The Guardian for this meeting was Agatha Macbeth. The comments are by Agatha Macbeth. I sat quietly alone for a while in away mode until Eliza arrived.

Eliza Madrigal sits and whistles back to the birds
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Liz ♥
Eliza Madrigal: ♥ ♥ ♥
Agatha Macbeth: Sorry, watching football
Agatha Macbeth: You okay?
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: perfectly okay to do that, and yes, ty
Agatha Macbeth smiles
Agatha Macbeth: You look somewhat academic today
Eliza Madrigal: I was attending a reading of kama sutra... lots of lists...
Eliza Madrigal laughs
Agatha Macbeth: Really?
Agatha Macbeth: Remembering all the positions?
Eliza Madrigal: yes... at Perfect Paradise... it is interesting to be read the text rather than just western ideas of the book from flipping pages in bookstores
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: I can't say I ever read it
Eliza Madrigal: today's chapter basically outlined the way that a householder's main job is to perfume himself and pick flowers with public women
Agatha Macbeth: are there lots of diagrams? :p
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Korel :)
Korel Laloix: Heya
Agatha Macbeth: Osiyo K
Eliza Madrigal: no diagrams ...yet
Agatha Macbeth: Think I'd probably need them...
Korel Laloix: public women?
Eliza Madrigal: I wonder if a western version would be competitive...haha... like yoga managed to become here...
Agatha Macbeth: along with an oxygen tent
Eliza Madrigal giggles
Korel Laloix: Heya... smiles
Agatha Macbeth: Could be
Korel Laloix: Competative yoga?
Eliza Madrigal: yes, public women as opposed to courtesans
Agatha Macbeth: Or artisans
Korel Laloix: OH OK.
Eliza Madrigal: still more freedoms than wives, in that context/society
Agatha Macbeth: Yep
Korel Laloix: What context was this? I missed the first part.
Agatha Macbeth: Indian culture I imagine
  --BELL--1315
Eliza Madrigal: oh, at Perfect Paradise they are reading the Kama Sutra text
Korel Laloix: OH OK.
Agatha Macbeth: Would it be a proper question to ask why they are doing this?
Eliza Madrigal: well, it is rather nice actually... before this was a reading of Mahabarat
Agatha Macbeth: Oh I know *that* :)
Agatha Macbeth: and the Ramayana
Eliza Madrigal: and the indian man reading it, tries to directly translate and give footnotes
Eliza Madrigal: yes... that may be next
Korel Laloix: I spent a good amount of time there for a while.... had some good chats.
Agatha Macbeth: The Vedas are really good too
Eliza Madrigal: can be an interesting place
Korel Laloix: Lots o drama though sometimes.
Eliza Madrigal: yes :)
Agatha Macbeth: The food is certainly interesting (yum)
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Korel Laloix: Hyea
Xirana Oximoxi: hello Agg, Eliza, Korel:)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Xiri :)
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Xira
Xirana Oximoxi: hola guapas:)
Agatha Macbeth: Are you painting well?
Eliza Madrigal: hola guapina
Xirana Oximoxi: hehe yes:)
Agatha Macbeth: You will be the next Picasso yet
Korel Laloix: I hope not.
Eliza Madrigal: heheh
Agatha Macbeth: Aww
Xirana Oximoxi: bueno.... not yet...but soon :P
Xirana Oximoxi: you don't like Picasso Korel?
Korel Laloix: I can't say I don't like his stuff.
Xirana Oximoxi: ok:)
Korel Laloix: I just find it almost completely uninteresting.
Eliza Madrigal: "Inspiration exists, but it must find you working"
Korel Laloix: I find peoples reactions more intersting.
Korel Laloix: The huge like or hate.
Eliza Madrigal: well he was hugely different from time to time
Agatha Macbeth: Whatever else Picasso is, I wouldn't call him uninteresting :p
Xirana Oximoxi: I don't like all of his works... but some yes! :)...it happens with a lot of artists to me
Agatha Macbeth: Incomprehensible perhaps
Korel Laloix: He might have been interesting as a person, but his works were boring to me... but I am fully aware my tastes don't line up with everyone elses.
Xirana Oximoxi: well...in art, tastes are always different
Xirana Oximoxi: each person connects with a kind of art
Eliza Madrigal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boy_Leading_a_Horse <--find this one amazing... stood in front of it for a long time one year
Eliza Madrigal: not sure that is what comes to mind when people think of Picasso
Korel Laloix: I would walk right past.
Eliza Madrigal: ah, live, it is is far more captivating
Agatha Macbeth: You can lead a horse to water
Eliza Madrigal giggles
Korel Laloix: If someone gave that to me, I would probably throw it out.
Korel Laloix: May I ask what you find interesting about it?
Xirana Oximoxi: maybe Gernika is one of his most famous works
Korel Laloix: Curious.
Eliza Madrigal nods Xiri
Agatha Macbeth: Yes, that's the one I know best
Eliza Madrigal: it wasn't the subject or concept...
Korel Laloix is looking it up.
Eliza Madrigal: but the attention and the way that it created an entire mood
Eliza Madrigal: pulled me in...
Eliza Madrigal: and there was just this finesse.. consciousness
Eliza Madrigal: plus, I was more familiar with cubist works, etc
Agatha Macbeth: Ah
Eliza Madrigal: so when I saw this I felt like I was getting to know him for the first time
Eliza Madrigal: in a way
Agatha Macbeth: I'm more of a Salvador Dali fan
Eliza Madrigal: ah
Korel Laloix: Loved the Dali museum in Sant Petersberg.
Agatha Macbeth: Mmm
Xirana Oximoxi: you see... I usually don't feel 'moved' by Dali's works :)
Agatha Macbeth nods
Eliza Madrigal: 'moved' yes that's the x factor :)
Agatha Macbeth: They aren't as visually violent as Picasso I agree
Korel Laloix: Do you get any positive feelings from Picasso, or are they mostly negative?
Eliza Madrigal: I just admire his attention and quests...
Korel Laloix: OK.
Agatha Macbeth: The Quest for Picasso
Eliza Madrigal: and the one I pointed to I feel very positive about
Eliza Madrigal: for happy pleasure I like Matisse
Agatha Macbeth: Sounds like a Dan Brown book
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: hehe Agatha
Korel Laloix: I quickly looked through a catalot and only saw one that inspred me to a second look.
Korel Laloix: The difference in taste we have is so fascinating.
  --BELL--1330
Korel Laloix: I mean Pacaso's works.
Agatha Macbeth: Diversity rocks
Eliza Madrigal: when I look through the pages of images it is hard to find examples of something to show and convey the wow in person...
Eliza Madrigal: but if displayed i SL one has the feeling of immersion necessary
Xirana Oximoxi: that's the magic of art and the wonderful too...diversity:)
Agatha Macbeth nods
Agatha Macbeth: Imagine how boring it would be if we all agreed with each other
Xirana Oximoxi: ah yes Eliza,.... SL is a good place to get immersed with works of art
Xirana Oximoxi: absolutly boring:)
Eliza Madrigal: I agree that would be very boring Agatha
Eliza Madrigal laughs
Eliza Madrigal: we could take a field trip to see Xiri's exhibit today :)
Agatha Macbeth: Exhibit?
Eliza Madrigal nudges
Agatha Macbeth: Mm?
Korel Laloix: That sounfds fun.. been a while since I was there.
Agatha Macbeth: Where?
Korel Laloix: Also, I was going to take a few people on a SL historical tour sometime.
Korel Laloix: If anyone is still interested.
Agatha Macbeth: A magical mystery tour en?
Eliza Madrigal: ooh how so?
Agatha Macbeth: ty Liz
Korel Laloix: Well.. just to some of the oldest sites in SL.
Eliza Madrigal: that sounds like fun
Agatha Macbeth: What are the oldest sites?
Eliza Madrigal: can we dress like ghosts?
Korel Laloix: IF you like.
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Korel Laloix: The origional LL mansion, the beanstalk, the memorial, etc.
Agatha Macbeth: Ah, I think I know the mansion
Mickorod Renard: Hi
arabella Ella: Hiya!
Xirana Oximoxi: there's also the sim dedicated to SL9B... a lot to visit there...you can get lost
Agatha Macbeth: Hello M and A
Xirana Oximoxi: hello arabella
Mickorod Renard: hi A, K and X
Korel Laloix: Heya
Agatha Macbeth: Hee
Mickorod Renard: and A
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Ara and Mick :)
Xirana Oximoxi: hi Mick
Mickorod Renard: Hi E
Agatha Macbeth: E by gum
Mickorod Renard: Eliza, I havnt seen you for ages
arabella Ella: Hiya KAEX
Agatha Macbeth: She hides a lot :p
Eliza Madrigal: I've not been in SL all that much recently
arabella Ella: trying to put together an acronym
Eliza Madrigal: had a cold and well it is summer... kids...etc...
Agatha Macbeth: Aww
Eliza Madrigal: rhythms change sometimes :)
Agatha Macbeth: Rhythm and blues
Mickorod Renard: mmm kids are something else too
Eliza Madrigal: :) sure are
Agatha Macbeth: Oh ain't it the truth

A new face appears, and the conversation changes direction
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Kyle
Anemophile Resident: hello everyone
Agatha Macbeth: have you been here before?
Anemophile Resident: i have not
Agatha Macbeth: Ok, I'll give you a notecard about us

To avoid complete confusion from here on in, I should point out that Anemophile's display name is Kyle Richardson...
Mickorod Renard: Hi Anem and Kyle
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Kyle
Eliza Madrigal: Hello Anem
Eliza Madrigal: welcome
arabella Ella: Hiya Anemophile
Eliza Madrigal: ah, same person, hah
Eliza Madrigal: sorry about that :) like your tag "absurdist"
Agatha Macbeth: Blame LL for messing about with names
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: I preferred the old way
Anemophile Resident: absurdity is just plain fun
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Agatha Macbeth: For some of us it's a way of life :p
Mickorod Renard: most may be absurd, but maybe we are to egotistic to accept that?
Korel Laloix: Absurd compared to what?
Eliza Madrigal: one has to perhaps have a delight in things just a bit 'off' to enjoy SL...
  --BELL--1345
Eliza Madrigal: what brings you to Play as Being Kyle?
Agatha Macbeth: The absurdity maybe?
Xirana Oximoxi: :)
Anemophile Resident: just exploring sl
Agatha Macbeth: Yeh, I spent about the first six months here exploring and little else
Agatha Macbeth: was ages before I started attending meetings regularly
arabella Ella: i still enjoy exploring SL occasionally
arabella Ella: so much to explore
Eliza Madrigal nods.. I jumped in and began with meetings and am only now exploring more
Xirana Oximoxi: hi again Zen :)
Zen Arado: Hi all
Agatha Macbeth: Seems to be not quite so much these days as when I started tho :(
Eliza Madrigal: was so thrilled to find substantive conversation
Agatha Macbeth: Hello Zenny
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Zen
Zen Arado: substantive?
Anemophile Resident: i've been looking for nonspiritual people who are using spiritual techniques in their everyday life
arabella Ella: Hiya Zen!
Anemophile Resident: hello zen
Agatha Macbeth: Oh, interesting
arabella Ella: you may have found the right place here Kyle!
Zen Arado: Hi Kyle
Eliza Madrigal: oh, well here we are a wide range... spiritual, nonspiritual, antispiritual...
arabella Ella: although we also have banter and other stuff
Agatha Macbeth: Depends how one defines 'spiritual' tho I guess
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Anemophile Resident: well i'm currently interested in the use of mantras
Agatha Macbeth: Ah
arabella Ella: cool
arabella Ella: is it correct to say you mean spiritual stuff that is non denominational or non religious Kyle?
Eliza Madrigal consider mantras central to personal practice... but I may be 'spiritual' :)
Anemophile Resident: i'm not sure exactly what i mean i guess
Anemophile Resident: the line between religious and spiritual isn't very clear
Eliza Madrigal: maybe it is a desire to be inclusive?
Agatha Macbeth nods. I get like that too!
Mickorod Renard: I would like clarification on the extent of what a mantra and what multitude of forms they are in
Zen Arado: labels that are hard to define
arabella Ella: why do so many of you seem to be going for definitions tonight?
Mickorod Renard: and clarification on what I meant by my last statement (hehe)
arabella Ella: surely we dont need to define everything
Eliza Madrigal: we often seem to want to find our location on a map first
Zen Arado: that's wehat our minds seem to like doing
Eliza Madrigal: *we are here*

(Can you see that big arrow? :)
arabella Ella: life is after all very complex and fuzzy
Agatha Macbeth: A friend of mine always says 'look at the form and not the words'
Anemophile Resident:but if we can't define something, how do we know we're talking about the same things?
Eliza Madrigal smiles at Ara... that would make a great tag "complex and fuzzy"
arabella Ella: i prefer the fuzziness and complexity as it is often difficult to agree on any simple definitions
Eliza Madrigal: even with definitions there is a lot of room for complex and fuzzy
Agatha Macbeth: True that
Eliza Madrigal: :) but... hm... re mantras...
Anemophile Resident: usually more definitions makes things more complex
Zen Arado: what are mantras?
Anemophile Resident: well, i know very little about them, but....
arabella Ella: could we perhaps discuss the value of mantras in the sense of their usefulness, what they do for us?
Zen Arado: like chants?
Anemophile Resident: they are a yogic practice of reciting (internally or vocally) some syllable or phrase a set number of times
Zen Arado: like OM?
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Anemophile Resident: exactly
arabella Ella: or like prayer
arabella Ella: repetitive
Eliza Madrigal: OM AH HUM
Anemophile Resident: well some are prayers and some are just phrases or sounds
Eliza Madrigal: right... "the Lord's Prayer" could be considered a kind of mantra
Zen Arado: or a chant
Anemophile Resident: the power of mantras is suppossed to come not from the meaning of the words though
arabella Ella: any prayer could Eliza especially when repeated since we then dont focus so much on the meaning of the words but on its calming effect
Anemophile Resident: it's the sounds they create or the vibrations they induce in our bodies when physically uttered
arabella Ella: exactly
Mickorod Renard: is it not some form of conditioning by subliminal suggestion?
Eliza Madrigal: if we begin to see how often we are repeating things heedlessly, then we may see why mantras are useful
Zen Arado: calming effect
Agatha Macbeth nods @ Liz
Xirana Oximoxi: I go now..take care all! :)
arabella Ella: i use mantras to get to sleep at night
arabella Ella: bye Xirana
Zen Arado: byee Xiri :)
Eliza Madrigal: Bye Xiri, nice to see you
Mickorod Renard: bye Xir
Anemophile Resident: well in my exprience, they allow us to stop thinking for a time and just listen
Agatha Macbeth: Adios Xira, hasta porno :p
Eliza Madrigal: oh, lovely Ara
Xirana Oximoxi: bye:)
Mickorod Renard: take care
Anemophile Resident: bye
Zen Arado: so also a form of meditation?
Eliza Madrigal nods... that does seem the heart of it Kyle
Eliza Madrigal: sorry, brb
Anemophile Resident: exactly, its core to many types of yoga
Zen Arado: 'Lord have mercy on me, a sinner'
Zen Arado: Christian mantra
Agatha Macbeth: Me too :p
Korel Laloix: Off to another chat.
Korel Laloix: Ciao
Agatha Macbeth: Bye K, have fun
Eliza Madrigal waves to Korel
arabella Ella: bye Korel
  --BELL--1400
Zen Arado: bye Kori
Mickorod Renard: bye Korel
Mickorod Renard: the interesting thing with most this stuff is that there is some search for perfection,,or purification
arabella Ella: if i may give an example
Eliza Madrigal listens
arabella Ella: of prayer as mantra
Mickorod Renard: either one way or another
arabella Ella: i was raised a catholic
Agatha Macbeth: :)
arabella Ella: and as kids we said the Holy Rosary with all the family ... multiple generations together
arabella Ella: and as kids it had a very calming effect
arabella Ella: and there was focus on the sounds and repetition
arabella Ella: not sure whether anyone else could identify with this too?
Anemophile Resident: well the rosary is very close to a mala
arabella Ella: to a mantra you mean Kyle?
Anemophile Resident: no, a mala
Zen Arado: mala beads
Eliza Madrigal: yes
arabella Ella: could you explain?
Anemophile Resident: one way to say a mantra is on a mala of 108 beads
Anemophile Resident: you say it once for each bead
Zen Arado: Tibetan Buddhism I think?
arabella Ella: wow cool
Anemophile Resident: it's actually hindu in origin i believe
Agatha Macbeth: Interesting
arabella Ella: i must confess i had never heard of a mala
Anemophile Resident: but buddhism is really an expansion of hindu traditions
Agatha Macbeth: Why 108, does anyone know?
Anemophile Resident: there are many stories
arabella Ella: 9 x 12?
Agatha Macbeth: I see
Anemophile Resident: i don't think anyone really knows
arabella Ella: 3 as a basic number?
Agatha Macbeth: Okay, just wondered
arabella Ella: trinity?
arabella Ella: just my rough guess
arabella Ella: not knowledge
arabella Ella: ignorance
Eliza Madrigal: people attach various significances
Agatha Macbeth: Cos a friend of mine does Vedic chanting, and they do it 108 times
Mickorod Renard: 3 is a cosmic number
Anemophile Resident: it's the magic number
Eliza Madrigal: I just think it is interesting to see that we take on repetitive patterns whether or not with intention... such as having songs in our minds or replaying conversations over and over again
Zen Arado: rumination isn't supposed to be good for us though?
Zen Arado: worry is like that
Agatha Macbeth: Isn't that what cows do?
Anemophile Resident: well there has been evidence in research into music therapy that repeating certain rhythms and frequencies stimulates different parts of the brain
Zen Arado: :)
Mickorod Renard: I agree with your last statement Eliza
Eliza Madrigal: for some mantras are a kind of reprogramming but I like the idea of clearing space ... listening... there seem to be deep resonances with certain 'seed' syllables
arabella Ella: I like that perspective on music Kyle!
Agatha Macbeth: I can well believe that Kyle
Mickorod Renard: the sun also has a frequency that it transmits
arabella Ella: and popular music is always very repetitive too
Agatha Macbeth: True
arabella Ella: take eurovision ... he he
Zen Arado: rhythms of life
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Agatha Macbeth: You take it babe LOL
arabella Ella: or the beatles old tunes
Agatha Macbeth: Coo coo ca choo
arabella Ella: u take that aggers .... not the music group tho
Agatha Macbeth grins
Agatha Macbeth: I hear they are making a comeback
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: it was nice to see you all... have to go...
Agatha Macbeth: Ran out of money maybe
Agatha Macbeth: Bye Liz, take care ♥
Zen Arado: byee Eliza
Mickorod Renard: all you need is love
Anemophile Resident: farewell
Eliza Madrigal: love is all you need  (well we have you!)
Mickorod Renard: bye Liz
Eliza Madrigal: ♥ ♥ ♥
Eliza Madrigal smiles... mantra... love love love...
Agatha Macbeth: (nice pants)
Eliza Madrigal: :) bye for now, hugs, ty
Mickorod Renard: ♥ ♥ ♥
arabella Ella: bye Eliza!
arabella Ella: yes aggers i too heard about the take that come back
arabella Ella: but at the moment ... here it is euro 2012
arabella Ella: football fever
arabella Ella: and heat fever
arabella Ella: hit 40 degrees here today
Agatha Macbeth: I'd think Robbie is maybe too fat for that sorta thing nowadays :p
arabella Ella: oh and happy summer to all of you
arabella Ella: yesterday was the first day of summer ... summer solstice
Agatha Macbeth: Oh, Portugal beat Czech 1-0 (Ronaldo)
Zen Arado: Portugal1 0 Czech
Zen Arado: yep
arabella Ella: leap year this year
Agatha Macbeth: Boing
arabella Ella: ??
Zen Arado: England are getting optimistic again
Mickorod Renard: yes, I was hoping lots of women may propose to me
Agatha Macbeth: Don't worry, they won't win the next one!
Agatha Macbeth: They never beat Italy
Agatha Macbeth: Ah well
arabella Ella: you never know aggers
arabella Ella: here on sunday it will be a bit like a world war
Mickorod Renard: I bet if I look at the record England must av beat em once
Agatha Macbeth: Anyways, time for me to move on kiddywinks
Agatha Macbeth: mantra well
  --BELL--1415
arabella Ella: owwww
Mickorod Renard: bye Ags
arabella Ella: good night aggers
Anemophile Resident: goodbye
Zen Arado: OMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Zen Arado: nite Aggers
Agatha Macbeth: I just hope it doesn't go to penalties!
arabella Ella: my prediction is that it will go to penalties on sunday
Zen Arado: would like to see England win
arabella Ella: meeee toooo
arabella Ella: Rooooooney!
Zen Arado: :)
arabella Ella smiles
Zen Arado: wish Man U still had Ronaldo
arabella Ella: ahhhh!
Zen Arado: even if he is vain :)
Mickorod Renard: someone has to whip these mediteranean types
arabella Ella: United dont have as much cash as some other teams
Zen Arado: no
arabella Ella: but United have motivation, guts and reputation!
Mickorod Renard: I have to head home now,,see you soon,,take care
Zen Arado: yep
arabella Ella: bed time for me too
arabella Ella: good night Zen and Kyle!
Anemophile Resident: well i guess we're all leaving then
Zen Arado: kk nite all
Anemophile Resident: goodbye