2011.03.18 06:00 - Magic of Time Session: Identification

Present at this week's Magic of Time session were Sunshine, Pema, Bruce, Maxine, Zen, Darren, Adams, Riddle, and Eliza, who posted this session with few comments.

Bruce Mowbray: Good morning, Pema.
Pema Pera: hi everybody!
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, Sun!
Sunshine Vayandar: Hi Pema, hi all still rezzing
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Bruce ;)
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, Eliza.
Riddle Sideways: Hi Maxine, Pema, Sun, Eliza
Maxine Walden: hi, Pema, Sun
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, Maxine.
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Riddle, Maxine, Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Hi everyone... connection a bit shaky this morning...
Sunshine Vayandar: yes taking long to see
Sunshine Vayandar: well looking from down under
Maxine Walden: :)
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Maxine Walden: imagine 'down under' could also be 'from the inside out...'
Sunshine Vayandar: ;))
Riddle Sideways: connection is ok, typist is shakey today
Bruce Mowbray thinks that if he lived "down under," he'd be holding on tight to keep from falling off.
Eliza Madrigal: Still not feeling well, Riddle?
Riddle Sideways: green beer is scary
Eliza Madrigal: ah... =p~
Maxine Walden: :) lots feels shakey for me today...maybe for the world today...
Sunshine Vayandar: yes I am holding on with one hand 24/7
Sunshine Vayandar: good workout ;p
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Eliza Madrigal: hopefully not with green beer in the other Sun ;-)
Sunshine Vayandar: I can try
Sunshine Vayandar: ( not sure what that is hmm ;)
Riddle Sideways: do you really fall off if you let go?
Sunshine Vayandar: I never tried Riddle
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, Adams.
Sunshine Vayandar: hehe
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Adams ;)
Riddle Sideways: Hi Adams
Pema Pera: hi Adams!
Maxine Walden: lovely reports...
Maxine Walden: hi, Adams
Adams Rubble: Hello Everyone
Adams Rubble slipped in a late one without the words I could not find

Pema Pera: Good to see you all -- and great to read the eight reports on

http://wiki.playasbeing.org/index.php?title=PaB_Books/Magic_of_Time/Time_Sessions/Weekly_Reports/2011%2F%2F03%2F%2F18:_Reports

Pema Pera: thank you all for your thoughtful contributions
Pema Pera: hi Darren!
Pema Pera: Would anybody like to comment on the reports and/or the last part of chapter 11 ?

Pema Pera: http://wiki.playasbeing.org/PaB_Books/Magic_of_Time/11._Space

Sunshine Vayandar: hi Darren ;)
Riddle Sideways: comments like the Space chapter takes up the biggest
Eliza Madrigal: Wonderful photo Adams...
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, Darren.
Darren Islar: hi everyone :)
Adams Rubble: Helo Darren
Eliza Madrigal: apologies...brb
Riddle Sideways: Hi Darren
Adams Rubble: :) Riddle Space takes up the most space
Riddle Sideways: by definition
Pema Pera: yes, great space picture, Adams!
Pema Pera: (just noticed the last two entries of the last hour :-)
Bruce Mowbray: ?me ponders "Martial law" -- "To use a dramatic picture, we can view our mind as a state struggling for survival. Its citizens, its thoughts and emotions, are so unruly that the state sees no other recourse than to try to hold them in check through some form of martial law, called education."
Pema Pera: I guess current events were on my mind . . . .
Bruce Mowbray: Our minds can be brutal -- as can global news media.
Bruce Mowbray: Focusing. . . .
Riddle Sideways: called many names
Eliza Madrigal: (back, reading)
Pema Pera: the good news is that all it takes is to relax -- relax the grip of the suppression that we do to ourselves
Pema Pera: :-)

Maxine Walden: trying to fold in the freedom from identification with the monumental events in the world of the last week or so...as if my previous 'identities' seem so 'blown away', or rather miniscule

Pema Pera: yes . . .
Eliza Madrigal: mmm, nods Maxine
Pema Pera: and Bruce's photograph, wow, . . .
Darren Islar: yes Max
Pema Pera: talking about suppression in identification
Riddle Sideways: not a bad thing Maxine

--BELL--

Maxine Walden: agree, Riddle
Adams Rubble: Yes, Bruce's photo is most unsettling
Bruce Mowbray: To have an opinion about anything - and to cherish that opinion - inevitably makes one's world smaller.
Darren Islar: (there is a ceased fire in Libya now)
Pema Pera: but no matter how strong the suppression/oppression may be felt, as Eliza wrote, all it takes is to notice one's crinkled eyebrows, and to release that defensive energy.
Bruce Mowbray loved the image of "crinkled eyebrows."
Maxine Walden: to cherish, perhaps to idolize one's own opinions as the Truth?
Sunshine Vayandar: ;) so true Eliza
Maxine Walden: yes, Eliza, wonderful image
Riddle Sideways: yes, crinkled eyebrows
Eliza Madrigal: seems such a little thing but almost any time I look, they are like that :)
Pema Pera: :-)
Bruce Mowbray: By squinting our eyes, we proclaim martial law on our world. . .
Eliza Madrigal: someone wrote that we think of ourselves as going from crisis to crisis but really life is little things and in times of crisis those matter even more
Maxine Walden: look after the little things with care and the big things take care of themselves...?
Eliza Madrigal: small courtesies.. standing politely in line ...
Riddle Sideways: however, focusing on the little think will miss the big picture
Bruce Mowbray agrees with Eliza - - the dignity and civility of Japanese culture is a wonderful teaching for the whole world.
Eliza Madrigal: well, obsessing on the little things may be different ...

Maxine Walden: thinking of Pema's report about those enduring without being swept away (without identifying with the tsunami)
Eliza Madrigal nods
Pema Pera: yes, to have a twenty mile zone of populated area evacuated without looting -- not many countries would display that
Maxine Walden: agree!
Eliza Madrigal: when big things go wrong, the tiniest things seem to matter so much... at least to me... an orderly room, warm shower...
Eliza Madrigal: smile and wave
Riddle Sideways: a thank you
Riddle Sideways: saying a thank you
Eliza Madrigal: yes, thank you :)
Sunshine Vayandar: ;) true

Bruce Mowbray: I saw a few people bow to the man holding the geiger counter - just before their radiation reading was taken.
Eliza Madrigal: that's a wow ... would be so easy to be scrambling... even if it made no sense
Pema Pera: Maxine wrote about "belonging too" -- do you think it would be possible to take the ultimate refuge of belonging to Being, perhaps starting with belonging to Space; or does that sound way too abstract?
Riddle Sideways: no. not to abstract

Bruce Mowbray: "It seems that the source of the tension which makes me grasp lies in my privileging love from the group rather than that more quiet internal link with belonging to, being a part of the universe. Basic here, it feels at the moment is Trust."

Pema Pera: _/!\_
Pema Pera: and then the question arises: what is this "internal"?
Pema Pera: could it be beyond internal/external duality?
Pema Pera: as the next step?
Pema Pera: external trust -> internal trust -> trusting Being?
Maxine Walden: Trust = trust in Being?
Riddle Sideways: the small difference of adding a capital letter
Bruce Mowbray: When we allow Being and Space to see us, do Being and Space "focus" -- or do they see the whole?
Darren Islar: but what does that mean?
Riddle Sideways: both bruce

--BELL--

Riddle Sideways: idk darren
Maxine Walden: Maybe not so much what does anything we are saying 'mean' as much as what is evoked for each of us by our offerings?

Pema Pera: the only seeing we are familiar with is subject seeing object located outside subject -- but we can never be outside Space or Being . . .

Pema Pera: BUT we are familiar with letting ourselves be seen
Pema Pera: perhaps an easier place to start
Darren Islar: can you say more Pema?
Pema Pera: and then, yes, see what is being evoked
Pema Pera: I can say a lot, Darren :-) but I'd love to hear your responses
Riddle Sideways: :)
Darren Islar ponders about 'letting ourselves be seen',
Pema Pera: in order to see, we need to focus, typically -- but letting ourselves be seen is an easier invitation to defocus, perhaps
Pema Pera: (you see, I said more :-)
Darren Islar: heheh :)
Darren Islar: defocusing seems to be a kind of relaxation in which focus can take place...... hmmmmm ?
Pema Pera: (by the way, did anybody claim the session log -- and if not, would somebody like to volunteer?)
Darren Islar: Eliza did
Pema Pera: thank you, Eliza!!
Bruce Mowbray: de-focusing - relaxing - allowing ourselves to soften.
Pema Pera: in martial arts, as Riddle can tell us, defocusing is central
Pema Pera: not blurring of course
Pema Pera: opening, spreading
Pema Pera: how would you describe it, Riddle?
Pema Pera: hi Zen!
Riddle Sideways: softening to allow light on feet
Darren Islar: hi Zen
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Zen ;)
Darren Islar: :)
Zen Arado: Hi all
Riddle Sideways: not "caught up" in
Adams Rubble: Hello Zen
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, Zen.
Pema Pera: ready for anything
Sunshine Vayandar: light on feet?
Riddle Sideways: hi zen

Maxine Walden: Pema, with deep sadness I am wondering how you are handling the likely worries and concerns about friends, family, colleagues in Japan? That could be a monumental worry...but you are likely softening into it
Darren Islar: I think being kind, acceptence is part of being able to relax
Darren Islar nods at Max, had about the same thought

Pema Pera: first, accepting the situation, then, allowing myself to really feel it and noticing tendencies to deny/close off/ look away, then looking for ways to help/support
Pema Pera: in that order
Darren Islar: but I dont' think softening is taking away, it is making it easier for us to see more clearly
Pema Pera: "put on your own oxygen mask first, then help your neighbors"
Maxine Walden: yes...:)
Darren Islar: what we see can still be hard
Riddle Sideways: yes, both
Pema Pera: the order is important -- reverse order can easily do more damage

Maxine Walden: yes, accepting such a monumental occurrence in itself can be like a tsunami...a nearly unbearable 'reality'

Zen Arado: that came up in our WoK meeting last night re forgiveness
Zen Arado: some want to change the world first
Maxine Walden: and allowing oneself to feel it without being similarly swept away....
Zen Arado: but we have to start with ourselves
Bruce Mowbray: WoK will have "acceptance" as its next topic, btw.
Sunshine Vayandar: yes Zen
Zen Arado: and there's a lot of work there for me :)
Pema Pera: :-)
Darren Islar: (has everyone been found Pema, your family and friends)
Pema Pera: (nobody I know has been in real trouble, Darren, thank you!)

Adams Rubble: Nisargadatta thinks the only thing the world needs "saving from" is me
Darren Islar: (good to hear)
Pema Pera: nice, Adams!
Eliza Madrigal: :) Adams
Zen Arado: yes :)
Riddle Sideways: yes, adams

--BELL--

Darren Islar: :) Adams
Pema Pera: forgiveness also takes on a completely different flavor without a "me"
Darren Islar: yes
Riddle Sideways: so does acceptance
Zen Arado: no me to forgive?
Eliza Madrigal: what and who is to forgive :)
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Eliza Madrigal: so then just personal responsibility... acceptance
Eliza Madrigal: ?
Darren Islar: to look upon yourself as you look upon others.......
Pema Pera: ultimately not even personal . ..

Zen Arado: just forgiveness itself?
Pema Pera: yes, beyond self and other
Eliza Madrigal: just acceptance... ah

Darren Islar: with first trying to do so, it shows you how you really think about 'me'
Eliza Madrigal: yes... every single time I look at those eye brows they are crinkled, figuring something out :)
Darren Islar: most of the time that is not a pretty picture :)
Pema Pera: so the best thing is to drop the picture
Pema Pera: rather than trying to analyze it
Zen Arado: as long as they don't fall off :)
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Eliza Madrigal smiles...like mrs potato head...
Darren Islar: I should say becoming aware of the picture is the first step
Maxine Walden: :)
Pema Pera: yes, accepting the picture, but not dwelling on it
Darren Islar: awareness being something different then analyzing it

Riddle Sideways: have noticed in this chat the intense and relaxing of focus "waves"
Pema Pera contemplating crinkled potatoes . . . .
Eliza Madrigal gets hungry...
Darren Islar: :) Pema
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Darren Islar: yes riddle

Maxine Walden: ...feeling the wave of love and acceptance amongst us
Pema Pera: yes
Eliza Madrigal: :) Maxine

Darren Islar: I do feel the current events are changing me
Riddle Sideways: in a good way
Darren Islar: yes
Darren Islar: you can't bypass acceptance, thought I need to see I am pretty angry too, about the lack of intervention the world show on Libya
Pema Pera: and Ivory Coast and many other terrible places -- we tend to single out Libya because we get more news from there . . .
Sunshine Vayandar: yes
Darren Islar: I know
Pema Pera: it's closer to Europe, the people are basically white . . .
Riddle Sideways: yes, no news from Darfur
Darren Islar: but I think it's a good thing that through Libya we become more aware of that kind of suffering
Pema Pera: no oil there
Bruce Mowbray: The news is an extension of our eyes and ears -- "focusing"
Darren Islar: true Riddle
Pema Pera: yes, it is a reminder
Zen Arado: or Zimbabwe
Sunshine Vayandar: there is a lot going on in Africa - very hectic things
Sunshine Vayandar: hug continent
Darren Islar: yes
Sunshine Vayandar: huge
Bruce Mowbray: I need to go -- am responsible for a meditation group in 4 minutes -- THANKS, everyone.
Darren Islar: hi Lucy
Sunshine Vayandar: or hug
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Darren Islar: by Bruce
Bruce Mowbray: May we all enjoy a happy and safe weekend.
Sunshine Vayandar: byebyee Bruce
Maxine Walden: :) Sun
Riddle Sideways: Hi lucy.
Adams Rubble: bye bruce
Zen Arado: bye Bruce
Maxine Walden: bye Bruce
Pema Pera: bye Bruce, hi Lucinda!
Zen Arado: Hi Luci
Adams Rubble: I must go too
Darren Islar: bye Adams
Adams Rubble: Hi Lucy
Sunshine Vayandar: take care Adams ;)
Lucinda Lavender: Hi:) BrB...
Maxine Walden: bye Adams
Riddle Sideways: I need go too. Drive to Berkeley
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Luci ;)
Maxine Walden: bye Riddle
Sunshine Vayandar: byebyee Riddle
Darren Islar stands up too :)
Riddle Sideways: thanks all
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Bruce Adams, Riddle, Leap ... Hi Luci
Riddle Sideways: keep un-focusing
Maxine Walden: bye Darren
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Darren Islar: see you :)
Sunshine Vayandar: bye Leap ;)
Pema Pera: Hi Yaku!
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Ya
Pema Pera: I'll have to go too.
Zen Arado: bye all who are going
Pema Pera: thank you so much for a wonderful session
Zen Arado: Hi Yaku
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Pema, thank you
Sunshine Vayandar: ty so much Pema , take care ;)
Zen Arado: thanks Pema
Pema Pera: bfn
Maxine Walden: I'll have to go as well. But, first, is this Friday 7am now a dream circle or sorts, or did I misread?
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Maxine :)) thanks for your rather constant softness... good example :)
Eliza Madrigal: Oh, no Maxine...
Eliza Madrigal: we'll still do that on Wed. Today at 8AM is a prim workshop
Sunshine Vayandar: take care Maxine ;)
Eliza Madrigal: but Luci's new session is this time
Maxine Walden: ah, did misread. thanks....

--BELL--

Maxine Walden: OK, bye for now
Eliza Madrigal: bye for now
Yakuzza Lethecus: bze max, all leavers