2009.05.17 19:00 - PaB RL: "Play Center"

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    The Guardian for this meeting was stevenaia Michinaga. The comments are by stevenaia Michinaga.

    Pila Mulligan and SophiaSharon Larnia join me


    stevenaia Michinaga: hi PIla
    Pila Mulligan: hi Steve
    Pila Mulligan: how are you?
    stevenaia Michinaga: had a nice weekend, son is at his second prom tonight, had dinner with his date's mother, who is a long time friend from high school
    Pila Mulligan: cool
    Pila Mulligan: a friend here just got back from his 40th high school reunion
    Pila Mulligan: 45th, sorry
    stevenaia Michinaga: many people show up?
    Pila Mulligan: yes, he said it was quite fun and lots of familiar (now old) faces
    stevenaia Michinaga: I am finding facebook has a way of gathering old friends
    Pila Mulligan: sounds like you are still in your original neighborhood, or close
    Pila Mulligan: hi SophiaSharon
    stevenaia Michinaga: I returned, yes
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: hi Sophia
    SophiaSharon Larnia: hi :))
    stevenaia Michinaga: did anyone here attend Adam's talk today?
    Pila Mulligan: not I
    SophiaSharon Larnia: me either, tho i wish i could have
    stevenaia Michinaga: nods
    Pila Mulligan: did you Steve?
    stevenaia Michinaga: no, was at dinner :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: was hoping for a recap :)
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Pila Mulligan: I had an idea that began as a thought unrelated to a real life retreat center but then led to it indirectly
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes, the topic was missed last wednesday
    Pila Mulligan: I have an excerpt of a conversation with Tarmel ... notecard:

    Taking Play as Being sessions into real life situations 

    Pila Mulligan: well, some thoughts have been floating around my head recently -- maybe the PaB method would work in local real life situations
    Tarmel Udimo: nods
    Pila Mulligan: this first occurred to me with regard to a fire in Eos's neighborhood, but in fact PaB has some unique aspects that would make it work in many situations
    Tarmel Udimo: fire?
    Pila Mulligan: yes, there was a bad fire in Eos's neighborhood, it destroyed and damaged many homes, so now the community is in recovery mode, and I was thinking PaB sessions could help there, in real life – not so much the mental efforts, but the regular meeting opportunities, that is a unique part of PaB
    Tarmel Udimo: nods
    Pila Mulligan: available several times a day, with a designated host – the 9 second practice is a simple thing that is certainly helpful for many people, so combining it with regularly available sessions makes sense for real life
    Pila Mulligan: maybe there could be some experiments with PaB as a real life activity in various places and situations
    Tarmel Udimo: that's brilliant Pila and sounds good – I guess too the August retreat will indicate if it works in RL too 
    Tarmel Udimo: also perhaps the 9-secs doesn't need to be complex, getting into the meaning of Being and the like, but just around stopping and appreciating
    Pila Mulligan: yes, there I think what works in SL would be more difficult in RL, the deep philosophical mental effort would turn away some folks
    Tarmel Udimo: and then if some people want to take it further then they can
    Pila Mulligan: yes, exactly
    Pila Mulligan: it could be done anywhere, without the trauma situation Eos's neighbors have – it may be easy to do at a university, for example, all you need is a place and a few people
    Pila Mulligan: the first inspiration was Eo's traumatic situation, then it became obvious it could be done anywhere, then it connected with the idea of a real life retreat center
    Tarmel Udimo: nods
    Pila Mulligan: it should not be seen in reverse, however, if you ask me – the purpose should be compassionate, not toward the idea of making retreat centers :)
    Pila Mulligan: and it is probably best to work out a real life PaB method in a safe place like a university or community center before trying to take it into a trauma situation
    Tarmel Udimo: nods you are right
    Pila Mulligan: so as not to be clumsy with a catastrophe

    SophiaSharon Larnia: in a catastrophe, the need is for safety, water, food, and shelter
    SophiaSharon Larnia: spiritual pursuits will be a hard sell
    Pila Mulligan: yes, first response
    SophiaSharon Larnia: sorry
    Pila Mulligan: I was thinking later on, during the recovery phase
    SophiaSharon Larnia: oh yes
    stevenaia Michinaga: nit re-building is also a spiritual exercise for a community
    SophiaSharon Larnia: yes it is very mush a spiritually rebuilding exercise
    SophiaSharon Larnia: much*
    Pila Mulligan: I'm curious if it could help
    stevenaia Michinaga: was the conversation from a PaB session, Pila, do you mind if I include it in the log?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i think it may, in a rebuilding phase, not directly after that aftermath of triage
    Pila Mulligan: no, Tarmel and I were just chatting
    stevenaia Michinaga: may I include it?
    Pila Mulligan: you can include it in the log if you like
    stevenaia Michinaga: thank you
    Pila Mulligan: thank you
    SophiaSharon Larnia: it could bring more meaning to the already intense rebuilding experience
    Pila Mulligan: yes, Sophia, it would not help to get in the way of the emergency response
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i meant the aftermath
    Pila Mulligan: yep
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes
    Pila Mulligan: usually there is some mental dislocation then
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i have been to new orleans 3 times to rebuild and wonder how it would have worked there
    stevenaia Michinaga: and.. a needed moment of reflection on appreciation
    Pila Mulligan: I'm curious about your experiences in New Orleans, Sophia -- would you please say more?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i went to gut one time and as a nurse 2 times
    Pila Mulligan: gut as in clean up?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: with a uu church effort
    SophiaSharon Larnia: tear down is more like it
    Pila Mulligan: yep
    Pila Mulligan: how soon after Katrina was it the first time?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: not very, about 3 months, which i regret
    Pila Mulligan: regret because it was not soon enough?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: yes
    Pila Mulligan: yes things were very slow it seems
    Pila Mulligan: can you tell some more about your experience?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: well, many people had very little left and there was a culture of desperation
    SophiaSharon Larnia: not a good environment for introducing spiritual concepts
    SophiaSharon Larnia: although it may have helped
    Pila Mulligan: were things much better by the second and third times?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: oh yes quite remarkably so
    Pila Mulligan: how much later were they?
    Pila Mulligan: they*
    SophiaSharon Larnia: the second 9 mo after the first, the third about a year after that
    SophiaSharon Larnia: give or take a few months
    Pila Mulligan: that extreme devastation is hopefully an extraordinary case
    SophiaSharon Larnia: the last time i spent 3 weeks there
    Pila Mulligan: were people back in their homes by then?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: the first or last times?
    Pila Mulligan: last time
    SophiaSharon Larnia: yes
    SophiaSharon Larnia: the ones who had them
    SophiaSharon Larnia: not all
    Pila Mulligan: did they have those FEMA trailers
    SophiaSharon Larnia: alot were still being rebuilt
    SophiaSharon Larnia: yes
    Pila Mulligan: I read a lot about it
    Pila Mulligan: I can imagine to some degree what it was like
    Pila Mulligan: but to hear it first hand is more interesting
    SophiaSharon Larnia: it was so odd, i wanted to be a travel nurse there, a girl from work and i were talking about it, i submitted my paperwork to an agency
    SophiaSharon Larnia: at the last minute she backed out and so did i
    SophiaSharon Larnia: then 2 months later, katrina hit
    Pila Mulligan: yes, curious
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i wanted to go so bad and didn't know why
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i feel guilty that i am glad i was not there
    Pila Mulligan: I do a web site for a World War II veterans' organization that had their annual reunion there the week before Katrina
    Pila Mulligan: no guilt required :)
    SophiaSharon Larnia: there was no room for a good decision
    stevenaia Michinaga: you do what you can, when you can, regrets don't accomplish much
    SophiaSharon Larnia: no
    stevenaia Michinaga: *regrets
    SophiaSharon Larnia: because i would have stayed, not to *help* but because i would have wanted to see, with my own eyes, a Cat % storm
    SophiaSharon Larnia: 5*
    Pila Mulligan: would you have been able to stay?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i have learned a lot from this realization
    SophiaSharon Larnia: yes
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i would have found a way if i had been there
    Pila Mulligan: how close were you to NOLA at the time of the storm?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: in pa
    Pila Mulligan: ahh
    Pila Mulligan: I've been near two hurricanes and in one very bad tornado
    stevenaia Michinaga: are you from PA?
    SophiaSharon Larnia: now i would still stay, but for a completely different reason
    SophiaSharon Larnia: knowing what i may be getting into
    Pila Mulligan: to help
    SophiaSharon Larnia: yes i am in PA
    Pila Mulligan: so is Steve :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes
    SophiaSharon Larnia smiles
    SophiaSharon Larnia: there is a rawness to the environment in that situation that will make PaB concepts hard to understand
    SophiaSharon Larnia: even in a smaller scale
    Pila Mulligan: well, I was thinking more of the process than the substance
    Pila Mulligan: process*
    stevenaia Michinaga: but the thought of simple "appreciation", even to just be alive may be a starting point
    Pila Mulligan: not the heavy mental stuff, but just getting together to chat
    Pila Mulligan: having a place open to people at regular times with a host
    Pila Mulligan: in case any one just wants to talk
    SophiaSharon Larnia: :)
    SophiaSharon Larnia: bring supplies
    Pila Mulligan: and then maybe helping coordinate volunteers and donated supplies
    SophiaSharon Larnia: :)
    Pila Mulligan: yes
    Pila Mulligan: one unique part of PaB is how volunteers make it available at regular times
    Pila Mulligan: and people drop in as they can
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i volunteer with red cross and they do a similar thing
    Pila Mulligan: and the 9 second pause may help some, but I would not go much further beyond that with the theoretical part
    Pila Mulligan: yes, a place to unwind
    Pila Mulligan: and get organized
    stevenaia Michinaga: was thinking a place that takes 9 seconds to pass though :)
    SophiaSharon Larnia: people seeking food water and shelter will appear to listen to anyone who has these things
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    SophiaSharon Larnia: the benefit to the individual may not be apparent until later on down the road
    Pila Mulligan: yep, that would be too soon, probably
    SophiaSharon Larnia: individual*
    Pila Mulligan: after the first response and probably after some resettling
    Pila Mulligan: when the mind-trauma is a burden but the other part is being helped
    SophiaSharon Larnia nods
    Pila Mulligan: and as the notecard says, it would be prudent to work out the methods first in an ordinary situation, without a trauma cloud over it
    Pila Mulligan: just to get it smoothly working in practice
    Pila Mulligan: and then transfer it when needed if it looked like ti would help
    SophiaSharon Larnia: it is a great idea
    Pila Mulligan: maybe you guys should try it in PA :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: :)
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i am looking for my purpose perhaps this is part of it *grins*
    Pila Mulligan: the Keystone Chapter of PaB
    stevenaia Michinaga: perhaps PaB storefront meditation centers should appear in cities
    SophiaSharon Larnia: lol
    Pila Mulligan: I think a label other than meditation may be easier Steve
    Pila Mulligan: something similar, but less specific
    stevenaia Michinaga: a Play center?
    Pila Mulligan: yes
    Pila Mulligan: excellent
    SophiaSharon Larnia: :))
    Pila Mulligan: Eos suggested coffee shops
    Pila Mulligan: also
    Pila Mulligan: in his area there seem to be many
    stevenaia Michinaga: not sure if coffee would be the appropriate prelude
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Pila Mulligan: true
    Pila Mulligan: tea shops
    Pila Mulligan: brb
    stevenaia Michinaga: ok
    SophiaSharon Larnia: i have to go, so nice speaking with you all :))
    stevenaia Michinaga: bye Sophia
    stevenaia Michinaga: thank you
    Pila Mulligan: got some tea and crackers -- belated bye Sophia
    stevenaia Michinaga: so a tea and cracker storefront?
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Pila Mulligan: it would be interesting to see how well and in what form PaB can best transfer as an idea into real life
    stevenaia Michinaga: I once asked Pema about applications... at the time he was viewing it as strictly research, the fruits of which to be seen later, much later
    stevenaia Michinaga: eventually I would have gotten there
    Pila Mulligan: a local group of five hosts could organize a place that was available several times a week
    Pila Mulligan: then figure it out from there
    Pila Mulligan: to me it is the regular availability, the host and the open door that make it work
    stevenaia Michinaga: and the location
    Pila Mulligan: yes
    stevenaia Michinaga: which get to the core of the RL issue... what "form" should this environment take
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: the PaB logo could offer some clues
    Pila Mulligan: well, at first, the location concern would be the available audience
    Pila Mulligan: but eventually the location probably would be a storefront, as you said earlier
    Pila Mulligan: and then a facility could follow if it grew that much
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes, and evolve
    Pila Mulligan: and this is how thins grow, from the ground up
    Pila Mulligan: things*
    Pila Mulligan: I think having a compassionate purpose associated with the play is important
    Pila Mulligan: so it is not just another New Age franchise
    stevenaia Michinaga: Pema is fertile soil
    Pila Mulligan: yes
    stevenaia Michinaga: Not sure if the time is right just yet, perhaps after August or two
    Pila Mulligan: yep. hurrying it would hurt it
    Pila Mulligan: Tarmel also mentioned the retreat as a place to discuss the idea
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes, let's toss this on the idea pile
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Pila Mulligan: and see what grows
    stevenaia Michinaga: indeed
    Pila Mulligan: tai chi doing well?
    stevenaia Michinaga: just started a new 6 weeks lessons, it;s coming easier and more to practice with time also helps
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: and now that there is a grassy backyard to practice on it;s nicer
    Pila Mulligan: really

    Paradise Tennant arrives

    Pila Mulligan: hi Paradise
    stevenaia Michinaga: Hi Paradise
    Paradise Tennant: hiya steve .. pila
    stevenaia Michinaga: welcome as a guardian
    Paradise Tennant: :)
    Pila Mulligan: yes, mazel tov
    Paradise Tennant: oh lol
    Paradise Tennant: :)
    Paradise Tennant: that would infer ..timeliness . :)
    Paradise Tennant: how are you two :)
    Pila Mulligan: fine thanks, and you?
    Paradise Tennant: very well thanks
    stevenaia Michinaga: we are good, a nice evening conversation
    Pila Mulligan: Steve and were just taking about tai chi -- in my meditation recently I have been contemplating the interrelatedness of movement and stillness
    Pila Mulligan: tai chi is movement within stillness
    Pila Mulligan: or vice versa :)
    Pila Mulligan: and meditation is the complement
    Paradise Tennant: yes
    Paradise Tennant: very well put
    Pila Mulligan: external stillness, internal movement (of energy)
    Paradise Tennant: been working alot with stillness
    Pila Mulligan: stillness and quiet are important, aren't they
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes, enjoying the pace of the forms.. getting slower and more fluid
    Paradise Tennant: read the latest tolle book .. in January .. they are a connection to presence a path away from mental abstraction
    Paradise Tennant: and distraction :)
    Pila Mulligan: tolle book?Paradise Tennant: yes I have only had a few classes in tai chi .. enjoyed them though
    Paradise Tennant: eckart tolle's book the new earth
    Pila Mulligan: thanks
    Paradise Tennant: big best seller but notwithstanding that ..has some interesting ideas presented in a very lucid .. easy to under stand format
    Paradise Tennant: presents many zen and buddhist precepts but in a way .. westerners get it
    Paradise Tennant: liked it
    Pila Mulligan: was reading wikipedia about it
    Paradise Tennant: how long have you been studying tai chi
    stevenaia Michinaga: a bit of a preview on google books
    stevenaia Michinaga: http://books.google.com/books?id=E8lEq274wPkC&pg=PP1&dq=eckart+tolle,++new+earth&ei=U9AQSpKNF5rEzASew5CfAQ#PPP1,M1
    Paradise Tennant: yes he has given lots of lectures .. been on tv .. rather well known now ..but very unassuming .. likable really
    Pila Mulligan: he and his spiritual teacher both seem to be influenced by Krishnamurti
    stevenaia Michinaga: who?
    Pila Mulligan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Krishnamurti
    Paradise Tennant: eckhart tolle wrote the power of now .. the new earth .. the art of stillness ??
    Pila Mulligan: I started doing tai chi in the mid-70's Paradise
    Paradise Tennant: nice
    Pila Mulligan: it keeps my old body moving :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: I just started in January
    Pila Mulligan: yes, both movement and stillness are beyond mental abstraction
    Pila Mulligan: they are conditions
    Paradise Tennant: there is flow there .. puts you in touch with your breath .. beautifully doesn't it .. when I run in the monring ..sometimes there is lovely lady who practices it by the water ..she looks so graceful at ease
    Pila Mulligan: hopefully her breathing in that practice will be as strong as your breathing in running :)
    Paradise Tennant: lol
    Pila Mulligan: the secret is in the breathing
    Paradise Tennant: nods .. yes .. been focusing on distance ...not speed these days so lots of easy breaths
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes, as Iw as learning doing yoga, Tai Chi and playing my Didgeridoo
    Paradise Tennant: hmm what exactly is a diggridoo :)
    Pila Mulligan: breath is common to them all
    Paradise Tennant: yes
    Pila Mulligan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC9w4KWEgJE
    Pila Mulligan: "a wind instrument of the Aborigines of northern Australia"
    stevenaia Michinaga: just a hollowed out tree limb
    Pila Mulligan: ... and it has an enchanting sound
    Paradise Tennant: wow
    Paradise Tennant: it does :))
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Paradise Tennant: thanks pila .. that was very cool
    Paradise Tennant: must be very moving to play
    Paradise Tennant: and wow would it take breathe
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Pila Mulligan: they use a circular breathing method, Steve is better qualified to explain
    Paradise Tennant: hmm how long have you been playing it steve
    stevenaia Michinaga: a number of years
    stevenaia Michinaga: on and off, practice seems to annoy my family and cat
    Paradise Tennant: lol
    Paradise Tennant: poor kitty
    stevenaia Michinaga: but the breathing is intense
    Paradise Tennant: i bet
    stevenaia Michinaga: tai chi also seems to require my cat to interact with my feet
    Paradise Tennant: lol toes are often the tastiest when they are in the flow of the spirit I would guess :))
    stevenaia Michinaga: circular breathing is like making your body like a bagpipe of sorts, you breathe in through your nose while blowing out your mouth
    stevenaia Michinaga: so you can make a continuous sound...indefinitely
    Pila Mulligan: sounds impossible
    Paradise Tennant: nods .. reverberating to a tone .. of the breath .. almost like a wind chime
    stevenaia Michinaga: well you see saw it on youtube
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Paradise Tennant: yes very cool
    Paradise Tennant: what made you want to study it ?
    stevenaia Michinaga: I used to play the trumpet and saw one at a craft show that had a learning cassette tape and thought it would be interesting to learn
    Paradise Tennant: :))) and it was calling you :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: seems so :)
    stevenaia Michinaga: there was a youtube vid about playing it also keeps you from snoring...
    stevenaia Michinaga: I'll keep you posted on that one, encouraging my wife to let me play more
    Paradise Tennant: lol perfect
    Paradise Tennant: yes that would be a winning tactic ;))
    Paradise Tennant: nice thing about stillness is that it can be everywhere .really a state of mind even in the most chaotic of circumstances :))
    Paradise Tennant: it is a great thing to focus on .. everything else sort of falls away ..
    Pila Mulligan: and movement characterized by stillness within is less clumsy
    Paradise Tennant: yes
    stevenaia Michinaga: well I must go...
    Paradise Tennant: there is ease and grace there .
    Pila Mulligan: bye Steve, nice to visit with you, as always
    stevenaia Michinaga: thank you for joining us Paradise
    Paradise Tennant: kk steve ..hope you have a nice evening .. I should scoot too.. holiday here tomorrow ..but I have things I should do
    stevenaia Michinaga: yes Pila
    Paradise Tennant: always my pleasure ..
    Paradise Tennant: :)))

    I depart

    Pila Mulligan: what is the holiday, Paradise?
    Paradise Tennant: it is victoria day here
    Pila Mulligan: ah, cool
    Paradise Tennant: love waving
    Quade XXXX: who wantsta do it
    Pila Mulligan: have a nice one
    Paradise Tennant: one of my favorite things to to do
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Pila Mulligan: bye bye Quade
    Pila Mulligan: fun ejecting rude people
    Paradise Tennant: lol
    Pila Mulligan: a perk of Guardianship
    Paradise Tennant: yes it is isn't it
    Pila Mulligan: your turn :)
    Quade XXXX: mmm look at that
    Pila Mulligan: right click, the more then eject
    Pila Mulligan: bye bye Quade
    Pila Mulligan: rudeness doesn't play here
    Paradise Tennant: sorry not activated
    Paradise Tennant: :))
    Paradise Tennant: no worries often find it does not mean much
    Paradise Tennant: mostly kids
    Pila Mulligan: true
    Quade XXXX: boring
    Pila Mulligan: very
    Paradise Tennant: well going to scoot and get take the dog .. he is giving me pointed looks
    Paradise Tennant: be well pila ..see you soon :))
    Pila Mulligan: have a nice holiday
    Pila Mulligan: bye bye
    Paradise Tennant: yes such a luxury .. to have an extra day to get caught up on thing s. going to really enjoy it ..
    Pila Mulligan: :)
    Paradise Tennant: waves at you in rl too :))
    Paradise Tennant: and goes pouf
    Pila Mulligan waves back

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