Caledonia was the guardian for the morning session, 7 am SLT. She would later send me the following log, with her comments.
A beautiful morning at the teahouse starts with hello’s and settling in:
Fael Illyar: Hello Cal
Adams Rubble: I am a bit tired out this morning but we have just been through a brutal heat wave
Adams Rubble: Hi Cal
Caledonia Heron: Hi :) Good Morning :)
Caledonia Heron: A little trouble logging in today
Fael Illyar: Ah, I was wondering :)
Adams Rubble: I hope that doesn;t indicate more problems
Fael Illyar: what kind of trouble?
Adams Rubble: the way SL has been going off and on
Caledonia Heron: just slow, taking it’s time
Caledonia Heron: how are you guys today?
Caledonia Heron: it is midday for you Fael?
Adams Rubble: I am good, and you?
Fael Illyar: 5pm
Caledonia Heron: I’m well - trying to troubleshoot a bluetooth mouse this morning….need to find the cheese it likes :)
Fael Illyar: I’m good, feeling quite peaceful today somehow :)
Caledonia Heron: that’s great Fael :)
Faenik: why not?
Caledonia Heron: you both have on lovely kimonos :)
Fael Illyar: Ah, concurrency going up pretty fast right now, would explain slow login
Fael Illyar: Thank you :)
Adams Rubble: :)
Adams Rubble: thanks
Faenik: なるほど^^
There is a restful feel at the teahouse today, no urgency, the feel of friendship:
Fael Illyar: Well, looks like if any others are coming, they’re rather late.
Adams Rubble: yes :)
Caledonia Heron: people come and go, do what they can :)
Caledonia Heron: It’s funny to watch your fan hands type :)
Fael Illyar: Of course, I’m just being lazy and trying to tell you to think of something to talk about ;)
Caledonia Heron: that’s interesting about being in a restful state
Caledonia Heron: it’s not really lazy
Caledonia Heron: just relaxed a fuzzy focus :)
Adams Rubble: I have been the same this morning
Adams Rubble: just a feeling of calm
Fael Illyar: yes, fans do tend to look strange when I write :)
Caledonia Heron: think it’s floating around the teahouse Adams :)
Caledonia Heron: we’ll all be lying down before we know it
Adams Rubble: :)
Adams Rubble: I had it before I came
Caledonia Heron: when you’re (I) am feeling restful like this it’s like when you’re seeing yourself in your own dreams
Fael Illyar: I’ve had it since my morning meditation. It got slight cracks when a friend was telling me of a bad experience she had but that didn’t last long.
Adams Rubble: Mine is coming from last night I think. Fael and Isen gave me a long lesson about Zen :)
Adams Rubble: Then I went to meditation here
Caledonia Heron: ah ok Adams
Caledonia Heron: I do not have the benefit of formalized instruction
Fael Illyar: I’m too new with Zen to be able to give lessons :P
Fael Illyar: I can only give my impressions
A moment of confusion and an arrival, Trevor:
Adams Rubble: You both helped me sort through some confusion I have had :)
Fael Illyar: and opinions
Adams Rubble: I think I see a new way for me to move forward and that is making me feel peaceful
Caledonia Heron: excellent
Caledonia Heron: your way is seen as a result of these interactions?
Faenik loves wells!
Adams Rubble: Could you rephrase that…I see two different questions
Fael Illyar: would you mind telling us what kind of way you see now?
Fael Illyar: Hi Trevor
Adams Rubble: Oh, I seem to have misunderstood Zen
Caledonia Heron: just asking if the new way you see to move forward is a result of the interactions you have within the PaB group
Adams Rubble: Hi Trevor
Trevor Berensohn: Morning all =)
Caledonia Heron: hi Trevor
Adams Rubble: Oh, yes but in some ways indirectly :)
Caledonia Heron: join us?
Trevor Berensohn waits for the rezz…
Caledonia Heron: :)
We’re wondering if our latest perceptions are a result of PaB:
Fael Illyar: indirect or direct, it’s all results :)
Adams Rubble: Oh yes :)
Trevor Berensohn: Indeed
Caledonia Heron: true enough Fael :)
Faenik is a hairy black ball with eyes and ears.
Caledonia Heron: we were just dicussing how restful the 3 of us feel Trevor
Caledonia Heron: we are mellow, enjoying each other’s company quietly :)
Trevor Berensohn: Yes I don’t think I “get it”
Faenik: could be
Fael Illyar: It’s hard in a way to tell which interactions are PaB group and which are not. These meetings clearly are but if you talk to someone you have first met here, that starts getting fuzzy :)
Trevor Berensohn: But it works quite well nonetheless =)
Adams Rubble: yes Fael, exactly :)
Caledonia Heron: it all kind of runs together for me
Fael Illyar: As a result, I usually don’t really categorize things like that :)
Caledonia Heron: I don’t try or probably more accurately can’t separate
Trevor Berensohn probably doesn’t either
Fael Illyar: that can’t describes my feeling on separating quite well :)
Caledonia Heron: lol
Adams Rubble: :)
Fael Illyar: It can’t be done but sometimes you try, nonetheless.
Caledonia Heron: sure, parsing data, making sense of things
The “B” word comes up:
Adams Rubble: It seems that PaB is not supposed to be about Buddhism but everyone seems to have an interest
Adams Rubble: and it is what I am interested in most
Caledonia Heron: my guess is that the Buddhist philosophy is a best effort match to the PaB experiment
Trevor Berensohn: The interests are compatible
Adams Rubble: Oh yes
Fael Illyar: Quite, yes :)
Caledonia Heron: are you guys Buddhists?
Adams Rubble: So it makes it difficult to separate
Fael Illyar: am I? I don’t really know.
Adams Rubble: I seem to becoming one
Trevor Berensohn: I practice Tibetan Buddhism, yes
Caledonia Heron: so a mix and we are all here :)
Adams Rubble: yes :)
Trevor Berensohn: This practice is only slightly different than the other
Fael Illyar: Buddhism is certainly compatible to a very large degree with my own thinking but I’m likely to go my own way on some things.
Adams Rubble: shorter spurts
Trevor Berensohn: But I still feel a bit disloyal ;-)
Adams Rubble: and you should Fael
Caledonia Heron: really Trevor? how come?
Fael Illyar: http://www-usr.rider.edu/~suler/zenstory/chasrabit.html
Trevor Berensohn: Well, it’s just a different focus, when I agreed to take my teacher’s guidance on practice
Trevor Berensohn: But I talked to her and she has no problem with this at all
Faenik: could be
Trevor Berensohn: It’s good to look at things in a different light
Caledonia Heron: surely the philosophy is large enough to hold inquiry ? :) sounds like it
Adams Rubble: and to be around people who are looking for the same results
Caledonia Heron: yes Adams
Trevor Berensohn: Oh yes I think so
A little story comes up:
Fael Illyar: that Zen Story I pasted makes me wonder a bit. Although, I tend to interpret it as, not getting either of the rabbits but instead something else.
Trevor Berensohn: These “short bursts” are a nice break from my more intensive practice
Caledonia Heron: loading the story…..
Trevor Berensohn: It isn’t loading for moi
Fael Illyar: I guess I’ll paste it here
Trevor Berensohn: Haha down the rabbithole, Alice!
Fael Illyar: A martial arts student approached his teacher with a question. “I’d like to improve my knowledge of the martial arts. In addition to learning from you, I’d like to study with another teacher in order to learn another style. What do you think of this idea?” “The hunter who chases two rabbits,” answered the master, “catches neither one.”
Caledonia Heron: interesting in that it is assumed the two rabbits hold the same temporal space?
Adams Rubble finding Mozilla crashing with story
Adams Rubble: hmmmm
Trevor Berensohn: Yes it is certainly helpful to be committed to your path
Adams Rubble: It would depend on whether you are still choosing a path maybe
Caledonia Heron: maybe not,
Trevor Berensohn: It’s easy to avoid commitment with soooo many options
Faenik: could be
Adams Rubble: yes but we must have a chance to make the best choice
Fael Illyar: that’s assuming there is a best one :)
Trevor Berensohn: Yes I view this as another tool in my toolbelt
Adams Rubble: I think there probably is for each individual person
Trevor Berensohn: So the best one is not always the same
Adams Rubble: Yours may be different than mine
Adams Rubble: but we are looking for the same end
Caledonia Heron: yes Adams so who’s to say what you should do - chase or don’t chase, do what you like
Fael Illyar: No, I mean even for one person, there probably isn’t just one best. It’s too complex to evaluate the goodness of each path
Adams Rubble: Well it may change with time
Caledonia Heron: yes Fael :)
And on to utility:
Trevor Berensohn: I tend to think in terms of useful instead of good
Adams Rubble: yes that is good
Fael Illyar: :)
Trevor Berensohn: Coz they all seem pretty good to me =)
Adams Rubble: :)
Fael Illyar: But yes, I tend to mostly consider usefulness too, myself.
Fael Illyar: but I had the feeling Adams was using best in that sense :)
Trevor Berensohn: ha we’re so utilitarian
Adams Rubble: yes, that is what I meant Fael
Caledonia Heron: pragmatic :)
Faenik: なるほど^^
Adams Rubble: these are paths to the path
Adams Rubble: the path being the Buddha way
Adams Rubble: for us :)
Caledonia Heron: I am not a Buddhist but can see your points :)
A thread about the role of the assigned Guardian:
Trevor Berensohn: Who is the moderator this AM btw?
Fael Illyar: Cal I think?
Caledonia Heron: just your friendly hostess :)
Trevor Berensohn: Ah I get to help out this afternoon..
Caledonia Heron: yes indeed
Trevor Berensohn: =)
Adams Rubble is feeling peaceful
Caledonia Heron: I had gotten used to the bell but no longer hear it
Trevor Berensohn wonders if he has fully awakened this AM
Caledonia Heron: :) we are floating together
Adams Rubble: :)
Caledonia Heron: hands draped over the side of the boat, rippling through the water, just slightly
Fael Illyar: yes, I haven’t felt like this too many times yet :)
Adams Rubble enjoying the rocking of the boat
Caledonia Heron: the quietness of the glide
Caledonia Heron: a small frog bids hello
Trevor Berensohn: and the wonderful company
Caledonia Heron: :)
Faenik meaows peacefully.
Adams Rubble: :)
Caledonia Heron: I’m seeing our eastern clad group juxtaposed into an English countryside outing
Apparently Trevor left home in a hurry which seems to appeal to Faenik:
Trevor Berensohn: Good thing I wore a shirt this time!
Adams Rubble getting used to the punt
Trevor Berensohn: Oops forgot the shirt…
Fael Illyar: you’re wearing a shirt?
Caledonia Heron: lol, remarkably like skin that shirt
Fael Illyar: ah, skin shirt
Caledonia Heron: waterproof
Trevor Berensohn: Ah I haven’t heard it
Caledonia Heron: expandable
Trevor Berensohn: Yes quite useful
Caledonia Heron: wrinkles only after extended use
Trevor Berensohn: haha gets mottled
Faenik: could be
Caledonia Heron: skin is your largest organ
Trevor Berensohn: awww Faenik
Faenik blinks at Trevor.
Trevor Berensohn: erm
Caledonia Heron: Faenik is flirting with you Trevor
Trevor Berensohn: Looks like Faenik and I have a special relationship
Fael Illyar: :)
And back to just what *is* the host guardian doing:
Caledonia Heron: I’m of two minds here; to ask direct questions about your experiences or let it ride and enjoy you all …since it was asked if I am a “moderator” …
Faenik: why not?
Adams Rubble: :)
Adams Rubble: Should we help you out?
Trevor Berensohn: Hmmm perhaps I misspoke?
Caledonia Heron: no I don’t think so - it is not a moderator job, I just agreed to be here and let whatever happens unfold
Caledonia Heron: just my understanding of course :)
Adams Rubble: You are all guardians then?
Fael Illyar: Well, if you’ve figured out some questions, go ahead and ask :)
Caledonia Heron: I don’t know
Fael Illyar: Yes
Trevor Berensohn: Yes I was still groggy when I came in, and it’s the word that came out =)
Trevor Berensohn: Ima newbie guardian
Adams Rubble: I am not understanding Trevor
Adams Rubble: oh
Trevor Berensohn: My first discussion will be this afternoon
Caledonia Heron: feel free Fael, I am at rest with no line of inquiry atm
Fael Illyar: You know, I’ve been a guardian barely for a week myself.
Caledonia Heron: I think of being the designated guardian as holding the space for the discussion not so much the one who has to be “in charge” :)
Trevor Berensohn: Like u said, Cal, the hostess
Fael Illyar: Just one weekly session where you take the log and participate and be there so that no-one has to come to an empty teahouse.
Faenik: ah :)
Fael Illyar: Well, I’ve ended up doing 5 already though
Trevor Berensohn: Wowness
Caledonia Heron: yes, allowing for the possibility of a PaB discussion
Why we PaB:
Caledonia Heron: yes, you seem to come very frequently Fael
Caledonia Heron: it must be of value to you :)
Fael Illyar: It is I think.
Caledonia Heron: want to share why?
Caledonia Heron: how?
Fael Illyar: I haven’t really thought about that actually.
Caledonia Heron: perfect in itself :)
Fael Illyar: I like to think about things and these meetings often give me something to think about.
Caledonia Heron: don’t have to know why or how . it just is
Fael Illyar: probably a part of it
Faenik is a hairy black ball with eyes and ears.
Caledonia Heron: yes
Trevor Berensohn: I can relate; this sure expands my awareness
Caledonia Heron: I like it as a reference point, to reconnect what I think of as a ground of being, a place to come from, and as a group sharing that it is even more powerful
Adams Rubble: It is useful to hear other people’s approach
Trevor Berensohn: and I like all the new friends as well
Adams Rubble: approach
Fael Illyar: I often learn new things about myself as a result. Oh yes, I meet interesting people :)
Adams Rubble: being with the people who are part of this is great
Caledonia Heron: sometimes people are uncomfortable with the silences between them and try to fill them like today with questions about moderation and….it is also a sign of trust and respect imo that we can sit quietly together and it is ok :)
Adams Rubble: well we have done our testemionials :)
Fael Illyar: testimonials :)
Caledonia Heron: ?
Adams Rubble: wrong spelling
Trevor Berensohn: Heh do we get paid for them ;-)
Adams Rubble: testimonials
Caledonia Heron: I got the word, did not get your meaning
Adams Rubble: oh we said what was great about PaB-a joke
Caledonia Heron: lol, d’oh :)
Fael Illyar: I guess it’s the people more than anything else that keeps me here.
Caledonia Heron: indeed Fael
Caledonia Heron: it takes a little bit to get each new person but well worth the time
And back to the day at hand:
Trevor Berensohn: …and the giant poseballs!
Adams Rubble: :)
Fael Illyar: giant poseballs?
Trevor Berensohn: lol they still appear on my screen
Caledonia Heron: there’s one behind you, yes?
Fael Illyar: you mean the cushions?
Adams Rubble is finding this very funy
Caledonia Heron: :)
Trevor Berensohn: Yes the cushions here are very strange
Caledonia Heron: sculpties methinks
Faenik: could be
Fael Illyar: try zooming out and back in, it might fix them :)
Trevor Berensohn: Ah haven’t taken that class yet
Adams Rubble: :)
Trevor Berensohn: Ah much better!
Caledonia Heron: alt to get the magnifier then use your mouse to focus in and out
Trevor Berensohn: It was a lovely scene of this little hut
Caledonia Heron: it was my pleasure to be with you here today
Caledonia Heron: I must attend another meeting now
Faenik: why not?
Adams Rubble: It was very nice today
Fael Illyar: Yes, it was a very peaceful meeting, nice to be part of it today :)
Fael Illyar: Bye Cal :)
Trevor Berensohn: Good to see you Caledonia
Adams Rubble: bye Cal
Caledonia Heron: yes, I agree - thank you for that - this is a calm spot within my day :)
Caledonia Heron: bye
