That evening, Thorberg was the guardian. He sent me the chat log, while the comments are mine. The title was suggested by Pia, harking back to a remark by Sylectra.
Pia, Stevenaia and Thorberg greet each other, near the tea house.
Pia Iger: Hi, Prof, Thor.
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Thorberg
Thorberg Nordlicht: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: see you at the pavilian
Pia Iger: you know we meet at new place?
Thorberg Nordlicht: yes, i saw it in Pema’s blog
Thorberg Nordlicht: I just topped by here because there’s nobody in the new place
Pia Iger: Ok. let’s go.
Thorberg Nordlicht: you going to hang around here in case anybody shows up here?
Thorberg Nordlicht: or come along with me back to the new place?
Sylectra was arriving as well, and started talking while rezzing.
Sylectra Darwin: It’s so nice to be absconded the instant I log in
Sylectra Darwin: um, perhaps I should change
Sylectra Darwin: greetings
stevenaia Michinaga: quite a change
Sylectra Darwin: ty
Sylectra Darwin: sorry, still had my party outfit on
Sylectra Darwin: did I get all my buttons?
stevenaia Michinaga: hope not
Sylectra Darwin: hehe, I love you Steven
Sylectra Darwin: you’re good for a girl’s ego
Sylectra Darwin: bad day but glad to be here
stevenaia Michinaga: … thank you,
stevenaia Michinaga: happy to do what I can
Sylectra Darwin: how are you?
stevenaia Michinaga: how was the weekend here, I’ve been away
Sylectra Darwin: It was very nice!
Sylectra Darwin: today is SL’s birthday you know
stevenaia Michinaga: really, how old is it?
Sylectra Darwin: hello Thorberg, I finally rezzed and saw you there
Sylectra Darwin: 5 years
Happy Birthday, Second Life!
Thorberg Nordlicht: hello, everyone
Thorberg Nordlicht: i was distracted making sure i have text chat logging turned on so i can send the transcript to Pema
Sylectra Darwin: Hi Pia
Pia Iger: Hi, Syl,
Sylectra Darwin: Technical details! hehe
Sylectra Darwin: Good to see you
Sylectra Darwin: This tea house is absolutely smashing!
Pia Iger: Is there a party for the birthday?
Sylectra Darwin: Yes, I think so. I got quite a few notices
Sylectra Darwin: let me look it up
Sylectra Darwin: well darn it - I deleted it already!
Thorberg Nordlicht: I wonder if there are folks hanging around over at the tea house who don’t know we’re meeting over here now
stevenaia Michinaga: Daniki was there
Pia Iger: not likely
Thorberg Nordlicht: there *is* a sign, but it’s *not* very big
Thorberg Nordlicht: ok, i won’t worry about it then
Sylectra Darwin: I see one person on the mini-map
Thorberg Nordlicht: oh, good point, the mini-map, i should have thought of that
Pia Iger: maybe that is Dakini
Sylectra Darwin: no one is currently in the tea house
Thorberg Nordlicht: thanks
stevenaia Michinaga: well Happy birthday to all the Lindens, we have alot to be thankful for
Sylectra Darwin: sure
Sylectra Darwin: Indeed! I never would have met you lovely people otherwise.
Good point!
Thorberg Nordlicht: agree
Sylectra Darwin: I was at the summer solstice event on Happy Clam Island Saturday night
Sylectra Darwin: Amazing
Sylectra Darwin: One of the builders had created a huge wicker man which they set alight at 10 p.m.
Sylectra Darwin: It burned all night.
Sylectra Darwin: I have never seen anything like it here.
Thorberg Nordlicht: ((sorry i missed that))
Sylectra Darwin: smiles
Sylectra Darwin: there is always something wonderful happening somewhere on SL
Pia Iger: I have not explored around yet
stevenaia Michinaga: creativity seems to thrive here
Sylectra Darwin: yes!
Sylectra Darwin: Steven knows a number of places of architectural interest as well
Pia Iger: oh, what kind?
stevenaia Michinaga: aactually I ahev been more impressed by the unlikely architects
stevenaia Michinaga: there are places where RL architect experiment, you can search on Architect
Pia Iger: Oh, I am interested to take a look.
stevenaia Michinaga: but they usually don;t focus on the “comfortable” like this place
Sylectra Darwin: I think I will get rid of all my furniture in RL and get floor cushions
Pia Iger: possible. We know how we will use the place and build upon that.
Sylectra Darwin: form follows function
Pia Iger: not me, I like couch.
Sylectra Darwin: I am a big fan of zen design
Sylectra Darwin: hehe, couch is good too
Thorberg Nordlicht: bean bag chairs
Sylectra Darwin: fun!
The conversation moved from cushions and couches to clothes.
Pia Iger: Just curious, Thor, do you make your own clothes?
Sylectra Darwin: I think that minimalist style is very soothing - that’s what I love about asian inspired design.
Pia Iger: agree, Syl
Thorberg Nordlicht: no, i don’t make my own clothes; why do you ask?
Pia Iger: because they look tailored for your avatar,
Sylectra Darwin: yes, they fit very well
Thorberg Nordlicht: haha; i guess that’s a compliment; maybe i tailored the avatar shape for the suit, like the old joke
Pia Iger: Also they are quite put together, the jacket w/ elbow patches, goes well with your whole look.
Thorberg Nordlicht: check out the shoes
Pia Iger: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: you going to model for us?
Pia Iger: cool, color match
stevenaia Michinaga: but do the sox match?
Thorberg Nordlicht: aw shucks
Pia Iger: very English scholar-ish
Thorberg Nordlicht: that’s it
stevenaia Michinaga: I knew it
Sylectra Darwin: I love the laces
Pia Iger: yes,details too
Sylectra Darwin: sox are overrated
Thorberg Nordlicht: hmm, you got me on the socks, steve
stevenaia Michinaga: and matching sox less so
Sylectra Darwin: Do does anyone want to talk about something in particular today?
Thorberg Nordlicht: :)
Pia Iger: I assume Syl wants.
stevenaia Michinaga: sox don’t cut it anymore?
Sylectra Darwin: Nah, just have productivity guilt. Hard day at work
Sylectra Darwin: Sox cut it fine!
Sylectra Darwin: :)
Thorberg Nordlicht: we could talk about the Zen of sox
Pia Iger: all ears:)
From socks to zen.
Thorberg Nordlicht: not sure what there would be to say on the subject, but i’m sure we cold come up with something
Sylectra Darwin: Well, socks are associated with comfort, are they not?
Thorberg Nordlicht: true
stevenaia Michinaga: I know little about zen , first of all there seems to be much about it, zen poroducts, zen style, define zen….. in 15 words or less, ofcourse
Thorberg Nordlicht: they keep your feet warm in the cold Zendo
Sylectra Darwin: zen is trendy these days
Pia Iger: painful to run without socks, I know for sure!
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, a bit overwhleming
stevenaia Michinaga: it seems to attach itself to everything
Sylectra Darwin: what does, Steven?
stevenaia Michinaga: zen
Sylectra Darwin: zen?
Sylectra Darwin: Ah yes.
Sylectra Darwin: I have a zen kitty.
Sylectra Darwin: My decor is very zen
stevenaia Michinaga: I assume it;s a state of Bing?
Sylectra Darwin: I wish I were in a zen mood.
stevenaia Michinaga: Being
Sylectra Darwin: maybe it’s a state of ping.
Sylectra Darwin: PING!
stevenaia Michinaga: ok, Syl, tell me about a zen mood
Sylectra Darwin: hmmmm, happily
Sylectra Darwin: A zen mood is one in which I go with the flow - just accept everything that is and stop being aware of the passage of time.
Sylectra Darwin: When I am deeply immersed in a creative project
Sylectra Darwin: After about the third hour, it hits me that I am finally happy.
Sylectra Darwin: I am not a happy person by nature
stevenaia Michinaga: aww, clearer than I had imagined
Pia Iger: What is a Zen kitty like?
Sylectra Darwin: That’s easy - they know zen by heart
Sylectra Darwin: See sunbeam - lay in sunbeam. Purr. Repeat.
Sylectra Darwin: Ya gotta love a creature that gets such obvious pleasure from such a lovely simple thing.
From the zen of cats to the zen of dogs.
Sylectra Darwin: I want to tell you guys about a hike I took with my dog sophy on Sunday.
Pia Iger: Please.
Sylectra Darwin: Steven, am I interrupting?
stevenaia Michinaga: no
stevenaia Michinaga: interrupting what?
Sylectra Darwin: Okay. Well I hiked on a small mountain near my home with my yellow lab and my ipod
Sylectra Darwin: I saw you typing so thought I should ask
Sylectra Darwin: It’s oakey woods on that mountain
Sylectra Darwin: The trails were musky and wet from all the rain we’ve been having.
Sylectra Darwin: So very few mountain bikers for a change - peaceful!
Sylectra Darwin: We hiked all over that mountain, maybe 5 miles or so. And then I decided to take a 9-second pause in a clearing full of prairie grasses and flowers.
Sylectra Darwin: When I came out of it, every stalk of grass glowed with efforvescent light, and the wild carrot umbels swayed gently in the breeze.
Sylectra Darwin: There was a nutty sweet smell like sugar-roasted almonds in teh air.
Sylectra Darwin: Beautiful moment
Pia Iger: I have a similar experience with sunset.
stevenaia Michinaga: sounds lovely
Pia Iger: 9-sec make us more sensitive to things around us
Pia Iger: It is kind of like awakening, if I can say.
Sylectra Darwin: I understand completely.
Sylectra Darwin: Do you have nice sunsets where you live, Pia?
Pia Iger: Yes, river, hills, and clouds, flowers, bridges
Pia Iger: they become more poetic after 9sec pause.
Sylectra Darwin: oh, nice!
And back to the 9-sec explorations!
stevenaia Michinaga: I seem to be taken with those moments when I go to the museum and react to and obsorb the art I am looking ar
stevenaia Michinaga: at
Pia Iger: can you give a specific piece of art, that impressed you more?
Thorberg Nordlicht: :)
Pia Iger: Syl was very detailed, she said “nutty sweet smell”
Pia Iger: :)
Sylectra Darwin: it was intoxicating, like a clean dog on a warm day
stevenaia Michinaga: actually, most art has something to offer, even in SL, there’s a place icalled The Second Louvre Museum, where there is much ironic and beautiful art to be absorbed into
Sylectra Darwin: I’ve been there at Steven’s suggestion
stevenaia Michinaga: it takes you places… in those momentary encounters
Sylectra Darwin: I love the 60-foot tall phantom girl.
stevenaia Michinaga: and adds to your experences
Sylectra Darwin: yes!
Pia Iger: Thor, do you want to share anything?
Tea Cup whispers: Tea Time!
Thorberg Nordlicht: no, i’m juggling dinner plates, cats, and laptops in real life
Sylectra Darwin: hahaha, Thor
Pia Iger: that is something!
stevenaia Michinaga: but that also applies to anything else you encounter in life, it becomes part of your existence, to use, reflect on in the future and affect change in your thinking
Sylectra Darwin: good point
Thorberg Nordlicht: so, right at the moment, it’s all i can do to just *follow* the conversation
Pia Iger: ok.
stevenaia Michinaga: as does the 9 secs, I suppose
Sylectra Darwin: Would it be odd to use the 9 seconds as a kind of precursor to a pleasant surprise, as we were talking about? Like opening a present after making yourself mentally quiet.
What a fun idea :-)
Sylectra Darwin: Is that against the intention of the practice?
Pia Iger: No,it is not.
Sylectra Darwin: It is a beautiful thing to experience.
Sylectra Darwin: I like eating dinner when I am truly hungry, for the same reason. Lovely contrast.
Pia Iger: Part of the practice is highten our appreciation.
Sylectra Darwin: excellent!
Sylectra Darwin: I will practice more tomorrow
Pia Iger: so it includes, appreciate a present,or a dinner, or arts.
Sylectra Darwin: appreciate life! the air - your breath
Pia Iger: exactly.
Sylectra Darwin: hanggliding!
Sylectra Darwin: hehe
Pia Iger: no experience here.
Sylectra Darwin: me neither.
Sylectra Darwin: on the checklist.
Sylectra Darwin: Things to do before I die.
Syl talked about a moving experience.
Sylectra Darwin: I also would like to mention that I took a few minutes to read a random page in my mother’s journal - she died in Dec. 2006.
Pia Iger: oh?
Sylectra Darwin: She was talking about the Sept. 11 crisis and how it affected her.
Sylectra Darwin: Then she talked of feeling a strong need to change something about her life.
Sylectra Darwin: She found an ostrich feather and she was big into interpreting symbols from nature.
Sylectra Darwin: So the ostrich to her meant the courage to make a change but remain vulnerable, exposed, flightless.
Pia Iger: Wow.
Sylectra Darwin: This parallels my own life beautifully as I am making many changes right now.
Sylectra Darwin: I picked the journal at random from more than 20 of them, and this is the page I opened it to. She’d be tripping out! LOL
Sylectra Darwin: that’s when I chose to take the 9-second moment
Thorberg Nordlicht: “a 9-second moment”
Sylectra Darwin: grin
Thorberg Nordlicht: someone should start a PasB glossary: “micro-meditation”, “9-second moment”
Sylectra Darwin: Great idea, Thorberg. Wikis are very good mediums for this kind of thing so soon we will be able to do just that.
Pia Iger: Syl is on the tech team.
Sylectra Darwin: I am the hack writer hanging around with the big kids, LOL
Thorberg Nordlicht: works for me
Sylectra Darwin: Perhaps there is some way I can make myself useful among these intellectual giants.
Sylectra Darwin: One of our group members has actually set up 7 wikis!
Sylectra Darwin: I was amazed.
Pia Iger: I dont know!
Pia Iger: I am so happy to be with this group.
Sylectra Darwin: smiles
Thorberg Nordlicht: :)
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, as am I
And so am I :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: I have heard much to reflect on here
Sylectra Darwin: me too!
stevenaia Michinaga: do any of you attend the other daily sessons?
Pia Iger: no time.
stevenaia Michinaga: I sould read those blogs some time
Pia Iger: I do read most blogs.
Sylectra Darwin: no
Thorberg Nordlicht: occasionally
Pia Iger: There are fascinating talks. people from other timezones go to other sessions.
Sylectra Darwin: I wasn’t really aware of the other times.
stevenaia Michinaga: 7 and 1, am and pm
Sylectra Darwin: You know what might be nice? A notecard giver at this site so that people happening upon the place can get a schedule.
Pia Iger: It was discussed.
Sylectra Darwin: The photos I post on my Flickr account all have live links to this place, so it would be good to have info for them when they arrive.
Pia Iger: they are drafting the notecard, as far as I know.
Sylectra Darwin: good deal
Pia Iger: This group only started since april. so it is developing.
Sylectra Darwin: depends on how many attendees we can handle, of course
Sylectra Darwin: ooo, I am getting started near the same time!
Sylectra Darwin: I’ve been on SL since Nov 2007 but haven’t been socially active until March.
Pia Iger: I am glad you came here.
Sylectra Darwin: Me too! Thank you.
stevenaia Michinaga: I haven;t stopped, as you can meet so many lovely people
Pia Iger: Are the people here more coherent?
Thorberg Nordlicht: similar story for me: found this group by chance; would have missed it if i’d wandered by at a different time; first time i’ve socialized since starting in sl 18 months ago
Thorberg Nordlicht: you mean us? are *we* more coherent??
That would be a bit surprising :>)
Sylectra Darwin: did it open up whole new worlds to you like it did me?
stevenaia Michinaga: here? this place or SL in general, Pai
Pia Iger: I mean this place.
Thorberg Nordlicht: well, i find this prefereable to the sl “club” scene
Sylectra Darwin: more meaningful interactions
Thorberg Nordlicht: i find it’s the only place in sl i can carry on a coherent conversation with most people i meet
stevenaia Michinaga: I find the discussion less coherent as it’s deeper and explores more and takes more to understand, which can me more or less coherent
stevenaia Michinaga: can be
Thorberg Nordlicht: whereas i *cannot* carry on a coherent conversation with most avatars i encounter in the sl clubs
Thorberg Nordlicht: seems to an interest in comparative religion, eastern thought, and buddhism filters for a certain kind of person
Thorberg Nordlicht: i think it’s amazing how the group has matured in only a few months
Thorberg Nordlicht: undoubtedly as a result of the hard work of our founders
Sylectra Darwin: I like the openness.
Thorberg Nordlicht: Pema and Dakini in particular
Sylectra Darwin: I can see that!
Thorberg Nordlicht: but besides that, there seems to be a “right place, right time” thing going on to bring together this particular group of people in this medium (SL) at this time
Sylectra Darwin: Cool deal. Trippy, even.
stevenaia Michinaga: and don;t forget the right people…pema
Pia Iger: Cultivating this group needs open-heart and open-mind, which is rare.
Thorberg Nordlicht: i guess part of what i’m saying is there are probably lots of avatars in recent SL history who thought, “how ’bout we start this group, and…” and they have great plans, but somehow it just *doesn’t* all come together
Yes, I (Pema speaking) am very well aware of it, having tried to get groups together without that much success for the last 46 years, ever since I was nine years old :>). Most groups lasted for a few months and then started to peter out. PaB is only 3 months out, but it sure seems to grow roots, and may well last for years and decades. I at least have never seen this kind of early success before. The merit must lie partly in SL and partly in the wonderful group of PaB guardians!
Thorberg Nordlicht: i just think it’s an interesting phenomenon going on that PasB *does* seems to be working on some level
Pia Iger: Phenomenon, I think so.
Sylectra Darwin: Well, i should be winding down for the evening
Pia Iger: I just notice we been here more than an hour.
Thorberg Nordlicht: ok, Sylectra; thanks for coming by tonight
Sylectra Darwin: thank you as well
Thorberg Nordlicht: yeah, the hour came and went a while ago
stevenaia Michinaga: yes see you all soon
Pia Iger: nice chat. Thanks, all.
Sylectra Darwin: yes, nice.
Thorberg Nordlicht: nice to see everyone, tonight
Pia Iger: night. I think we can title this talk w /” a 9-sec moment”
Pia Iger: I like that.
Sylectra Darwin: have a good evening, all.
Thorberg Nordlicht: yes, i like the term “9-second moment” also
Sylectra Darwin: ty, ty
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Pia Iger: ok. bye.
