2011.04.16 13:00 - Theme Session on Original Face group

The Guardian for this meeting was Calvino Rabeni. The comments are by Calvino Rabeni.  Aphrodite Macbain usually hosts this time slot.  Today we had a special Theme Session to introduce the idea for a new PlayAsBeing / Kira sub-group called Original Face. 

A brief description of the group:

Original Face is a gathering of people who are interested in contemplative and awareness-based practices, to meet, share experiences, and learn from each other.  We take personal experience and our daily life as the field of our practice as well as the focus for our conversations.

More information can be found at the following links:

Original Face (group description) and Questions

Agatha Macbeth: hi guys
Bruce Mowbray: Hi, aggers.
Darren Islar: hi Aggers
Darren Islar: you seem to do better lately, after your difficult experiences
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, thank you - and thank God too
Agatha Macbeth: It was not a nice winter
Darren Islar: Cal, I don't get the menu
Agatha Macbeth: Just thought I'd come and find out more about this new group of yours :)
Bruce Mowbray: You need to right click the little circle, Darren.
Calvino Rabeni: Darren, zoom in closer, click on the circle thingie
Darren Islar: I did
Calvino Rabeni: Dreamcatcher it is called
Darren Islar: I did too :)
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Aph
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Aph.
Aphrodite Macbain: hello everyone
Darren Islar: nope
Bruce Mowbray: Right-click the circle, then touch.
Calvino Rabeni: that works I think
Darren Islar: yes
Darren Islar: thanks
Darren Islar: and now I can't put it down ??
Agatha Macbeth: :p
Darren Islar: pfiew
Bruce Mowbray: to put it down, just click the handle.
Bruce Mowbray: good!
Darren Islar: I know, didn't get a hand, dont' know what happened
Bruce Mowbray: practice makes perfect.
Calvino Rabeni: Or perhaps debugging :)
Bruce Mowbray: I've had the same problem, Darren. . .
Darren Islar: well, I thought I was practiced :)
Bruce Mowbray: but it seems to be working now.
Calvino Rabeni: It might be due to the foundain
Calvino Rabeni: try it now :)
Calvino Rabeni: Aphro has the touch :)
Darren Islar: hi Aph
Agatha Macbeth: She sure does
Darren Islar: hehe
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi
Calvino Rabeni: Aph, shall I claim this log today, or would you like to do that?
Aphrodite Macbain: no, it would make more sense for you to CAl
Calvino Rabeni: Thanks for the note, Darren
Darren Islar: and now it goes ver well..... how odd
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Sun!
Agatha Macbeth: Never saw a stick talking
Sunshine Vayandar: hi there Cal, Darren ;) Aga
Darren Islar: hey Sun
--BELL--

Sunshine Vayandar: hi Eliza ;)
Agatha Macbeth: ty Daz
Darren Islar: hey Eliza
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Sun
Sunshine Vayandar: and Bruce ;)
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Eliza!
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Cal, Sun, Agatha, Darren, Aph, Bruce
Eliza Madrigal: ty Darren
Sunshine Vayandar: ty Darren ;)
Darren Islar: yw :)
Agatha Macbeth: Hiya Liz :))
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Aph ;)
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi
Darren Islar: wish the recorder would record the birds :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Sunshine Vayandar: ;))
Agatha Macbeth: mmm, yes
Bruce Mowbray: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: spring sounds
Darren Islar: hmmmm
Agatha Macbeth: Yay
Bruce Mowbray: Hey, Pila!
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Pila :)
Darren Islar: hi Pila
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Pila ;)
Agatha Macbeth: Aloha Pila
Pila Mulligan: greetings
Aphrodite Macbain: aloha Pila
Darren Islar: good to see you again
Eliza Madrigal: felicitations
Pila Mulligan: ooops
Pila Mulligan: pardon me APh
Aphrodite Macbain: np
Agatha Macbeth: :)
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Calvino Rabeni: So shall we start ? :)
Bruce Mowbray: fine with moi.
Aphrodite Macbain: sure
Calvino Rabeni: Today we're having a theme session to talk about a group that we'd like to add to the other group opportunities around PlayAsBeing and Kira, which include the two dream groups, and the Ways of Knowing group.
Calvino Rabeni: This group is called "Original Face", which is taken from a Zen teaching story. It means something like, to hold the question open, but really look to discover, who one really at a more basic level than self-concepts and ideas and conditioned habits. Perhaps it's like asking - "Who is the 'I' who is the one that says 'This is Me'?"
Calvino Rabeni: We're going to wait a few more minutes and then start with a short 5-minute meditation. If you see anyone arrive during the meditation we ask that you wait until we're done before saying hello. One of us will greet them and tell them what's happening today.
Calvino Rabeni: We can time the meditation to end after the PaB bell
Darren Islar nods
Bruce Mowbray: understood.
Aphrodite Macbain: all makes good sense
Agatha Macbeth: Yep
Sunshine Vayandar: yes ;)
Calvino Rabeni: So, starting ... five minutes :)
--BELL--

Calvino Rabeni: Thanks! Now we're going to talk a little about the group we want to establish, and then open up for questions or discussions or whatever anyone wants to talk about.
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: kk
Sunshine Vayandar: ok ;)
Darren Islar: thanks Cal
Darren Islar: Before we do that we would like you to tell something about the group, and show you one of the tools we would like to use and that's the Talking Stick.
Darren Islar: you see the Talking Stick in the middle of the fountain, we already played with it, so is Sun doing now :)
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Darren Islar: but first about the group
Darren Islar: To give you an idea about what we have in mind: We see Original Face as a gathering of people all interested in contemplative practices, based on awareness
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Stevie ;)
stevenaia Michinaga: (( greetings ))
Darren Islar: hey Steve
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Steve
Eliza Madrigal: ((greetings Steve))
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles to all
Pila Mulligan: hi Steve
Aphrodite Macbain: stevenaia!
Darren Islar: We would like to meet once a week, share experiences, and learn from each other
Darren Islar: Our daily personal experiences are the main part of our practice as well as the focus for our conversations
Darren Islar: We use the word practice here, because our tools we like to use are closer to practice then to just having a conversation
Darren Islar: The experiences we have and the awareness we can develop are more important then talking about trying to label them and putting them into boxes and concepts
Darren Islar: The group is about creating space, about openness
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Calvino Rabeni: We'd like to get a feeling of more depth and continuity, like an ongoing version of the online retreats we've been having at PlayAsBeing.
Darren Islar: okay the Talking Stick :)
Darren Islar: The way we would like to share our experiences, is better understood we think, by showing you. So we put our Talking Stick (TS) we are going to use in the group, in the middle
Darren Islar: That TS is giving someone the opportunity to speak, much like as in the dream circle. It's scripted, you can pick it up, put it down, or pass it on to someone else. /To show you I will pick it up for you
Darren Islar: hey QT
Qt Core: Hi all
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Qt :)
Agatha Macbeth: Buona sera Qt
Sunshine Vayandar: hi Qt ;)
Aphrodite Macbain: salve qt
Darren Islar: If you look closer you can now see my name on the stick, so everybody can see who's talking
Agatha Macbeth looks
Darren Islar: :)
Alfred Kelberry: hi :)
Darren Islar: The stick is there to give people the opportunity to speak their mind without getting interrupted. /Of course you don't need to
Darren Islar: hey Boxy
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Boxy :)
Sunshine Vayandar: meep!
Alfred Kelberry: oh, emerald aga :)
Aphrodite Macbain: hiya boxy
Agatha Macbeth: Boxy :)
Darren Islar: if you get the stick, you can speak or pass it on
Agatha Macbeth: Meep Meep ;P :p:P :p :P
Darren Islar: sometimes we will be circling, everybody allowing to speak, sometimes everybody can pick up the stick
Darren Islar: At the same time the stick is there to help us listen to each other
Darren Islar: Instead of following our own thoughts and starting to type already, before somebody has really spoken
Darren Islar: And here we find an important part of practicing, since listening and having patience with each other, is great practice
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Darren Islar: Okay, we'll show you how it works and what we have in mind
Aphrodite Macbain: wonderful
Alfred Kelberry: instruction pointer
Darren Islar: All three of us will use the stick,Cal, Bruce and me
Darren Islar: I will pick it up first and when done, pass it on to Bruce, who will pass it on to Cal
Darren Islar: If he's done, he will put down the stick
Darren Islar: All three of us will try to shed some light on a specific basic idea on which we like to build this group on
Darren Islar: We all three will do that in our own words, trying to connect with our experiences at the same time
Darren Islar: Of course this time we prepared it bit, but it's to give you an idea
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Darren Islar: This connecting with our own experiences, we also consider to be great practice. /Instead of only putting out our thoughts, we also try to connect with other parts in ourselves, getting a more open and bigger picture
Darren Islar: After this we will open the floor for any questions you might have.
Darren Islar: I will put down the stick and pick it up again, you see green lines appear
Darren Islar: now I can (finally) speek :)
Darren Islar: Okay, I will start to say something about procedures and how I feel about that.
Darren Islar: We just said something about using the talking stick and we are using it right now
Darren Islar: Our group will be grounded in using these kind of procedures, the talking stick going around the circle, meditation, a check-in and other techniques
Darren Islar: These kind of techniques and procedures give us a structure, where we can build upon
Darren Islar: The procedures we like to use will slow down the thinking process, thus creating more space, for instance for feelings we might experience, or even becoming more aware of others in the process
Darren Islar: And to me that is the most important thing, not the topic we talk about, but the processes we see ourselves in and the processes we create during the time in the group
Darren Islar: By slowing down and listening to each other, we might become more aware of all kinds of processes that are taking place, normally often taking place on unconscious levels
--BELL--

Darren Islar: But everybody can feel when people are really connecting in a group. Then we are able to see better what is happening and how one feeling or thought flows into another, and maybe even allowing us to touche deeper levels and insights while we carry on.
Darren Islar: (bell :))
Alfred Kelberry: *reads*
Darren Islar: I will now pass on the stick to Bruce (normally I dont need to say that)
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks, Darren.
Bruce Mowbray: The group will focus on individual practice and experience, what we call the I-Approach.
Bruce Mowbray: We'll encourage everyone to use "I-Statements" as much as possible, and thus to honor YOUR experience, YOUR practice, and YOUR feelings about your practice.
Alfred Kelberry: :)
Bruce Mowbray: This is why we are here - to explore our personal experience through contemplation - not to theorize/philosophize or to criticize/judge/advise each other.
Bruce Mowbray: If you feel you could benefit from advice in some aspect of your practice, then use an I-statement to ask the group for that.
Bruce Mowbray: Exercise your own responsibility and judgment when the advice you've asked for is offered. In short: experience your own body, feelings, and Being - and share with us from there.
Calvino Rabeni: The I-statements can be more personal than I'm used to :)
Calvino Rabeni: One difference is that the group's dialogue is private and confidential, rather than recorded like the open sessions. We will do a little more meditation than in the regular groups, and encourage personal reflection more than discussion. Another purpose of the group is to support people in their own daily practices, whatever those are. I think we can all learn from sharing our personal experiences.
Calvino Rabeni: We won't much talk about topics in the usual way (that is, "in general"). The real subject of the group is the lives and experiences of those in the group. Occasionally we might talk about practice and listening, because these are so basic.
Calvino Rabeni: A session starts with a short meditation, then we have a "check-in" which is a way for each person to tell the group about his or her recent experience. After that we have an open period in which anyone can decide to speak and present something to the group. We will use the Talking Stick to give the speaker our full attention.
Alfred Kelberry: *notices that the logger is on*
Darren Islar: :)
Calvino Rabeni: yes it is, for the theme session, but in a meeting of the group there won't be one
Alfred Kelberry: ah, ok
Calvino Rabeni: We are going to do an example check-in now. The check-in often starts with a theme or question that is designed to get people thinking more deeply about their experiences.
Calvino Rabeni: Today's check-in looks like this:

What am I feeling right now? What do I bring to the group today, and what do I want to leave outside?

Calvino Rabeni: :)  Well, .. my cell phone was ringing, I didn't answer, I guess I'm feeling an effort of giving my atention in one place :)
Calvino Rabeni: but I'm excited to be here
Calvino Rabeni: in the back of my mind there's an awareness of lots of situations with my other relations
Calvino Rabeni: how much I'm connected in that place
Calvino Rabeni: I would like to be able to set some of that concern aside, knowing I'll get back to it
Calvino Rabeni: to have a good focus where I am :)
Calvino Rabeni: I feel a lot of joy of Darren and Bruce helping and working together .. I like working with people creatively
Calvino Rabeni: (end)
Darren Islar: back to real typing :)
Darren Islar: thanks Cal
Darren Islar: physically I really feel awful, too tired, a pacing heart of stress-hormones
Darren Islar: mentally though I seem to do okay
Agatha Macbeth knows the feeling
Darren Islar: and I feel happy to be here talking about this new group, because I really believe in it
Darren Islar: and I feel very confident about it
Darren Islar: So I feel my focus is already here
Darren Islar: and a soft attention
Agatha Macbeth ponders 'soft attention' :)
Darren Islar: would like to leave my headache outside though :)
Calvino Rabeni smiles
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks, Darren and Cal.
Bruce Mowbray would like to remind fols that this is a demonstration of how the Talking Stick is used. . .
Alfred Kelberry: *clicks*
Bruce Mowbray: and also that this is a "Check-In."
Agatha Macbeth: Maybe we should try one at the Guardian Meetings...
Bruce Mowbray: I had a wonderful meeting in a town 22 miles away this morning -- focusing on gay rights -- and our rural environment.
Alfred Kelberry: yes, can be useful
Bruce Mowbray: I feel wonderful about the support of that meeting.
Bruce Mowbray: So, it sort of set me up for the whole day.
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Bruce Mowbray: I am now choosing to focus here and now -- and although I feel very good about that meeeting...
--BELL--

Bruce Mowbray: to bring my focus here.
Bruce Mowbray: To expand it through ...
Bruce Mowbray: (Bell).
Bruce Mowbray: I am anxious to hear more from others about this group.
Bruce Mowbray: So, I will simply say that I am honored to be part of Original Face...
Bruce Mowbray: and feel that it can do much to give my practice the structure that I feel it needs.
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Darren Islar: :)
Calvino Rabeni: One other thing I want to say
Calvino Rabeni: abut the talking stick
Calvino Rabeni: it's a focus tool
Calvino Rabeni: and I know it's also natural to want to respond while people are talking
Calvino Rabeni: and it can be good for the speaker to hear noises of listening
Calvino Rabeni: I think it's good to keep it simple though
Calvino Rabeni: like words of agreement and hearing
Calvino Rabeni: rather than new ideas or things that might hijack the attention
Calvino Rabeni: I think it is nice to say things like
Calvino Rabeni: :)
Calvino Rabeni: or
Calvino Rabeni smiles
Calvino Rabeni: or
Calvino Rabeni: yes :)
Sunshine Vayandar: ;)
Darren Islar smiles
Aphrodite Macbain smiles
Calvino Rabeni: but if it were more than that while I had the stick,i think I'd get a little distracted
Calvino Rabeni: anyway I like it not to feel rigid :)
Calvino Rabeni: thanks Bruce and Darren
Eliza Madrigal: @@
Sunshine Vayandar: ;) Liz
Darren Islar nods
Darren Islar: okay this is what we like to talk to you about
Darren Islar: I realize there is not much time left, but we are of course open to questions
Darren Islar: If you want to hear more about the ideas for this group, see the group description on the web page at http://wiki.playasbeing.org/Guardian_Pages/Guardians%27_Contributions/Calvino/Groups/Original_Face/Description or talk to Liza, Calvino, or Bruce
Darren Islar: so please go ahead :)

Pila Mulligan: thanks for organizing this theme session Bruce, Darren and Cal-- a first impression: the image turning under the meditation notice over the fountain at the start of the session was full of meaning to me, from Hawaiian symbolism and mythology and my experience ... rather than try to explain it now here's a link to a song about what I associate it with -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvtrp3y9K6s -- the music conveys my feeling about the image better than I could by writing about it
Darren Islar: thx
Bruce Mowbray listens for questions and/or comments about Original Face.
Calvino Rabeni: TY Pila, I will look that up
Aphrodite Macbain: when will the first meeting begin?
Darren Islar: good question :)
Bruce Mowbray: April 25th -- at 11 a.m. slt.
Darren Islar: we thought of Mondays, ....
Darren Islar: thanks :)
Bruce Mowbray: a Monday.
Darren Islar: at Cal's place
Eliza Madrigal: It has been interesting to see this idea and the tools involved, as they've developed over time, just want to applaud your thoughtful efforts.
Eliza Madrigal: thanks
Bruce Mowbray says "sorry - - - didn't realize we're using the Talking Stick.
Darren Islar: thx Eliza
stevenaia Michinaga: when is the groups meeting time
Darren Islar: 11:00 am slt
Aphrodite Macbain: What's Cal's address?
Bruce Mowbray: The talking stick is for our Original Face meetings -- and we just wanted to demonstrate its use here...
Darren Islar: it's nice it's already picked up :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Oh - it was fun!
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Darren Islar: :)
Calvino Rabeni smiles
Calvino Rabeni: I'll put it away for now :)
Darren Islar: it's Cal's place in the village
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Aphrodite Macbain: Cal- what's your address?
Aphrodite Macbain: coordinates?
Sunshine Vayandar: Ty for thinking of setting up such a group - looking forward to picking up the stick once the group starts ;)
Darren Islar: :)
Calvino Rabeni: Oh I don't know - coordinates in the village? Hold on
Aphrodite Macbain: never mind. I'll find it
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Calvino Rabeni: (166, 136, 103)
Darren Islar: it's next to mine, if you now where that is :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks!
Darren Islar: )know
Sunshine Vayandar: So it is a group for everyone in SL right - not just pablings?
Eliza Madrigal: Will you revisit the time of meeting occasionally, depending on number of participants, etc?
Calvino Rabeni: Yes ..
Sunshine Vayandar: ok
Calvino Rabeni: and maybe to bring Australia time zones in if there's interest from that part of the world
Bruce Mowbray: Of course, we can also TP you there if you come on-line at 11 a.m. slt Monday, April 25th.
Sunshine Vayandar: it's a great time for me so I will be able to come
Calvino Rabeni: Yes, it's challengeing to work out times, for such a world wide group :)
Agatha Macbeth: Ain't it just?
Sunshine Vayandar: Africa is grateful ;)
Darren Islar: :)
--BELL--

Darren Islar: so is Europe :)
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Eliza Madrigal is always in the car at that time but looks forward to seeing this evolve :) summer months may be different, so how often wil you allow people to join?
Aphrodite Macbain: Will this discussion be logged?
Darren Islar: this theme-session yes, the meetings no
Aphrodite Macbain: kk
Calvino Rabeni: I claimed the log .. it's yours though if you want it back, Aphro
Darren Islar: good question Eliza
Darren Islar: I think we need to see how it evolves
Eliza Madrigal: ok, ty
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks but no thanks Cal!
Darren Islar: we like the group to be more or less stabel
Sunshine Vayandar: Anyone can "drop in" Cal - or we let you know if we want to participate?
Calvino Rabeni: :)
Darren Islar: that doesn't mean that new participants can't come in
Bruce Mowbray: Yes, aggres with Darren -- the group itself will probably decide membership issues later.
Calvino Rabeni: We hope for some continuity like a retreat, a bit
Sunshine Vayandar: ok
Eliza Madrigal: then you can write a book 'how to be stable in SL' :)
Calvino Rabeni: hehe
Sunshine Vayandar: ;))
Darren Islar: hehe
Calvino Rabeni: finding a balance there can be a trick ..
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Calvino Rabeni: (if it's indeed possible :) )
Darren Islar: but we like to lean on confidentiallity and processes that might occur
Calvino Rabeni: We hope people will talk to one of us and read the web pages before dropping in
Calvino Rabeni: http://wiki.playasbeing.org/Guardian_Pages/Guardians%27_Contributions/Calvino/Groups/Original_Face/Description
Calvino Rabeni: so they have a feel for what it is about
Darren Islar: using I-statements makes it more personal
stevenaia Michinaga: will you continue to use the PaB wiki or create your own?
Bruce Mowbray wonders whether "balance" is over-rated.
Calvino Rabeni: Well it's been suggested
Aphrodite Macbain: How will the container be maintained for new people arriving?
Calvino Rabeni: to have a separate wiki, after the group is established
Calvino Rabeni: like WOK has its own wiki
Darren Islar: what do you mean Aph?
Aphrodite Macbain: the forms like the talking stick, the process - will new people be told?
Darren Islar: sure, as Cal said, we hope people will first contact us
Darren Islar: if not, we need to see how to solve the situation at the moment
Darren Islar: probably one of us is picking it up with the newcomer
Aphrodite Macbain: kk and if they just turn up you will give them the notecards?
Darren Islar: ah, good one
Calvino Rabeni: Not sure, what do you think Darren
Darren Islar: we like to start at a certain time and close
Calvino Rabeni: in The Shift, the group had a protective bubble
Qt Core: (silently slips away, bye all)
Agatha Macbeth: Ciao Qt
Calvino Rabeni: making it harder to drop in after it gets initiated each time
Darren Islar: it's hard to let people in during the meeting
Calvino Rabeni: TC Qt
Darren Islar: yes
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye! qt
Darren Islar: we might use the bubble
Darren Islar: bye t :)
Sunshine Vayandar: byebye Qt
Bruce Mowbray: bye, Qt -- thanks for coming today.
Darren Islar: we like to meet for 90 minutes
Darren Islar: and during that time we tink it would be disturbing if people just drop in
Aphrodite Macbain: so, showing up on time is very important - something we all should remember
Darren Islar: yes
Calvino Rabeni: :)
Darren Islar: also because we probably will start of with a meditation
Aphrodite Macbain nods
Calvino Rabeni: the meditation helps let go of the day's previous feelings, to be present .. I like it .
Calvino Rabeni: maybe I'm lazy :) like to have simpler thoughts :)
Darren Islar: hehe
Aphrodite Macbain: simple is good
Eliza Madrigal: I need to be going, thanks Bruce, Cal, Darren :)) bye for now everyone
Darren Islar: bye eliza :)
Sunshine Vayandar: byebyee Liz take care ;)
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks for coming, Eliza!
Calvino Rabeni: Thanks Eliza, bye !
Agatha Macbeth: C ya Liz, take care
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye
Aphrodite Macbain: Bye! eliza
stevenaia Michinaga: be Eliza
stevenaia Michinaga: y
stevenaia Michinaga: I must be going too, bye all
Sunshine Vayandar: byebyee Stevie
Darren Islar: bye Steve :)
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Steve!
Agatha Macbeth: Me too, bye for now
Aphrodite Macbain: so, until MOnday 25th at 11AM sharp!!
Darren Islar: bye Aggers :)
Sunshine Vayandar: byebye Aga
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, aggers -- Thanks for coming today.
Aphrodite Macbain: congratulations- a wonderful project
Darren Islar: thx Aph, I'm looking forward to it
Darren Islar: bye
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Aph!
Sunshine Vayandar: TY Bruce, Cal and Darren for this new group ;) wishing that it will be very successfull for all those that take part
Darren Islar: thx Sun :)
Sunshine Vayandar: and we figure out all about our original face ...or at least get closer ...
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks so much, Sun. We offer it to the world. . .
Sunshine Vayandar: ;))
Sunshine Vayandar: ty guys ;) take care and see you soon
Darren Islar: bye sun :)
Bruce Mowbray: Bye, Sun -- Thank you.
Sunshine Vayandar: byebyeee have a fun weekend
--BELL--

Pila Mulligan: I'm curious about how that particular image happened to be chosen for the meditation notice?
Darren Islar looks at Cal ....
Bruce Mowbray: The balancing stones?
Pila Mulligan: yes
Bruce Mowbray listens to Cal.
Calvino Rabeni: I hope Pila there is not some hawaiian meaning that I used disrespectfully :)
Calvino Rabeni: because I chose it only by intuition
Pila Mulligan: not at all
Pila Mulligan: what led you to it?
Calvino Rabeni: not based on knowledge
Pila Mulligan: :)
Calvino Rabeni: I wanted some image for meditation
Calvino Rabeni: so I was google-imaging for ideas
Alfred Kelberry: pila-san :)
Calvino Rabeni: and found some candidates
Calvino Rabeni: liked this one best
Calvino Rabeni: it doesn't look religious, it has some naturalism
Calvino Rabeni: and I like the idea of balance, etc.
Darren Islar nods
Bruce Mowbray: That same image is the one that all of the Buddhist groups in Columbus, Ohio use for their website.
Bruce Mowbray: and for their notecards in RL, also.
Calvino Rabeni: I guess it gets around
Darren Islar: really?
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Darren Islar: :)
Calvino Rabeni: I didn't realize it was from there
Darren Islar: it's great symbolism
Bruce Mowbray: I think the Buddhists borrowed it from elsewhere -- but there are about 20 different group under that same image.
Bruce Mowbray: very nice image, Cal. Clean. Simple. Clear. Direct. and BA:ANCEd.
Darren Islar: yes, it's not a known buddhist symbol, but I can see it used for it
Alfred Kelberry: wait, what image?
Bruce Mowbray: The image of the stones...
Calvino Rabeni: this one Boxy
Alfred Kelberry: ah!
Darren Islar: can you put it up again Cal, eh... I guess yes
Alfred Kelberry: balance
Darren Islar: and flat stoned
Darren Islar: stones
Pila Mulligan: Hawaiians have names for everything ... types of rocks included ... those water eroded and rounded smooth stones are known as pohaku in Hawaii
Bruce Mowbray: ;-)
Alfred Kelberry: pila :)
Pila Mulligan: a Hawaiian elder explained to mem once that pohaku can also mean food from rocks
Pila Mulligan: it is a koan
Pila Mulligan: of sorts, but one that is nice to see
Bruce Mowbray: ahhh..
Bruce Mowbray loves "food from rocks."
Alfred Kelberry: food from rocks?
Pila Mulligan: the erosion of the rock makes soil, the soil mkaes food -- the process from lava to food has pohaku in the middle
Darren Islar: ah... great symbolism
Bruce Mowbray: We also "feed" the rocks, of course.
Alfred Kelberry: that's a long waited dish :)
Pila Mulligan: geologic
Bruce Mowbray: just ask the dinosaures about coal.
Alfred Kelberry: pila, you know about rocks?
Darren Islar: and a flat stone can be also so buddhist, the time that passes to 'create' a stone like this
Darren Islar: by the water
Pila Mulligan: the balanced stacking of stones is known as an ahu -- used often to mark a siginficant place
Pila Mulligan: so you chose an ahu pohaku
Pila Mulligan: and in my expereince that is signficant :)
Darren Islar: did you know that Cal :)
Darren Islar: nice intuition
Darren Islar: lets hope it's a ahu pohaku for the group
Calvino Rabeni: news to me, it is very interesting to know
Darren Islar: to mark a significant 'place'
Darren Islar: in time and space
Darren Islar: to eat from
Bruce Mowbray agrees whole-heartedly with Darren on that.
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks everyone. I'm getting hungry now ;-)
Bruce Mowbray: so will say, May you all be happy and well.
Darren Islar: thanks Bruce, see you :)
Bruce Mowbray: Thanks for this meeting, too.
Calvino Rabeni: Thanks, Bruce, Bye
Darren Islar: or to nurige us
Darren Islar: nutricion
Darren Islar: (have no idea how to write that)
Pila Mulligan: nourish .. nutrition
Pila Mulligan: :)
Darren Islar: thanks :)
--BELL--

Pila Mulligan moves along now also -- thnaks for the session
Darren Islar: bye Pila, thanks too :)
Calvino Rabeni: I must slip out also .. goodbye everyone, thanks
Darren Islar: slipping away too, see you :)
Calvino Rabeni: And for the hawaiian insight, Pila
Alfred Kelberry: ok, bye
Calvino Rabeni: alwayhs good to hear from that part of the world
Calvino Rabeni: BFN
Darren Islar: yes
Darren Islar: we need to make a pile