
Johnson Euler: I was born in Duluth. Mn is beautiful.
Rajah Yalin doesn’t know much about the US.
Johnson Euler: Where are you from Rajah?
Rajah Yalin: Vanuatu - in the south pacific east of Australia
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: no kidding! I have another good friend who attended carelton, and he introduced me to the boundary waters. Ely MN was the staging point
Rajah Yalin: in vila on the island of efate
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: seriously, one of the most beautiful places I have visited in the US
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: though, there are many I haven’t had a chance to visit yet.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: K. well, I’m off. Be well.
Johnson Euler: Night.
Rajah Yalin: i have to go as well, meeting a friend for tea
And now I was really getting curious about the pajama party . . . but I guess we’ll have to ask one of the participants directly, next time we’re in-world.
