2015.01.15 13:00 - Thoughts Wafting, Buddhas Rafting, Welcoming the Winds

The Guardians for this meeting were Storm and Shinju. The comments are by the same.

--BELL--

ShinjuJin Resident considers making a "yellow dot" tag
Storm Nordwind: hehe. hello Shinju!
ShinjuJin Resident: Hi Storm :)

ShinjuJin Resident: And hi Curious :)
CuriousBeing Resident: hi Shinju and Storm :)
Storm Nordwind: Hello CuriousBeing :)
ShinjuJin Resident: purple boots ^^
CuriousBeing Resident: hehe yes!
ShinjuJin Resident smiles
Storm Nordwind: With red soles - even better.
ShinjuJin Resident: fancy pants
CuriousBeing Resident: :D
CuriousBeing Resident: lol
CuriousBeing Resident: a fashion risk!

ShinjuJin Resident: I was thinking of announcing the session beforehand, but without a particular topic , opted not to
ShinjuJin Resident: with so few sessions now it is really easy to forget the times though
Storm Nordwind: They are listed on the wiki front page though, are they not?
CuriousBeing Resident: I find its easy to remember one session ... so here I am :)
ShinjuJin Resident: :) both true
ShinjuJin Resident: but when getting out of the habit, sometimes it is good to find a fish hook dangling

ShinjuJin Resident: how are you both today? what are you thinking about?
CuriousBeing Resident: pretty good thanks, you?
ShinjuJin Resident: getting over a terrible migraine, so feeling great
Storm Nordwind: I'm well, thank you. As for thought, it is just wafting on the wind. ;)
CuriousBeing Resident: nice to get over those!
ShinjuJin Resident: :) wafting on the wind
CuriousBeing Resident: no wind here today so just wafting :)

ShinjuJin Resident: some alts I know had a discussion recently, on another planet, about whether buddhism has a similar potential for dogmatism and abuse as other forms of thought, but not sure that's interesting anymore
CuriousBeing Resident: :)
ShinjuJin Resident: (forms of thought isn't the right category either :P) the word then was philosophies
CuriousBeing Resident: was actually discussing that this am over coffee :)
Storm Nordwind: Buddhism sure does have a potential for dogmatism. But so do so many things.
ShinjuJin Resident: you were, Curious?
CuriousBeing Resident: yes
CuriousBeing Resident: this article came up
CuriousBeing Resident: http://www.globalbuddhism.org/13/batchelor12.pdf
CuriousBeing Resident: and we discussed it
ShinjuJin Resident: oh, isn't Steven Bachelor who wrote Buddhism Without Beliefs? Secular Buddhist Network was really big here in SL for a while
ShinjuJin Resident: what brought Zen into SL I think I remember
CuriousBeing Resident: yes
CuriousBeing Resident: I thought the article made some interesting points
Storm Nordwind: It is fitting that that article finishes with the parable of the raft. That parable is ignored by so so many "Buddhists in high places".

CuriousBeing Resident: hi Agatha :)
ShinjuJin Resident: thanks, I'll read it
ShinjuJin Resident: Hi Agatha!
Agatha Macbeth: Hello PaBers and PaBettes
ShinjuJin Resident: all dressed up...speaking of fancy

CuriousBeing Resident: yes, I particularly like that parable
ShinjuJin Resident: what do you mean Storm?
Storm Nordwind: Hello Aggers!
Storm Nordwind: Are you familiar with Buddha's parable of the raft?
ShinjuJin Resident: I am, others?
Agatha Macbeth: Didn't know he had one
Storm Nordwind: haha!
ShinjuJin Resident grins
CuriousBeing Resident: I know it now from the article
CuriousBeing Resident: I like the question "does it float?"
Storm Nordwind: If has stuck with me for some years. Buddhism exists (as implies by the parable and good common sense) as a means to an end, not an end in itself.
Storm Nordwind: It is the raft.
CuriousBeing Resident: yes I really like that idea
Storm Nordwind: To carry the raft on your back after you have crossed the river and escaped danger is not necessarily wise!
ShinjuJin Resident: me too... I think that's why it has been hard for me to fit in with the little temple I keep trying to return to.. am spoiled by pab I think
Storm Nordwind: Easy to be spoiled by PaB!
ShinjuJin Resident: :)
CuriousBeing Resident: indeed!
Agatha Macbeth: Little temple?
ShinjuJin Resident: a nice group of practitioners that I enjoy, but there is this barrier that comes up
CuriousBeing Resident: I take for granted the openness here and expect to find that everywhere ...
Agatha Macbeth: Maybe there's an entrance fee
ShinjuJin Resident: yes
ShinjuJin Resident: lol

--BELL--

ShinjuJin Resident: the point to me isn't to be a buddhist
ShinjuJin Resident: so raft parable is apt
Storm Nordwind: Having compassion for those still crossing the river - and to whom the raft is very valuable - doesn't mean you have to jump back in the river yourself! :)
CuriousBeing Resident: :)
Storm Nordwind: Buddhism is A raft. Not necessarily THE raft.
ShinjuJin Resident: so where do you go? haha
CuriousBeing Resident: agree that
CuriousBeing Resident: you be ... I think
Storm Nordwind: Or you sit by the riverbank and throw mooring lines to incoming craft. If you want to. There's plenty of other things to do. :)
Agatha Macbeth: Or fish
ShinjuJin Resident: sometimes I feel like I've been in college a long time and have never finished a major cause I keep switching
Storm Nordwind: That's OK
ShinjuJin Resident: keep watching friends get their diplomas, feel a little left out
CuriousBeing Resident: that's good I think
Storm Nordwind: You have something they never will have
Storm Nordwind: You have a breadth of experience, and are not dependent on one single thing for knowledge, or fun, or satisfaction, or service.

Being Second

Storm Nordwind: It is part of a book I am writing. It has a working title of "The Joy of Being Second". ;-)
ShinjuJin Resident: please say more?
Storm Nordwind: Many people strive (or at least pay lip service to) the idea of being the best at something, or at least excelling at one thing.
Storm Nordwind: That takes a huge amount of time and focus.
Storm Nordwind: And the probability of success can be small.
Storm Nordwind: The potential for disappointment can be great.
Storm Nordwind: Why not, instead, accept a lesser achievement status, a level that can be achieved with far less time, effort, and risk?
Storm Nordwind: That way you preserve your resources for other subjects. You can repeat the exercise with successful achievements to that level in other subjects.
Agatha Macbeth: I think that's a concept most Americans would struggle with :p
Storm Nordwind: It's not so much being a jack or jill of all trades.
Storm Nordwind: Instead you can gain pleasure from so many more things than most other people are used to.
Storm Nordwind: Yes Agatha, I agree.
Storm Nordwind: And that's why I am writing it.
Storm Nordwind: There are lots of side channels to that subject, that'll I'll cover in the book. But that is the basic theme.
ShinjuJin Resident: In part, that's because of introductions perhaps.. the way we might say "here is so n so, and they ____" I think most people would like to give a clear impression
ShinjuJin Resident: whether that's possible, I don't know. we may intend to give one impression but people around us glean other things
Storm Nordwind: "And what do you do?" "Where shall I start? How much time do you have?" :))
ShinjuJin Resident: ah, worse than that is "what does your husband do?" for (even) the modern suburban woman :P
Agatha Macbeth: That's presuming you have one of course...
Storm Nordwind: Yuk. Defining a woman by her husband. Does that still happen?
ShinjuJin Resident: :) it felt like a time warp when I moved into my former neighborhood... happened almost immediately when I took the kids to the pool
Agatha Macbeth: >.<
Storm Nordwind: Sounds like a 'pool' of people that didn't deserve you, Shinju!

CuriousBeing Resident: I think its ok to try to achieve a certain goal but to recognize that its not required. that you shouldn't feel that you have to. and certainly shouldn't compare yourself to others' achievements
ShinjuJin Resident: :) well, just another group I tried to fit into and failed
ShinjuJin Resident: indeed Curious, that seems the healthy stance

--BELL--

Storm Nordwind: Absolutely CuriousBeing. But most people are taught to focus, focus, focus on one thing to the exclusion of most else. That, I find, is a waste of time and opportunity. You have to ask yourself, "Why am I focussing on this goal?" What is the real answer, deep down? And answering that honestly will bring a pragmatic answer.
CuriousBeing Resident: if you want to get to Carnegie Hall .... practice, practice, practice :)
CuriousBeing Resident: for the love of it
ShinjuJin Resident: right, no doubt there is value in practicing even when you don't feel it, though
Storm Nordwind: Well practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect. And perfection is a chimera.
ShinjuJin Resident: in class, I always liked to be in the second row... years later I realized I'm like that generally, that I don't like to be out front but I like to be real close and supportive of those in front :)
CuriousBeing Resident: :)
ShinjuJin Resident: I tell my son to choose direction based on the kinds of people he wants to spend time with
CuriousBeing Resident: I always liked the front and was afraid to turn around and see all those behind me hehe
Storm Nordwind: "You become the company you keep."
CuriousBeing Resident: also was nearsighted lol
ShinjuJin Resident: hah
ShinjuJin Resident: there were some classes I'd linger by the door before, to see where people situated themselves, then I'd sort of spacially choose, but in general second row
Storm Nordwind: I was once criticized in a performance review - maybe 30 years ago - by my boss for always sitting on the front row in large meetings. I asked him, "So you don't like a front runner?" He never brought it up again. :)
ShinjuJin Resident: criticized? why?
CuriousBeing Resident: :)
Storm Nordwind: Please don't ask me to crawl inside his head and explain his judgment! ;)
ShinjuJin Resident: hahah

CuriousBeing Resident: hi Qt
ShinjuJin Resident: I think it is fun to compete and challenge oneself as long as one is able to drop it when appropriate
Agatha Macbeth: Buona sera QT
ShinjuJin Resident: Hi Qt :)
Qt Core: Hi all
ShinjuJin Resident: It is fun to have friends who can play vigorously then switch gears after and rest
Storm Nordwind smiles

Misaeng

ShinjuJin Resident: I really, btw, have to give one more shot at recommending a korean show called Misaeng to everyone
ShinjuJin Resident: I'd feel as though I were hoarding a secret not to mention just once more
ShinjuJin Resident: Misaeng means
ShinjuJin Resident: Incomplete Life
CuriousBeing Resident: great that you get so much enjoyment from that
ShinjuJin Resident: so the topic makes me think of that
Agatha Macbeth: I'm still waiting to see Siworae ;P
Storm Nordwind: I see it is a TV series based on a webtoon. You mean the TV or the toon?
ShinjuJin Resident: it just finished as a tv drama
ShinjuJin Resident: Gaya liked it too :)
Agatha Macbeth: Not suprised
ShinjuJin Resident: I wasn't going to watch it because the photo is goofy
Storm Nordwind: Having worked in Korea, I will look out for it.
ShinjuJin Resident: but it is very profound
ShinjuJin Resident: I think you'll appreciate it very much Storm, and it has a GO theme running in the background
ShinjuJin Resident: or, Baduk
Storm Nordwind smiles broadly
ShinjuJin Resident: okay commercial over :)
Storm Nordwind: haha~

Regularly Scheduled Program...

Agatha Macbeth: We now return you to PaB
ShinjuJin Resident: hahaha
CuriousBeing Resident: :)
ShinjuJin Resident: with subtitles
Agatha Macbeth: Meanwhile back at the fountain...
CuriousBeing Resident: your regularly scheduled program :)
ShinjuJin Resident giggling
Agatha Macbeth: Sponsored by No Self
ShinjuJin Resident: whoa love it
Agatha Macbeth tickles Shin's feet
ShinjuJin Resident: :)))

ShinjuJin Resident: Is the busy season over for you Agatha?
Agatha Macbeth: Thankfully yes
ShinjuJin Resident: congrats, you made it through
Agatha Macbeth: Now it's just a case of recovering
ShinjuJin Resident: important
Agatha Macbeth: Mm

--BELL--

Agatha Macbeth: When does the Chinese new year start?
ShinjuJin Resident: soon...
Storm Nordwind: ish
ShinjuJin Resident looks
Storm Nordwind looks away
Agatha Macbeth: Wondering what date
ShinjuJin Resident: Feb 19
Agatha Macbeth: Wow, that late?
ShinjuJin Resident: does seem late, but I'm glad. there is a festival I hope to attend

Storm Nordwind: from the horse to the goat, I believe
Agatha Macbeth: Think so
ShinjuJin Resident: what's the energy of the goat?
Storm Nordwind: voracious! ;)
Agatha Macbeth: Butting things?
ShinjuJin Resident: :)))
ShinjuJin Resident: climbing?
Agatha Macbeth: That's a mountain goat
ShinjuJin Resident: hm
Agatha Macbeth: Goat's milk is quite nice
ShinjuJin Resident: makes wonderful cheese and soap
Agatha Macbeth: Never tried the cheese unfortunately
ShinjuJin Resident: omgoodness... with beets and baby greens and a light dressing
Storm Nordwind: Cashmere is wonderful.
CuriousBeing Resident: :)
Agatha Macbeth: Never ate a pullover
ShinjuJin Resident: :)
CuriousBeing Resident: lol
Storm Nordwind: You should try it!
ShinjuJin Resident: was hearing the song in my mind
Agatha Macbeth: Zep?
Storm Nordwind: Different spelling
ShinjuJin Resident: mhm
Agatha Macbeth: Interesting place
ShinjuJin Resident: cashmere doesn't do well in south florida unfortunately >weeps<
Agatha Macbeth: Aww
ShinjuJin Resident: >drips<
ShinjuJin Resident: lol
Agatha Macbeth: Weepy drippy
Storm Nordwind: Try the mountains instead. ;)
Agatha Macbeth: Yeh
ShinjuJin Resident: yeah yeah, sigh :)
Agatha Macbeth: And the goats

Pasta...

ShinjuJin Resident: :) so quiet Qt... are we too weird today?
Agatha Macbeth: Or making pasta?
CuriousBeing Resident: funny stream of consciousness :)
ShinjuJin Resident: smiling a lot actually
Qt Core: a little late for pasta (and i haven't got yet what byou are talking about tonight)
Agatha Macbeth loves a smiling Shinju
CuriousBeing Resident: from Chinese New Year to eating pullovers :)
Storm Nordwind: If pasta, he needs Storm's Italian Sauce recipe.
Agatha Macbeth nods
CuriousBeing Resident: ok now longing for some pasta ha!
ShinjuJin Resident: what kind of sauce Storm? I like basil heavy tomato sauces
Storm Nordwind: This has no basil
Agatha Macbeth: Basil!
ShinjuJin Resident: alas
Agatha Macbeth: What about Manuel?
Storm Nordwind: But I'll tell you it if you would like.
ShinjuJin Resident: sure, yes
ShinjuJin Resident listens
Agatha Macbeth: Storm's Kitchen vol. 57
CuriousBeing Resident: tell us s l o w hehe
Storm Nordwind: haha
ShinjuJin Resident: hahhaa
Agatha Macbeth: No rush
Storm Nordwind: Tell you what. I'll post it as a comment to the log, when published.
ShinjuJin Resident: okay marvelous, thank you :)
Agatha Macbeth: THAT long eh?
CuriousBeing Resident: before dinner time?
Storm Nordwind: haha!
Agatha Macbeth: 'Take one goat...'
CuriousBeing Resident: lol
ShinjuJin Resident: I go into the pabcafe list once in a while to remember what storm has posted
ShinjuJin Resident: ran across Alfred's salmon pasta the other day too
Agatha Macbeth: Oh yes
Agatha Macbeth: Still have those
CuriousBeing Resident: ok on the way to the kitchen ha!
Agatha Macbeth: Wonder how Boxy is now?
ShinjuJin Resident laughing
CuriousBeing Resident: take care all
ShinjuJin Resident: Nice to see you Curious, happy eating
CuriousBeing Resident: nice to see you
Qt Core: bye curious
CuriousBeing Resident: bye
Agatha Macbeth: Be careful in there
ShinjuJin Resident: I guess, as with people, when the computers are off and one reflects, there are some strong impressions of the group... warm and alive people who somehow found their way to each other
ShinjuJin Resident: it isn't credentials
Agatha Macbeth: I came in a balloon
ShinjuJin Resident: me too!!
Storm Nordwind smiles
Agatha Macbeth: Bit like the Wizard of Oz

--BELL--

Agatha Macbeth: Actually Bieup hasn't changed much since I arrived
Storm Nordwind: Do you find that good or bad, Agatha?
Agatha Macbeth: Oh good
ShinjuJin Resident: I remember the little village houses in the woods
Agatha Macbeth: Definitely
ShinjuJin Resident: we need a retreat house with bunk beds and a fireplace
ShinjuJin Resident: :))
Agatha Macbeth: Considering how most of the stuff on the neighbouring sims has vanished
ShinjuJin Resident nods
Agatha Macbeth: Baikun is practically empty now
ShinjuJin Resident: that's kind of sad...wonder if there will be any resurgence in SL after the end of year when occulus is more mainstream
Storm Nordwind: SL is just one thing people will use Occulus for. And i suspect SL will be waaaay down the list of schedule priorities.
ShinjuJin Resident: yeah... I think it would be really hard to renew academia in SL
ShinjuJin Resident: and not sure occulus would help with that
 

Track IR...

Storm Nordwind: I use Track IR in other worlds. It is a must for virtual reality if you want a mix of immersion with ease of doing other things - keeping a toe in both worlds, as it were.
Qt Core: isn't the usual SL interaction too slow for that
ShinjuJin Resident: not sure at all
ShinjuJin Resident: Track IR? a kind of immersive tool?
Storm Nordwind: It is a head tracker.
Storm Nordwind: Basically to shows you on your screen what you would be looking at
ShinjuJin Resident: ahh
Storm Nordwind: Let me describe quickly...
Storm Nordwind: it's like a camera that sits on top of your PC, and combines with an attachment to your headset.
Storm Nordwind: It works in 6 axes.
Storm Nordwind: An example...
Storm Nordwind: Suppose in a virtual world I am flying an airplane
Storm Nordwind: I can turn my head to the left and right, or up and down and look out at the world, or my instrument panels, or passengers.
Storm Nordwind: Or I can lean forward and "zoom in" to my instruments.
Storm Nordwind: Or I can lean sideway, over the edge of my open cockpit (for example) and then turn my head around to look at the ground or my tailplane
ShinjuJin Resident: does it keep pace?
Storm Nordwind: It keeps pace exactly, with no lag at all
Agatha Macbeth: Good lord
ShinjuJin Resident: wow... I thought that was what was taking so long
ShinjuJin Resident: re virtual tech becoming more embodyable
Agatha Macbeth: Can you see the Red Baron behind you?
ShinjuJin Resident: hah
Storm Nordwind: Yes you can Aggers!
Storm Nordwind: But only for a while ;)
ShinjuJin Resident: we have a wii, like most families with teenagers, and it is fun but due to lag you never forget you are playing
ShinjuJin Resident: even though it is slight
Storm Nordwind: Right. With TrackIR you are immersed because it need have no lag (unless you want it to)
Storm Nordwind: There is a feature that is both a plus and a minus when compared to occulus.
Storm Nordwind: That is with Track IR it only affects your screen (or multiple screens if you have them working together)
Storm Nordwind: that means you can still see your other screen (if you use it only on one) and anyone standing next to you, your cup of coffee and your telephone if it rings
ShinjuJin Resident: ahhh so it has the effect of more overlap in RL environment?
Storm Nordwind: yes. But you can choose only to concentrate on your screen if you want to and be fully immersed.

--BELL--

Storm Nordwind: Or you can choose to reach for your coffee.
ShinjuJin Resident: I know what son and I will be talking about during dinner tonight :)
Storm Nordwind: Beware...
ShinjuJin Resident: haha
Storm Nordwind: once used it is addictive
Storm Nordwind: and it costs something like $160
ShinjuJin Resident: I can't become addicted anymore, due to the health things, wish I could. He's already addicted so we better go all in or all out at this point
ShinjuJin Resident: :) All in worked for me for a while
Storm Nordwind nods
Agatha Macbeth: Wrestling?
ShinjuJin Resident: sometimes
Storm Nordwind: It comes "game ready' for well over 200 popular games. I used it for Flight Simulator X and Elite: Dangerous - both simulation games
ShinjuJin Resident: sounds really neat... will do some research on it

Agatha Macbeth: And on that note kiddywinks...
ShinjuJin Resident: oops...had camera locked onto Aggers
Storm Nordwind: It's a long time since anyone called me a kiddywink!
ShinjuJin Resident: flew into the sky :))
Agatha Macbeth: Have fun, be meaningful x
Qt Core: bye
ShinjuJin Resident: okay... can take a hint...hah, and should feed my son too

ShinjuJin Resident: once a year I have a Storm dream, usually around this time of year... last year's perplexed me for most of 2014 so i'm on the look out.... often gives me a feeling of focus... will report
Storm Nordwind: And I should go cook - and find that recipe for you. :)
ShinjuJin Resident: thanks!
ShinjuJin Resident: see you both soon
Storm Nordwind: I will await the dream :)
ShinjuJin Resident: :))
ShinjuJin Resident: bfn
Storm Nordwind waves
Storm Nordwind: I must go too. Please excuse me Qt

Qt Core: for a different pasta search for Pizzoccheri recipe ;-)
Qt Core: me too i need sleep
Storm Nordwind waves