2010.12.09 07:00 - A shameless gimic

The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.

Storm was a little poorly and arrived 15 minutes late for the session. A visitor was patiently standing by the noticebaord and Yakuzza arrived shortly afterward.

Self Wonder: hello
Storm Nordwind: Hi guys

What happens at Play as Being sessions?

Self Wonder: is there a session today?
Storm Nordwind: There are four. This is one. I got here a little late, sorry!
Self Wonder: I haven't been to a whole session yet
Self Wonder: could you give me an idea how they are structured?
Storm Nordwind: Ah. But you have been to a few?
Self Wonder: yes I have been to two
Storm Nordwind: The structure is very loose.
Self Wonder: I have gathered that
Storm Nordwind: There is someone who hosts the session
Storm Nordwind: Usually they arrive on the hour! (oops)
Self Wonder: so anything goes as far as topics?
Storm Nordwind: Yes and no
Storm Nordwind: There is an overall point behind the sessions
Storm Nordwind: Or several
Storm Nordwind: As it's not really just a chat shop
Storm Nordwind: Though it may sometimes seem like that! ;)
Self Wonder: Yakuzza gave me a notecard
Self Wonder: but it does seem like mostly chat
Storm Nordwind: Yes it can
Storm Nordwind: And everything that's said is recorded and published. I assume you've been asked whether it's OK to publish your presence and your words?
Self Wonder: yes
Yakuzza Lethecus: it can be good to be focused on our theme sessions, those at least aren´t chat, i am habitually in the circle and am hoping for something interesting comming up myself
Storm Nordwind: This place would not exist without the original Play as Being practice
Yakuzza Lethecus: still i don´t raise the bar and also don´t consider myself as very experienced in any contemplative tradition
Storm Nordwind: Yak is very modest :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: i am basicly here to have exposure of ppl whom seem to have seen a few more glimses
Self Wonder: I would agree with Yakuzza
Yakuzza Lethecus: well, i have my voice session but that is also in the lack of a specific subject when i do it
Storm Nordwind: We do try and reference Play as Being practices and methods in what we say here
Storm Nordwind: But much of it can be the effects and personal insights we've had
Storm Nordwind: On the other hand, we're not rigid
Self Wonder: would that be something similar to mindfullness?
Storm Nordwind: They can be related, sure
Storm Nordwind: The core technique is based on dropping what you have to try see what you are.
Yakuzza Lethecus: sometimes i can also come out of my defense and when something comes up that occupies my mind for a while
Storm Nordwind: And the practice is not necessarily constant but rather a 1% "time tax" of 9 seconds every 15 minutes
Self Wonder: interesting
Yakuzza Lethecus: actually it´s a good subject ur bringing here self, the ,,chit chat" vs real practice is an issue
Storm Nordwind: On the other hand, the 1% is a shameless gimic and there's nothing to stop people doing it constantly!
Self Wonder: lots of chit chat in sl
Storm Nordwind: Yes

The visitor's quest.

Storm Nordwind: What is your particular interest Self?
Self Wonder: hard to find quality conversation
Self Wonder: my interests are in self and flourishing as human being
Yakuzza Lethecus: brb
Storm Nordwind: Is this a quest you have pursued for long?
Self Wonder: since being born
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: And what brings you to SL to continue it? :)
Self Wonder: continue in many areas
Self Wonder: sl being one of those
Storm Nordwind notes that while in these sessions we extend the 9 second practice to 90 seconds
Self Wonder: sorry didn't mean to type through the break
Storm Nordwind: No problem at all!
Self Wonder: not sure how to use the 90 seconds
Storm Nordwind: First of all you perhaps need a little more familiarty with the core PaB techniques
Storm Nordwind: It's very practical - much more so than theoretical
Storm Nordwind: That's very much encouraged

The variety of groups in Second Life.

Storm Nordwind: There are many worthwhile groups in SL if you like the exchange of ideas. Have you found that?
Storm Nordwind waves to Arch
Self Wonder: I have stumbled on some but am open to suggestions
Archmage Atlantis: hiya Self, hiya Storm
Self Wonder: hello Archmage
Archmage Atlantis: Arch is fine, and shorter
Self Wonder: have you all found interesting groups?
Archmage Atlantis: Yes
Archmage Atlantis: By looking at the groups of ppl I thought well of
Storm Nordwind: Philosophy groups are often many people's first stop. If they are contemplatives they find Buddhist groups too. And some find this place
Storm Nordwind: I do not feel a need to search the way others do. I realize that can seem shockingly arrogant! ;)
Archmage Atlantis: Not all groups work out....but some are quite good
Self Wonder: perhaps I should explore more
Self Wonder: haven't had that much time
Archmage Atlantis: In my cosmology, Storm is a builder......I am a
Archmage Atlantis: Hummm
Archmage Atlantis: never thought of that
Archmage Atlantis: One mo
Storm Nordwind: It depends what you are interested in. If you like talk, if you like meditation, if you like practice... different groups often for these things
Archmage Atlantis: I am a gatherer

Play as Being sessions just keep on going!

Storm Nordwind: There are people here with all those backgrounds but somehow a bunch still keep coming here too!
Storm Nordwind: And these meetings have been going on, every six hours, for two and a half years, so there must be something that keeps them coming! ;-)
Self Wonder: that's amazing
Self Wonder: have you been involved since then?
Storm Nordwind: personally, yes. From day 1
Self Wonder: and you are still active?
Storm Nordwind: In the core practice? Sure.

What does success look like?

Archmage Atlantis: He is a founder
Archmage Atlantis: He and Pema
Storm Nordwind: Pema Pera is THE founder. I just lend a hand where I can! :)
Archmage Atlantis: Nice humility
Self Wonder: very successful venture then
Archmage Atlantis: Pema could not do it without you
Storm Nordwind: It depends how you measure success.
Self Wonder: I suppose it does
Self Wonder: do you consider it a success?
Self Wonder: how would you define it's success?
Storm Nordwind: It seems to have helped many people. Fascinatated a whole bunch more. Helped others on their quest. And continues to. So those may be some measures
--BELL--
Self Wonder: enjoyed our conversation
Self Wonder: perhaps I will see you again
Storm Nordwind: Venture well. And return whenever you feel. :)
Self Wonder: have a wonderful day
Storm Nordwind waves

And a chat between friends, firslt about PaB origins...

Archmage Atlantis: A gogal, im top Self
Archmage Atlantis: hey busy Yaku
Storm Nordwind: How are you both, dear friends?
Storm Nordwind notices the busy tag above Yaku
Archmage Atlantis: I am good....trying to see the universe, tho not through the eyes of an astrophysic
Storm Nordwind chuckles
Storm Nordwind: You were very kind with your earlier comments, Arch, but if I had not been here, Pema would have found someone else. The reverse is hardly true though!
Archmage Atlantis: I read that 3x and I still do not understand "Pema would have found someone else"
Storm Nordwind: (However, Second Life has brought me much... PaB and a new wife!)
Storm Nordwind: I met Pema in the second half of March 2008, just before he started PaB.
Storm Nordwind: He had a project and I started it - with several others - on day 1.
Storm Nordwind: I'm one of the few that continues
Archmage Atlantis: I am not blind
Archmage Atlantis: I have seen you both here
Storm Nordwind: But as a builder I have helped a few things. But it could have been someone else surely?
Archmage Atlantis: and the elements that are recorded in the universities and the web
Storm Nordwind: Couldn't any builder with an interest in PaB have done when we expanded?
Archmage Atlantis: No
Storm Nordwind listens
Archmage Atlantis: That is a true no
Archmage Atlantis: I really do dislike snow, however
Storm Nordwind: Oh dear. I didn't know that!
Yakuzza Lethecus: we have lots of snow

Then Yakuzza wakes up, and we talk about significant relationships...

Archmage Atlantis: I came to this place through employing ThreeDees firm
Yakuzza Lethecus: wife ? you married already ?
Yakuzza Lethecus: hi arch :)
Archmage Atlantis: I am gay........3 major relationships......19 yr, 14 yr, and 2 (difficult) year
Storm Nordwind: Yes Yak. We met in SL, I emigrated two and a half years later and married the next day! :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: i knew the emigration part, not the marridge part until now :)
Yakuzza Lethecus: nice :)
Storm Nordwind: This is not my first marriage either Arch, but by far the best... so I can be optimistic for other people! :)
Storm Nordwind: Yes, Yak, in August 2009
Yakuzza Lethecus: well, my father is also happier in his second marriage
Yakuzza Lethecus: ah, error, not married ,,yet"
--BELL--
Yakuzza Lethecus: but he´s around ur age 57
Archmage Atlantis: There is another who comes here that has spent 40 years alone
Storm Nordwind thinks wryly of his first, sometimes long, but less than successful first three marriages :)
Archmage Atlantis: Are you still friends with the other women?
Storm Nordwind: I haven't seen one for 35 years. The other two I am not enemies of, but we feel no need to communicate.
Archmage Atlantis: I guess that is the difference then.....my former partners are now my best friends
Storm Nordwind: That is very good!!
Yakuzza Lethecus: well, i wonder about the differences, especially since there are ,,usually" no children in gay marriages
Storm Nordwind: And, coincidentally, most of my best friends in RL are LGBT.
Yakuzza Lethecus: and ,,i could imagine" that both partners are usually indipendent in gay marriages
Archmage Atlantis: That is an excellent point Yaku
Storm Nordwind: Not true in my step-daughter's case
Archmage Atlantis: Children change everything
Yakuzza Lethecus: my father divorced from my mother after 30 years of marriage, 3 children and she never learned a professional job, he was bancrupt so she´s kind of on her own
Yakuzza Lethecus: she has 2 jobs now...
Archmage Atlantis: If they did not divorce, would they be better off?
Storm Nordwind: Society has not yet caught up with these things and doesn't yet know how best to care for such people
Yakuzza Lethecus: definetivly not
Yakuzza Lethecus: it´s better for both
Yakuzza Lethecus: still, he was always working, she had that stereotypical family
Archmage Atlantis: Yet it hurts you
Yakuzza Lethecus: my younger sister is 8 years behind me, so the rasing period is still extended until now
Yakuzza Lethecus: she´s still living with my mother
Archmage Atlantis: You have expectations
Archmage Atlantis: Wishes that cannot be fulfilled
Yakuzza Lethecus: she does not even want to have a new husband
Yakuzza Lethecus: i am alienated from both
Yakuzza Lethecus: still i love em and i know that they love me and all of their children
Archmage Atlantis: My second partner lost his kidneys at 16, was on dialysis....
Yakuzza Lethecus: still there is some alienation,
Archmage Atlantis: His parents fought in court over who had to "take" him
Storm Nordwind: Oh?
Archmage Atlantis: yes
Storm Nordwind: Sounds upsetting. What happened?
Archmage Atlantis: Life happens, men get to run, women raise kids........and sometimes things go fubar
Storm Nordwind: Sometimes it works out in reverse. But that does seem to be the majority case, yes
--BELL--
Storm Nordwind: Sometimes the women run. Sometimes the kids are grown. Sometimes all ends happily for them. There is much pain when people have expectations. There is much pain when people are not completely open and honest in their marriage

Time to go.

Archmage Atlantis: Namaste, Blessings, and all other ......Ty for the talk.
Storm Nordwind: Bye for now Arch
Yakuzza Lethecus: bye arch
Yakuzza Lethecus: take care storm