2008.10.12 08:00 - We Make Up Our Own Rules

We had our weekly guardian session that morning at 8 am SLT, in the Hall of Appearance. We started off with numerous greetings. It turned out that both Doug and Maxine had recently been in Italy:

doug Sosa: thnaks, mixing spanish and italian. gotta watch that.
Maxine Walden: were you in Spain and Italy, Doug?
doug Sosa: just italy but my mexican past keeps interfeering.
Maxine Walden: I see, those Romantic languages will do it every time!
Sylectra Darwin: Very similar languages, Doug, is that what you mean?
Maxine Walden: Romance languages, maybe romantic too
doug Sosa: yes.
Pema Pera: you were in Italy too, weren't you, Maxine?
Maxine Walden: Yes I was in Italy as well
Pema Pera wondering about a guardian meeting in Italy, near some nice lake

We then had a brief discussion about possible places to visit, before we started our session, while winding up our talk about Italian lakes.

Pema Pera: Would anyone like to kick off a PaB conversation :-) ?
doug Sosa: the lake is deeper than the sky is high.
Storm Nordwind smiles
Maxine Walden: Kira cafes around the world perhaps
Artemisia Svoboda: can I talk a little about my difficulties with the PaB exercise
Artemisia Svoboda: ?
Pema Pera: please do Art!
doug Sosa: good.
Artemisia Svoboda: I know I have not attended very many online sessions
Artemisia Svoboda: but anyway, I have my bell ring on my computer every 15 minutes
Artemisia Svoboda: and then I say to myself it's time to play as Being
Artemisia Svoboda: but I still haven't found a way to put meaning into that phrase
Artemisia Svoboda: I can either be conent to just take a little break of 9 seconds
Artemisia Svoboda: during which I don't do anything in particular
doug Sosa: sounds promising.
Artemisia Svoboda: or else I get really annoyed
Maxine Walden: annoyed about what, Art?
Artemisia Svoboda: because I feel like I am trying to participate in a game but don't know how
doug Sosa: ok, start, says i, just noticing what is.
Pia Iger: We all 'see' or notice something that we used to ignore before. Use Stim's word, we were "heedless". Now, 9 -sec let us notice what is there.
Pia Iger: on that note, I want to mention that several people have come to similar experiene recently. we used different words, Adams says space, other use energy, light, eternity
Artemisia Svoboda: Ok I can do that.

It was great to see everyone offering their helpful suggestions, in response to Artemisia's question.

Pia Iger: maybe this can give Artemisia some hint
Adams Dubrovna: To put it in the metaphor of a game, it is one we make up our own rules for each stop
doug Sosa: actually we just told him all the rules :)
Pema Pera: her, Doug :)
Maxine Walden: ...don't know how to play and maybe it seems like everyone else knows the game.
Artemisia Svoboda: sometimes I just stop and listen to the wind or the birds or the traffic outside the window
doug Sosa: the game is stepping off the cliff
doug Sosa: intothe 9 sec
doug Sosa: of noticing without judgement
Maxine Walden: of getting around the internal traffic of self judgment or 'they all know better'
Artemisia Svoboda: but noticing what?
Artemisia Svoboda: what is around me?
Adams Dubrovna: listening to the world, birds is appreciating the appearance of the presence of Being
Pia Iger: Artemisia, we all started without knowing the game. As I said above, somehow we do end up 'see' something, sort of result.
genesis Zhangsun: the only objective of the game is to play; "the winning" or "reaching stages" (I don't like either of those terms) happens on their own
doug Sosa: birds and trafffic, what a terrific begining
doug Sosa: to a poem about
Storm Nordwind: Actually the effect of regular stopping will have cumulative effect just in itself
doug Sosa: the traumas of our time.
Pia Iger: yes, Storm.
Artemisia Svoboda: but then why did you say the other day that our approach is different from other similar ones that don't have thw word
Artemisia Svoboda: Being in them?
Pia Iger: just stopping, you will see 'Being'
Pia Iger: many of us have experienced that.
Artemisia Svoboda: thanks Pia
Artemisia Svoboda: Glad to hear this is the normal course of things
doug Sosa: And not normal, it is beautiful.
Pia Iger: and freedom
doug Sosa: PaB as the new constitution.

The most surprising thing about PaB may well be that it is all so ordinary . . .

Pema Pera: Being is the ultimate goal, and also the very starting point of everything. Being is our most basic resource. We acknowledge that and invite Being to come to the fore, to see and make Itself known -- that is what is special about our approach, that attitude; but what we do is very ordinary
Sylectra Darwin: I think it's important to be open to fresh surprises from the practice all the time, too...if you are used to a certain result, perhaps that is a way of becoming "stuck" and not growing.
Pema Pera: yes, Syl, that is essential
Moon Fargis: ok i have to leave now, sory i cant stay longer
Artemisia Svoboda: Pema, how to use "Being" as resource if that word does not mean anything to me?
genesis Zhangsun: see you Moon
Moon Fargis: see you later
Sylectra Darwin: OK Moon, see you
Maxine Walden: see you soon, Moon
Artemisia Svoboda: bye Moon
Pia Iger: bye, Moon
Adams Dubrovna: bye Moon
Pema Pera: bye Moon
Sylectra Darwin: Artemisia may I suggest that you table that concept until you have explored the practice with less of a goal?
Sylectra Darwin: Perhaps in seeking a goal it eludes you.
Pema Pera: Art, that will become clear in time
Pia Iger: when you 'see' or experience it directly.
Pema Pera: The funny thing is, Being is a resource, but you cannot "use" it :-)
Pema Pera: it is a kind of cosmic joke
Pema Pera: it is freely available
Artemisia Svoboda: right.
Pema Pera: and in fact anything we ever do makes use of it
Sylectra Darwin: smiles
Pema Pera: it is like the light in the projector of a movie
Pema Pera: but then far more active and dynamic and intimate
Pema Pera: and participatory
Sylectra Darwin: I am working to laugh at more cosmic jokes.
Pema Pera: :-)
Artemisia Svoboda: So are you all saying I could just continue doing nothing in particular during those 9 secs, perhaps continue listening to the sounds outside the window
Artemisia Svoboda: and stop being annoyed
Pema Pera: yes!!!
Adams Dubrovna: yes
Artemisia Svoboda: and forget for a while about Being?
Pema Pera: yes!!

Pia brought up an important aspect of the 9-sec explorations: note taking, like in a lab experiment, or like in a dream journal.

Pia Iger: it will help to write notes after stops.
doug Sosa: but don't stop at the birds and traffic. see what else..
Pia Iger: write down what you experience in 9-sec. after a while, the notes will show you it is not nothing.
Sylectra Darwin: There isn't one right way to do it, but sometimes it helps me focus better if I work to get past my concept of self. Sometimes it's all I can do to just take myself a little less seriously that day. :)
Pema Pera: yes, Pia, writing is a great way to let Being express itself
Storm Nordwind: I would also suggest, Artemisia, that you may find it beneficial to note down any impressions you do have during those 9 seconds - in a journal or even a blog - or perhaps how you feel afterwards. Many of us have found that really useful, and you may possibly do so too
Pema Pera: just a few words is fine, spontaneously
Pema Pera: without thinking or constructing
Maxine Walden: it can be difficult to proceed in uncertainty, because that is where our dreads dwell, we think others 'know' etc. If we can trust in the unknown, trust that we all are trying and none of us have the answer (Answer) that may help. And if dread appears maybe we can see what else there is to notice
Artemisia Svoboda: I have tried that a little, probably not long enough
Sylectra Darwin: Maxine, that is a very helpful way to put it.
Maxine Walden: oh, thanks, Syl.
Adams Dubrovna: Thinking of the 9-seconds, I think that we don't do doesn't hurt us but what we do, eventually pays big dividends
Sylectra Darwin: I've been finding it helpful to discuss how authors describe various philosophical concepts and compare and contrast them with some of the Play as Being topics that have come up.

This led the conversation to Moon's library.

Pema Pera: related to that, Moon has built a PaB library :)
Maxine Walden: sounds very interesting, Sly
Pema Pera: he will give a tour next week
Sylectra Darwin: Yay Moon!
Maxine Walden: Syl
Pema Pera: after the guardian meeting
Sylectra Darwin: :)
Pema Pera: it's a beautiful building, very airy and open, has a good feel to it
Pema Pera: you've seen it, yes, Storm?
Sylectra Darwin: How nice.
Storm Nordwind: Oh yes - I measured it up and worked out the best land for it
Pia Iger: Cool.
Pema Pera: it's near here, in Mieum, the next sim East of here
Maxine Walden: looking forward to seeing it
Storm Nordwind: It's on what used to be my museum land. It was always earmarked to be an educational place.
Sylectra Darwin: That's excellent. What types of books will be there?
Sylectra Darwin: The works on the Kira site, I hope?
Maxine Walden: oh, a kind of donation, wonderful, Storm
Storm Nordwind: Er... well it was part of transaction, but yes it's pretty much what I had envisaged last year for the land
Pema Pera: any writings that can relate to PaB, Syl.
Pema Pera: we got the land for a bargain price from Storm -- thank you Storm!
Storm Nordwind smiles
Sylectra Darwin: Classics that touch on meditation concepts and other spiritual ideas?
Pema Pera: anything, that included

I then refered back to an email I had sent to the guardian group.

Pema Pera: I don't know whether my longish email of half a day ago has baffled everybody . . . it was a new attempt to begin to "explain" a bit more about how I see Being, but like with any explanation, I'm not sure how much of that came across
Maxine Walden: I find myself chewing on it, Pema, and hope to offer some thoughts perhaps from another perspective, but it will take a bit of time to let the thoughts develop
Pema Pera: Yesterday Pia and I went over the wiki and the excerpt project, and then we started talking about being and Being, and after I tried to summarize my understanding, I thought it might be fun to share it with the whole group
Pema Pera: but I think I'll have to rewrite it a few times, with your help all, to make it more clear
Maxine Walden: yes, very interesting to try to get one's mind around
Pema Pera: any responses welcome, now or in the email group!
Pia Iger: those various brackets gave me better idea of "Play" part in PaB
Storm Nordwind assures Pema that his wonderful exposition wasn't wasted and that he will get round to commenting very soon :)
Pema Pera: :)
Sylectra Darwin: Agreed.
Maxine Walden: yes, Pema, our relative silence may be because you offer something we really have to think about which may take a bit of time
Pema Pera: well, I thought you were silent because it was night and you were sleeping -- I hope you didn't stay up pondering it :-)
Maxine Walden: actually I got up in the middle of the night, still on italy time, but felt your offering might be something to dream about; so far no dreams yet, but maybe soon...
Pema Pera: (^_^)
Artemisia Svoboda: I need to go back ro RL
Artemisia Svoboda: Thank you everyone for your inputs
Pema Pera: good seeing you Artemisia!
Adams Dubrovna: bye Artemsesia
Maxine Walden: nice talking Art
Pia Iger: see you later, Art.
Storm Nordwind: Bye for now
Sylectra Darwin: bye for now Art.
Artemisia Svoboda: See you later everyone
genesis Zhangsun: Bye Art

At this point, Pia noticed that those who were still there would all see each other in RL, this coming weekend, apart from Storm who wanted to come but was barred by bureaucratic reasons. This left Adams, Genesis, Maxine, Pema, Pia and Syl as 6 of the 13 participants in the upcoming RL meeting.

Pia Iger: oh, all of us will meet next week this time,except Storm
Pema Pera: indeed!
Storm Nordwind sulks ;)
Pema Pera: poor Storm . . . . we'll all miss him!
Adams Dubrovna: You will be there in spirit wit us Storm :)
Sylectra Darwin: I'm sad too, as I had this really interesting conversation with Storm about the building of the Kira Cafe.
Storm Nordwind: I certainly will Adams
Maxine Walden: yes, we will miss you, Storm.

The conversation turned to the Kira Cafe, that Storm had built over the last few weeks.

Sylectra Darwin: The most interesting part about that conversation was that the cafe is made of about 4000 prims, is that right Storm?
Storm Nordwind: It is yes. A huge amount really
Maxine Walden: Your creativity is so additive to our whole endeavor, Storm. Many of us are in awe.
Storm Nordwind: You are so kind Maxine. You must thank Pema for being the original inspiration - and Being itself!
Pema Pera: :)
Sylectra Darwin: Did you all know there is a balloon that can take you from the ground up to the Kira facilities?
Maxine Walden: oh, yes, Pema as original inspiration indeed. Did not mean to seem to overlook that
Storm Nordwind: Everyone adds in the own way I am sure
Pema Pera: all of us, yes
Sylectra Darwin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylectra/2925095818/in/pool-playasbeing
Maxine Walden: did not know that Syl. And agree that we each add according to our nature
Sylectra Darwin: I like the way you describe that, Maxine.
Storm Nordwind: There is a small geodesic dome on the ground 150m below the cafe. It has a teleporter inside and a balloon next to it to get back to the cafe should anyone fall off the sky platform!
Sylectra Darwin: hehe
Sylectra Darwin: Storm have you been working on the "house lights" dimming project you were tellingme about?
Storm Nordwind: Not yet. That is one of the next two incremental projects on the Cafe that will happen without most people noticing at first
Storm Nordwind: The house lights projects that Syl means - that's when the speaker at a main event in the restuarant area speaks
Sylectra Darwin: Right, makes sense. I just thought the idea was so cool from a scripting standpoint - as the speaker raises his or her light, the house lights dim.
Storm Nordwind: Yes. It's simple, but in SL it's essential
Sylectra Darwin: nods
Storm Nordwind: Your viewer only sees the nearest 6 lights
Storm Nordwind: and if you're at the back that would mean you wouldn't see the speaker well
Storm Nordwind: So I am syncing them and making it like a theatre in that respect
Sylectra Darwin: So ingenious, Storm.
Storm Nordwind: The second think is that the all the tables will have food available of them! :)
Storm Nordwind: *thing
Sylectra Darwin: How fun! I loved the champagne experience.
Storm Nordwind smiles
Storm Nordwind: The large statue in the middle of the cafe - I added after you took the photo at the alumni meeting Syl. It is sculpted by one of the best artists in SL
Pema Pera: Hi Rajah!
Sylectra Darwin: I guess if I had to describe why those little touches are so cool, I would say that new people will come for the bling, and stay for the community.
Sylectra Darwin: Hi Rajah!
Rajah Yalin: hi guardians
Adams Dubrovna: Hello Rajah :)
Sylectra Darwin: Ah - need to go back!
Sylectra Darwin: Rajah we were talking about the Kira Cafe and all the amazing touches Storm built into it.
Maxine Walden: oh, and it must have a special significance, the statue, Storm?
Storm Nordwind: The title of the statue is "Night Dreaming". But to me is looks like someone looking forward with open vision, peering into the future, accepting what comes, flowing with it and being transformed by it
Maxine Walden: splendid!
Pema Pera: well, perhaps we can tp over there, and have a look?
Maxine Walden: would love to
Sylectra Darwin: That would be great!
Pia Iger: I need to be excused. Have fun!
Maxine Walden: haven't been there yet, might need a tp
Adams Dubrovna: bye Pia
Pema Pera: by Pia!
Storm Nordwind: Just touch the box!
Maxine Walden: ah, I see, yes, just did.
Pema Pera: see you all in the Cafe, if you have time!

We then continued our conversation in the Cafe, where Storm gave us a brief tour.