2011.05.07 19:00 - Easy Enough

The Guardian for this meeting was Pema Pera. The comments are by Pema Pera.

Hokon Cazalet: hi pema & machete
Machete Cardalines: hi Hokon ^^
Hokon Cazalet: Weeee! ^.^
Pema Pera: hi Hokon!
Hokon Cazalet: =)
Pema Pera: and hi Machete!
Machete Cardalines: howdy Pema :)
Pema Pera: Machete, have you been here before?
Machete Cardalines: no, first time, saw it come up on search and it sounded interesting, is there a discussion about to start?
Pema Pera: yes, this is one of the four times a day that we gather here
Pema Pera: very informal
Pema Pera: please join us!
Machete Cardalines: thank you :) what's the discussion about?
Pema Pera: we get together a few times a day to chat about the nature of reality, and everything else, and we have a wiki http://wiki.playasbeing.org/ -- We record our conversations there. Do you mind being included in our blogs?
Pema Pera: hi Paradise!
Machete Cardalines: don't mind at all :)
Pema Pera: the wiki is quite large, but here is a link that is more like an introduction: http://wiki.playasbeing.org/About_PlayAsBeing/Basic_Ideas
Paradise Tennant: smiles hello Pema , Hokon , Machete :)
Pema Pera: thanks!

Mischievously, I sprung the question on the other two guardians present. :-)

Pema Pera: Well, Hokon and Paradise, would you like to tell Machete what we normally talk about here? :-)
Hokon Cazalet: sorry, my pc was lagging up
Pema Pera: wb, Hokon! Machete asked us what we talk about, she is here for the first time
Hokon Cazalet: seems to be a wide variety of topics, not sure how to explain it
Hokon Cazalet: oh cool =)
Paradise Tennant: mostly life the experience .. what it consists of . .the nature of awareness :) and everything under the sun :) and moon
Hokon Cazalet: yup
Pema Pera: :-)
Machete Cardalines: nice!
Pema Pera: we all have very different backgrounds, but what connects us is that we like to pause regularly to look around and see what life is bringing us, rather than just rushing ahead
Pema Pera: so here in SL we pause for 90 seconds, every fifteen minutes
Pema Pera: (when the pond gets fuzzy, and the bell rings)
Machete Cardalines: the mental pond?
Pema Pera: no, the pond in front of you :)
Pema Pera: but you can let your mind grow more still too
Pema Pera: (or fuzzy, as the case may be :-)
Paradise Tennant: smiles a visual clue to center :) and take a few seconds to enjoy stillness;)
Machete Cardalines: I like that idea :)
Pema Pera: and in RL we play with "stopping" for 9 seconds, every fifteen minutes, whenever we have time and feel like doing so
Pema Pera: doesn't take much time, and can make a big difference in life
Machete Cardalines: sort of like mini meditations?
Pema Pera: yes
Paradise Tennant: smiles yes
Pema Pera: micro mediations even :)
Pema Pera: hi Susan!
iwandertoo Resident: waves :)
Hokon Cazalet: hi susan =)
Pema Pera: Meet Machete, who is joining us for the first time
Paradise Tennant: smiles hiya susan :)
iwandertoo Resident: welcome, Machete
Machete Cardalines: thank you Susan :)
Pema Pera: we're just talking about stopping for a few seconds to smell the roses -- as the basis for Play as Being
iwandertoo Resident: yes...sounds very much what Play as Being is about
iwandertoo Resident: (for me)

I had to laugh about Machete's sense of humor in her reply; she did seem to fit right in. :-)

Machete Cardalines: many times I'm too tired from daily life to smell the roses, sometimes it seems that when I stop it seems like stopping to smell the dirty socks before moving onto something else!
--BELL--
Pema Pera: (^_^)
Pema Pera: Susan, if I may ask, do you sometimes get around to take 9-seconds (or so) breaks, in RL?
iwandertoo Resident: not consistently
Pema Pera: that's fine!
iwandertoo Resident: but there are random moments when i catch myself
iwandertoo Resident: and do the 9 seconds...
iwandertoo Resident: (i bought a watch to ding every 15 minutes but somehow have it set for every 5 mins..)
Pema Pera: wow, turbo Play as Being :-)
Pema Pera: when I'm away from my computer, I also do it at random times
Hokon Cazalet: hehe
Machete Cardalines: what does one think about during these 9 second or so moments?
iwandertoo Resident: broader question...yes, i am stopping to smell the roses and take a non-judgmental self-temperature :) which has been very healthy for me
iwandertoo Resident: i tend to over think everything, machete. a microscope of sorts - the 9 seconds brings me to a "let it be" state
iwandertoo Resident: breathe, embrace, be
Machete Cardalines: I overthink things too, and many times in tiems of stress and fatigue probably not as objectively as could be done, 9 seconds of a let it be state sound refreshing :)
Hokon Cazalet: rb potty
Hokon Cazalet: brb
iwandertoo Resident: machete, yes i think so.
Machete Cardalines: how do you keep your mind during those 9 second breaks from wandering into negative or draining thoughts?
Machete Cardalines: like worry, stress and such
Paradise Tennant: smiles at machete .. started by just exhaling a breath just feeling the air go out slowly that can take 20 seconds just an emptying
iwandertoo Resident: 9 seconds for me = 3 deep breaths. following my breathing if fully consuming in those 9 seconds...if there is stress or anxiety or negativity it doesnt appear to be part of those breaths
iwandertoo Resident: nods to Paradise

Machete's response provided the title for this session:

Machete Cardalines: that sounds easy enough, even I could probably manage that even if tired and cranky :)
iwandertoo Resident: :)
iwandertoo Resident: Pema, how did you come upon this...
iwandertoo Resident: the effectiveness of it?
Pema Pera: well, it was a long and winding road . . . .
iwandertoo Resident: 7 words or less....
Pema Pera: after having explored many different kinds of meditation practice
--BELL--
Hokon Cazalet: back
Pema Pera: I just found that stopping briefly was the most effective way to integrate meditation and daily life (sorry, more than 7 words :-)
iwandertoo Resident: wb
Hokon Cazalet: ty =)
Pema Pera: hi Arch!
iwandertoo Resident: :)
iwandertoo Resident: waves
Pema Pera: and it's so much more fun to share with others :-)
Archmage Atlantis: Is the exercise to express oneself in 7 words at this session?
iwandertoo Resident: (thank you for sharing it)
Pema Pera: yw :)
Paradise Tennant: smiles at arch
Paradise Tennant: It could be a challenge of sorts :))
Machete Cardalines: 1 glad 2 to 3 have 4 found 5 this 6 group 7 today :)
Hokon Cazalet: =)
Pema Pera: :>)
iwandertoo Resident: rock on, Machete!
Archmage Atlantis: *sorta grin*
Machete Cardalines: thank you thank you xD hehe
Pema Pera: you can find us here every day, at 1 and 7 am and at 1 and 7 pm SLT
Machete Cardalines: landmarking the place right now :)
Pema Pera: what other activities do you enjoy most in SL, Machete?
Archmage Atlantis: Ah, Machete.....did not realize you
Archmage Atlantis: Welcom

Machete told us about her interest in SL

Machete Cardalines: I like exploring some of the more other wordly sims, the sims that are so pretty or unique that you probably couldn't see something like them in RL :) I love seeing the wonderful creations people make in SL
Machete Cardalines: thanks Arch :)
Hokon Cazalet: i love that stuff alot also machete =)
Machete Cardalines: :)
iwandertoo Resident: :)
Archmage Atlantis: I love some sims more.....Hirkari, Perfect Paradise, Hirkaru......and PaB, tho the name is not so prosaic
Machete Cardalines: don't think I've heard of PaB, what is that one about?
Pema Pera: short for "Play as Being", the name of our group
Archmage Atlantis: Um, thanks Pem
Machete Cardalines: *facepalm* oh yes! hehe
Pema Pera: :)
Machete Cardalines: also some of the meditation groups in SL are very nice, though I frequently find myself multitasking during the meditations which sort of defeats the purpose! xD
Hokon Cazalet: hehe
Hokon Cazalet: that has happened to me also =P
Machete Cardalines: sometimes I find myself checking my facebook in the middle of a meditation...doh!
Pema Pera: :-)
Archmage Atlantis: It takes a while to accept meditation.....action is a much an element of life
Hokon Cazalet: yup

Susan (iwandertoo) came up with a great idea:

iwandertoo Resident: if you stop and think about the person, what they have meant to you, abstract from there some benevolence...then perhaps the facebooking moment becomes a meditation (stretching here)
Pema Pera: how nice, Susan!
Hokon Cazalet: i like that idea, even if it is a strech =)
Archmage Atlantis: I see that Susan
Pema Pera: integration is more of a challenge even then meditation, and that's a nice suggestion
--BELL--
Archmage Atlantis: A backdoor to meditation
Machete Cardalines: the only time I've been able to quiet my mind quiet enough to be comfortable with meditation was about 5 years ago, ever since my mind is so filled with daily worries and distractions that it's hard to do... Susan I love your facebook meditation technique, very 21st century! xD
Archmage Atlantis: A larger part of the structure of this group's meeting is is the silent meditation at regular small intervals
Archmage Atlantis: An even larger part is that that structure allows for all to find it's flow
Machete Cardalines: I like that, seems like practicing the mini meditation times, before going off and continuing to do the meditations when not in SL
Archmage Atlantis: That there is no right or wrong to meditation
Archmage Atlantis: I like it also

and I threw in another idea:

Pema Pera: I sometimes use a really simple method to remind myself to pause for a few seconds and be still, when I'm out and about, walking through town
Pema Pera: I start with a bunch of small coins in my left pocket
Pema Pera: and each time I pause I put one over in my right pocket
Pema Pera: and then in the end I can check whether I was really mindful enough to pause a number of times
Pema Pera: besides, the transfer of the coin is a kind of ritual in itself, a gesture to the universe
Pema Pera: kind of a thank-you note for being here
Paradise Tennant: beautiful pema :)
Machete Cardalines: yes, beautiful :)
iwandertoo Resident: ....thank you for sharing that Pema
Machete Cardalines: have you found your psyche to change somewhat over the years by this practice?
Pema Pera: oh yes
Pema Pera: but other things happened too :-)
Pema Pera: so hard to know what causes what (^_^)
Machete Cardalines: hehe, true! :) but even with the other things that happened, do you think you could attribute any major changes to this practice?
Pema Pera: yes, I think so. integration is really the main thing
Pema Pera: it is so easy to read books, go to meditation retreats, and so on, and then to totally forget it all when in the middle of daily hassle
Pema Pera: so one day I thought: one not put the cart before the horse
Pema Pera: integration before meditation
Archmage Atlantis: feelings before thought
Pema Pera: start with very short breaks, even without knowing what the heck you're doing, just being still, and integrate *that*
Pema Pera: and take it from there
Pema Pera: yes, thoughts are late comers
Pema Pera: and I think it has helped me in many ways
iwandertoo Resident: (and many others)
Pema Pera: one being that it led me to start this group, and somehow this technique seems to have attracted an amazingly gentle and open bunch of people :-)
Hokon Cazalet: =)
Archmage Atlantis: Hey....I am one bad ass....
Machete Cardalines: I'd definitely agree with that from this sample! ^^
iwandertoo Resident: :)
Pema Pera: :-)
--BELL--

after the first hour, time for me to move on

Pema Pera: I have to get going -- lunch time here in Kyoto. Thank you all for a great conversation!
Paradise Tennant: smiles enjoy your lunch pema namaste :)
Machete Cardalines: thank you Pema :)
Archmage Atlantis: No frock tonight, Stevie?
Pema Pera: thanks!
Pema Pera: and hello and goodbye Steve!
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles, never a frock
Paradise Tennant: hiya stev :) gtsy :)
Archmage Atlantis: The moving finger writes, and having writ moves one
stevenaia Michinaga: waves
iwandertoo Resident: :) waves
Machete Cardalines: hiya :)
Archmage Atlantis: Well, I have to find a line dance at a country joint, so ......blessings and namaste
stevenaia Michinaga: interesting topic this evening?
iwandertoo Resident: :)
iwandertoo Resident: waves
stevenaia Michinaga: enjoy Arch
Machete Cardalines: waves :)
stevenaia Michinaga: ??
stevenaia Michinaga: busy night?
Machete Cardalines: we talked a bit about PaB's 90sec meditation technique
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Paradise Tennant: namaste arch
Machete Cardalines: hokon, is does your avie have a bit of a scifi twist? the boots look so fun with the rotating bits :)
Hokon Cazalet: hehe =)
Hokon Cazalet: yup, suppossed to be a post-apocolyptic future hehe
Hokon Cazalet: rocket boots!
Machete Cardalines: rocket boots, an upside of a post apocalyptic future...hihi :)
stevenaia Michinaga: is there a post-apocolyptic future
Hokon Cazalet: hehe =)
Machete Cardalines: good point Stevenaia!
Machete Cardalines: xD
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Hokon Cazalet: hehe nope, cuz the future isnt here yet :Þ
Machete Cardalines: hehe
stevenaia Michinaga: or is there a post-apocolypse anything
Machete Cardalines: well, there would be a post-apocalyptic future, but it probably wouldn't include humans!
Hokon Cazalet: dunno, the threat of nuclear war is gone since the 1980s, so
Hokon Cazalet: lol probably machete
Hokon Cazalet: bugs take over =)
Machete Cardalines: pesky cockroaches....
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Druth
iwandertoo Resident: waves
Hokon Cazalet: hiya druth
Paradise Tennant: hiys druth :)
druth Vlodovic: hi :)
Machete Cardalines: hiya druth
iwandertoo Resident: nite all
iwandertoo Resident: best to everyone
Paradise Tennant: nite nite susan :)
Paradise Tennant: sweet dreams
stevenaia Michinaga: night susan
druth Vlodovic: 'night sue
Machete Cardalines: night susan, have a great night
iwandertoo Resident: :)
Hokon Cazalet: ug im trying to post a link, but my web browser froze
Machete Cardalines: pesky computers...also another cause of a postapocalyptic future xD
Hokon Cazalet: lol
Hokon Cazalet: http://amorphia-apparel.com/design/roach/
Machete Cardalines: that's both gross and hilarious xD
Hokon Cazalet: hehe =)
--BELL--
stevenaia Michinaga: was looking all over for that very thing
Hokon Cazalet: =)
Machete Cardalines: brb, laundry load change time!
Machete Cardalines: pesky laundry, roaches don't need to do laundry and that's why they'll outlive us....grumbles...
Hokon Cazalet: hehe
druth Vlodovic: the real appocalypse is we all lose the will to live right in the middle of chores
Hokon Cazalet: aw
Paradise Tennant: hmm housework can be a meditation :)
Hokon Cazalet: hehe thats what my mom does with the dishes, i cant copy it though =P
Paradise Tennant: viewed in the right light
Paradise Tennant: plus you get a nice clean room
Hokon Cazalet: =)
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, really, just about anything can
Paradise Tennant: smiles well getting heavy eyes so think I will say good nite :) thank you for company and the conversation :))
stevenaia Michinaga: night PAradsie
Hokon Cazalet: byebye paradise =)
druth Vlodovic: 'night para
Paradise Tennant: nite nite druth ..hokon stev . machete :) sweet dreams all :)
Machete Cardalines: night night paradise :)
Machete Cardalines: oh she's gone already, doh!
stevenaia Michinaga: time to prepare for motther's day.... doo they have that holiday in canada or Mexico?
Machete Cardalines: Mother's day in Mexico is always on May 10th
Hokon Cazalet: thats interesting
Hokon Cazalet wonders why . . .
Machete Cardalines: so I got a few extra days to prepare since I'm such a procrastinator! xD
Hokon Cazalet: lol
stevenaia Michinaga: lol
Hokon Cazalet: me too :Þ
stevenaia Michinaga: night all
Hokon Cazalet: although its not my fault this time! i only got my car yesterday hehe
Hokon Cazalet: byebye stevenaia
Machete Cardalines: bye Stevenaia :)
druth Vlodovic: :) the late great machete
--BELL--
Machete Cardalines: again? doh!
Machete Cardalines: haha
Machete Cardalines: hey Druth, were you at the drum circle earlier, think I remember seeing you there :)
druth Vlodovic: I was for a bit
druth Vlodovic: somehow I didn't recognize your name but I remember seeing your av before
druth Vlodovic: do they do it often?
Machete Cardalines: was my first time there tonight, usually had been there when Isis Pleides does guided meditations
Machete Cardalines: love her voice, it's so relaxing
Machete Cardalines: and I can always use something relaxing to listen to! xD
druth Vlodovic: why, are you pretty high strung?
Machete Cardalines: not so much high strung, more like sleep deprived from crazy work hour shifts
Hokon Cazalet: eek
Hokon Cazalet: i know what that's like =(
druth Vlodovic: I know the feeling :)
druth Vlodovic: ah, we have the makings of a mutual sympathetic society here :)
Machete Cardalines: hehe, yes we do :)
Machete Cardalines: I am very impressed by the feel of this place, my first time at play as being, and very empathetic and nice people it seems just form this small sample
Machete Cardalines: hard to find
Hokon Cazalet: yup i agree
Hokon Cazalet: i keep being drawn back here =)
druth Vlodovic: it has unique qualities
Machete Cardalines: I keep being drawn here for the single time I've been here, no wait, is that possible? hehe xD
Hokon Cazalet: hehe
Machete Cardalines: I forgot his name, but the avie that led the discussion earlier, did he found this place?
Hokon Cazalet: you'll starve to death here cuz you cant even go afk for a few minutes :Þ
druth Vlodovic: Pema, yes,
Machete Cardalines: I could do some starving to get my hot summer bikini bod xD maybe I need to come here often!
Hokon Cazalet: lol
Machete Cardalines: it's great Pema made this place, very nice of him
druth Vlodovic: the secret is to never look in a mirror and just ask your bf if you look all right
Hokon Cazalet: hehe
Hokon Cazalet: yup i agree machete
Machete Cardalines: bf's know what to say to preserve the peace at home xD...."do I look fat?" hehe
Hokon Cazalet: lol
druth Vlodovic: there is truth to be found everywhere if you know how to listen ;->
Machete Cardalines: I think I'm a little hard of hearing! maybe that's why I'm so stressed so often XD
Hokon Cazalet: awww hehe
Machete Cardalines: all those years of loud music.....dang consequences....
Hokon Cazalet: lol
Machete Cardalines: I need post apocalyptic roach ear implants...ewwww minus the roach...never mind...
--BELL--
druth Vlodovic: soft hearing
Hokon Cazalet: lol
Machete Cardalines: I need one of those bells at home!
druth Vlodovic: I have to sleep, but I think I'll head to your gallery first
druth Vlodovic: 'night guys
Machete Cardalines: gallery?
Machete Cardalines: night druth :)
druth Vlodovic: you havew it listed in your profile
Hokon Cazalet: byeee
druth Vlodovic: XIV
Machete Cardalines: oh yes, XIV is gorgeous!
druth Vlodovic: have fun :)
Machete Cardalines: sweet dreams druth