2009.07.15 07:00 - The Wind From a Certain Mountain

The Guardian for this meeting was Eliza Madrigal. The comments are by Eliza Madrigal.

This was a long session in two parts, owing to the region requiring a reboot about 45 minutes in. A new friend 'ommi' arrived first, then Fefonz, Sophia, and Mick. Thanks to ommi's enthusiasm we quickly plunged right into wonderful topics, enjoyed shared energy, and eventually eased out of the session considering emptiness and passion. 

Eliza Madrigal: Hello ommi
Eliza Madrigal waves to Fef
Fefonz Quan: Hey Eliza!
Fefonz Quan: hello ommi
ommi Zenfold: Hi Fefonz:)
Fefonz Quan: have you been here before?
ommi Zenfold: I have been to the Kant discussions, through Kira
ommi Zenfold: but not here
ommi Zenfold: I'm very interested in what you do - i think it's wonderful
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Fefonz Quan: thanks :)
ommi Zenfold: yw!
ommi Zenfold: do you get a regular group or is it pretty much it and miss?
ommi Zenfold: (ty for the notecard)
Eliza Madrigal: I'd say it goes in waves ommi
ommi Zenfold: nods..
Fefonz Quan: i just want to aknowledge you ommi that we record our sessins here, and put it on our web stie
ommi Zenfold: ok that's fine :)
Fefonz Quan: site*
Fefonz Quan: cool
ommi Zenfold: ty for mentioning it
Eliza Madrigal waves to Mick
ommi Zenfold: Hi Mick
Mickorod Renard: Hiya
Mickorod Renard: dont know whether i have ever met you Ommi,,before
Fefonz Quan: Hi Mick
Mickorod Renard: hi
ommi Zenfold: no, i don't think we've met :)
ommi Zenfold: hi :)
ommi Zenfold: so how do your sessions work? do you throw out a general question, Eliza? to start things off?
Eliza Madrigal: Sometimes one comes with a question
Eliza Madrigal: Do you have a topic today ommi? :)
ommi Zenfold: well, sure :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)

ommi's question

ommi Zenfold: i wondered whether the group considers play as being as an expression of our spiritual journeys and as part of our spiritual growth, spiritual being a broadly defined word of course..
ommi Zenfold: and i'm interested in how others perceive this concept
Mickorod Renard: hi Sophia
ommi Zenfold: Hi Sophia :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Sophia :))
Fefonz Quan: Hi Sophia
Eliza Madrigal: I wouldn't have a problem characterizing our playing as spiritual, but can't speak for the whole group. :)
Eliza Madrigal: I think each of us has a compatible angle
ommi Zenfold: great :)
Fefonz Quan: don't know for the group as a whole, for myself i do see it as a part of my spiritual growth
ommi Zenfold: yes, i pretty see everything we do as that lol
Fefonz Quan: (but then we should ask what is spiritual growth ;-))
Eliza Madrigal: yes exactly!
Mickorod Renard: I think I would go along with that too
ommi Zenfold: right
ommi Zenfold: might belong in another category though - to define where it leads us is a big topic
Mickorod Renard: It certainly broadens ones views on diferent spitital angles
Fefonz Quan: spititial sounds nice
Mickorod Renard: spiritual*
Mickorod Renard: he he
ommi Zenfold: typonese :)
ommi Zenfold: so, what would you say are particular "spiritual angles "
ommi Zenfold: ?
Eliza Madrigal: Some of us are more focused on spiritual aspects than others perhaps, and we share an interest in meditation I think
ommi Zenfold: k
Mickorod Renard: I was lost for an appropriate word..so I used angle instaed of thingy
Eliza Madrigal: Ah... :) First, forgive me for being a tad slow because I've had only a few hrs of sleep after seeing Harry Potter last night..heh
Fefonz Quan: for me spiritual means better knowing of self and the nature of teh world, and PaB has given me much in that sense
sophia Placebo: :)
Fefonz Quan: maybe mick meant 'spiritual angels' :)
ommi Zenfold: that's great Fefonz - that's what i love about Kira - we can talk about those things
Mickorod Renard: ahh,,we are all those Fef
Fefonz Quan: Ah, eliza, how was is? worth a visit to the cinema?
Eliza Madrigal: I think so. It was far smoother as a film than they've been to now, and very funny :) You have to realize though that my kids are fanatics so we'd go even if it was terrible !
sophia Placebo: pab is a thoughtfull moments for me
sophia Placebo: hehe Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: yes I'd agree. I was thinking this week that in Play as Being we seem to share the intention of overlap...looking for shared experience rather than mere debate, etc
sophia Placebo: Harry books are much better than its movies
Mickorod Renard: when I started here I was worried that it was all budhist,,but I now feel there has been a more unifying element to the openness about diferent beliefs
Eliza Madrigal: Absolutely Sophia... so many little details
ommi Zenfold: unity is an important word i think, when we talk about spiritualism
Eliza Madrigal: yes exactly, and we are such a diverse group with so many paradigms
Mickorod Renard: can u say more on that Ommi?
ommi Zenfold: oh yeah
ommi Zenfold: lol
sophia Placebo: yes ^^ the all flavour is of the detailed feeling thoughts and douts are extracted from movies
Mickorod Renard: he he ..got ya
ommi Zenfold: my personal belief system is all about unity, interpersonal and intrapersonal.. i see us all as working/growing towards a reunification with the true nature of being, consciousness, or love
ommi Zenfold: not sure how to put it
ommi Zenfold: but i think life is a chance for us to grow
Eliza Madrigal: That's pretty clear!
ommi Zenfold: we learn from each other
Eliza Madrigal: :)
ommi Zenfold: ty lol
ommi Zenfold: and we learn from our own experiences if we're lucky
Eliza Madrigal: If we are attentive I believe we do
ommi Zenfold: so play is a wonderful way to do all that
ommi Zenfold: yes
Mickorod Renard: yes
Eliza Madrigal: (and sophia, Yes they have been to now. I'm more hopefu about the rest of the films having seen this one and knowing it will be the same director)
Fefonz Quan: 'play it till you make it', if i may change the old saying
Eliza Madrigal: not bad Fef :)
ommi Zenfold: lol Fefonz - like that
ommi Zenfold: i suspect it's exactly what we do whether we realize it or not
ommi Zenfold: so, there are many levels to play

being already there

Fefonz Quan: yes, some might say that whenplaying we are already there
ommi Zenfold: constructive and destructive
ommi Zenfold: naturally constructive is preferrable
ommi Zenfold: necessary even
ommi Zenfold: though i guess destructive play teaches as well
Fefonz Quan: have you read about our 9-sec practice Ommi?
Mickorod Renard: whats your specialist subject in RL Ommi?
ommi Zenfold: Fef, no i haven't, and Mick, i don't have one :)
Mickorod Renard: ;)

light conversation and comparsions

Eliza Madrigal notices ommi and I were born in SL near the same time :)
ommi Zenfold: cool :)
ommi Zenfold: 1/23 is a special day for me on a personal level eliza :)
ommi Zenfold: a rl annivesary :)
ommi Zenfold: what's the 9 sec practice Fef?
sophia Placebo: how come you log in to sl on that day then?
Eliza Madrigal: Ah :) Auspicious for us
ommi Zenfold: yes
ommi Zenfold: actually i did a little before Soph
ommi Zenfold: happenstance:)
ommi Zenfold: ty Fef - going to check that out now
Fefonz Quan: ah, reincarnation then ? :)
Mickorod Renard: I was sl born on x mas eve
sophia Placebo: :))
Eliza Madrigal: Neat Mick...seems funny! Did you buy yourself a new computer?
ommi Zenfold: great present yes lol
Mickorod Renard: noo,,I had been away,,and had dificulties flying back due to weather,,read a book during wait and in it was reference about SL,,and up to that point hadnt heard of it,,so as soon as I walked in home,i put pc on and signed up
Mickorod Renard: voila

this 9 second pause, winds and splashes 

Fefonz Quan: the 9-sec http://playasbeing.wik.is/Informatio..._in_a_Nutshell
ommi Zenfold: i saw a movie, think it ws charles bronson - he was japanese peasant, worked in the fields...when the wind blew from a certain mountain, everyone would stop and pause for a moment to appreciate the universe.. this 9 sec pause reminds me of that
Eliza Madrigal: :) such a little thing... a question "What's that like?" and then to all this :)
Eliza Madrigal: ommi that is lovely !
ommi Zenfold: isn't it? i loved it too
Mickorod Renard: yes,,i was thinking that too
ommi Zenfold: and have incorporated it into my behavior lol
ommi Zenfold: the wind blows, i stop and think
ommi Zenfold: ha
Fefonz Quan: yes, great example on the 9-sec :)
ommi Zenfold: cool :)
Eliza Madrigal: I experience our pauses very much that way... as opening a window for a breeze always ptesent
ommi Zenfold: literally lol
Eliza Madrigal: *present
ommi Zenfold: yes
ommi Zenfold: i use a few keys like that
Fefonz Quan: 'the wind blows, so i can stop'
Mickorod Renard: fantastic
ommi Zenfold: certain symbols for certain people or experiences... they help me reflect
ommi Zenfold: a message from my personal universe, which i am permitted time to consider Fef :)
Mickorod Renard: someone would have to throw a bicket of water over me to make me break off from what i am usually engrossed in
Mickorod Renard: bucket
ommi Zenfold: you must be very focused Mick
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, so you could visualize the pauses as a bucket of water Mick! :)
ommi Zenfold: eek lol
Mickorod Renard: he he ..if only
Eliza Madrigal: or a cool splash from the fountain
ommi Zenfold: much gentler :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Mickorod Renard: I very rarely manage to take the 9 secs
Fefonz Quan: and then you have 15 minutes to dry off before the next one :)
ommi Zenfold: lol
Eliza Madrigal: hehe, yes Fef...or to contemplate the droplets as they fall
ommi Zenfold: suspend time that way - great technique
Fefonz Quan: if you are in front a computer, you can set an alarm clock. i can easily find you a site that does that
Mickorod Renard: but outside my commitments I am truly focussed on what is so nice
Mickorod Renard: clouds, rain,,characters
Eliza Madrigal: MM
Fefonz Quan: like '&' :p
Mickorod Renard: yea,,,cigars
Mickorod Renard: chocolate

Spontaneous stopping in daily life

ommi Zenfold: one good time is when you start the car - let it run a few second to warm up
Eliza Madrigal: Last night the theater was incredibly crowded and the lines very long. At one point I contemplated the spaces between the people crammed together.
ommi Zenfold: lol
Eliza Madrigal: This opened everything up
ommi Zenfold: awesome
Fefonz Quan: nice one eliza. i also find lines are great opportunities to contemplate
Eliza Madrigal: yes, I have been known to be tad claustrophobic in those situations but I found myself smiling
Mickorod Renard: lines make me angry
Eliza Madrigal: Yes to lines Fef!
Fefonz Quan: that's why Mick
Mickorod Renard: yea,,its you Fef who are the angry one ,,he he
ommi Zenfold: play can overcome anger
Mickorod Renard: but I have my moments of anger too
Eliza Madrigal: I used to deal with it by having an ipod at all times, but that's become a bit of an attention divider lately... feel a desire to really engage with those around these days
ommi Zenfold: as can contemplativeness
Eliza Madrigal: ommi that is a great idea, yes!
Fefonz Quan: they are great examples of how we can't dwell where and when we are and urge for teh future, even when actually we are healthy, safe and even have nothing to do at the moment
ommi Zenfold: yep :)
ommi Zenfold: oh jeez
ommi Zenfold: lol
Eliza Madrigal: The lady in front of me getting drinks was so funny... at one point I thought "Well if I miss things at least I met her"

down down down

ommi Zenfold: how do we turn region restart into play?
sophia Placebo: the sim is going down no?
ommi Zenfold: yes
Eliza Madrigal: Says the region will restart yikes
ommi Zenfold: temporarily
Mickorod Renard: I have become much better,,even about lines,,now I have reconstructed my pschy
Eliza Madrigal: So we come back in a few I suppose
ommi Zenfold: you know what helped me with that mick? i tell myself, posses yourself in patience
ommi Zenfold: and i do it
Eliza Madrigal: Mick, interesting way of saying that... you feel you've 'remapped"?
ommi Zenfold: and it's become a learned skill
Mickorod Renard: I may go out for a tea and cake
Mickorod Renard: but nice seeing u all
Eliza Madrigal: I have a fridge full of chocolate frogs..hehe
ommi Zenfold: nice ot meet you Mick :)
Eliza Madrigal: You too Mick :))
Fefonz Quan: we still have 4 minutes Mick, don't rush :)
Mickorod Renard: yea,,I have def re-mapped
sophia Placebo: nice to meet you mick
Eliza Madrigal: defragmented :)
ommi Zenfold: should we return here?
Eliza Madrigal: I will return :)
Mickorod Renard: Sophia,,you met me months ago
ommi Zenfold: great - how long do the sessions usually run?
sophia Placebo: where mick?
Fefonz Quan: me too, hopefully with the help of the great SL masters
Eliza Madrigal: ommi, the slot is one hour, but sometimes we go longer :)
Mickorod Renard: here and everywhere
ommi Zenfold: great :)
Eliza Madrigal: heh Fef
sophia Placebo: lol
Eliza Madrigal: yes, lindenland willing
Fefonz Quan: about an hour ommi, but it is quite flexible in fact
ommi Zenfold: cool :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
ommi Zenfold: ty Eliza :)
sophia Placebo: im really angery at something and someone is sl
Eliza Madrigal: Does anyone know where we'll go when the site closes down?
ommi Zenfold: aww
Eliza Madrigal: Should we 'flee'?? haha
Fefonz Quan: it's like the SL version of the Flud - we will restart you for maintainance soon :)
sophia Placebo: i wont come back , need some mind clearance
Eliza Madrigal: hahaha
ommi Zenfold: permanently close down?
Mickorod Renard: chill Sophia
Eliza Madrigal: *hugs* Sophia
ommi Zenfold: good luck soph!
ommi Zenfold: it will pass, sooner or later
Fefonz Quan: take care Sophia
Eliza Madrigal: Feel clearer and good to see you :)
sophia Placebo: ll ty ommi
ommi Zenfold: yeah - good luck
Fefonz Quan: one more minute - that's kind of exciting
ommi Zenfold: we could just crash w/thesim lol
Eliza Madrigal hears jaws music
ommi Zenfold: ha ha
ommi Zenfold: ooo the suspense?!
ommi Zenfold: ! i mean
Fefonz Quan: pom pom ommmmm
sophia Placebo: see you :)
Fefonz Quan: yep!
ommi Zenfold: i'm bolting
Eliza Madrigal: Bye for now Sophia :)
ommi Zenfold: bbs
ommi Zenfold: bye!
Fefonz Quan: bye sophia
Fefonz Quan: i am waiting

Act II - Reflections, Music, Romance :) 

Fefonz Quan: did you take the log beforehand Eliza?
Eliza Madrigal: yes Fef :)
Fefonz Quan: cool :) i thought the restart might disable the autologger
Eliza Madrigal: that's what I thought also but seems to be fine
Eliza Madrigal: I noticed last night in the line that I felt comforted by dwelling in the space, while still a little anxious a bit about the time ... the film starting etc
Eliza Madrigal: I would have thought that one would have relieved the other more
ommi Zenfold: hmmmm
Eliza Madrigal: I guess it showed me how many ways we are thinking at any given moment...
Eliza Madrigal: how many layers of thought
ommi Zenfold: yes for sure...
ommi Zenfold: we have so much going on in our lives,
ommi Zenfold: that, coupled with our personality quirks make things interesting
ommi Zenfold: i think that's why these moments of reflection are so important
ommi Zenfold: we need time to process that modern life doesn't really provide for
Fefonz Quan: infact, we might need some time to stop processing and relax
ommi Zenfold: people lose touch with themselves
ommi Zenfold: definitely Fefonz...
Fefonz Quan: we are obsessed with processing
ommi Zenfold: yes, trying to make sense of it all
Fefonz Quan: obsesively processing
ommi Zenfold: but without a sound base, how can you begin to process anything?
Eliza Madrigal: yes, even with much meditation, another layer/aspect often arises like a bowl...maybe clearer and clearer
ommi Zenfold: it's like trying to dance on air
Eliza Madrigal: Fef yes, we love our projects :)
ommi Zenfold: that's a good analogy Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: ommi, or not trying :)
Fefonz Quan: what do you call a sound base Ommi?
Fefonz Quan likes the sound of base in the morning
ommi Zenfold: well, i need to feel centered, which for me is being in touch with what's important in life
Eliza Madrigal: :)
ommi Zenfold: lol
ommi Zenfold: the sound of bass resounds in my house - got a son who plays
ommi Zenfold: sounds wonderful
Eliza Madrigal: Nice ommi :)
ommi Zenfold: big smile :)
Fefonz Quan: ah cool, i am more a guitar guy though
ommi Zenfold: any music is awesome i think
Fefonz Quan: but they fit together
ommi Zenfold: any and all
ommi Zenfold: they do :)
Eliza Madrigal: my daughters are musical also, and I've been trying to find the right instrument for my 10yo son. For a while he wanted to play the sitar! hah..not so easy to pull off. Then it was the banjo. I think piano is the best foundation though...plus helps with the ladies. Hahah
ommi Zenfold: oh i love both those instruments particularly
Eliza Madrigal: Guitars are also helpful with this last thing :)
Eliza Madrigal: hhaha
ommi Zenfold: sure lol
ommi Zenfold: he will find his instrument.. mine went through drums & guitar before he found the base
ommi Zenfold: bass rather
Fefonz Quan: well guitar help with the ladies too, and it's hard to bring your piano to fire parties :)
ommi Zenfold: they have nice portable keyboards now :)
ommi Zenfold: i even got him a big one of those come t think of it
ommi Zenfold: ha
Eliza Madrigal: yes Fef, believe me. As a teen I dated only guitarists for a string of time :)
Fefonz Quan: but where will you find electricity?
ommi Zenfold: his friends use it
ommi Zenfold: oh yeah :))
ommi Zenfold: it was cooks for me lol
ommi Zenfold: and comedians!
Eliza Madrigal: ahha
ommi Zenfold: no matter what i did,
ommi Zenfold: i'd meet a perfect stranger, like him, and he'd be a cook lol
ommi Zenfold: or a comedian
ommi Zenfold: was amazing
Fefonz Quan: yes, i knew i should have started playing when i was younger
ommi Zenfold: i married a cook!
Eliza Madrigal: Oh goodness
ommi Zenfold: not too late fef
ommi Zenfold: nods!
ommi Zenfold: not a bad move lol
Fefonz Quan: well i am ok now, was talking about my young years :)
ommi Zenfold: ok :)
Fefonz Quan: yes, a cook is nice :)
ommi Zenfold: it's great
ommi Zenfold: i thank my lucky stars often
ommi Zenfold: well, i hate to go, but rl is calling
ommi Zenfold: enjoyed meeting you both very much :)
Eliza Madrigal: Wonderful to have someone in the house who loves to cook.
ommi Zenfold: oh yes
Fefonz Quan: great meeting you Ommi, hope to see you here again!
Eliza Madrigal: ommi, yes you too!
ommi Zenfold: definitely :))
ommi Zenfold: love Kira and all it stands for
Eliza Madrigal smiles
ommi Zenfold: so take care and see you again :))
Eliza Madrigal: Bye for now :)
ommi Zenfold: bye bye to both :)
Fefonz Quan: bye Ommi
ommi Zenfold: poof...

Fef and I dig a little into our more specifically Buddhist explorations, and our responses to Play as Being 

Fefonz Quan: i was surprised to note you aer here only from january, i think of you as a veteran :)
Eliza Madrigal: I tend to be 'all in' I think...heh
Fefonz Quan: :)
Eliza Madrigal: PaB and I found one another Valentines Day
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Fefonz Quan: well, we have a thing with holidays today :)
Eliza Madrigal: Sometimes I ask myself if I am too focused here, but honestly I'm 'following' ...
Fefonz Quan: 'following'?
Eliza Madrigal: this is part of several things which opened up at the same time
Eliza Madrigal: all 'saying', if you like, the same thing
Eliza Madrigal: and I feel I've responded moreso than generating
Fefonz Quan: i see, i have similar feeling too
Eliza Madrigal: yes?
Fefonz Quan: (for teh several things )
Eliza Madrigal nods
Fefonz Quan: i do practice buddhism here and there, as some here might know
Eliza Madrigal: It is like a wave one embraces
Fefonz Quan: yes
Fefonz Quan: can you say what other things say similar ideas for you?
Eliza Madrigal: Do you know there is a tibetan lama speaking on wednesdays at buddha center? He's very clear... wonderful personality.
Fefonz Quan: sounds great, at which hour?
Eliza Madrigal: 2PM I believe
Fefonz Quan: sounds intruiging, so i can check it today
Fefonz Quan: do you know his name?
Eliza Madrigal: lodro
Fefonz Quan: ok
Eliza Madrigal: that's his first name...not sure of his last
Fefonz Quan: rinpoche? :)
Eliza Madrigal: Last week he spoke about bliss :)
Fefonz Quan: that's a nice issue. any memorable insights?
Eliza Madrigal: No...Lodro is his SL name... I'm not sure if I kept his other info
Eliza Madrigal: Well, coincidentally (hah)
Eliza Madrigal: he was on the subject of groundlessness/sunyata like we've been...
Fefonz Quan: sunyata - emtinees in regular translatin?
Fefonz Quan: emptiness*
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Eliza Madrigal: so emptiness and bliss
Fefonz Quan: groundlessnes is a nice term
Eliza Madrigal: groundlessness opened this for me... "no place to land"... contemplating 'going' as Stim discussed....
Fefonz Quan: yes, it's opening on one hand, and scary on the other
Eliza Madrigal: I have a little part of his talk that I liked his phrasing in, talking about experiencing directly ... the in betweenness
Eliza Madrigal: "if we see only the betweenness if we have a direct experience of the relationships the connectedness, then I see others first and then – second – myself -my self and that is why bodhicitta, is so centrral to the mahayana notion of enlightenment bodhicitta means: the mind of knowledge, of intelligence, of enlightenment often, it is translated with “the mind of compassion”
Fefonz Quan: hmmm, interesting and nicely phrased
Fefonz Quan: one of the things i learned here is the value of words, and the limitation of them too
Eliza Madrigal: Realizing that this is a different mind, is fascinating too... Stim talks about our not expecting to reform "samsara mind"
Eliza Madrigal: yes, this is true Fef
Eliza Madrigal: Lately I find myself unable to express anything in a few lines. Some are very good at that
Fefonz Quan is good at expressing simple things in a few lines ;-)
Eliza Madrigal: and at cutting through things with humor also :)
Fefonz Quan: makes things lighter sometimes
Eliza Madrigal nods..yes

Lightness of Being

Fefonz Quan: just had an interesting observation: 'light' as not heavy is the same word as 'light', seeing and illuminating
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Fefonz Quan: like hinting that when we let the weight get over us, it is harder to see the light, the true nature of things
Fefonz Quan: ty
Eliza Madrigal: interesting way of phrasing that Fef, the weight
Eliza Madrigal: yes, we set our heart on the wrong thing maybe...
Fefonz Quan: (maybe load was better english?)
Eliza Madrigal: and 'try' to lift the weights ourselves when that can't be done
Fefonz Quan: or even seeing them as weight, as burden
Eliza Madrigal: they can fall away but the more we try the heavier they seem
Eliza Madrigal: Ah, yes!
Eliza Madrigal: Hm.... I wonder about certain things still and try to trust that it will all unwravel 'in due time'
Fefonz Quan: yep, i know that one
Eliza Madrigal: sometimes I see myself reaching to 'work on it' even though that never helped before :)
Eliza Madrigal: and especially I wonder "Well everything is so clear, but that one thing right over...there....
Eliza Madrigal: heheh
Fefonz Quan: yes, only that :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Oh! And I did the walking excercize the other day. Great!
Fefonz Quan: yup!
Eliza Madrigal: Such a different world
Fefonz Quan wonders about it. sometimes 'working' or putting 'right effort' (buddhist term) has also some value
Fefonz Quan: (sorry, go on)
Eliza Madrigal: No... what you're saying is what I wonder too, because there is a kind of engagement necessary
Fefonz Quan: can you say more?
Eliza Madrigal: It takes real, heart felt intention to practice mindfulness and to meditate... to continually be 'in a place' (spiritually?) where compassion can flourish.
Eliza Madrigal: so that's a kind of intensity?
Fefonz Quan: it does, sometimes
Fefonz Quan: i can say for myself, that in'formal' meditation, where i sit on a cushion, mostly in a group, most of the effort is getting there physically, but than the sitting itself is many time quite effortless
Fefonz Quan: (surely not always, there are a lot of issues coming, but the general feeling)
Eliza Madrigal: Hm, yes and knowing that getting there is the whole thing , in a sense, helps?
Fefonz Quan: it does. yes. and surely, i (want to) believe, that mindfulness can pour into our daily lifes more and more, sometimes even without 'intentionally' intending to do it
Fefonz Quan: lives*
Eliza Madrigal: Am thinking that embracing discovery/insight is very passionate, total, yet we also learn to take it lightly....
Eliza Madrigal: to hold both at once
Eliza Madrigal: or not hold, as it were
Eliza Madrigal: emptiness and bliss ? :)
Fefonz Quan: discovery/insight is indeed very passionate. but - and i can also say that from personal experience - holding to it to much, and urging to get back that feeling, can be very frustrating, hence quite a drawback
Eliza Madrigal: YES! I picture the cartoon skunk a little... trying to hold onto the cat
Fefonz Quan: right! then it becomes another (very nice) candy
Fefonz Quan: .
Fefonz Quan: it's a subtle balance, and i do consider it one of the toughest obstacles in the way
Fefonz Quan: at least for me.
Eliza Madrigal nods... walking the line... playing
Eliza Madrigal: yes, I'm there with you in this :)
Eliza Madrigal notes that she stumbled to the computer this morning and is now wide awake
Eliza Madrigal: Thank you :)
Fefonz Quan: that would count for a small awakaning then :)
Fefonz Quan: kening...
Eliza Madrigal: hehe yes the beginning of the day's awakenings perhaps
Fefonz Quan: you are hopelessly optimistic! good for you :)
Eliza Madrigal: sigh, mostly yes :)
Fefonz Quan: thanks for teh card, i will enjoy reading it
Eliza Madrigal: You're welcome. I wasn't sure if I'd made a card or saved to the computer...
Eliza Madrigal: so glad I had it.
Eliza Madrigal: Time to 'go' I think now :)
Fefonz Quan: yes, for me too.
Eliza Madrigal: Perhaps see you later Fef :) Bye for now.
Fefonz Quan: thanks for the insightful talk!
Fefonz Quan: _/!\_
Eliza Madrigal: Yes you too!
Eliza Madrigal: Namaste