2008.12.31 01:00 - Moments of Grace

Tarmel Udimo was the guardian for this session and the comments are hers.

When I arrived crusty was already there and Pema showed up quickly after. It was a small group... 

Tarmel Udimo: hi amigo
Crusty Goldshark: hi tarmel :)
Tarmel Udimo: hi pema
Pema Pera: Hi Crusty and Tarmel!
Crusty Goldshark: hi pema
Pema Pera: Thanks again, Tarmel, for taking over two slots, the previous one and this one -- allowing me to get a bit more sleep :-)
Tarmel Udimo: that's fine, i'm happy...
Pema Pera is happy too
Tarmel Udimo: and how come you're not sleeping :-)
Pema Pera: it's 6 pm right now
Pema Pera: I did take a nap in the afternoon though
Pema Pera: Crusty, you're preparing for Christmas 2009?
Crusty Goldshark: LOL - I tried to change the cap to green but it is non-editable :)

I had disappeared to the fridge ..... and then we talked about beers, appropriate topic for New Year's eve celebration

Tarmel Udimo: sorry I'm back - thought I'd help myself to a beer
Tarmel Udimo: hohoho
Pema Pera: I will do so when I reach your time, Tarmel -- 8 pm right?
Crusty Goldshark: What beer you drinking?
Tarmel Udimo: that's right...
Pema Pera: (but seriously, Tarmel, sleeping or not, not having to be here is great, then I can come whenever I like, and also logging the chats is a great help)
Tarmel Udimo: palma louca - a brazilian beer never had it before but it was on special crusty
Tarmel Udimo: I understand pema - and you come a lot -
Pema Pera: do you like it, Palma I mean?
Tarmel Udimo: its okay...
Tarmel Udimo: might have too much wheat
Pema Pera: generally colder countries have better beers . . . .
Tarmel Udimo: perhaps you're right
Tarmel Udimo: but don't let the tropical nationals hear you
Pema Pera: hehe, yes, Jamaican, Okinawan, etc
Tarmel Udimo: yep.... now red stripe that's a beer made in the tropics
Tarmel Udimo: and its the best :-)
Pema Pera: Italian Peroni is nothing to write home about though. . . .
Pema Pera: Red Stripe? Australian?
Tarmel Udimo: oh one of my favourites - peroni
Pema Pera: ah!
Tarmel Udimo: jamaicain
Pema Pera: you have a warm climate taste, I see :-)
Pema Pera: You should try Orion beer from Okinawa
Tarmel Udimo: okinawa - japanese?
Pema Pera: yes
Tarmel Udimo: humm - kiren
Pema Pera: kirin yes
Tarmel Udimo: nice
Pema Pera: but ebisu is better, the best among the generally available ones in Japan
Pema Pera: apart from the many microbreweries
Tarmel Udimo: okay an expert is sitting amoung us :-)
Pema Pera: (ebisu or yebisu, two spellings)
Pema Pera: :-)
Tarmel Udimo: a friend of mine is giving a 10 day tour in japan in april 2009
Tarmel Udimo: following the bath houses
Pema Pera: interesting idea!
Pema Pera: will you come along?
Tarmel Udimo: ideas rich, cash poor at the moment
Pema Pera: :-)
Tarmel Udimo: but you never know how being is going to manifest
Pema Pera: indeed :)

This was a transition into PaB speak

Pema Pera: I really enjoyed your input by the way, in both dialogues earlier, 6 and 12 hours earlier
Tarmel Udimo: crusty you missed a great talk today!
Crusty Goldshark: oh?
Tarmel Udimo: hummmmm
Tarmel Udimo: one was with stim and pema
Tarmel Udimo: and then one with maxine and pema
Pema Pera: and hopefully others ones without pema soon!
Tarmel Udimo: smiles
Crusty Goldshark: :( oh well
Crusty Goldshark: maybe I will catch the next one
Tarmel Udimo: yes its will be up on the logs soon
Pema Pera: we talked about "no need for practice", a topic you like, Crusty
Pema Pera: and what that can mean in practice (no pun intended)
Tarmel Udimo: haahaha
Crusty Goldshark: ? _ I am very much for practice - with interludes of non-practice
Pema Pera: ah!
Pema Pera: we talked about how strictly speaking practice is not necessary, yet why it is also good to practice, and how to do that, with what kind of expectation/attitude
Pema Pera: how do you see the need for practice?
Tarmel Udimo: you topped it for me - celebration...
Tarmel Udimo: this works and takes away the struggle
Pema Pera: yes, a cheerful form of appreciation
Tarmel Udimo: practise with ease
Pema Pera: your reaction reminded me of my own, after reading the tsk book: I picked up zen again
Pema Pera: I had grown tired of its seeming rigidity
Tarmel Udimo: nods
Pema Pera: but then, from the side of Being, I could see how to _really_ do it
Pema Pera: you said something similar, right?
Tarmel Udimo: this was a very powerful message today
Tarmel Udimo: it certainly had an impact on me and i am sure many others
Tarmel Udimo: describing how being operates

I then went on to talk about a moment of grace

Tarmel Udimo: the funny thing is I did have a moment of 'grace' about 24 hours ago...
Pema Pera: glad to hear that, Tarmel! Do you want to say more about it?
Tarmel Udimo: well it was simple, mundane and profound
Tarmel Udimo: I had deceided to go to the movies - see a french movie -
Tarmel Udimo: I am staying at a friends and was driving her car and parking in an unfamilar street and place
Tarmel Udimo: I had to do a reverse park up a steep hill in a tiny space and the car was a manual (stick shift)
Tarmel Udimo: and all of sudden the word that came up was smooth
Tarmel Udimo: I parked effortlessly and my being was in the center of my chest breathing
Tarmel Udimo: I knew it was there because of also the light seemed more glowing and golden as well
Tarmel Udimo: it only lasted for about 10 mins and all the while my being just hummmed smoooooooth
Pema Pera: yes, you somehow managed to step out of the way :-)
Tarmel Udimo: yes
Crusty Goldshark: Why do you feel it ended after 10 minutes?
Tarmel Udimo: it didn't it never does
Tarmel Udimo: but my access to the feeling state was wide open
Tarmel Udimo: there was no blockage or veil
Crusty Goldshark: :)
Crusty Goldshark: Are the veils part of the being?
Tarmel Udimo: well pema would say yes, being is everything
Crusty Goldshark: Are they part of the being for you?
Tarmel Udimo: no
Crusty Goldshark: m m m. . .
Tarmel Udimo: it feels more like my being muscle needs strengthening - hence things like Pab
Tarmel Udimo: my capacity to hold being or stay connected needs work even though I know it is meant to be effortless
Crusty Goldshark: LOL - well that is why we practice - because the exerience and the 'All is Being' are not in synch
Pema Pera: Yes, and in a celebrating way. Coming back to the notion of practice as celebrating, not reaching; you know, it is so interesting to recognize this is many religions, once you've stumbled upon it. Take Christianity. Christians can really beam when saying "Jesus died for our sins" -- and the core point is the same, they use a particular rather complex way of pointing to the fact that all the hard work has been done, that we don't have to reach, that we can celebrate. At first hard to recognize, though.
Pema Pera: tearing down real veils is terribly hard if not impossible; being invited to see that apparent veils are only apparent is a lot easier, and more fun
Tarmel Udimo: yes and yet I also understand that each spark comes to being through a different veil, lens understanding
Pema Pera: for us, yes, from our point of view
Pema Pera: for Being it all is given together, no need for causality, cause and effect , no time
Pema Pera: how would you describe that, Crusty?
Crusty Goldshark: Well I would not, but from what I have heard . . .
Crusty Goldshark: A condition of grace is increased by attention and awareness on it
Crusty Goldshark: Wether this is through ease and celebration or conflict and focus - or a mix . . .
Crusty Goldshark: or something else is not important - what is important is to increase the grace and loosen the veils
Pema Pera: yes, triggers can be of many kinds
Tarmel Udimo: yes and since my shift just happened I called it grace...
Tarmel Udimo: but i was thinking did I get out of the way?
Crusty Goldshark: That is fair enough and smooth might be a way of being and remembering that can increase that grace
Pema Pera: yes, it is good to create some handles for ourselves
Tarmel Udimo: it didn't feel like I stepped out of the way -
Tarmel Udimo: it felt more like an expansion from my heart center
Crusty Goldshark: Can you remember or connect to the feeling and sensations now?
Tarmel Udimo: I am trying and not trying ;-)
Pema Pera: :)
Crusty Goldshark: :)
Pema Pera: memories are tricky . . . they can inspire but easily cover over too
Tarmel Udimo: but I have felt this shift in more subtler ways
Tarmel Udimo: this was all encompassing
Tarmel Udimo: I would like to be in that state always...
Tarmel Udimo: but there is a residue.... I'm smiling more... :-)

Then we talked about smiling techniques a lovely topic

Crusty Goldshark: Does the smile connect to something inside?
Pema Pera: Stim indicated that grace is always there, but we tend to obscure it, step in the way
Tarmel Udimo: i think so - but enough of me - what about your grace moments pema and crusty
Pema Pera: oh no, I enjoy Crusty's questions, please continue, Crusty!
Crusty Goldshark: OK -
Tarmel Udimo: nooooooooo
Pema Pera: hahaha
Crusty Goldshark: Well I am reminded of the idea of 'remebrance' in Sufism - this is a form of focus or attention on the nature or experience of grace . . .
Tarmel Udimo: yes
Crusty Goldshark: I am going to try and enter such a condition now . . .
Pema Pera: yes, trying to remember in a sharp and pointing way ain't so good - but focusing on your side effects, like smiling, can be very powerful -- thank you, Crusty, that was a great question!
Tarmel Udimo: grins
Crusty Goldshark: I will smile
Crusty Goldshark: I will bring the smile into the heart
Pema Pera: sol
Pema Pera: (smiling out loud)
Tarmel Udimo: smiling
Crusty Goldshark: The Heart smiles
Crusty Goldshark: it glows
Crusty Goldshark: It unfolds and enfolds
Crusty Goldshark: Now we are smiling
Crusty Goldshark: Now I am smiling more broadly

Crusty must have cast a really good spell with his smiling techniques, because the avatar of bringing smiles to many showed up

Pema Pera: hi Moon!
Moon Fargis: good morning :)
Tarmel Udimo: moooon
Tarmel Udimo: wow, you've become a lion?
Crusty Goldshark: Moon makes me smile :)
Tarmel Udimo: and me
Moon Fargis: ah well lion... lets call a big cat on feet
Moon Fargis purrzzzzzzzzz
Crusty Goldshark: I hear purring
Moon Fargis: *meow meow*
Tarmel Udimo: okay now i can see more like a dragon
Moon Fargis: oh i also got a dragon avatar if you wish :)
Tarmel Udimo: being one myself - i do like them...
Moon Fargis: he hehe
Pema Pera enjoys meeting fellow dragons
Tarmel Udimo: yes should really start a dragon club
Pema Pera: draconian club
Crusty Goldshark: Will clowns be able to join?
Pema Pera: with moon the lunatic
Tarmel Udimo: hohohoho
Moon Fargis: <- dog
Tarmel Udimo: only as juggling acts
Tarmel Udimo: however we all know its the clown /fool that dominated the court
Crusty Goldshark: I will juggle fire and water
Moon Fargis looks around
Tarmel Udimo: an alchemist
Crusty Goldshark: my hobby is alchemy
Tarmel Udimo: turning flesh into spirit
Crusty Goldshark: turning everything to gold
Moon Fargis: hmm
Crusty Goldshark: LOL
Moon Fargis reaches crusty his candy collection
Crusty Goldshark: and then back again . . .
Tarmel Udimo: golden smiling
Crusty Goldshark: Thanks for candy Moon
Moon Fargis: hmhmm
Moon Fargis: more worth than gold :)
Crusty Goldshark: indeed - gold is as worthless as anything worthwhile and vice
Crusty Goldshark: versa
Crusty Goldshark: We have been practicing advanced smiling ;)
Tarmel Udimo: part of a very long line of esoteric practises
Moon Fargis: oh such smiling that goes to the ears?
Crusty Goldshark: Why stop at the ears . . .
Tarmel Udimo: past the ears and around the skull
Tarmel Udimo: and down into the tum
Pema Pera: :-)
Crusty Goldshark: yes inside
Pema Pera: "navel smiling"
Tarmel Udimo: hehehehe, laughing out loud now...
Crusty Goldshark: Yesterday I went for a walk and smiled at everyone - surprising how it is contagious
Tarmel Udimo: good work crusty
Crusty Goldshark: thanks - sometimes I only smile inside but sometimes I let a little light shine
Tarmel Udimo: the universe thanks you
Tarmel Udimo: ;-)
Crusty Goldshark: Oh good - thanks to the Universe

Then we were on the topic of food

Crusty Goldshark: Time for me to practice more smiling - and have brekkie

Tarmel Udimo: yum...

Moon Fargis: brekkie
Moon Fargis: wasnt that catfood ?
Crusty Goldshark: Thanks guys - you are a tonic
Pema Pera: hahaha, Moon!
Tarmel Udimo: well it has been good - almost time for pema's beer
Pema Pera: yeah, just thinking about it
Crusty Goldshark: I might eat catfood - sardines and beans - had thet yesterday
Pema Pera: but doesn't go well with cat food
Tarmel Udimo: nooo
Pema Pera: but goes well with sardines
Moon Fargis: hehe
Pema Pera: and fish and chips in general
Tarmel Udimo: yes very good
Crusty Goldshark: Yes had that two days ago - delicious
Crusty Goldshark: I am a wer-Lobster - so like fish
Crusty Goldshark: OK enough banter - gone
Moon Fargis: See you later!
Pema Pera: btw. I like Thich Nhat Hahn's notion of walking around with a "half smile" -- a bit more sustainable perhaps, and less ostentatious (he's the Vietnamese zen master)
Tarmel Udimo: bye
Pema Pera: oops
Pema Pera: too late
Moon Fargis slurps his hot tea
Tarmel Udimo: and i will try to smile alot more
Moon Fargis: so you dont smile enought?
Tarmel Udimo: not nearly enough
Moon Fargis: hmhmm maybe a dance can change that
Moon Fargis: do you have a dancing animation ?
Tarmel Udimo: no
Tarmel Udimo: but just having you at Pab always makes me smile
Moon Fargis: use this :)
Pema Pera: what was the name again Moon?
Moon Fargis: oh from what ?
Pema Pera looking in his cluttered inventory
Moon Fargis: onigokko?
Pema Pera: the dance?
Pema Pera: ah!
Moon Fargis: ahh right
Moon Fargis gave you onigokko_shippo.
Moon Fargis: wear this then tarmel
Moon Fargis: onigokko

And we danced for a good minute and we all had fun... before heading off to bed or for Moon I think starting the day

Pema Pera: /stop
Moon Fargis: stop
Tarmel Udimo: thanks you
Moon Fargis: ^.^
Pema Pera: that is how PaB got started
Moon Fargis: haha
Pema Pera: waaaaayyy back when
Tarmel Udimo: sounds like a great way to start
Pema Pera: and to stop, for today
Tarmel Udimo: and now my friends I msut go....
Pema Pera: see you all soon again!
Moon Fargis: ok see you later tarmel ^^/
Tarmel Udimo: happy new year
Tarmel Udimo: bye

Pema Pera: u 2!