2008.12.08 01:00 - A short discussion on Christmas

Gaya was the guardian on call for this session. Soon after I arrived, Crusty and Sonic joined me.

Gaya Ethaniel: Hey Crusty ^^
Crusty Goldshark: hi gaya
Gaya Ethaniel: How are you?
Crusty Goldshark: :)
Crusty Goldshark: Fine - U?
Gaya Ethaniel: Well ty ^^
Gaya Ethaniel: You... remind me of someone but can't put my finger on it ^^
Crusty Goldshark: You mean the Santa hat?
Gaya Ethaniel: Perhaps ^^
Gaya Ethaniel: Hey Sonic ^^
Sonic Moonites: hello!
Gaya Ethaniel: How are you?
Crusty Goldshark: Hi Sonic
Sonic Moonites: good thanks and you?
Gaya Ethaniel: Well ty ^^

We settle on ‘Christmas’ for the topic.

Sonic Moonites: so what is the topic this morning (nice hat crusty)
Gaya Ethaniel: Just about to ask ^^
Crusty Goldshark: thanks - the hat was sold to me by a shifty looking elve
Sonic Moonites: :)
Gaya Ethaniel giggles at 'shifty'
Gaya Ethaniel: Anything you'd like to discuss?
Crusty Goldshark: I would like to discuss Christmas
Gaya Ethaniel: Sure ^^
Sonic Moonites: :)
Crusty Goldshark: Are we aware that it is a commercial rather than any other sort of enterprise? Does it matter?
Gaya Ethaniel: How is it 'commercial' may I ask?
Crusty Goldshark: Well it is designed to increase the selling of junk (eh sorry consumer goods)
Sonic Moonites: yes, we could see it from the commercial point of view, which is totally valid, but i would hope christmas does still bring families together , etc regardless of the commercial venture
Sonic Moonites: although of course many people are sad at christmas
Crusty Goldshark: The family part is a good thing
Gaya Ethaniel nods
Sonic Moonites: its difficult, the commercial aspect seems to be so huge, it has over shadowed everything else
Crusty Goldshark: In the UK we are mostly secular - few practice Xtianity to any extent - near the same time is Diwali (festival of Lights) which in my part of London we also celebrate
Crusty Goldshark: Father Xmas used to wear green - as you probably know he changed when Coke Cola changed from a green drink to a red one and hijacked a pagan/Christian tradition
Crusty Goldshark: Are there any online Xmas retreats for meditators?
Sonic Moonites: hmm, not sure crusty
Gaya Ethaniel: What kind of retreats?
Crusty Goldshark: I might try and go to an Xmas mass at an Orthodox Church I know of - even though I am predominatly Buddhist
Crusty Goldshark: Well I rather like the idea of meditating at set times with others in Second Life it feels very communal
Sonic Moonites: thats a great idea crusty
Crusty Goldshark: So this would be like a monastic retreat at a Monastery but in a virtual form . . .
Gaya Ethaniel: There are meditation sessions organised at Zen Retreat and Hikari
Crusty Goldshark: Yes I get posts for those will try and attend more of them - that might do
Gaya Ethaniel: ^^
Gaya Ethaniel: So Christmas you'd attend a mass then. How about you Sonic?
Crusty Goldshark: What do you do Gaya? Do you celebrate?
Gaya Ethaniel: Yes why not? I celebrate as much as I can ^^ Though major dates for me are New Year (lunar calendar) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving in the autumn)
Sonic Moonites: i dont attend mass, I used to be Christian (brought up in england too crusty!), church of england, and lost that faith at teenage years, then turned more buddhist in recent years, so christmas for me is simply a chance to celebrate friends and family
Gaya Ethaniel: Yes same here ^^
Crusty Goldshark: That makes sense - so it is just a predominant or traditional time - irrespective of the original cause?
Gaya Ethaniel: I appreciate many Christian values as I do Buddhist values so... it's just that Christmas is more accessible to me than other religious dates ie Ramadan
Crusty Goldshark: Well - I find it often a stressful time - and this is because of the commercial pressure so I am wondering of ways to increase a more relaxed approach?
Gaya Ethaniel: And not many people I know celebrate Buddha's birthday as much as Christmas so... ^^
Sonic Moonites: yeah i guess its become a new tradition to me, one where i meet and stay with my family
Crusty Goldshark: OK - will have to leave as the elves are back - thanks for chat CU you again :)
Sonic Moonites: yeah id like to ask children if they actually knew the stories behind Christmas
Gaya Ethaniel: Have a good day Crusty ^^
Sonic Moonites: bye crusty
Crusty Goldshark: thanks
Sonic Moonites: ok RL calling me too gaya, sorry to leave you alone
Gaya Ethaniel: Have a good day Sonic ^^
Sonic Moonites: you too

I sat at the playgoda until 9:30, learning more about Christmas by reading http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas