2009.03.10 01:00 - On Silence

The Guardian for this meeting was Wester Kiranov. The comments are by Wester Kiranov.

When I arrived, Scathach was already there, as she had agreed to fill in for me  in case I couldn't make it. We were soon joined by Bertrum Quan, who I hadn't met before.

Scathach Rhiadra: Hello Wester
Wester Kiranov: Hi Scathach
Wester Kiranov: Thank you for being here.
Scathach Rhiadra: np, I am on leave this week, so can come to more sessions
Scathach Rhiadra: I believe you are Dutch Wester, will you be able to make the Dutch evening at the Kira Cafe?
Scathach Rhiadra: hello Bertrum
Wester Kiranov: I think so. The last few times I was there there was no one else.
Wester Kiranov: hi bertum
Bertrum Quan: Hi Scathach, Wester
Wester Kiranov: Have you been here before, bertrum?
Bertrum Quan: Yes.

After sitting quietly for a few minutes, it was found that silence itself could be discussed as well.

Scathach Rhiadra: has anyone anything they want to discuss?
Wester Kiranov: not really, thanks
Scathach Rhiadra: it is a quiet hour everywhere:)
Bertrum Quan: yes.
Bertrum Quan: the nature of silence. that could be a topic to consider.
Scathach Rhiadra: ha, but we would have to break the silence to discuss it, destroy by analysis:)
Wester Kiranov: i used to have a friend that i could have long conversations on silence with. mainly after the silence between us had gone on for much too long.
Bertrum Quan: does absolute silence truly exist?
Scathach Rhiadra: mmm, something to ponder
Bertrum Quan: we do train ourselves sometimes not to hear...
Scathach Rhiadra: I was at a talk recently on the Background Microwave Radiation which is everywhere in the universe, I wonder if it has a sound?
Wester Kiranov: microwave radiation is more like light than sound. but if it had a sound it would probably be either monotone or white noise
Scathach Rhiadra: ah like the whitenoise on a TV set
Wester Kiranov: I think last week someone (Fefonz?) gave a link to a talk on silence

Scathach Rhiadra: so that would mean no real absolute silence in the physical universe anyway
Bertrum Quan: I wonder if anywhere in the universe absolute silence exists.
Wester Kiranov: not in a physical way. But isn't silence the space that sound happens in?
Bertrum Quan: That's an interesting way to look at it.
Scathach Rhiadra: that is a nice view of space
Bertrum Quan: As we meditate we try to clear away the noise... to create a space in which we can focus... and hear and see and understand what we hear and see...
Wester Kiranov: ... and then you find that the space does not depend on the absence of noise
Bertrum Quan: yes.
Bertrum Quan: and it is not silence that we are experiencing...
Bertrum Quan: anyway, just an association to the
Bertrum Quan: quiet
Scathach Rhiadra: silence or quietness can have a presence, sometimes heavy, sometimes light

Tarmel joined us and I had to leave.

Scathach Rhiadra: Hello Tarmel
Wester Kiranov: hi tarmel
Bertrum Quan: hi Tarmel
Tarmel Udimo: hi all
Tarmel Udimo: wb scath
Scathach Rhiadra: sorry, my battery ran out, couldn't plug in the power fast enough:)
Tarmel Udimo: no worrries
Tarmel Udimo: brb
Wester Kiranov: I have to go now - see you all later. bye.
Scathach Rhiadra: bye Wester, have a good day:)
Bertrum Quan: bye
Tarmel Udimo: hi
Scathach Rhiadra: wb

And while I was gone, the others continued to discuss the 9-second practice, pheno sessions and clothes shopping. 

Tarmel Udimo: how are you both?
Scathach Rhiadra: I'm fine
Bertrum Quan: feeling fine. And you?
Tarmel Udimo: good
Tarmel Udimo: I have just been noticing lately the impact pab has been having
Tarmel Udimo: on my daily life
Scathach Rhiadra: mmm
Bertrum Quan: how so?
Tarmel Udimo: just finally really being able to sustain an inner openess for longer periods
Tarmel Udimo: less stressed
Tarmel Udimo: and seeing or maybe its feeling closer to being
Bertrum Quan: Are the 9-second practice and the online sessions the tonic?
Tarmel Udimo: well the 9-secs started it but i think its also the pheno exercises we have been doing. they are the ones that have deepened the practice of seeing Being
Tarmel Udimo: what do you think Scath?
Tarmel Udimo: do you know about this session Bertrum?
Scathach Rhiadra: mmm, yes the phenomenology explorations have certainly focused on the felt experience, more an awareness of what 'is'
Tarmel Udimo: yes agreed
Tarmel Udimo: and because it is so focused its having an impact
Bertrum Quan: I'm not sure what the pheno exercises are.
Scathach Rhiadra: a phenomenology workshop at Kira Cafe
Bertrum Quan: And what exercises did they suggest?
Tarmel Udimo: http://pheno.wik.is/
Tarmel Udimo: this should help
Tarmel Udimo: the sessions are on Fridays @ 2;00pm in the kira cafe
Scathach Rhiadra: some have been subject/object reversal, also trying to drop all notions of subject or object and just expereince things as 'arising'..
Bertrum Quan: Thank you for the link. It sounds very interesting. Who is leading the Phenomenology workshops?
Tarmel Udimo: pema our great non-leader ;-)
Tarmel Udimo: its not too late to sit in on a session and see what you think
Scathach Rhiadra: there is a association with PaB, but the workshops start with phenomena whereas Pab starts with Being
Bertrum Quan: Yes. There are many paths...
Bertrum Quan: the time for the sessions are very difficult for me to work into my schedule... but I'll look into the archive.
Scathach Rhiadra: there is also a new(ish) workshop on Time, you may like to look into the wiki for that too:)
Tarmel Udimo: that's in the PaB chats?
Scathach Rhiadra: the URL is http://whatistime.wik.is/
Tarmel Udimo: ahhh thought you meant the pema/Maxine session held on sunday
Scathach Rhiadra: yes Tarmel, the subject of timelessness, or no-time has become a great focus in the PaB chat logs:)
Tarmel Udimo: grins
Scathach Rhiadra: the workshop is slightly different in its focus and structure
Tarmel Udimo: yes I'll have to check it out
Bertrum Quan: Thank you both. I appreciate the suggestions.
Tarmel Udimo: bye bertrum
Bertrum Quan: good night (or good day)!
Scathach Rhiadra: good night Bertrum:)
Tarmel Udimo: Scath did you end up going shopping?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, how did you know?
Tarmel Udimo: oh no actually I was assuming you didn't and was going to offer you a top :-)
Tarmel Udimo: the package I bought has several
Scathach Rhiadra: haha, thought you were psychic
Tarmel Udimo: sometimes, maybe I was without knowing it:-)
Tarmel Udimo: so what did you get?
Scathach Rhiadra: thanks for the thought:)
Tarmel Udimo: well still happy to share
Scathach Rhiadra: got some jeans and a few tops
Scathach Rhiadra: have to wear them now:)
Tarmel Udimo: yes:-)
Scathach Rhiadra: time for a change of appearance?
Tarmel Udimo: maybe i will see them next time you are in PaB
Tarmel Udimo: yes a new arising:-)
Scathach Rhiadra: :))
Scathach Rhiadra: well, I had better go get some breakfast
Tarmel Udimo: okay well this is what the top looks like
Tarmel Udimo: I have several colours, would you like one?
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, please:) the green is very nice:)
Tarmel Udimo: there is also this colour green
Tarmel Udimo: I'll cycle through all the colours aand you can tell me which you like:-)
Scathach Rhiadra: a fashoin show:)
Tarmel Udimo: yep
Tarmel Udimo: bright blue
Tarmel Udimo: green
Tarmel Udimo: hyacinth
Tarmel Udimo: jade
Tarmel Udimo: lilac
Tarmel Udimo: marigold
Tarmel Udimo: olive
Tarmel Udimo: 7 to choose from:-)
Scathach Rhiadra: mmm, I think the olive is nicest:)
Tarmel Udimo: okay, now hopefully I can give one away, give me a min:-)
Tarmel Udimo: great! it worked
Tarmel Udimo: if you change your mind I can always excahnge it for a different one:-)
Scathach Rhiadra: yes, thank you, so many things in SL are non-transferable:)
Tarmel Udimo: oops almots lost my clothes
Scathach Rhiadra: an easy thing to happen here:)
Tarmel Udimo: well it can't be copied, but I can give and then it is no longer in my inventory
Tarmel Udimo: enjoy!
Scathach Rhiadra: thank you, I will:)
Tarmel Udimo: okay well I am heading home and then in RL into a hot bath and a good book
Scathach Rhiadra: enjoy, see you later:)
Tarmel Udimo: yep see you later, oh gosh that looks great Scath
Scathach Rhiadra: :))
Tarmel Udimo: perfect colour for you:-)