2008.09.17 19:00 - A welcoming

stevenaia Michinaga was Guardian this evening and the comments are from stevenaia

Maxine Walden: hi, Steve
Maxine Walden: hi, Adelene
Adelene Dawner: hi :)
stevenaia Michinaga: hi, I sat down and now I;m in one of those specail twightzone places in Sl (i.e. I can;t see anything or anybody)
Maxine Walden: ah, I can see you, steve, you do look quiet, but fully in physical place
stevenaia Michinaga: this should pass in a moment
stevenaia Michinaga: awww, I;m back
Maxine Walden: good!
Adelene Dawner: :)
Maxine Walden: nice to enjoy the silence
stevenaia Michinaga: can you tell me about this book Adelene?
Maxine Walden: Adelene, just wanting to mention several days ago I said i might need your help in building something; well, shortly after that Storm helped me out, so I did not need to call on your help. Wanted to thank you anyway.
Adelene Dawner: It's the Principa Discordia, Steve. A holy book, in a sense. I'll find you a web page to explain better.
stevenaia Michinaga: thanks
stevenaia Michinaga: I;ll do that
Adelene Dawner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discordianism
Maxine Walden: Principa Discordia. Sounds sinister

 

I was logged off for a moment, the log was relayed to me and incorporated into the wiki

Maxine Walden: ah, Steve is back
Adelene Dawner:  Could be, Maxine. Depends on your perspective. 
Maxine Walden: oh, he went poof. 
Maxine Walden: Do you have a magic ball of light over there?
Adelene Dawner: sometimes ^.^
Rowan Masala: hi Adelene and Maxine 
Maxine Walden: Hi, Rowan
Adelene Dawner: Hi, Rowan. ^.^

Albertus Urvilan: Good day all
stevenaia Michinaga: hi Rowan
Rowan Masala: Greetings, Albertus
Maxine Walden: hi, Albertus
Rowan Masala: Hi Steven
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Alburtus, welcome back
Albertus Urvilan: Thanks
Adelene Dawner: I hope Corvus comes by. I have a topic, but it's most relevant to her, and I don't want to have to repeat myself.
Maxine Walden: Adelene, what is that ball of light all about?
Maxine Walden: oh, and you are dressed as a crow!
stevenaia Michinaga: does anyone else have anything in particular to begin with tonight?
Adelene Dawner: It's a typing animation, Max, instead of the normal invisible-keyboard one.
Maxine Walden: thanks
Albertus Urvilan: I'm enjoying myself here ... but I am concerned that SL does not quite live up to its promise. The technical issues seem to overwhelm it.
stevenaia Michinaga: Albertus, did you get a chance to peruse the Wiki of our group, I;d be interested in any thoughts you might have
Albertus Urvilan: Yes, I did have a look.
stevenaia Michinaga: technical issues are like the weather, you get used to it or you move south
Rowan Masala: or North, as the case may be
Adelene Dawner grins at Steve . "Good way of putting it."
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, we could begin another discussion about patience
Albertus Urvilan: as I mentioned at the close of last night, it's not at all different in spirit to one-breath zazen, or to gatha practice.
Albertus Urvilan: It seems to me.
stevenaia Michinaga: I have heard similar comments from people, I unfortunately have no background to compare it to
stevenaia Michinaga: can you explain the expected outcome of such practices, Albertus?

Maxine Walden had to leave

Maxine Walden: I am sorry my friends, I am getting an urgent RL call and will have to go. Sorry to leave so soon.
Maxine Walden: bye for now
Adelene Dawner: 'night, Max.
stevenaia Michinaga: thanks for joining us Max
Rowan Masala: goodnight Max
Albertus Urvilan: Bye.
Albertus Urvilan: I think that one difference may be that a "second" is a thoretical unit of measure,
stevenaia Michinaga: there seems to be a bit of lag tonight
Albertus Urvilan: where a breath is a "felt" unit, or experienced one different in each moment
stevenaia Michinaga: makes seconds appear as minutes
Albertus Urvilan: And a gatha is atha is a mindfulness verse.
stevenaia Michinaga: I agree that a breath is a special "unit of time"
stevenaia Michinaga: I use it often to "change" my perception of a moment
Rowan Masala: I'm not sure how others measure the 9 seconds--I don't know that anyone actually times it with a clock
Rowan Masala: perhaps Pema does
Rowan Masala: for me, I take a couple of breaths
stevenaia Michinaga: do you do it often Rowan
Rowan Masala: no--mostly just when I'm here and the chimes sound
Albertus Urvilan: Yes, wll, in spirit it wouldn't matter nine of "what" . It's the returning is the issue.
Rowan Masala nods
Rowan Masala: what's your background with meditation, Albertus?
Rowan Masala: you seem very knowledgeable
stevenaia Michinaga: my sound doesn't seem to be working, could you let me know when the gong sounds? (although I do hear the birds)
Rowan Masala: yes, Steven

The conversation turned to a series of rapid fire subjects, clothes, gathas and SL vs RL time, cooking (bread in particular) yoga then back to meditation.. love the fluidity of this place.

Albertus Urvilan: It's just because of my fabulous new robes.
Rowan Masala laughs
Rowan Masala: and they are fabulous indeed
stevenaia Michinaga: you shop quickly here
Albertus Urvilan: My avatar started as a callow youth two days ago. My journey has been slightly more compressed here in SL than in RL...
stevenaia Michinaga: there is a sence of SLyears being shorter by various facturs, like dog years
Rowan Masala: at one point it seemed to be that a week in SL equaled about six months of RL time
Rowan Masala: but less now
Rowan Masala: I think that was when I was recovering and was here all the time
Albertus Urvilan: Do you know any of TNH's gathas?
Rowan Masala: I'm a little familiar with him
Rowan Masala: a friend gave me a set of cards of his once
Albertus Urvilan: Nice
Albertus Urvilan: I do feel that when I meditate more, I come back to it throughout the day all the more often and easily. It does seem to take that dedicated time on the cushion for me, though.
Rowan Masala nods
Rowan Masala: need to check on bread--brb
stevenaia Michinaga: I feel the same about yoga
Albertus Urvilan: Nice.
Albertus Urvilan: Bring back some for everyone.
Rowan Masala smiles
stevenaia Michinaga: the more you do it, the more you get from it
Albertus Urvilan: Yes, especially yoga.
Rowan Masala: like any good practice
Rowan Masala smiles
Albertus Urvilan: Practice takes practice
Rowan Masala: chime
Rowan Masala: 9 seconds, please
Albertus Urvilan: BONG , there it is
stevenaia Michinaga: thank you
Rowan Masala: all that happened for me that time was that I got annoyed with the owl--I think I must be cranky tonight
Albertus Urvilan: It's nice, this mini-session of meditation.
Albertus Urvilan: LOL I noticed the digital owl.
Albertus Urvilan: Not different from getting annoyed at the leaf blower
Rowan Masala: Hello Siobhan
Rowan Masala: oh, leaf blowers are the worst

Siobhan Fearne was outside  the pavillion and joined us.  Another new face welcomed in the PaB way, with open arms.

Siobhan Fearne: hello Rowan. i'm sorry for interrupting.
Rowan Masala: not interrupting at all
stevenaia Michinaga: feel free to join us
Siobhan Fearne: thank you. :-)
Albertus Urvilan: But whether in the real world or in the virtual, however it emanates, the mind is the same.
Rowan Masala: I'll never forget the time our university president was on the library porch reading from Walden for the group, and the lead blowers started and drowned him out completely. the irony was beautiful
stevenaia Michinaga: have yo been to our discussion group before Siobhan?
Rowan Masala nods
Siobhan Fearne: no, i haven't.
Rowan Masala: but reactions to stimuli here depend on your level of immersion in your avatar, I think
stevenaia Michinaga: we record our sessions and post them to a wiki, if that;s ok
Rowan Masala: and that would go for distractions as well, perhaps
Siobhan Fearne: ok. :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: http://playasbeing.wik.is/Informatio..._in_a_Nutshell
stevenaia Michinaga: feel free to review the site, we meet 4 times a day and discuss things such as the nature of ....things
Rowan Masala smiles
Siobhan Fearne: ok, i will. :-)
Albertus Urvilan: I have a little issue to attend to . Maybe see ou again later! Thx all
Rowan Masala: be well, Albertus
stevenaia Michinaga: thanks for returning
stevenaia Michinaga: Siobhan, how did you happen to find us?
Siobhan Fearne: just chance, actually. i found the nearby area with zen and buddhist robes and was exploring the rest of the sim. :-)
Siobhan Fearne: I've not participated in a discussion group before in SL.
stevenaia Michinaga: although we are in a Buddist Sim, we are not religious based but represent many "thoughts"
Siobhan Fearne: i see. but that might stimulate discussion too.
Rowan Masala: one focus of the group is to engage in a practice called 9 second meditations
Rowan Masala: and then to discuss with the group what happens in those
Rowan Masala: 9 seconds every 15 minutes apparently works out to 1% of your time
stevenaia Michinaga: we, as a group do a mini meditation... taking 9 seconds ever 15 minutesfind an awareness of being
Siobhan Fearne: and you do it throughout your day?
stevenaia Michinaga: this group is to discuss what we "see"
stevenaia Michinaga: some do it more than others, of course
Rowan Masala smiles
Rowan Masala: no, I'm not very good with the practice
stevenaia Michinaga: some do it with other meditations
Siobhan Fearne: LOL
Rowan Masala: but I do it when I'm here
Siobhan Fearne: :-)
Rowan Masala: we have another coming up in a couple of minutes
stevenaia Michinaga: but the goal is to learn from other's experience, it's not a dificult practice, but as with everyhting it takes focus
Siobhan Fearne: i'm not terribly good at meditation yet. it's hard to focus the mind. lol
Rowan Masala: well, 9 seconds may be your answer then :)
Siobhan Fearne: yes, it might help!
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, it does take time, well, 9 seconds of time
Siobhan Fearne: LOL
Rowan Masala: I think the hope is that with repetition we can come to become more and more effective in those 9 seconds
Rowan Masala: chime
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, and find sour own way of seeing clearer
Rowan Masala: so now, Siobhan, we pause for about nine seconds
Siobhan Fearne: ok. :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: sometimes just noticing your breathings is a start
Siobhan Fearne: great suggestion!
stevenaia Michinaga: others have their own blogs to note their perceptions
Rowan Masala: I find that I'm more in my body during those 9 seconds than I am a lot of the time--instead of in my head and my keyboard and my screen
stevenaia Michinaga: much to learn from others here
Siobhan Fearne: ok, silly question..... do you time the 9 seconds?
stevenaia Michinaga: I find I am less in my body during those 9 seconds
Rowan Masala: not a silly question at all, Siobhan
Rowan Masala: we were discussing that earlier
Rowan Masala: I don't--I just sort of pause for a few breaths
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, everyone is different
stevenaia Michinaga: count breaths, count sheep, whatever
Siobhan Fearne: i guess, if you actually counted, that could be a form of meditation too.
Rowan Masala: yes!
stevenaia Michinaga: but do you count backwards or forwards?
Siobhan Fearne: hmmmmmm........ alternate?
Rowan Masala: in my Buddhist meditation group in college, that was the suggestion for learning to clear our minds--counting our breaths
Rowan Masala: it helps reign the mind in a little, at least
Siobhan Fearne: i prefer to count forward, to the future.
Siobhan Fearne: counting down implies an ending
Rowan Masala: or looking toward a new beginning :)
Siobhan Fearne: :-)
Siobhan Fearne: i like it. And it would be easy to do throughout the day.
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, Iwhen ever it is convenient, unless you have a timer to remind you
Siobhan Fearne: thank you, Rowan. :-)
Rowan Masala smiles
stevenaia Michinaga: during the 4 daily meetings there is always someone here, so feel free to drop by
Siobhan Fearne: very nice! :-)
Siobhan Fearne: a little stress relief.
Rowan Masala: oh! you didn't have to wear it! they were mostly practice for me--but it looks great on you!
Siobhan Fearne: LOL
Siobhan Fearne: i do love new clothes. :-)
Rowan Masala grins
stevenaia Michinaga: well that is a new subject for this group
Siobhan Fearne: lol
Rowan Masala laughs
Siobhan Fearne: but, actually creating or building can be a form of meditation
Rowan Masala: ah, that's a good point
Siobhan Fearne: it takes your mind out of the day to day thoughts and helps you to focus.
Rowan Masala nods
stevenaia Michinaga: ...yes, that is what I do in RL
Rowan Masala: I'd love to learn to build, but I haven't had the patience yet
Siobhan Fearne: i'm just learning myself. but it's the same with creating things in rl.
stevenaia Michinaga: do you work in a creative field in RL? if you don;t mind me asking
Siobhan Fearne: not at all.
Siobhan Fearne: no, i don't.
Siobhan Fearne: i do medical transcription.
Rowan Masala: but we all create things in RL, whether for our salaries or for hobbies or for others
Siobhan Fearne: oh yes, i love to create things, just not on the job. lol
Rowan Masala nods, smiling
Rowan Masala: chime
Rowan Masala: shall we have a last 9-seconds?
Siobhan Fearne: what is the chime for?
Rowan Masala: it chimes every 15 minutes
Siobhan Fearne: ah.
stevenaia Michinaga: a reminder
stevenaia Michinaga: and to wake up the owl
Siobhan Fearne: LOL
Rowan Masala: LOL
Rowan Masala: don't tempt me to give him sleeping pills...
Siobhan Fearne: hahaha
stevenaia Michinaga: well it;s been an hour and I must move on, thank you for joining us Siobhan and hope to see you agian
Rowan Masala: good to meet you Siobhan
Rowan Masala: take care, Adelene
Adelene Dawner: Goodnight, Steve.
Rowan Masala: thanks, Steven
Siobhan Fearne: thank you very much. I've enjoyed this. :-)
Adelene Dawner: Goodnight, Rowan
Siobhan Fearne: i shall definitely try to come back. :-)