2011.11.04 01:00 - Spiritual practice and life

Wol Euler was guardian for this session.

Wol Euler: hello hamlet, nice to see you again
Hamlet Graves: thank you wol, nice to see you too
Wol Euler: how's life?
Hamlet Graves: life is a projection of my ignorance
Wol Euler chuckles.
Wol Euler: not just yours :)
Hamlet Graves: :-)
Wol Euler: life is like driving a car backwards guided only what you can see in the mirrors
Hamlet Graves: ooooh yes
Wol Euler: it's not until you get past something that you understand where it fits into the world
Hamlet Graves: now we see through a glass darkly, and then face to face
Wol Euler nods.
Hamlet Graves: as far as the ignorance goes I have no job and am in the middle of a divorce
Wol Euler: wow, I'm sorry to hear that :(
Wol Euler: hello sam, hello rhi
Rhiannon Dragoone: Hi Wol
Hamlet Graves: it doesn't really matter
Rhiannon Dragoone: Hi Sam
Wol Euler: it matters in so far as it matters to you :)
Hamlet Graves: yes ... and that isn;t much
Wol Euler: all that we have is our presence in the world, what affects us matters
Hamlet Graves: given that I am unlimited consciousness this is a mere blip
oO0Oo Resident: ::waves:: Hi Wol, Rhi, Hamlet
Rhiannon Dragoone: Hi Hamlet
Hamlet Graves: hi Rhiannon :)
Hamlet Graves: hi Samúð: :)
Wol Euler: well, if you can keep up that degree of detachment and acceptance, that is good :)
Wol Euler: good in the sense of peace of mind
Hamlet Graves: yes ... it's a matter of neutralising samskaras or vasanas
Hamlet Graves: (latent unconscious impressions of the ego)
Wol Euler: ty, I was googling :)
Hamlet Graves: these rise up in response to certain stimuli
Wol Euler: for the log: "In the first (passive) sense saṅkhāra can refer to any compound form in the universe whether a tree, a cloud, a human being, a thought or a molecule. All these are saṅkhāras. The Buddha taught that all such things are impermanent, arising and passing away, subject to change, and that understanding the significance of this reality is wisdom. Saṅkhāra is often used in this first sense to describe the psychological conditioning (particularly the habit patterns of the unconscious mind) that gives any individual human being his or her unique character and make-up at any given time." wikipedia
Hamlet Graves: quite
Rhiannon Dragoone: So we are talking about accepting the impermanence of things?
Hamlet Graves: yes we are, but also ....
Wol Euler: Hamlet is going through tough times, we were talking about maintaining calm in the face of that

--BELL--

Wol Euler: (for various senses of "calm")
Hamlet Graves: realising that in truth we are the witness
Rhiannon Dragoone: Oh I can relate to that. Rosalyn had to go to the hospital this morning.
Hamlet Graves: who is Rosalyn ?
Rhiannon Dragoone: oh, oh, Sam may have died
Rhiannon Dragoone: My RL partner
Rhiannon Dragoone: She suffered a stroke last February and she fell down this morning.
Wol Euler: oh, sorry to hear it rhi.
Rhiannon Dragoone: Her "orhtostatics" aren't right
Wol Euler: :(
Rhiannon Dragoone: Well, she's home and resting comfortably tonight; they did a batttery of tests
Wol Euler: ah, that's good; I inferred that she was *in* the hospital
Rhiannon Dragoone: For most of the day.
Wol Euler nods.
Wol Euler: I wish her a good recovery, and you a little peace :)
Rhiannon Dragoone: She will be talking to her regular doctor tomorrow; the trouble is that her blood pressure is swinging in ways hard to regulate
Rhiannon Dragoone: Thanks
Rhiannon Dragoone: That was why I brought it up--agreeing with Hamlet that you needed a spiritual center in times of crisis.
oO0Oo Resident: ditto, what Wol said
Rhiannon Dragoone: And it's difficult to do that. Thanks, Sam
Hamlet Graves: I wish your partner well also Rhiannon
Rhiannon Dragoone: thank you, Ham
Wol Euler nods.
Rhiannon Dragoone: I didn't mean to steal your thunder; meant it to indicate that I know exactly what you're talking about.
Wol Euler: ah, Sam is awake :)
Wol Euler leans over and tickles your bare feet with her fan
Hamlet Graves: it's quite althight
oO0Oo Resident giggles
Hamlet Graves: spiritual to practice is best undertaken regularly, so that it is more readily availed in times of crisis
Rhiannon Dragoone: I agree; without regular practice, in fact, it is not there for you. "If you want the skills; do the drills."
Wol Euler: agreed
Hamlet Graves: it creates a useful samskara
oO0Oo Resident: http://www.tricycle.com/web-exclusiv...hen-distracted
Wol Euler: trouble is, one is just so [ lazy | busy | easily distracted | tired ] choose one
Hamlet Graves: yeah ::: sigh :::
Rhiannon Dragoone: yes, life interferes with spritual practice
Wol Euler: oh, thaks sam, that is a good resource
oO0Oo Resident: yw
oO0Oo Resident: :)
Hamlet Graves: it's a matter of priority ... you can cultivate affinity for spiritual practice so that it becaomes part of life
oO0Oo Resident: agreed
Hamlet Graves: the two need not be mutually exclusive
Wol Euler nods.
Rhiannon Dragoone: Yes, it only takes a few minutes a day, but still I find it easy to neglect
Wol Euler: agreed :(
Hamlet Graves: maybe this is a good time to renew your practice Rhiannon
Rhiannon Dragoone: Ahead of you there, Ham; yesterday I did some exercises for the first time in ages.
Rhiannon Dragoone: Today though, too chaotic.
Rhiannon Dragoone: But yes, I know; that's when you need it most
Wol Euler: in theory that is the idea behind and benefit of the 9 second meditation we talk about here
Wol Euler: that it can happen anywhwere, anytime
Wol Euler: sitting-in-the-hospital-waiting-room meditation
oO0Oo Resident: nods
Rhiannon Dragoone: yes. Of course, I was on my phone--here in SL instead. lol
Hamlet Graves: :-)
Hamlet Graves: there are opportunities for spiritual practice in sl also
Rhiannon Dragoone: Yes, quite a few, actually
oO0Oo Resident: I find this spiritual
Wol Euler nods.

--BELL--

Hamlet Graves: even discussing spirtuality is spiritual because mind turns to the object under consideration
Rhiannon Dragoone: Hamlet, that's a very good point
Hamlet Graves: that's what satsang is all about
Hamlet Graves: a space has been created here because of our intent
Rhiannon Dragoone: Intent can do that
Rhiannon Dragoone: And this has helped. Thanks, everyone. And I hope we've helped you, Hamlet
Hamlet Graves: it's been grand
Rhiannon Dragoone: I need to go to bed. More so than normal.
oO0Oo Resident: Thanks Rhi.. Best to you and your partner.
Rhiannon Dragoone: Thanks, Sam
Hamlet Graves: fare well Rhiannon
Rhiannon Dragoone: farewell, Hamlet
Rhiannon Dragoone: Take care, Wol
Rhiannon Dragoone: Great outfit, btw. Love the boots.
oO0Oo Resident: !
Rhiannon Dragoone waves and poofs
oO0Oo Resident: bye for now Rhi :)
Hamlet Graves: does Rhiannon normally turn up naked to these events ?
oO0Oo Resident: always
oO0Oo Resident: atleast since I have known her
Hamlet Graves: a way of indicating openness I guess
oO0Oo Resident: i think there used to be an explaination in her profile
Hamlet Graves: oh yes ...
oO0Oo Resident: . "I am nude; if a woman cannot display her body, she cannot display her thoughts. Ambrose Bierce said to men a man is but a mind, but a woman's body is the woman. It is also a challenge: can you see beyond my appearance to me? Am i a mind to you, or only a body?"
Wol Euler: back, sorry
Wol Euler: phone :(
Hamlet Graves: wb
oO0Oo Resident: wb
oO0Oo Resident: wolcome back
Wol Euler: ty
Wol Euler: heheheh
oO0Oo Resident: :)
oO0Oo Resident: Yippee!
Wol Euler: yes, rhi is always naked everywhere
Wol Euler: it's a sociopolitical statement
Hamlet Graves: not sure I entirely agree with that ... but yes men do get hung up on physicality

--BELL--

Wol Euler: I think people generally get hung up on strange stuff :)
Hamlet Graves: in final analysis, however, atoms are mostly space
Hamlet Graves: ok I need to go now as there is a party at my place ... you're welcome to come if you wish
Wol Euler: thanks but no, I have to get to work
Wol Euler: take care, have a good time
oO0Oo Resident: Bye Hamlet, and have a good day at work Wol :)
Wol Euler: well, I'm not off just yet
Wol Euler: but didn't want to start something new
oO0Oo Resident: oh good
oO0Oo Resident: :)
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: so, how is Samúð?
oO0Oo Resident: over the moon
Wol Euler: ah :)
Wol Euler: nice
Wol Euler: do tell
oO0Oo Resident: oh, it was just the first thought that came to mind.. maybe because saw the moon in the night last I went walking, and thought.. the light of the moon eclipses the spherical aspect of its halo, when moisture gives it that orangey-gold misty surround
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: harvest moon
Wol Euler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVi0UvFu8Yo
oO0Oo Resident: clicks
oO0Oo Resident: Boxy :)
Alfred Kelberry: wee!
Wol Euler: boxy!
Alfred Kelberry: wait, why woly isn't working?
Wol Euler: not yet
Alfred Kelberry: :)
Alfred Kelberry: i'm going to write you guys a letter about the trip
Wol Euler: great
oO0Oo Resident: :)
Alfred Kelberry: no clicking spots
Wol Euler: ?
Alfred Kelberry: i can't click you
Wol Euler: I'm not scripted :)
oO0Oo Resident: Beautiful song Wol :)
Alfred Kelberry: yes, all unexpected and non-deterministic :)
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: one of the loveliest songs ever written, IMHO

--BELL--

Alfred Kelberry: what song?
Wol Euler: always makes me cry, in a not-sad way
oO0Oo Resident: happy-sad :)
Wol Euler nods.
oO0Oo Resident: harvest Moon Boxy
oO0Oo Resident: by Neil Young
Wol Euler: I sent him the URL in IM during the pause
Wol Euler: sorry, should have said
Alfred Kelberry: lovely
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: so boxy, you ahve been organizing for Berlin? good!
oO0Oo Resident: A quote came to mind RE: something you and Hamlet said after discussion of Rhi's nakedness
Wol Euler: mm?
Alfred Kelberry: his "harvest" one is also good
oO0Oo Resident: sorry.. interupted there.. listens for Boxy :)
Alfred Kelberry: there's an option for a hotel
Alfred Kelberry: thought i'd share
oO0Oo Resident: :)
Wol Euler: :)
oO0Oo Resident: could be a dogpile
Wol Euler: hehehe
oO0Oo Resident: ;)
oO0Oo Resident: http://www.myanimalcarecenter.com/dogpile-1a.jpg
Wol Euler: :)
oO0Oo Resident: http://blog.plataformatec.com.br/wp-...gpileweek2.jpg
Wol Euler: awwwwww
Wol Euler: sam, what were you thinking about Rhi or our comments?
oO0Oo Resident: oh.. um
oO0Oo Resident: [02:00] Wol Euler: I think people generally get hung up on strange stuff :) [02:00] Hamlet Graves: in final analysis, however, atoms are mostly space
oO0Oo Resident: . "Just as if a sack with openings at both ends were full of various kinds of grain — wheat, rice, mung beans, kidney beans, sesame seeds, husked rice — and a man with good eyesight, pouring it out, were to reflect, 'This is wheat. This is rice. These are mung beans. These are kidney beans. These are sesame seeds. This is husked rice'; in the same way, the monk reflects on this very body from the soles of the feet on up, from the crown of the head on down, surrounded by skin and full of various kinds of unclean things: 'In this body there are head hairs, body hairs, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, tendons, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, pleura, spleen, lungs, large intestines, small intestines, gorge, feces, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, skin-oil, saliva, mucus, fluid in the joints, urine.' And as he remains thus heedful, ardent, & resolute, any memories & resolves related to the household life are abandoned, and with their abandoning his mind gathers & settles inwardly, grows unified & centered. This is how a monk develops mindfulness immersed in the body." Body Contemplation A Study Guide by Thanissaro Bhikkhu http://is.gd/GviJ6I
Wol Euler: oh dear
oO0Oo Resident: smiles

--BELL--

Wol Euler: "This attitude is perhaps a noble one, but, in the sense which--I think--most people would give to the word, it is inhuman. The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection, that one is sometimes willing to commit sins for the sake of loyalty, that one does not push asceticism to the point where it makes friendly intercourse impossible, and that one is prepared in the end to be defeated and broken up by life, which is the inevitable price of fastening one's love upon other human individuals. No doubt alcohol, tobacco, and so forth, are things that a saint must avoid, but sainthood is also a thing that human beings must avoid." http://www.george-orwell.org/Reflect..._Ghandi/0.html
oO0Oo Resident: nice balancing quote
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: balance is always good :)
oO0Oo Resident: here's Woly dreaming of Boxy: http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs27/f/20..._LazyJenny.jpg
Wol Euler: awwwwww <3
oO0Oo Resident: :))
Wol Euler: boxy is asleep again
oO0Oo Resident: :::see's Boxy's legs twitch, like he's chasing a rabbit in his dreams:::
Wol Euler smiles.
oO0Oo Resident: Do you know Ikkyu Wol?
Wol Euler: not by name ...
oO0Oo Resident: "Probably the most shocking arena in which Ikkyu demonstrated his disregard for societal norms was sex. At the time, it was expected that monks would be celibate. Lust towards women was considered a passion which must be eliminated in order to reach enlightenment. Ikkyu took lovers, frequented brothels and bars, wrote erotic love poetry. He probably had a son while in his thirties, and it is possible that he was briefly married. Ikkyu made no attempt to hide his sexual activities. It was actually not unusual for monks to frequent brothels, but most monks were very private about it, publicly proclaiming the harmfulness of sexual passion. Ikkyu, on the other hand, saw no contradiction between satori and romantic love. "
oO0Oo Resident: http://www.dharmaweb.org/index.php/P...k_of_Muromachi
Wol Euler: interesting :) thank you
oO0Oo Resident: his poetry is beautiful
oO0Oo Resident: IMO
Wol Euler: makes a note
Wol Euler: so much to read, so little time

--BELL--

Wol Euler: but to go back to your original post about Rhi and our comments :)
Wol Euler: there is this dichotomy between mind and body, at least in most of western thought.
Wol Euler: and certainly in my early life, what I thought of as "me" was purely mind, the body was just a vehicle that carried me around
oO0Oo Resident: and now?
oO0Oo Resident: :)
Wol Euler: heheh
Wol Euler: I struggle with that still
Wol Euler: trying not to deprecate physicality
oO0Oo Resident: nods
Wol Euler: habits of mind die even harder than bodily ones
oO0Oo Resident tries to remember that Talking Heads song in which the lyrics suggest the way the body is shaped over time by the orientation of the mind, or thoughts
Wol Euler: yes, I remmeber that vaguely
Wol Euler: from Fear of Music, perhaps?
oO0Oo Resident: http://lyrics.wikia.com/Talking_Head...n_And_Not_Seen
oO0Oo Resident: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rvjw5xJF8WQ
Wol Euler: ah, yes that was it :) well done
Wol Euler smiles.
Wol Euler: what a great album that was
oO0Oo Resident: :)

--BELL--

Wol Euler: distraction upon distraction :)
Wol Euler: and the meta-distraction of the looming need to go to work sometime today ...
oO0Oo Resident: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl18At7Ldmo
oO0Oo Resident hopes your day is pleasant
Wol Euler: thank you :) but I'm not off yet
Wol Euler: I have an extra hour today, since our clocks went back last weekend
oO0Oo Resident: good
Wol Euler: if it has to happen, this is pretty convenient :)
Wol Euler: but I'd still prefer to abandon the whole silly idea
Wol Euler: (sea glass, nice, I collect it too in a very small way)
oO0Oo Resident: :)
Wol Euler: actually that makes me doubt something that I treasured :(
Wol Euler: I went to the beach at Caesarea in Israel with a friend, she pointed out "bits of Roman glass" in the sand
Wol Euler: was that perhaps - probably - only modern-ish sea glass?

--BELL--

Wol Euler: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWSnf...eature=related
oO0Oo Resident: http://lyrics.wikia.com/Talking_Heads:The_Great_Curve
Wol Euler grins and points to her profile
oO0Oo Resident: "She shakes 'em up when she start to walk."
Wol Euler grins.
oO0Oo Resident: Holds up well... IMHO
Wol Euler nods.
Wol Euler: veyr well indeed
Wol Euler: I was about to say "one of my favourite songs", which reminded me of saying that about "harvest moon"
Wol Euler: favoured in different ways, of course, for different moods
oO0Oo Resident: Remember first seeing "Stop Making Sense" the movie.. great experience
Wol Euler smiles and nods
Wol Euler: what I love about this song is that it's so complex but also veyr simple: built of little bits that just layer and repeat
Wol Euler: it finds a superb groove and just *sits on it*
oO0Oo Resident: agreed
oO0Oo Resident: ;;;See's Boxy's leg make a halting approch to scratch an ear, accompanied by puppy snorts and sniffles:::

--BELL--

Wol Euler: hehehehehh
Wol Euler sighs
Wol Euler: time for work
Wol Euler: thanks for a great session, sam!
oO0Oo Resident: Thanks Wol.. Boxy :)
Wol Euler: and boxy, and rhi and hamlet
Wol Euler: enjoy the day
oO0Oo Resident: you too!