2008.12.27 19:00 - There is a Field

This was the first of our four weekly guardian meetings, which we hold on Saturdays, 7 pm, Sundays, 1 pm, Mondays, 7 am, and Tuesdays, 1 am. I, Pema, was the guardian that night.

I arrived simultaneously with Stevenaia, and soon afterwards Sidonia arrived.

stevenaia Michinaga: hello pema
Pema Pera: hi Steve!
Pema Pera: How's life?
stevenaia Michinaga: always interesting
Pema Pera: hopefully some peace & quiet, away from work?
stevenaia Michinaga: well I see a(n economic) storm on the horizon, expecting an impact
stevenaia Michinaga: ponders that
Pema Pera: in general, or for your work in particular?
stevenaia Michinaga: work, things are getting flaky with work and clients
stevenaia Michinaga: but I'm easily amused :)
Pema Pera: Hi Sidona!
Pema Pera: Nice meeting you here
Sidona Donogal: Hi you two
Sidona Donogal: I got your message
stevenaia Michinaga: you know each other?
Sidona Donogal: thank you
Pema Pera: through the chat logs :)
Pema Pera: I read about Sidona's visits here and sent an IM
Pema Pera: have you two met before?
stevenaia Michinaga: aww, so no need for introductory explanations...smile
stevenaia Michinaga: no, I don;t belive so
stevenaia Michinaga: Hello Adams
Pema Pera: Hi Adams!
Sidona Donogal: Hallo

Adams joined us as well.

Adams Rubble: Hello all. I can;t stay long and will slip silently away when it is time :)P
Pema Pera: I was curious to hear from Sidona how it was to first read about PaB and then visit the group here -- was it anything like what you expected, Sidona?
Sidona Donogal: A bit different, I first thought, people here where more to the point
Sidona Donogal: But I guess the social is also important
Pema Pera: both Play and Being, yes :-)
Adams Rubble never gets to the pint :)
Adams Rubble: point
Pema Pera: and every session is quite different . . .
Pema Pera: Adams like to drink, I see
Adams Rubble: :)
Pema Pera: typos are part of our inspiration . . .
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, a very intreging mix
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Adams Rubble: It is true there is a great variation between the sessions
Sidona Donogal: That is what I thought. I enjoy different people a lot.
Sidona Donogal: Adams, are you carved of stone?
Pema Pera: :)
Adams Rubble: I hope not. I have a cold but...
stevenaia Michinaga: Hardly, she types better than most
Sidona Donogal: Your hair looks like it. Very niche.
Pema Pera: Adams, the sand stone angel . . .
Adams Rubble: I have on a scarf becuase I have been visiting mosques and my hair is too primmy
Sidona Donogal: Oh, now I see!
stevenaia Michinaga: seems we are missing that representation here Pema, where do they hide in SL?
Pema Pera: Sufis would be perfect for this group . . .
Adams Rubble: One can go through the hajj in SL
stevenaia Michinaga: have you searched fr Sifi groups?
stevenaia Michinaga: Sufi
Adams Rubble: I haven;t seen any
stevenaia Michinaga: Few active Tao groups as well
Sidona Donogal: It wouI like Mevlana.
Pema Pera: there are a few SL groups related to Sufis, have subscribed myself but never got a note
Adams Rubble will have to look harder
Pema Pera: ah, Rumi?
Sidona Donogal: Yes
Pema Pera: wonderful poet!
Pema Pera: "guest house' (caravanserai I believe) is one of my favorite poems

Sidona presented us a great quote by Mevlana, or Rumi as he is often known in the west.

Sidona Donogal: Out beyond the ideas of rightdoing and wrongdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there.
Adams Rubble discovered a wondeful synagogue next door to the Al Andalus mosque toongiht
Sidona Donogal: That is my favorite.
Pema Pera: what a beautiful quote, Sidona
Sidona Donogal: Not the mosque
Pema Pera: from which poem?
Adams Rubble: yes
Sidona Donogal: Yes, the quote
Sidona Donogal: Mevlana
stevenaia Michinaga: interesting site: http://www.mevlana.net/
Pema Pera: may I quote a whole poem (not wanting to spam . . . )?
Adams Rubble: yes
Sidona Donogal: sure
Pema Pera: The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Pema Pera: from Mevlana (Rumi)

Stim arrived, so there were now five of us.

Adams Rubble: Hi Stim
Pema Pera: Hi Stim!
Stim Morane: Hi all!
Sidona Donogal: Hi
Adams Rubble: It could be a poem for here
stevenaia Michinaga: Hello Stim
Sidona Donogal: So true.
Sidona Donogal: The poem.
Pema Pera: indeed, Adams, that's much of what we're trying to do here
Pema Pera: seeing beyond judging, beyond right and wrong, the field that Sidona mentioned
Sidona Donogal: Thank you Pema
Pema Pera: yw :)
stevenaia Michinaga: much easier for some than others
Adams Rubble: The PaB Caravanserai
Adams Rubble: yes Steve
Pema Pera: stopping helps -- and the 9 sec helps to stop -- and then to see
Pema Pera: stopping -> dropping -> seeing
Sidona Donogal: dreaming - flying - believing
Pema Pera looking around for Adams' camel
Pema Pera: :)
Adams Rubble takes a puff
Pema Pera: you have been workign with lucid dreaming, Sidona?
Sidona Donogal: Yes, that's a priority of mine.
stevenaia Michinaga: would make for interesting interaction... a war that stops 9 seconds ever 15 minutes.. to stop drop and see
Adams Rubble: wow Steve!
stevenaia Michinaga: the poem linked it nicely

As was the case with the morning session that day, the evening session also showered a rich abundance of quotes.

Sidona Donogal: Remember Leonard Cohen: There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say that there isn't.
Pema Pera: hadn't heard that, wonderful quote!
Adams Rubble: yes, same here
Adams Rubble: what is lucid dreaming?
Sidona Donogal: It is a dream in which you realize that you are dreaming.
Adams Rubble: ah...in the dream?
Sidona Donogal: You are fully conscious.
stevenaia Michinaga: like when you ask in a dream if you are dreaming?
Adams Rubble: they can be powerful
Sidona Donogal: And then know that you are dreaming.
stevenaia Michinaga: do you write about them thereafter?
Sidona Donogal: Yes. Also about normal dreams and everything in between.
Sidona Donogal: Normal dreams are also very important to me.
Adams Rubble: yes
Sidona Donogal: Your soul talks to you directly.
Sidona Donogal: Do you write down your dreams?
Adams Rubble: I do
Adams Rubble: but I don't remember them regualrly
stevenaia Michinaga: I did once, most everynight...years ago when my nights were only my own
Pema Pera: For Adams' dreams, see http://rubblebornthoughts.wordpress.com/
Adams Rubble: only when I seem to be struggling with something
Sidona Donogal: Adams dreams are on a website?
Adams Rubble: It has been a good number of days since I have recorded one
Adams Rubble is a bit crazy :)
Adams Rubble: hehe
stevenaia Michinaga: ..smiles
Sidona Donogal: :)

More about lucid dreaming, from Adams to Stim.

Sidona Donogal: How about you Stim?
Stim Morane: Yes, I have done a lot with lucid dreaming since the early 70's
Sidona Donogal: Wow!
Stim Morane: Did you mention writing dreams down because that was your own method?
Sidona Donogal: It is a quite common method. And yes, I also use it.
Stim Morane: Yes, it's very helpful for some people. I too recommend it.
Sidona Donogal: Are you still into it?
Stim Morane: Well, lucid dreaming changes at a certain point. It ceases to be dreams at all.
Sidona Donogal: And then what? Could you describe it?
Stim Morane: Uh ....
Stim Morane: :)
Stim Morane: I teach people to go through various sorts of training that can show it, but that may be all that's possible.
Sidona Donogal: Is it like staying conscious all the time, also during the sleep, so that you do not have "normal " dreams anymore?
Stim Morane: No.
Stim Morane: Maybe I'll come up with something I can say later re this ... I'm always uncomfortable trying to say much in text chat. Sorry about that.
stevenaia Michinaga: normal dreams... giggles
Sidona Donogal: OK, sorry to be so inquisive. It is only my passion riding away with me.
Stim Morane: Anyway, I'm glad you have such a capacity for lucid dreams. It will be revealing in many ways.
Adams Rubble: inquisitiveness is good
Pema Pera: (no, Sidona, please keep asking Stim! it takes a while, typically, to let him say more . . . :-)
Adams Rubble: Hi Corvi :)
stevenaia Michinaga: hi Corvi
Stim Morane: Hi Corvi!
Pema Pera: Hi there Corvi!
Sidona Donogal: hi Corvi
Corvuscorva Nightfire: Hi all! Stim...I think I haven't seen you in ages!
Adams Rubble: Hi Claire :)
Pema Pera: Hi Claire, good to see you!
Stim Morane: That's true. Nice. to see you.
stevenaia Michinaga: hello claire
Stim Morane: Hi Claire!
Corvuscorva Nightfire: Hi, Claire!
Sidona Donogal: Hi Claire

With Corvi and Claire, there were now seven of us.

Pema Pera: Thanks for sending me your notes, earlier, Claire, I really enjoyed reading them
Claire Beltran: Hi, everyone! ^-^/
Pema Pera: (Claire and I talked about the 9-sec explorations, and Claire described various aspects, like breath moving through body and feeling lifted and such)
Pema Pera: Sidona, like with dreams, writing down impressions after a 9-sec practice helps, I think
Pema Pera: in both cases we need to find a bridge between different ways of knowing
Sidona Donogal: Yes, I think it is very productive to write without the censor in your mind at work.
Pema Pera: indeed!
Pema Pera: interestingly, it seems that most of us here prefer just to do the 9-sec explorations, but without writing
Pema Pera: it seems to much of a chore
Pema Pera: and I keep suggesting to really try to do that
Pema Pera: and I'm always glad to see how others are glad when they actually do it and see what difference it makes!
Adams Rubble: :)
Sidona Donogal: The only thing important is to not get frustrated with poor results at the beginning.
Pema Pera: !!!
Adams Rubble: or at the middle and at the end :)
Sidona Donogal: ay yaaa
stevenaia Michinaga: id does talk a while to see the relivance beyond just your own thoughts
stevenaia Michinaga: it does take...rather

About writing and difficulties to write.

Pema Pera: Claire, did you find it difficult to write something?
Adams Rubble: It helps to see patterns when one writes consistently
Pema Pera: the gesture of writing can be a kind of ritual, an offering
Pema Pera: from self (at large) to self (at large)
Sidona Donogal: An invitation for messages also.
Sidona Donogal: From spirit
Pema Pera: inspiration can come equally during the 9-sec as during the writing afterwards, yes
Claire Beltran: Yes, I do find it difficult.
Pema Pera: What is the most difficult part of it, Claire?
Claire Beltran: But that's partly because I've been in a state of perpetual distress for some time.
Claire Beltran: I can't really dig deep... all i come up with is ferociously unhappy stuff.
Sidona Donogal: What about turning it around afterwards?
Sidona Donogal: So to see what you would like it to be?
Adams Rubble: When I look back at my early notes, all I see is the beginning s of stopping, starting to look away from the world
Adams Rubble: It is simple stuff
Claire Beltran: ... Because it's ver difficult to see past a current uncharitable vision.
Sidona Donogal: Mayby that is where the "playing" always helps. At least me.
Pema Pera: can you say more about turning it around, Sidona?
Sidona Donogal: Well, if the results on paper are all negative. Fine. Take them down and turn them into their opposite afterwards.
Claire Beltran smiles faintly. "You can only put up with 'playing' alone all the time so for so long.
Sidona Donogal: Make them positive so you know what you inspire and turn your attention on that.
Sidona Donogal: Face the negative and then turn the attention away.
Sidona Donogal: Does that make sence to anyone?
Adams Rubble: the stopping itself can be a stop from the negative
Sidona Donogal: Right. And then give it a new reference-point.
Adams Rubble: yes

And on to ravens and crows.

Sidona Donogal: Corvi, is you "Nevermore" related to Poe's Raven?
Corvuscorva Nightfire: /menods.
Pema Pera: /methinks
Corvuscorva Nightfire: It's a joke a friend did for me.
Corvuscorva Nightfire: /melaughs
Sidona Donogal: Do you like ravens?
Corvuscorva Nightfire: I like Crow's actually.
Corvuscorva Nightfire: I mean Raven's are nice, too.
Sidona Donogal: Me too.
Corvuscorva Nightfire: but it's crows I was thikning about.
Sidona Donogal: The blue-black feathers are so gourdious.
Corvuscorva Nightfire nods. I like the way they think, too.
Sidona Donogal: In which way?
Pema Pera: Welcome back, Allan!
Allan Whiteberry: Thanks
Stim Morane: Hi Allan
Sidona Donogal: Hi Allan, nice to see you again
Adams Rubble: Hello Allan
Allan Whiteberry: Hello everyone

With Allan there were now eight of us.

Pema Pera: (crows must think without words, I guess Corvi is telling us, Sidona :-)
Sidona Donogal: :)
Corvuscorva Nightfire: oops
Corvuscorva Nightfire: sorry.
Pema Pera: :)
Corvuscorva Nightfire: Crows..are curious, problem solvers.
Corvuscorva Nightfire: they look at stuff, peer closely...figure it out, experiment.
Corvuscorva Nightfire: eat carrion.
Corvuscorva Nightfire: though I don't know that I particularly like that part.
Corvuscorva Nightfire: it has it's uses.
Adams Rubble: :)
Corvuscorva Nightfire laughs.
Sidona Donogal: They also use tooles like twiggs. I ones saw a documentery about that.
Sidona Donogal: Amazing!
Sidona Donogal: Allan, do you have animals that are closer to you than others?
Allan Whiteberry: Just one animal, a cat
Adams Rubble: Good night everyone :)
Pema Pera: nite, Adams!
Sidona Donogal: buy
Stim Morane: Good night Adams
Stim Morane: I must leave too. Bye everyone!
Pema Pera: bye Stim!
Sidona Donogal: bye
Sidona Donogal: How about big cats, do you like them too`
Allan Whiteberry: Not if they want to eat me.
Sidona Donogal: I see.
stevenaia Michinaga: we often have big cats at our meetings here, don;t think we ever lost anyone...yet
Allan Whiteberry: Last time I was here, you did have one such.
Sidona Donogal: All I know is that they like to purrr while here.
Allan Whiteberry: But she was friendly
Sidona Donogal: loveley sound!
Allan Whiteberry: We were the last to leave
Sidona Donogal: I remember
Sidona Donogal: being the third but last that time

What is Play as Being?

Allan Whiteberry: I hadn't quite figured out what this place is about, inspite of the written description
stevenaia Michinaga: it;s to keep you coming back so you can figure it out.......jokes
stevenaia Michinaga: but you can ask
Allan Whiteberry: My first was totally accidental. I was flying around, hit the stop flying button, and landed right here
Allan Whiteberry: So I figured it was an OMen that I should come back
Sidona Donogal: On the spot you can say.
Pema Pera: :)
Sidona Donogal: Right in the middle.
Sidona Donogal: That should be a sign.
Allan Whiteberry: You seem to be much more intellectual that most SL citizens
Allan Whiteberry: than
Sidona Donogal: Is that what you are looking for?
Allan Whiteberry: Sometimes
Allan Whiteberry: Pema has an interesting profile, an astrophysicist.
Pema Pera: since I'm in SL also for my work, I don't bother to hide my identity, at least not in this avatar :-)
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, we try to keep him grounded
Pema Pera: :)

On to astronomy.

Allan Whiteberry: So is the big bang theory true?
Pema Pera: as true as anything I know is true
Corvuscorva Nightfire: details may vary.
Pema Pera: :>)
Allan Whiteberry: I used to be interested in the steady state theory of Fred Hoyle
Allan Whiteberry: Now I think the expansion of the universe will reverse, everything will collapse, and there will be a new big bang, on the rebound, as they say.
Pema Pera: if you're patient, you may see, Allan :)
Sidona Donogal: I heard that other planets in our solar system are doing strange things, like speading up, increasing their electro-magnetic energy and alike. Is that a matter of fact?
Allan Whiteberry: I don't have 35 bilion years to find out, do I?
Pema Pera: not that I know of, apart from small effects perhaps, Sidona
Pema Pera: you tell me, Allan :)
Sidona Donogal: Increasing sun acivities may be an exception?
Allan Whiteberry: That is so long, it may as well be infinity
Pema Pera: Fortunately, the sun does not change its activity that much . . .
stevenaia Michinaga: from lucid dreaming to infinity (and beyond) a lovely evening, but I must go
stevenaia Michinaga: always a pleasure
Sidona Donogal: More eruptions causing solar winds in more cycles like before?
Pema Pera: bye Steve
Sidona Donogal: bye Steve
Corvuscorva Nightfire: bye Steve.
Pema Pera: maybe, Sidona, haven't checked :)
stevenaia Michinaga: nice meeting you Sidona
Sidona Donogal: nice meeting you too
Pema Pera: For me, it's getting time to take off as well
Claire Beltran looks around nervously at the remaining people.
Pema Pera: Good seeing you all here!
Sidona Donogal: Have a good time then!
Pema Pera: ciao, and see you all soon again!
Sidona Donogal: see you!