2013.01.07 19:00 - Edge of Composure

The Guardian for this meeting was Eliza Madrigal. The comments are by Eliza Madrigal, who was joined by Aphrodite for most of the session, with Ewan, a visitor, and Stevenaia arriving toward the end...
 

Since everything is but an illusion, perfect in being what it is, having nothing
to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one might as well burst out laughing! 
~ Longchenpa
 

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Aph!
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Eliza
Aphrodite Macbain: I wondered what that magnificent looking thing was
Eliza Madrigal: great to see you
Aphrodite Macbain: the same. I'd love to spend more time with you chatting

Aphrodite Macbain: How are you feeling?
Eliza Madrigal: fun to step into a new way of movement sometimes
Aphrodite Macbain: what are you?
Eliza Madrigal: just fine thanks, you?
Aphrodite Macbain: a sort of dragonfly?
Aphrodite Macbain: a Japanese dragonfly
Eliza Madrigal: Am a koi mermaid :)
Aphrodite Macbain: ah, of course
Eliza Madrigal: but alas... must swim in air
Aphrodite Macbain: you could take a dip in the pool here
Eliza Madrigal smiles... yes maybe refresh my fins a bit
Eliza Madrigal: how are you doing Aph?

                                       did you choose equanimity for this week?

Aphrodite Macbain: I was just looking at druth's new site
Eliza Madrigal: site?
Aphrodite Macbain: I put a bunch of daffodils at each corner.
Aphrodite Macbain: plot?
Eliza Madrigal: ooh, will have to see
Aphrodite Macbain: she is going to build a half-pavilion to put PaB displays in. It's looking good
Eliza Madrigal: wow what a great idea
Aphrodite Macbain: Imagine the pavilion sliced in half
Eliza Madrigal: :) didn't know she built things...
Aphrodite Macbain: She's hoping to do something for the annversary
Eliza Madrigal: hope to be of help in some way myself
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- I'm glad of that

Aphrodite Macbain: I'd love to see us collaboratng with other sites
Aphrodite Macbain: other sims, groups
Eliza Madrigal: i've liked that idea also... which sites and groups do you have in mind?
Aphrodite Macbain: the way you have done with The Sakura
Eliza Madrigal: ah, that is distinct though there is overlap... not sure it is a "community" as such, as we are here
Aphrodite Macbain: In fact, i think it woulld be fun to put on a performance here to celebrate PAB
Eliza Madrigal: yes, me too
Eliza Madrigal: now you are very experienced at it!
Aphrodite Macbain: I'd like to see what can be done ith Melioria- now called Sorrentina
Aphrodite Macbain: they are a definitely community
Eliza Madrigal: am looking forward to things forming... glad we have a bit of time
Aphrodite Macbain: me too

--BELL--

Eliza Madrigal: Hi Ewan :)
Aphrodite Macbain: Hello Ewan
Aphrodite Macbain: Thanks for coming to the play
Ewan Bonham: Hi Aphro and Eliza..
Eliza Madrigal: was sorry to miss it... was seeing a different play :)
Ewan Bonham: Oh it was really an amazing experience!
Eliza Madrigal: did you take pictures?
Aphrodite Macbain: lol - yes- it was crazy
Aphrodite Macbain: Poor Ewan kept crashing and kept returning
Ewan Bonham: It was really professionallly done ... in so many respects..
Eliza Madrigal: the first play was well done in that sense too... impressively cast and costumed
Ewan Bonham: And I was able to easily follow who was speaking by looking at the body gestures..
Aphrodite Macbain: yes- Bajoy and her Australian colleagues are marvellous, and Sere who dealt with all thing technical like costumes and poseballs was a brick - a creative brick
Aphrodite Macbain: Did my body gesures make sense Ewan?
Aphrodite Macbain: I could only imagine what I was saying

--BELL--

Aphrodite Macbain: I did appreciate the fact that you came back for more at 2pm
Ewan Bonham: Yes, they were all working together soo well..
Ewan Bonham: Lol..
Eliza Madrigal: nice energy in that group and environment... everyone putting care into things

Aphrodite Macbain: It really became another sort of community - felt it especially when I lost my sound- everybody was being so supportive and cheering me up as I was freaking out

Aphrodite Macbain: I'm already looking forward to the next one. I hope we can do one here in PaB
Aphrodite Macbain: A play that is-in the Molecule Teatre
Eliza Madrigal: would really love to... have gotten over some frights recently so wonder if I'll not feel nervous anymore
Aphrodite Macbain: what frights?
Eliza Madrigal: I read poetry for nearly an hour with just a few other people a few weeks ago
Eliza Madrigal: I was terrified of that
Ewan Bonham: Where did you do that, Eliza?
Eliza Madrigal: am okay talking in voice sometimes, but not 'performing'
Eliza Madrigal: VAI, Ewan
Aphrodite Macbain: VAI?
Eliza Madrigal: virtual ability community
Aphrodite Macbain: nice
Eliza Madrigal: it was... so warm
Aphrodite Macbain: were they your poems?
Eliza Madrigal: community support is so crucial
Aphrodite Macbain: nods
Eliza Madrigal: not my poems no... solstice mainly
Eliza Madrigal: another month we'll have less in the way of themes
 

Aphrodite Macbain: It is so much nicer if the poems are read aloud - there is a greater sensual richness
Eliza Madrigal: then THAT will be a huge jump :)
Eliza Madrigal: agree
Aphrodite Macbain: the next theme is spring!
Eliza Madrigal: most poetry is meant to be read aloud... though, some poems sit on pages in poetic ways
Aphrodite Macbain: yes - concrete poetry

Aphrodite Macbain: Where do you find your poems Ewan?
Eliza Madrigal: yes tell us a bit about your poetry event Ewan... the timing is often off for me... quite late
Aphrodite Macbain: 7pm
Ewan Bonham: Hmmm... in some books... but mostly surfing the net..
Aphrodite Macbain: You have a theme in mind and then look for the poetry that fits it?
Ewan Bonham: Yes...
Aphrodite Macbain: It's a good formula for a get together

Eliza Madrigal: I found a few poems on equanimity tonight....
Aphrodite Macbain: yes?
Aphrodite Macbain: can you quote one?
Eliza Madrigal: yes... here is one (hope it pastes well)
Aphrodite Macbain: :-)
Eliza Madrigal: 

Equanimity

Life in this world
at times
bestows absolute happiness.

Life in this world
at times
gives us entire sadness.

Both are two sides of a coin.

When happiness abounds
one shouldn't get excited
being stirred by it
and get overwhelmed.

When sadness descends
one shouldn't be crest-fallen
being dejected by it
and get depressed.

With both joy and gloom
one should be undeviating
neither jumping with jocundity
nor sinking in melancholy

but always mid-course keeping
essentially the golden mean seeking
ever with composure and equanimity being. 

-chandra thiagarajan
 

Eliza Madrigal: it reads like a bit of a lesson
Aphrodite Macbain: It does - but that's what equanimity is about- keeping things in balance.
Eliza Madrigal: but I liked the key point...best and worst happens at once quite often... when we are happy about something, maybe we miss someone to be happy with - or sad, but maybe surrounded by loved ones
Aphrodite Macbain: I wish I could be that way.
Aphrodite Macbain: detachment
Eliza Madrigal: clear windows for the beauty to shine through
Eliza Madrigal: Hello Visitor!
Eliza Madrigal: welcome
Aphrodite Macbain: Unmuddied by extreme emotion
Ewan Bonham: Hello Visitor...:)
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Visitor
Eliza Madrigal: nice to have you here 
Visitor: °͜° ty
Visitor: Hello
Eliza Madrigal: have you visited playasbeing before?
Visitor: no, I haven`t
Visitor: Ewan was just telling me about it
Eliza Madrigal: lovely

--BELL--

Ewan Bonham: And did not describe nearly the most of it..
Eliza Madrigal: well the main thing to know is that (right now actually) we pause every 15 minutes
Ewan Bonham: brb..
stevenaia Michinaga: greetings
Eliza Madrigal: it is a micro meditation of sorts, and sometimes we take it as an opportunity
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Stevenia, just introducing visitor to the group
Aphrodite Macbain: Hi Stevenaia
stevenaia Michinaga: welcome 
Eliza Madrigal: lovely to catch up a little Aph, nite and sweet dreams
Aphrodite Macbain: Did you get a chance to explore more last night?
stevenaia Michinaga: hi Aph, Eliza, Ewan
stevenaia Michinaga: no, but I will be a back
Aphrodite Macbain: (I showed Stevenaia my other life in Sorrentina)
Eliza Madrigal: Visitor, I do need to let you know we record these sessions and place them on a public wiki at playasbeing.org
stevenaia Michinaga: I need suitable clothing (1600's)
Aphrodite Macbain: OK let me know and I will find some great 18th c clothes- free- for you

[visitor poof abruptly]

Aphrodite Macbain: oops
Eliza Madrigal: hm, that answers that, lol
stevenaia Michinaga: thanks
Aphrodite Macbain: lol
Eliza Madrigal: hehehe
Aphrodite Macbain: we must be scary
stevenaia Michinaga: you can IM her
Eliza Madrigal: that's okay... she hardly said a word
stevenaia Michinaga: oh was she here for just a moment
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Aphrodite Macbain: byyee

Eliza Madrigal: I was just about to post a few more things about equanimity... interested?
stevenaia Michinaga: sure
Aphrodite Macbain: have to go
Eliza Madrigal waves warmly to Aph
stevenaia Michinaga: bye Aph

Eliza Madrigal: okay... sometimes people confuse equanimity with apathy...
Eliza Madrigal: so when I saw the following I thought it was phrased nicely:

Eliza Madrigal:


"Equanimity comes from the Latin word aequus meaning balanced, and animus meaning spirit or internal state."

"Equanimity involves non-interference with the natural flow of subjective sensation. Apathy implies indifference to the controllable outcome of objective events. Thus, although seemingly similar, equanimity and apathy are actually opposites.

Equanimity frees up internal energy for responding to external situations. By definition, equanimity involves radical permission to feel and as such is the opposite of suppression." - Shinzen Young


stevenaia Michinaga: nicely put
stevenaia Michinaga: sounds similar to Wu Wei
Eliza Madrigal: thought so too... like the emphasis on not supressing or dulling down
Eliza Madrigal: exactly!
Eliza Madrigal: lively
stevenaia Michinaga: the action of not doing
Eliza Madrigal: nicely put too!
Eliza Madrigal: natural responsiveness

stevenaia Michinaga: or, "resistance is futile"
stevenaia Michinaga: (in many cases)
Eliza Madrigal: paying attention to resistance often fruitful
Eliza Madrigal: I noticed recently that I'd picked up a lot of persnickety preferences without realizing it
stevenaia Michinaga: for exampe?
Eliza Madrigal: that's a form or resistance... tension holding
Eliza Madrigal: I noticed this when shopping... that I'd become hm... scrutinizing
Eliza Madrigal: which is OK
Eliza Madrigal: but it was a wordless thought that popped up which seemed to say that whatever seemed to be wrong, it was more wrong to poison it with my aversion
Eliza Madrigal: it is one thing to make shifts and changes, but another to do it in a judgmental way.. or something like that
stevenaia Michinaga: even judgements have their place of taken lightly
Eliza Madrigal nods... yes it was a subtle noticing and very particular
Eliza Madrigal: as though a massage master hit the right spot and unwravels a knot you didn't know you had
stevenaia Michinaga: the only way to let go is to know you are holding on

Eliza Madrigal: how are things with you generally stevie?

--BELL--

stevenaia Michinaga: Generally on the edge, but typically or amazingly always on the right side of the edge, so a good thing :) I've come to realize that even the edge is just like every other "place"
Eliza Madrigal: wow
stevenaia Michinaga: we are always near the edge, the difference is awarness of which side you are on
Eliza Madrigal: possible not to choose sides?

stevenaia Michinaga: now over the edge is entirely different
Eliza Madrigal: :) like the cartoon that keeps walking until it looks down
stevenaia Michinaga: like riding your bike on a curb.... as long as you have balance, you could be riding anywhere
Eliza Madrigal smiles

Eliza Madrigal: interesting pre bedtime musings
Eliza Madrigal: thanks stevenaia, and ewan wherever you are, hah
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, when sleeping, don;t fall
stevenaia Michinaga: night Eliza, Ewan
Eliza Madrigal: night :) hugs
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles to you
Eliza Madrigal waves her fin

Just a few more things I'd found for the session if time:

Equanimity in Christianity 

Early and Medieval Christianity placed a great value on equanimity. Indeed it was considered one of the primary Christian virtues. This is because Christianity viewed itself as a path of radical spiritual cleansing (katharsis), with equanimity as the main tool for achieving this goal. The church fathers, who wrote primarily in Greek, had three words for equanimity:

• Nepsis: “Sober observation”
  Ataraxia: “Freedom from upset”
  Apathia: “Dispassion”(N.B. Apathia does not equal apathy!) 

• In Christianity, the theory of purification through equanimity constituted a major branch of spiritual study known technically as “ascetical theology.”

Equanimity in Judaism 

The Hebrew word for equanimity is hashlamah, which is directly related to the word for peace (shalom) and the word for completeness (shlemut). In a sense the entire spiritual path is contained within the three Hebrew letters shin-lamed-mem (sh-l-m): When one is fully present (shalem) and equanimous (hashlamah) with what is, then what is presents itself as God's peace (shalom).

Equanimity in Islam

The term Islam is usually interpreted to mean the peace that comes with surrender. It is the Arabic cognate of the Hebrew word hashlamah. A Muslim is literally “one who has become equanimous.”

[Shinzen Young]