2011.09.17 01:00 - We are all in basic practices

Wol Euler was guardian for this session.

Wol Euler: good morning, egg
eggsalad Ormstein: wie gehts, Wol?
Wol Euler: gut danke, und selber?
eggsalad Ormstein: gut, danke. How's things?
Wol Euler: stressed at work, but otherwise fine
Wol Euler: I love autumn, it's probably my favourite season
eggsalad Ormstein: well, I'm sorry and glad to hear that :)
Wol Euler: it always feels like the beginning of something
Wol Euler: much more so than New Year's Day
eggsalad Ormstein: interesting. I feel that way about Spring
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: I guess in my case it comes from returning to school/college
eggsalad Ormstein: ah yes, makes sense
Wol Euler: why that shold still be the case 25 years later, is a good question :)
Wol Euler: mental inertia

--BELL--

Wol Euler: how are you, egg?
eggsalad Ormstein: by the time one has been in university 25 years, one ought to have a degree :)
eggsalad Ormstein: oh, I'm fine
Wol Euler: ha!
Wol Euler: good, glad to hear it
eggsalad Ormstein: you remember my friend from whom I was going to buy the land cruiser?
Wol Euler: yes indeed, you were uneasy about the price/value of it
eggsalad Ormstein: yes, he found another buyer. I feel relieved
Wol Euler: good
Wol Euler: saves you having to feel that one of you got a bad deal
eggsalad Ormstein: yes, these things have a way of working themselves out
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: one might call that an application of "wu wei" - do without doing
Wol Euler: how's Vegas this time of year? is it cooling off already?
eggsalad Ormstein: just beginning to. High of about 38c tomorrow
Wol Euler: heheheheh
Wol Euler: that's about 7 degrees C more than we had at the height of summer this year
Wol Euler: it was a coolish summer, which is fine for me
eggsalad Ormstein: lol, well, we will be down to 5c in a few months
Wol Euler: O.O
Wol Euler: really? wow
Wol Euler: oh, is that the overnight low?
eggsalad Ormstein: occasionally we might get down to 0c overnight
eggsalad Ormstein: but in the dead of winter, the daily high might be 10-12c
Wol Euler: heh
Wol Euler: good morninng, arch
eggsalad Ormstein: hello arch
Archmage Atlantis: Hello
Archmage Atlantis: if I have others traveling with me, other than Koya of course, I would appreciate the intell
Wol Euler: I see only Koya (one)
Wol Euler: brb, boss on phone
Archmage Atlantis: ty, Wol

--BELL--

Wol Euler: back
eggsalad Ormstein: pardon me, I am being summoned
Archmage Atlantis: Thr music pling for me is paul simon
Wol Euler: bye egg, take care
Archmage Atlantis: sounds of silence
Wol Euler: ah!
Wol Euler: a classic
Wol Euler: man, he's written some wonderful music
Wol Euler: "still crazy after all these years" remains one of my favourite albums
Archmage Atlantis: agree
Archmage Atlantis: I have said in this forum that I was present in the Graceland Tour, and thus saw him
Wol Euler: oh wow
Wol Euler: nice
Archmage Atlantis: My parter at the time became very tired of hearing the beta tape
Wol Euler smiles.
Miguel2000 Resident: hello

A new visitor arrives. Not in itself unusual, but this one sat and listened, and seemed interested.

Wol Euler: hello Shu
Wol Euler: have you been here before?
Miguel2000 Resident: smiles, no this is the first time
Wol Euler: okay, I'll give you a notec ard and quick introduction
Miguel2000 Resident: may i sit with you?
Wol Euler: please do
Miguel2000 Resident: ty
Wol Euler: this is a meditation group called Play as Being
Archmage Atlantis: Shu, many have come here.....few have chosen to stay
Wol Euler: we gather here 4x daily to talk about our practices and matters that arise, and sometimes just to chat :)
Miguel2000 Resident: nice, i meditate everyday
Wol Euler: good :)
Wol Euler: the group practice is based on experience, shared and personal
Miguel2000 Resident: good, i want to join the group
Wol Euler: I'll send you an invitation, just a moment
Miguel2000 Resident: ty, smiles
Wol Euler: oh, that's funny, it is open enrollment but I cannot invite you. hah.
Wol Euler: okay, click on Search, go to the Groups tab, enter "Friends of Play as Being"
Miguel2000 Resident: i will take a LM, np
Wol Euler: yes, you need not be a formal member to attend :)
Wol Euler: many people come just to sit and listen, that is fine
Miguel2000 Resident: so you are taoists?
Wol Euler: well, there is a strong overlap, clearly :)
Wol Euler: but no, we are not affiliated with any religion
Archmage Atlantis: I am shamic
Wol Euler: many of us are buddhists, others christians
Wol Euler: the core ideas probably come closest to Dzogchen
Wol Euler: but again, we are not religious
Miguel2000 Resident: i m a zen buddhist by practice, but i have become intereted on taoism
Miguel2000 Resident: it's not a proper religion
Wol Euler: the originating spirit is actually scientific, from phenomenology
Wol Euler: to look at what is really here, not what we think is here
Miguel2000 Resident: taoism can be consider also like that
Wol Euler nods.
Miguel2000 Resident: zen is more or less that too, not a religion
Archmage Atlantis: To my mind, 4 died in Ohio
Wol Euler: we have one particular habit here: every 15 mins we pause for 90 seconds reflection

--BELL--

Wol Euler: this is coming up soon
Miguel2000 Resident: good habit
Archmage Atlantis: Then the dinosaurs came
Wol Euler smiles.
Miguel2000 Resident: nice silence
Wol Euler: I forgot to say, we record these sessions and publish them on our website, so that absent members can read what was said
Wol Euler: may we ahve your permission to include your SL name and your comments in the published log?
Archmage Atlantis: I am a bit strange, even for here
Miguel2000 Resident: sounds pretty good
Miguel2000 Resident: yes of course i have no problem with that
Wol Euler: ty
Wol Euler: we have to ask :) even apart from basic politeness, it's in the SL terms of service :)
Miguel2000 Resident: yes i agree
Wol Euler: hello mila
Wol Euler: we meet here at 1am 7am 1pm 7pm every day
Miguel2000 Resident: 1, 7, 1, 7
Wol Euler: yep :)
Wol Euler: easy to remember
Miguel2000 Resident: it's easy yes
Wol Euler: sometimes there are theme sessions, or presentations
Wol Euler: but usually just meeting to talk
Miguel2000 Resident: sounds very interesting
Wol Euler: I've found it very helpful
Wol Euler: as a centering, calming, stress-releasing practice
Miguel2000 Resident: so you have some kind of practice at RL
Wol Euler: I'm not after enlightenment, I am going to be here for quite a few more cycles of karma and I am fine with that :)
Miguel2000 Resident: yes i m fine myself with that
Wol Euler: yes, I do just basic meditation and "awareness" practices
Wol Euler: we hold retreats in RL too, one finished in July
Miguel2000 Resident: we are all in basic practices, smiles
Wol Euler: yeah :)

So true.

Miguel2000 Resident: so you make retreats also
Wol Euler: "before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water". I love that.
Miguel2000 Resident: smiles, i heard that in Zen too
Wol Euler: yes, we hold retreats in RL and also in SL :)
Wol Euler: week-long (RL) and weekend (SL)
Miguel2000 Resident: fine, this seem to be a good place, smiles
Wol Euler: the SL retreat is a stretch, because of course it takes place in your home environment with all its distractoins
Wol Euler: but it works surprisingly well, I was pleased
Miguel2000 Resident: so you make retreats at your own places in RL
Wol Euler: well, in borrowed *places* since we have no RL base
Wol Euler: the last was in Halifax, at a retreat centre in the forest
Miguel2000 Resident: oh so you go all together in RL
Wol Euler: not all, there were only six of us at that
Wol Euler: but yes :)
Wol Euler: the group is international: from Japan to America to Europe
Wol Euler: so it#s hard to get together in RL
Miguel2000 Resident: wow that's impressive
Miguel2000 Resident: i am in Europe
Wol Euler: part of the joy of SL :)
Miguel2000 Resident: but i dont have any people aroudn to practice with
Wol Euler: true of many of us, Shu
Miguel2000 Resident: smiles, so SL is a help
Archmage Atlantis: Before becoming, carry other entities, After becoming, carry others
Wol Euler: in many ways :)
Wol Euler nods to Arch
Miguel2000 Resident: so you know each other in RL?
Wol Euler: many of us do
Wol Euler: I've never met Arch, as it happens, but I know many others
Wol Euler: from RL retreats
Miguel2000 Resident: this seems to be serious
Wol Euler: oh yes :)
Wol Euler: but gently so. There is no doctrine, no test of earnestness
Miguel2000 Resident: there are not many serious places in SL
Wol Euler: true :)
Miguel2000 Resident: i m not interested in doctrine, that's the truth
Wol Euler: well, actually, there are lots of seriously contemplative places
Wol Euler: most faiths are represented here
Miguel2000 Resident: i know some buddhisht temples in SL
Wol Euler: there is even a Church of Atheism :) or there was ...
Wol Euler: wb mila
milakel Resident: :)
milakel Resident: crashed successfully :)
Wol Euler: yay
Wol Euler: practice makes perfect
Miguel2000 Resident: hi MIla
milakel Resident: sl said region is being restarted
Wol Euler: really? wow. I saw no message and we didn't crash
milakel Resident: hi, shu - new guy :)
Miguel2000 Resident: yes, i came just few minutes ago
Wol Euler: nearly a year old, he counts as a used guy :)
milakel Resident: heh
Wol Euler: :-P
milakel Resident: freshly new around here though :)
Archmage Atlantis: Pomote not, be not....as I was created...I exist
Miguel2000 Resident: i had a different avi before, this is a new start
Wol Euler: aaaah
Wol Euler: okay :)
Archmage Atlantis: Nite to you ppls
Wol Euler: that happens a lot
milakel Resident: new start is good
milakel Resident: welcome to the new being
Miguel2000 Resident: smiles, i tried many things i want to forget now
Wol Euler: if only RL were as easily rebooted as SL
Archmage Atlantis: Ty yawl
milakel Resident: shu, but things you did made you who you are now :)
Wol Euler: pause coming up, shall we watch the breath?
Miguel2000 Resident: yes, true
milakel Resident: woly, oh yes... undo operation
Miguel2000 Resident: now i m ready for this new life
Wol Euler smiles.

--BELL--

Miguel2000 Resident: i'm more myself now
milakel Resident: "f**k you" oh, sorry... [ctrl-z] :)
Wol Euler: yeah, been there done ttat
Wol Euler: and yes, shu, SL is great at showing us other possible selves
milakel Resident: :)
Miguel2000 Resident: hehe, nice silence again
Wol Euler: and practicing being that person
Wol Euler: SL taught me to talk to strangers :)
milakel Resident: zon boy!
Wol Euler: hello zon
Zon Kwan: hi girl
Miguel2000 Resident: hi zon
milakel Resident: :)
Zon Kwan: and all
milakel Resident: woly, yes, talking to strangers is immensly rewarding
Wol Euler smiles and nods
Wol Euler: what surprised me is that (so far) 99.9% of people have been veyr happy to be spoken to
Zon Kwan: an adventure
Wol Euler: we are all lonely and seeking contact :)
Miguel2000 Resident: yes true, wol
Wol Euler: we all want to be acknowledged as fellow people
milakel Resident: heh, yes... in one way or another
Wol Euler: it's the great secret of society
Miguel2000 Resident: i have tried to find a group like this
Wol Euler smiles.
Zon Kwan: and life
Wol Euler: well, welcome aboard
Miguel2000 Resident: smiles, ty
milakel Resident: :)
Wol Euler: brb
Miguel2000 Resident: in RL i ve been with different groups, sanghas and so on, but mostly on my own
Wol Euler: back
Miguel2000 Resident: it's difficult if you live a normal life to find a place where to practice with others
milakel Resident: shu, well, since you're in the circle now, you're entitled for the paper bag!
Wol Euler: true
Miguel2000 Resident: we are too dispersed
Wol Euler: the great joy and feature of SL is that it concentrates like-minded people
Wol Euler: makes it really easy to find thought-partners
Miguel2000 Resident: yes true
milakel Resident: um... in a way
Miguel2000 Resident: what is this paper bag?
milakel Resident: wear it :)
milakel Resident: *giggles*
Miguel2000 Resident: smiles
Wol Euler: heheh
Miguel2000 Resident: do i have to wear it all the time?
milakel Resident: it's up to you :)
Wol Euler: nah, mila is just pulling your leg
Miguel2000 Resident: it looks more like me in RL
Wol Euler: we save them for special events :)
milakel Resident: haha
milakel Resident: easier to see emotions with it (you can change them by clicking it)
milakel Resident: aww...
Miguel2000 Resident: yes that's me
milakel Resident: sad face :(
Wol Euler grins.
Miguel2000 Resident: most of the time, smiles
Wol Euler: awwww
Miguel2000 Resident: not now anyway
milakel Resident: :)
Miguel2000 Resident: let's be happy for a while, hehe
Wol Euler: it's up to us, shu
Wol Euler: "pain is a fact, suffering is optional"
milakel Resident: seeing a smile has a physiological reaction. so smile more often in the mirror :)
milakel Resident: woly :)
Wol Euler: it's true :)
Miguel2000 Resident: i like the physiological aspect of smiling
milakel Resident: yes, perception
Wol Euler nods.
Wol Euler: emotions are amazingly contagious
Wol Euler: strong feedback loops
Miguel2000 Resident: even in SL, hehe
Wol Euler: yep
Wol Euler sighs. I shall have to leave after the next bell. I have to be at work at 1:30 and I have a huge amount of stuff to get done before then
Zon Kwan: lets leave together then
milakel Resident: what stuff is that?
Wol Euler: shopping, cleaning up, having lunch ...
Miguel2000 Resident: i have to leave also, we will meet again
Wol Euler: the usual
Wol Euler: we will indeed :)
milakel Resident: ah, that :) i thought work
Wol Euler: I'm at 1am at Friday, saturday, sunday, and at most 1pm's
Wol Euler: work after, mila
Miguel2000 Resident: i wll visit the page
milakel Resident: so not kosher
Miguel2000 Resident: i go now, nice to meet you all
Wol Euler: it wa nice meeting you, shu, take care
Zon Kwan: waves
milakel Resident: shu, smile well :)
Wol Euler: come back any time
milakel Resident: your "do well" wish is so handy, woly :)
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: pause coming up
milakel Resident: oh noooes
Wol Euler: shush
milakel Resident: *pauses the pause*

--BELL--

Wol Euler: thank you, my dears-
Wol Euler: enjoy the weekend
milakel Resident: meep!