2009.01.03 01:00 - Crazy Wisdom and Distraction

Scáthach Rhiadra was the guardian on call.  Comments are hers.

It was to be a quiet night, just myself and Crusty, a regular visitor to PaB, who joined me a short while after I arrived........

Scathach Rhiadra: Hello Crusty
Crusty Goldshark: hi
Scathach Rhiadra: have you had a good xmas ?
Crusty Goldshark: Christmas is good?
Crusty Goldshark: When did this happen?
Scathach Rhiadra: heehee
Crusty Goldshark: Need more Ho Ho Ho
Crusty Goldshark: Yes it was good - u?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, fine
Crusty Goldshark: What time is the sacrifice?
Scathach Rhiadra: ?
Crusty Goldshark: I heard we would be doing a sacrifice today . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: ha, first I heard of it:)
Crusty Goldshark: Oh - well it could be you then . . .
Crusty Goldshark: Keep aware . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: hmmm, could well be

Crusty talked about his resolutions for the new year........

Crusty Goldshark: Wait a minute not sacrifice - giving things up - resolutions - any?
Scathach Rhiadra: no, I never got into doing that, you?
Crusty Goldshark: More smiling
Scathach Rhiadra: that is always a good one:)
Crusty Goldshark: and attend a Buddhist tantric orgy - or organise one - corrrupt a few monks - that sort of thing . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: hmmm, you like causing chaos and mayhem?:)
Crusty Goldshark: . . . and finally to cause more mayhem and chaos in an aware and meaningful way . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, crazy wisdom
Crusty Goldshark: - yes I will be avoiding crazy wisdom and trying to become enlightened again as my final resolution
Crusty Goldshark: . . . should be a good year - so far I am on track . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: :)

We then discussed yoga, awareness anddistraction for the rest of the session.........

Scathach Rhiadra: I think I'll stick with trying to be more aware for the moment
Crusty Goldshark: Just been doing Yoga on the Wii
Scathach Rhiadra: how does that work?
Crusty Goldshark: How can you be more aware - I bet you forgot you could be sacrificed at any moment . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: ha, you got me there:)
Crusty Goldshark: Well the Wii is a console - you have a balance board and do simple stretches with a virtual yogini
Scathach Rhiadra: maybe I should try not be be so easily distracted
Scathach Rhiadra: so better than the tai chi on SL?
Crusty Goldshark: Well some say the distraction is the awareness . .
Crusty Goldshark: yes much more realistic - because you do the poses in real life
Scathach Rhiadra: how so?
Scathach Rhiadra: the distraction being awareness?
Crusty Goldshark: What are you being distracted from and to?
Crusty Goldshark: distraction is part of awareness? Or have my yoga teachers been having me on?
Crusty Goldshark: Are you aware of being distracted?
Scathach Rhiadra: eventually I catch myself, I suppose
Crusty Goldshark: Were you falling asleep or falling aware?
Crusty Goldshark: Or were you distracted into awareness?
Crusty Goldshark: :)
Scathach Rhiadra: how would you define falling asleep/aware?
Crusty Goldshark: One is losing attention the other gaining - how would you answer?
Scathach Rhiadra: I would agree with you
Crusty Goldshark: So how can you be distracted if you are gaining attention?
Crusty Goldshark: Oh look a waterfall . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: :)
Crusty Goldshark: nope - it is a fountain
Crusty Goldshark: Distraction? Or bringing attention wto what is already present?
Crusty Goldshark: to
Scathach Rhiadra: so, do you find yoga good ?
Crusty Goldshark: good for what?
Scathach Rhiadra: for you?
Crusty Goldshark: Even evil is good for some things . . .
Crusty Goldshark: Scathach - is that a serious question - has anyone ever found yoga bad for them?
Crusty Goldshark: Are you accusing me of spiritual masochism?
Crusty Goldshark: :)
Scathach Rhiadra: no, I've never tried it, was wondering if benefits are as much as people say
Crusty Goldshark: Yoga changes lives - it changes perception and is a good form and base for meditation
Crusty Goldshark: I find it very good for me :)
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, I've tried the Tibetan Kun Nye exercises, similar
Crusty Goldshark: Yes they are simplified yoga routine
Crusty Goldshark: However they are good for as long as you do them - the practice is continuous . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, can't have gaps, for benefits
Crusty Goldshark: You can have what ever you want I suppose - gaps lead to gaps
Scathach Rhiadra: a bit like meditation, a continuous practice
Scathach Rhiadra: or a form of meditation
Crusty Goldshark: :)
Crusty Goldshark: So have they assigned you a lama?
Scathach Rhiadra: who?
Crusty Goldshark: The lama assigners
Scathach Rhiadra: heehee
Crusty Goldshark: Here is your Buddha - be like this . . .
Crusty Goldshark: Got one of those?
Scathach Rhiadra: no, I am not a great follower of anyone or thing
Crusty Goldshark: I follow anything . . .
Crusty Goldshark: Hari Lama, Lama Christmas, Rev Lama etc
Scathach Rhiadra: :)
Crusty Goldshark: Maybe you could be a Buddha and set us an example - us followers . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: hmm, not a leader either:)
Crusty Goldshark: Master!
Crusty Goldshark: You are the choosen one!
Scathach Rhiadra: the sacrifice?
Crusty Goldshark: . . . well there are also perks . . .
Scathach Rhiadra: oh?
Crusty Goldshark: You end up dead
Crusty Goldshark: . . . meanwhile you are alive - did you spot the difference?
Scathach Rhiadra: hmmm
Scathach Rhiadra: we all end up dead
Crusty Goldshark: Profound!
Crusty Goldshark: :)
Crusty Goldshark: You are so right . . .
Crusty Goldshark: . .. do we also ever end up ALIVE?
Scathach Rhiadra: ah, that is the part which is so hard to achieve and yet is right in front of us all the time
Crusty Goldshark: Well I am not even convinced 'I' exist so being in front or behind life does not seem anything but a distraction . . .. what am I missing?
Scathach Rhiadra: being alive is just 'being' in the moment
Crusty Goldshark: Oh good - so I am alive - done that - OK have to go and prepare to mediatae at Kannonji retreat at 1PM - might see you there
Scathach Rhiadra: :)
Crusty Goldshark: Bye Scathachi - be kind to the fish