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

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

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: :)))

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