Adams was the guardian that morning. She sent me the following log plus comments.
I arrived first and was joined by Pema and then Pia
Adams Rubble: Hi Pema
Pema Pera: Hi Adams!
Pema Pera: And hi Pia!
Adams Rubble: Hi Pia
Pema Pera: Morning to you both!
Pia Iger: Hi, morning,
Adams Rubble: Having some sitting problems?
Pia Iger: I thought Adams taught Pema to sit like this.
Pia Iger: no?
Pema Pera: haha
Adams Rubble: :)
Pema Pera: I suddenly realized I looked like a bird standing in a river
Pema Pera: it is the AO, Avatar Override than does that
Pema Pera: interferes with the cushion control
Pema Pera: when I switch AO off, I sit properly
Adams Rubble: I just learned this morning that I can shut off the sit without shutting down the whole thing
Pema Pera: ?
Adams Rubble: I use the zhaoII
Pema Pera: ?
Adams Rubble: OK, termonology vocab here—it is something into which I can load animations
Adams Rubble: for sitting, walking, etc.
Pema Pera: ah! I didn’t know about that
Pema Pera: still have a lot to learn about SL . . . .
Pema Pera: zhaoll sounded like an persian instrument for telling the future or something like that . . . .
Pema Pera: thanks!
Adams Rubble: Fael gave it me. She knows better how to use it
Pema Pera: Ah! ZHA-II not zhaoll
Adams Rubble: There are directions in the folder
Pema Pera: okay, will have a look, thank you!
Pema Pera: And thank you also for sending me the end of the Saturday evening chat
Adams Rubble: You have to load the animations into the content folder in edit
Pema Pera: since there were several references to that later, I’m glad to have that complete now!
Adams Rubble: then you have to make sure you check “load” or they won’t run
Pia Iger: thanks. Adams.
Pema Pera: okay!
Maxine arrives
Pema Pera: Pia, how did the evening session go?
Pia Iger: last night?
Pema Pera: Hi Maxine!
Pema Pera: yes
Pema Pera: you were leading that, didn’t you?
Maxine Walden: hi, Pema, Pia, Adams
Pia Iger: good. had 2 new ppl
Pia Iger: Hi, Maxine
Maxine Walden: afraid I can only stay a few minutes but wanted to come
Pema Pera: Great!
Adams Rubble: Hi Maxine
Pema Pera: Always nice to have you hear, Maxine!
Maxine Walden: thanks, and to be here as well
Pema Pera: Bertrum became our latest new guardian
Pema Pera: six hours ago :)
Adams Rubble: :)
Pia Iger: wonderful!
Maxine Walden: oh, wonderful! growing guardians all the time
Pema Pera: I very much enjoyed conversations with him, this last week
Pia Iger: He is special.
Maxine Walden: lovely, I look forward to getting to know him more
Pia Iger: I remember your talk with him at tea house, only you two.
Pema Pera: yes, that was fun.
Pia Iger: when he probe you to talk how you do 9-sec
Pema Pera: hehe, yes
Pema Pera: he and Dakini are great probers
Pema Pera: and you too, Pia!
Pema Pera: actually many of us are, at times
Pema Pera: but some are more persistent more often than others :-)
Pia Iger: I was surprised it was quite easy to lead talk last night
Pia Iger: everyone pitches in naturally,
Pia Iger: I don’t have to do much
Pema Pera: that’s the best way :)
Pia Iger: and new ppl blended in easily
Maxine Walden: nice to just be able to hold the ‘frame’ of the conversation
Maxine Walden: and to let it flow
Pia Iger: yes, Maxine
Adams Rubble: :)
Pema Pera: And ah, Adams, this is your session, right?
Adams Rubble: Well I am guardian, yes
Pema Pera: No reason to do anything special
Pema Pera: just making sure there is at least one person :)
Adams Rubble: I am just listening :)
Pema Pera: For me, it is such a luxury to not have to be present three times a day anymore for the whole period . . . thank you all so much!
Pema Pera: Like yesterday night, I fell asleep before the meeting
Pia Iger: We don’t want to wear you out, Pema
Pema Pera: and I was very glad that Pia could take care of the watch!
Maxine Walden: ah, you have been carrying so much of the continuity, Pema
Pia Iger: I was here alone for 15min last night
Pia Iger: then 5-6 ppl came
Pema Pera: yes, it’s like being a bar tender :)
Maxine Walden: I have had that occur as well, Pia
Pema Pera: never know what will happen
Adams Rubble: :)
Pema Pera: but always fun
Pema Pera: I enjoy the company of a large group
Pia Iger: yes.surprisingly fun
Pema Pera: but also the chance of one-to-one
Maxine Walden: both are nice
Adams Rubble: Both have their advantages
Maxine Walden: different senses of depth/breadth
Adams Rubble: Sometimes a large group pumps new life into discussions
Pia Iger: yes,Adams
Adams Rubble: new ideas
Pia Iger: good surprises.
Pema Pera: I’m enjoying reading logs of meetings I was not present at — a different flow, like watching a movie or reading a novel
Pema Pera: I really enjoyed reading about Fael’s description of how ten years ago she dropped identification
Pia Iger: not read yet.
Adams Rubble: yes, I found that interesting too
Maxine Walden: I look forward to reading that
Pema Pera: I saw many parallels with what you are struggling with, Adams
Pema Pera: and what Stim commented on
Pema Pera: Fael hinted that there was something that had really bothered her,
Pema Pera: and then realized that the bothering was largely connected with her identifying with that which was being shaken
Pema Pera: and then she learned to drop the identification
Pema Pera: I’m saying it now in my own words, but that’s the gist I got from it
Adams Rubble: I am not so sure
Adams Rubble: it is the same
Pema Pera: And in Adams’ case, Stim was talking about “holding to a larger perspective”
Maxine Walden: this is such an interesting topic and I am sorry that I have to leave in a few minutes because it deserves time and attention…but maybe Adams is thinking of something else
Pema Pera: which you can only do by letting go of the smaller identifications
Pema Pera: they seem like two sides of the same coin, no?
Adams Rubble: hmmm
Pema Pera: or?
Adams Rubble: I am seeing this very diffferenty, especially this morning
Adams Rubble: but I don’t have it all in words yet
Maxine Walden: how so, Adams? ah, yes, not in words yet
Adams Rubble: but I am not sure iis an identification issue
Adams Rubble: I still keep going back to my original goal which has changed a bit to wanting to live more compassionately
Pema Pera: That’s a wonderful goal!
Adams Rubble: and what I need to keep focused on that
Maxine Walden: toward oneself and others, that compassion?
Adams Rubble: If it is identification I need to drop then I hope to do that
Pema Pera: It is perhaps the clearest point of overlap between Buddhism and Christianity
Adams Rubble: but I am pretty content with my identification in real life, I think
Adams Rubble: Yes, pema, I am thinking along those lines
Maxine Walden: and maybe it seems different re compassion, that is accepting parts of self and others rather than dropping identifications
Pema Pera: ah, we have to make sure we are talking about the same thing, when we use the word “identification”
Pema Pera: no denial here, just wearing it losely, and letting it not interfere with real compassion . . .
Adams Rubble: that may be Pema
Pema Pera: As Stim said, there is the more sentimental type of compassion, which may be inspiring for a while, but has no staying power and can easily flip over into anger and what not, and then there is a real compassion grounded in seeing, above duality
Adams Rubble: the compassion without emotion
Maxine Walden: compassion based on a wider view perhaps?
Pema Pera: perhaps not “without emotion” but not driven by emotion
Adams Rubble: yes Maxine
Adams Rubble: OK Pema
Pema Pera: emotionless or cold is yet another emotion — not a very good one :)
Adams Rubble: yes
Adams Rubble: exactly
Pia Iger: I wonder why hard to drop the smaller identification ?
Pia Iger: cause we did not ’see”?
Pema Pera: when a mother loves a child, she is not swayed by the emotion swings of the child — her love is steadfast, indepentent of the momentary emotions of the child
Pia Iger: or not taught.
Adams Rubble: Yes Pema
Pema Pera: both, Pia
Adams Rubble: Pema, maybe you could describe the identification you were talking about in regard to me
Pema Pera: When you described how painful it was, to face some of your insights, that was one example where I pointed out that identifications might be behind the sense of pain
Adams Rubble: ah
Pema Pera: Did that make sense, then and now?
Adams Rubble: I need to think about that :)
Pema Pera: I used the image of a band aid, slowly being pulled off, reluctantly being pulled off
Adams Rubble: yes
Adams Rubble: I remember
Adams Rubble: OK
Maxine Walden: lovely conversation, have to go , I will look for the rest in the blog
Adams Rubble: bye Maxine, good to see you :)
Maxine Leaves
Pema Pera: I’ll have to leave too, I’m afraid
Pema Pera: Two more meetings coming up
Adams Rubble: bye Pema, good to see you too, Thanks :)
Pia Iger: bye. PP
Pema Pera: Half an hour astrophysics discussions about simulations
Pema Pera: And then attending a popular talk on Astronomy
Pema Pera: you’re very welcome of course to attend the astronomy talk if you like
Adams Rubble: :)
Pia Iger: maybe next time.
Pema Pera: 8 am SLT at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Spaceport%20Bravo/117/66/278
Pema Pera: :)
Pema Pera: Sorry to have to leave so early.
Adams Rubble: Take care:)
Pema Pera: We’ll follow up!
Pema Pera: See you both
Adams Rubble: bye again :)
Pema goes, leaving Pia and I to compare what we are feeling
Adams Rubble: So things have been going pretty well for you?
Pia Iger: so so.
Adams Rubble: That’s kind of a lame way to start :)
Pia Iger: I could not think of anything better:)
Adams Rubble: no no, me, not you
Pia Iger: “boredom” is in my mind, the word, recently.
Pia Iger: in RL, I mean
Adams Rubble: That’s interesting…I think I am kind of absorbing, mulling thing over
Pia Iger: of PaB? or RL things?
Adams Rubble: in PaB…my RL is chaotic…I’ve been leaving things go the last 3 weeks
Adams Rubble: trying to now to catch up
Pia Iger: same here, maybe everyone is struggling.
Adams Rubble: It might be
Adams Rubble: My brain seems to want a rest :)
Pia Iger: I had similar feeling, too. but today I am rested.
Pia Iger: and had morning bike ride, physically feel better
Adams Rubble: ah, that’s always nice :)
Pia Iger: I really feel body is a big part, I had not taken good care of it
Pia Iger: body feels bad, mind is slow too
Adams Rubble: Yes, I need to get more
Pia Iger: I have not taken many notes of PaB recently
Pia Iger: nothing came up in my mind
Adams Rubble: That’s what has been happening with me
Adams Rubble: I have been writing less and less
Pia brings up compassion
Pia Iger: maybe it is natural rhythem, ups and downs
Pia Iger: but i am glad I have come this far
Adams Rubble: Yes, me too
Pia Iger: with appreciation of life, compassion, etc
Adams Rubble: The lesson about understanding the larger view of things in regard to anger was very useful
Adams Rubble: I’m a little stuck on that maybe
Pia Iger: truly mind-opening!
and it reminds me of the barking dog
Adams Rubble: Do you remember my example with the dog barking?
Pia Iger: yes, I like that concrete example
Adams Rubble: Everytime I hear him bark now, he is a reminder of compassion
Adams Rubble: Isn’t that a hoot?
Pia Iger: Ah!
Pia Iger: what a big change, right?
Adams Rubble: Of course, I have been keeping as much distance from the dog as I can :)
Adams Rubble: so the barking is not so loud
Pia Iger: there is question of how to apply the realization.
Pia Iger: I don’t know how to say it.
Adams Rubble: I think you may have said it
Pia Iger: like Stim said, we realize the compassion, but we still call police:)
Adams Rubble: I didn’t tell Stim that the owner is the police dispatcher in our town
Adams Rubble: :)
Pia Iger: that is funny:)
Pia Iger: lol
Adams Rubble: compassion works better :)
Adams Rubble: So the dog is my reminder :)
Adams Rubble: It was such a wonderful feeling the first time that thought hit me
Adams Rubble: that he would help me on the path
Pia Iger: he is Stim?
Adams Rubble: no the dog :)
Pia Iger: okay,
Pia Iger: I am glad I asked to clarify.
Pia Iger: :)))
Adams Rubble: yes
Adams Rubble: one sec…can’t find right word
Adams Rubble: Turn it around…
Adams Rubble: Stim, of course, was the person who taught me to think that way…the most important role
Adams Rubble: the dog just has taken on the role of the reminder of what Stim said
Pia Iger: try to find Pema’s word related to this, one sec
Adams Rubble: The danger, of course, is the the dog might overplay its hand
Pia Iger: yes. common sense is another level we need to practice
Pia Iger: appreciation is another level,
Pia Iger: but they are not contradictive, though different
Adams Rubble: yes
Pia Iger: like the word “identification” can mean different things in different level
Adams Rubble: we seem to have had a little confusion about that this morning
Pia Iger: yes.
Adams Rubble: One last thing about the dog….
Adams Rubble: I am very, very, very surprised how quickly it happened to me
Pia Iger: what is “it”?
Adams Rubble: the turning of the annoyance everytime I heard the dog, to it being a reminder …
Pia Iger: Adams, You gave us here such a good, clear example
Adams Rubble: that I need to remember to think more compassionately
Adams Rubble: I did not quite say what I mean and know inside
Pia Iger: of how our talks/practice can change our daily life
Adams Rubble: The first time I heard the dog after that evening, I think I actually smiled at the thought
Pia Iger: I can imagine:)
Adams Rubble: So whatever else, and I know there is much more, we have learned one good concrete helpful thing to hold on to the past few weeks’
Pia Iger: and life will give many many challenge or opportunities to practice “compasssion”
Adams Rubble: yes :)
Pia Iger: which can be not easy in some situations
Adams Rubble: No my dog friend is just a common annoyance
Pia Iger: agree.
Adams Rubble suddenly realizes what Pema was talking about as far as identification goes
Adams Rubble: I am not going to elaborate, sorry :)
Adams Rubble: hehe
Pia Iger: I think I understand.
Adams Rubble: We’d be another hour
Pia Iger: so next time?
Pia Iger: see you around.
Adams Rubble: hehe. OK :)
Adams Rubble: It was a good talk, thanks
Pia Iger: thank you. Bye, Adams.
Adams Rubble: bye, have a very good day :)
