2009.04.23 13:00 - Proselytizing

The guardian for this session was Storm Nordwind. The comments are Storm's.

Storm Nordwind meditates quietly by himself as the hour starts. Shortly after he is joined by aurel and later Mick and Wol. Storm and aurel talk at length about a subject that we discover was not meant to be in the transcript! Thus, in the interests of confidentiality, the first half hour of the session is quietly removed and we take up the story shortly after the second bell.

Storm Nordwind: A long day at the keyboard
aurel Miles: i know how that goes
aurel Miles: and it's late there
aurel Miles: right?
Storm Nordwind: Only 9:30pm
Storm Nordwind: But I have been working all day on Kira stuff
aurel Miles: i am blaming my newly girly fingernails for my typos -
aurel Miles: they get in the way.
Storm Nordwind does not have that excuse!
aurel Miles: Texan women, you know
Storm Nordwind: Don't know many
aurel Miles: I can't be my usual dishevelled Canadian writer self down in Texas
Wol Euler chuckles

Mick touches on a subject from earlier.

Mickorod Renard: I think indiginous practices is an interesting subject,,but it is frustrating in the Uk that it is so messed up
Storm Nordwind: Please say more Mick
Mickorod Renard: well,,i think people like to search for their routes,,and that is one part of what they look for
Mickorod Renard: a belonging
Storm Nordwind: That is true. How do you think they go about it?
Mickorod Renard: they look around at whats there, then have a lil try..but often find that it is hollow
Mickorod Renard: or corrupted
Wol Euler: or perhaps just dull as dishwater... not exotic enough.
Mickorod Renard: maybe

Wol's comment is probably truer than my own!

Storm Nordwind: What's there is often corrupted, that is true, in many ways I have seen
Storm Nordwind: But to the persistent and enquiring mind there are answers to be found
Mickorod Renard: I have always found Buddhism attractive for several reasons,,but i am not Buddhist

My first unsuccessful attempt at spelling a distasteful word...

Storm Nordwind: It always struck me that non-prosilytizing religions are much much spirituality for grown-ups - but that's a personal view!
Wol Euler nods in agreement. The harder they try to convert me, the less seriously I can take them.
Mickorod Renard: I think as a grown up ones views change anyway
Mickorod Renard: and values
Mickorod Renard: sometimes its best left for our spirituality to find its own home

Second unsuccessful attempt...

Storm Nordwind has found he meant to spell out "prosylitizing" :)

No he didn't!

Mickorod Renard: you could spell it anyway Storm, I still dont know what it means
Storm Nordwind: haha!
Mickorod Renard: he he he
aurel Miles: if i may
Mickorod Renard: pls?
Wol Euler: "attempting to gain converts", simply
aurel Miles: Mick - you know when the Jehova's witnesses come to your door?
Mickorod Renard: yes
aurel Miles: that's proslytizing
Mickorod Renard: a ha
Wol Euler hisses
aurel Miles: orthodox jews
aurel Miles: do not come to your door
aurel Miles: right?

Third time lucky!

Storm Nordwind has the correct spelling at last: proselytizing !
Wol Euler: right :)
aurel Miles giggles at the thought
Wol Euler: maybe they should!
aurel Miles: if you want to convert to judaism
Wol Euler: bringing yarmulkas and unleavened bread :)
aurel Miles: they will actually turn you away 3 times
Mickorod Renard: It can be a tough one for some folks,,as spreading the word is often something that is portrayed as part of that faith
aurel Miles: that's one of the minor laws
aurel Miles: you have to really want it
aurel Miles: want it
aurel Miles: they discourage converts
Mickorod Renard: I think all religions have followers who have several types of angles on it
aurel Miles: no - not judaism
aurel Miles: it really is a law
aurel Miles: no proslytizing
Mickorod Renard: some from birth, some from a sense of community spirit
Mickorod Renard: some cos they are lonely
aurel Miles: to be a good Christian Muslim etc is the same as being a good Jew under jewish law
Mickorod Renard: some cos they think it gives them power
Storm Nordwind thinks: same god after all
aurel Miles: maybe that was a bad example - any faith
aurel Miles: and yeah - it goes back to that belief
aurel Miles: that there is only one God

Play as Being 15 minute bell: Conversations here are recorded when ON AIR. Please see http://playasbeing.wik.is/
Play as Being 15 minute bell: Please observe 90 seconds of silence.
aurel Miles: G-d
Mickorod Renard: its that monopolisation of God that brings about problems
Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

Storm Nordwind is a polytheist. Even as a Buddhist he sees many gods. Whereas Being... how do gods fit into Being? :)
Storm Nordwind: Has anyone ever felt evangelical about Play as Being? Serious playful question! ;)
Wol Euler: I have suggested it to people, yes.
Mickorod Renard: me too
Wol Euler: does that count? Maybe...
Storm Nordwind: I don't know Wol. What was your intent? And how do you think it came over?
Wol Euler: it was never done in the spirit of absolute knowledge that their current path is false and vile, as much religious proselytizing seems to be
Storm Nordwind nods
Mickorod Renard: It took me a little while to become comfortable with the idea of being,,in respect to how it fits in with my beliefs
Storm Nordwind: And now Mick?
Mickorod Renard: I can accomodate the issue
Mickorod Renard: I dont question it anymore,,because somewhere in the not so distant past i had a way of putting it together
Mickorod Renard: best let it be now,,its confusing enough anyway
Mickorod Renard: grin
Mickorod Renard: but i am quite comfortable with my spirituality,,,and because of this i see no threat from other forms of practice,,and am happy to explore them too
Storm Nordwind: Great!

I had a sudden flashback from a PaB session seven days previous...

Storm Nordwind: So what happened when you related Pema's email to your RL guru while walking the dogs? :)
Storm Nordwind recalls Mick's comment from last week
Wol Euler laughs. Yes, I'd read that and wondered about it too.
Mickorod Renard: hey,,,are you reading my mind too? he he he
Storm Nordwind: I try not to
Storm Nordwind smiles
Mickorod Renard: he is great,,but said he wanted more time to consume it,,i am spending a day at the Budhist retreat local to me in a weeks time
Mickorod Renard: with him
Storm Nordwind: Wonderful
Wol Euler: nice
Storm Nordwind: Please share with us in due course... if you feel you want to, I'd be delighted to hear it
Mickorod Renard: ok,,but one thing I found nice was that in RL I have a friend that asks the same questions as me,,they are hard to find
Wol Euler: oh yes.
Storm Nordwind: Yes indeed.
Storm Nordwind: I was 44 years old before i found someone like that
Mickorod Renard: I could say I have 2..and maybe 3,,so I am very lucky
Storm Nordwind: Now I am marrying someone who not only asks the same questions, but she understands why I am asking them
Wol Euler smiles.
Mickorod Renard: cool,,,my surrounding family and friends just think i am nuts
Storm Nordwind: haha!
Storm Nordwind: An occupational hazard for the sincere seeker!
aurel Miles: i'm happy for you both
Mickorod Renard: ty

There's another workshop nigh.

Storm Nordwind: It's time to WoK to the Cafe. Anyone coming?
aurel Miles: i am a bit too unsettled
Mickorod Renard: which is Wok?
aurel Miles: i think i will log off - thank you for the time
Storm Nordwind: Stim's workshop
Mickorod Renard: oh yes
Storm Nordwind: Ways of Knowing
Wol Euler: stim's Ways of Knowing
aurel Miles: bye!
Wol Euler: 'night Aurel, take care.
Mickorod Renard: and ethics and lying
Wol Euler: see you there!

Play as Being 15 minute bell: Conversations here are recorded when ON AIR. Please see http://playasbeing.wik.is/
Play as Being 15 minute bell: Please observe 90 seconds of silence.
Mickorod Renard: bye Aurel
aurel Miles: Bye Mick
aurel Miles: Bye Wol
aurel Miles: Bye Storm!