2011.11.18 06:00 - Regarding Reality: Residing in the Pause

The guardian for this Regarding Reality session, was Maxine Walden. Attending this week were Adams, Bruce, Maxine, Pema, oO0Oo, and Eliza, who posted the session... 

Pema Pera: Morning Maxine, Bruce, Sam, Eliza!

Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

Maxine Walden: morning, Pema
Bruce (bruce.mowbray): Good morning, Pema.
Pema Pera: thank you, Eliza!
Maxine Walden: thanks so, Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Everyone... (my pleasure)
Eliza Madrigal: (on a different computer so may be a bit stranger than usual , just as a forewarning:)
Pema Pera: and what a nicely colorful dress, would be fitting with the New Jersey fall colors, Eliza :)
Eliza Madrigal: Thanks, Pema :)
Pema Pera pondering "stranger than usual" . . .
Maxine Walden: keyboard etc feel strange, Eliza?
Eliza Madrigal: yes quite
Maxine Walden: know that feeling, like trying to drive someone else's car
Eliza Madrigal: precisely!
Maxine Walden: :)
Maxine Walden: open to the new, but with potential glitches perhaps
Eliza Madrigal: :))

(Speaking of gliches, the session log, when sent to me, was entirely empty. Thanks to Pema for sending me a copy of the text. I thought to learn how to work with macros and remove timestamps today, even downloaded the suggested program, but to no avail due to my own sense of 'to do list' and impatience. Should I learn, I'll be back to fix this session :)
 

06:05]  Maxine Walden: I was just appreciating the pause a moment ago, aware perhaps especially since I was so less aware of them last week :)
06:06]  Pema Pera: :-)
06:07]  Eliza Madrigal: I feel to renew my relationship with the pauses occasionally
06:07]  Pema Pera: it's very easy to get lost in a conversation . . .
06:08]  Maxine Walden: lost in a conversation, which is another sort of attention, but drawing one away from the grounding of the pause
06:08]  Maxine Walden: or perhaps better the grounding available in the pause
06:08]  Pema Pera: (with most of my RL conversations, whenever I remember to listen to myself, I notice ways in which I can relax more, slow down more, finetune more how I talk . . . a never ending project)
06:09]  Pema Pera: ah, nicely put, Maxine!

06:10]  Maxine Walden: As I sit here just now I am thinking of all the ways we can be drawn away from the light and the poise of the Master's den, (from the dream I mentioned last week). And maybe the pause, the space for unfolding is what where we would most long to reside

06:12]  Pema Pera whispers: hi Adams
06:12]  Eliza Madrigal: Hi Adams
06:12]  Bruce (bruce.mowbray): Hi, Adams.
06:12]  Adams Rubble quietly says hello
06:13]  Eliza Madrigal: :) Seems SL isn't sticky enough today
06:14]  Samúð (oo0oo):       ?waves?
06:14]  Samúð (oo0oo):     ?/
06:14]  Samúð (oo0oo):     /¦
06:14]  Samúð (oo0oo):     / \
06:14]  Pema Pera: (^_^)
06:14]  Maxine Walden: :)) hi back O and all
06:14]  Adams Rubble: wb Maxine and hello :)
06:14]  Maxine Walden: thanks, Adams, yes hi
06:14]  Adams Rubble: Hello to o0000 and everyone :)

06:16]  Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

06:18]  Maxine Walden: before I crashed I was pondering the 'residence' of the pause, open space, perhaps a space also to hear the voices of others (maybe internal as well as external voices which have so much to offer in the openness)

06:19]  Pema Pera: (Sam and Maxine seem to take "taking a break" very seriously :-)
06:19]  Maxine Walden: (I will just bring to mind the dream I mentioned last time, which seemed an interesting evocation for some of us, and then I might try to listen more than I did last week
06:20]  Maxine Walden: The dream which spung from reading the book The Master and His Emissary, McGlichrist's book about right and left brain interaction and influence upon the 'realities' we experience:
06:21]  Maxine Walden: I was in a large house, old, staid, and especially oriented to the study of the Master, an old wise man apparently, who was not present
06:22]  Maxine Walden: His study was illuminated by a wall of window behind his study chair, so that indirect light softly flooded the room
06:23]  Maxine Walden: There was a very relaxed feeling, softely uplifting in that light, being in that room. And the Master's vest was casually on the back of the chair (as I recall it now, but the placement of the vest may have been slightly different in the dream)

06:23]  Maxine Walden: There was this abiding calm being in that study

06:24]  Maxine Walden: Then in another part of the house, much darker in tone, sepia like, was this darkly dress, sort of humched woman
06:24]  Adams Rubble thinks "Master remove thy vest this is holy ground"
06:25]  Maxine Walden: who might have been a girlfriend or housekeeper for the Master's house. And there was something sinister about her...as if she were trying to take over the place, displace the Master in some way.
06:25]  Maxine Walden: Indeed, she had seemed to take over the vast majority of physical space in the house...for the only softly lit room was the study
06:25]  Maxine Walden: (maybe I stop there as to the dream)
06:26]  Pema Pera: thank you for summarizing so vividly, Maxine!

06:26]  Eliza Madrigal: seem to be preoccupied with the vest as well... that a vest is a kind of next layer beneath a coat, relaxing more and more...
06:27]  Pema Pera: also the cozyness: books, study, vest . . .
06:27]  Eliza Madrigal nods
06:27]  Maxine Walden: yes

06:28]  Maxine Walden: An interesting bit about the girlfriend, maybe:
06:29]  Maxine Walden: sort of as if she were out to, or had seduced the Master in some way...so that she could gain more and more access to the space in the house...the point here being an insinuating entry and perhaps takeover...(not a pleasant thought as I try to denote that detail)

06:31]  Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

06:31]  Pema Pera: in mythological or fairy tale terms, could the girl friend play a bit of a step mother role too, you looking at the master like a father, and the step mother coming in between? Just wondering
06:31]  Maxine Walden: but wondering if it might refer to that seduction by the noise/left brain which does want to take over , drawing attention away from the open space

06:31]  Eliza Madrigal: I suppose I wonder a little about the sinister aspect Maxine...
06:31]  Maxine Walden: could be, Pema
06:32]  Adams Rubble: Yes, very interesting that one arrives a place of openess but there is a shadow threatening to close it

06:32]  Pema Pera: like a loss of paradise, a loss of mother, a loss of belonging, a loss of what is your
birth right?

06:33]  Eliza Madrigal: ah... was thinking that a 'good' housekeeper would have some sense of ownership over her work which might look like or be in fact mistaken... but then I remembered the character of Anthony Hopkins in a film, and his servant role was to, when in a room, take up no space
06:33]  Eliza Madrigal: differnt approaches to taking responsibility
06:34]  Bruce (bruce.mowbray) remembers "Howard's End"
06:34]  Eliza Madrigal: I think it is Remains of the Day in this case
06:34]  Maxine Walden: a rich offering of perspectives on the role of the perhaps usurping servant
06:34]  Bruce (bruce.mowbray): ahh yes, I had the wrong one.

06:35]  Maxine Walden: from the Master's role, maybe sees the servant as 'taking care of the house', but from the ambitious servant's position it may be subtly 'owning' the site of her work, as if her domain...
06:36]  Eliza Madrigal: in a kind of 'playing house' fantasy

06:36]  Pema Pera: and you mentioned that the master didn't seem to mind, if I remember correctly, but that you minded it more than the master?
06:36]  Maxine Walden: (as if 'owning' the idea the Master may have spawned but the servant shined up a bit
06:37]  Eliza Madrigal: which does fit well with the fairy tale
06:37]  Eliza Madrigal: (sits on hands)
06:37]  Eliza Madrigal: :)

06:37]  Maxine Walden: yes, Pema, I minded it because it seemed that I 'knew' how intrusive the servant wanted to be, ambitious, actually envious of the Master's creativity
06:38]  Maxine Walden: as if I were observing this as a movie
06:38]  Maxine Walden: (and I was going to be more quiet today !!!)

06:38]  Pema Pera: it's a very real part of everyday life, yes; we all know people like that, and in addition, I think we all recognize that tendency in ourselves from time to time, if we look carefully
06:38]  Pema Pera: (please, don't be quiet, Maxine!!)
06:38]  Maxine Walden: precisely, Pema
06:39]  Eliza Madrigal nods
06:39]  Eliza Madrigal: a kind of thief

06:39]  Maxine Walden: that is what captures my interest, these figures as parts of ourselves, and how envious we may be of others, but also of our quiet, creative selves...

06:40]  Pema Pera: so it's important to recognize that presence, and also to wonder how that same presence can be matured, improved, turned around, into a more responsible helper perhaps, or a more invisible servant

06:40]  Maxine Walden: does that seem weird, that we may envy parts of ourselves?
06:40]  Eliza Madrigal: :)
06:40]  Pema Pera: we are legion :-)
06:40]  Adams Rubble: :)
06:40]  Maxine Walden: yes...

06:41]  Pema Pera: integration is the last step before buddhahood / sainthood / perfection . . . .

06:41]  Maxine Walden: I have encountered that internal envy in terms of the part of myself which wants to stay with the known, maybe even bask in some achievement, and not give it up to reside in quiet uncertainty...
06:42]  Pema Pera: !!

06:42]  Eliza Madrigal: Adams' use of the word 'holy' brings to mind the ways we try to package the sacred perhaps, into philosophies and religions... keep it in 'this room'
06:43]  Pema Pera: safely within reach , but without drawning in it
06:43]  Maxine Walden: yes, wanted to appreciate Adams comment

06:43]  Eliza Madrigal: what of the master's responsibility?
06:44]  Maxine Walden: not sure I am clear about your question, Eliza

06:44]  Adams Rubble: We can feel threatened about other approaches to experiencing "the master"

06:44]  Pema Pera: yes, it's so simple: we don't want to lose what we like + we want to get more of what we like -> we want to stay on the safe island of what we have, and reach out from there over the ocean, to fish for more: defending + reaching out, half closed, half open . . . . .
06:44]  Eliza Madrigal: will think about it more Maxine, may ask again at another time
06:44]  Pema Pera now sits on hands

06:46]  Play as Being 15 minute bell: Thank you.

06:46]  Eliza Madrigal: (not the best strategy pema as you see me ;-)

06:46]  Adams Rubble: In our busy lives we feel we only have so much time to spend on holy ground and resent anything that interferes with our approach
06:47]  Adams Rubble: sometimes it is so fleeting

06:47]  Maxine Walden: yes, Adams, does that come close to trying to 'own' the holy ground?
06:47]  Eliza Madrigal: I begin to see the master as asleep at the wheel a bit... needing to waken and inhabit/occupy perhaps... his home and surroundings
06:47]  Adams Rubble: :)
06:48]  Pema Pera: you're formulating what I vaguely felt too, Eliza

06:48]  Adams Rubble: Master, make time for me
06:48]  Adams Rubble: :)

06:48]  Maxine Walden: :), Eliza, it does arouse protective anxiety for the Master
06:48]  Pema Pera: the dichotomy between bad servant and good master can polarize
06:48]  Eliza Madrigal: :) yes the servant is has far fewer resources and is confused
06:48]  Maxine Walden: ...but the servant
06:49]  Maxine Walden: thinks he/she has what it takes to 'rule the world',
06:49]  Maxine Walden: and that may be where the Master does need to wake up,

06:49]  Adams Rubble: Pema brought up Mary and Martha last week
06:49]  Eliza Madrigal: :)
06:49]  Maxine Walden: yes, Adams
06:50]  Adams Rubble: if the servant is Martha, does Mary need to feel threatened by her?
06:50]  Adams Rubble: maybe we just need to let Mary emerge

06:51]  Maxine Walden: Perhaps the question, as it occurs to me right now, pivots on whether the servant remains loyal and protective of the master/Mary, or whether the servant becomes filled with her own ambitions, pleased with herself and ambitious in her own right
06:52]  Eliza Madrigal: two types of servants, indeed (mary and martha)

06:52]  Pema Pera: and I'm thinking now also about the parable of the talents, the master going on a trip, and the different care takers working with their talents -- another connection perhaps (I hope I guess the English terms correctly for this New Testament story)
06:53]  Eliza Madrigal: yes!

06:53]  Maxine Walden: Pema, do each of the servants stay with their task, their talent in the story? Or do they become rivalrous?
06:53]  Adams Rubble: The talents are interpreted as money in the English version
06:54]  Pema Pera: I think they don't interact much: each has their way
06:54]  Pema Pera: but the one who buried his talent was seen as the wrong person
06:54]  Maxine Walden: hmm, he should have let his talent flourish?
06:54]  Pema Pera: in that sense, the servant may actually have a good motivation, trying to work with what she sees as her task, perhaps overzealously so

06:55]  Pema Pera: Adams, can you help me out with the correct Biblical terms?
06:55]  Pema Pera: (I only learned them in Dutch :-)
06:55]  Adams Rubble thinking it will be interesting to see how maxine redreams this, if she does :)
06:55]  Maxine Walden: :))

06:55]  Eliza Madrigal: martha may be a bit much to take, always busy and bossy, but she does get things done :) maybe in the end a lot of it falls away... so jesus said that mary's way was preferable
06:55]  Adams Rubble: redreams
06:55]  Pema Pera: homework
06:55]  Pema Pera: *!
06:56]  Adams Rubble: Pema, I learned it as financial talents but am rethinking it and like the idea of talent instead of money

06:56]  Maxine Walden: :)) 'homework for the dreamer: redream 101'
06:56]  Adams Rubble: My version is more like burying instead of investing in the stock market. hehe
06:57]  Eliza Madrigal: hehehe
06:57]  Adams Rubble: more interesting that we use the talent given to us
06:57]  Eliza Madrigal: also a parable of leaving the house to servants who didn't treat people well when they visited

06:57]  Maxine Walden: actually, from this conversation I am seeing the value of each servant/aspect of the self developing its talents, its values, to serve the community, but to also apply restraint and not become too over-bearing

06:57]  Bruce (bruce.mowbray): so, "talents" might also mean "functions"? Like, the servant represents a particular function (like habit patterns of mind) - and, perhaps, the master represent an "awareness" function?

06:58]  Adams Rubble: :)
06:58]  Eliza Madrigal: :))
06:58]  Maxine Walden: very interesting, Bruce
06:58]  Pema Pera: "talent" is a word with many talents!
06:58]  Maxine Walden: :))

06:58]  Adams Rubble: This hour passed too quickly :)
06:58]  Bruce (bruce.mowbray): ;-)
06:58]  Eliza Madrigal: :)
06:58]  Maxine Walden: agree, Adams
06:58]  Samúð (oo0oo): !

06:59]  Maxine Walden: Need to ask: next Friday is during the Thanksgiving weekend; I am available but others may be away
06:59]  Eliza Madrigal: am available
06:59]  Bruce (bruce.mowbray): I will be here.
06:59]  Samúð (oo0oo): probably available
06:59]  Pema Pera: I'll be in Japan without thanksgiving :)
07:00]  Adams Rubble: I probably will not be here but that shouldn't prevent the rest of you from meeting :)
07:00]  Eliza Madrigal: you will still be thankful Pema :)
07:00]  Samúð (oo0oo): leave you vest Adams
07:00]  Adams Rubble: :)
07:00]  Samúð (oo0oo): Pema

07:00]  Maxine Walden: OK, will come and see who is available. Appreciating these conversations and the continuity as well
07:00]  Pema Pera: yes, we Japanese like to express our thanks regularly, Eliza :-)
07:00]  Eliza Madrigal: :)
07:00]  Maxine Walden: yes, happy travels, Pema
07:01]  Adams Rubble: yes, good traveling Pema
07:01]  Maxine Walden: OK, guess I need to go, quick hour!
07:01]  Bruce (bruce.mowbray): Thanks, everyone. . .
07:01]  Maxine Walden: thanks all
07:01]  Pema Pera: thanks a lot, Maxine!
07:01]  Samúð (oo0oo): Thanks maxine
07:01]  Adams Rubble: thank you all
07:01]  Eliza Madrigal: letting thanks inhabit the many days (but that would be a lot of cooking for many)
07:01]  Pema Pera looking forward to Maxine's redreaming
07:01]  Maxine Walden: see you soon
07:01]  Eliza Madrigal: Bye maxine, Adams, Bruce, thanks :)
07:01]  Maxine Walden: :))
07:01]  Adams Rubble: bye everyone :)

07:02]  Eliza Madrigal looks for chickens annoucing Luci's arrival

07:02]  Eliza Madrigal: Bye Pema :)
07:02]  Samúð (oo0oo): Bye Adams, Bruce, pema
07:02]  Pema Pera: bfn