2016.09.10 19:00 - If the future exists, what then?

The Guardian for this meeting was stevenaia Michinaga. The comments are by stevenaia Michinaga.

I was joined by two Guardians , San and Paradise and two new avatars, Almadi Masala, Cache Forster.  I offered a brief introduction and Paradise offered interesting websites on Time.

stevenaia Michinaga: have you been here before?
Almadi Masala: no I haven't
stevenaia Michinaga: hello Cache
stevenaia Michinaga: welcome to Play as Being
Cache Forster: hello !
Almadi Masala: thank you
stevenaia Michinaga: we do record these sessions, is that ok?
Almadi Masala: I found your website and thought it was intriguing
Almadi Masala: yes, that is ok
stevenaia Michinaga: cache?
Cache Forster: I understand - yes ok
stevenaia Michinaga: we have been holing these session for many years
stevenaia Michinaga: thanks
stevenaia Michinaga: glad you had a chance to check out the website
stevenaia Michinaga: hello San
Almadi Masala: I downloaded some documents from the website but haven't had time to read yet. ... there is a lot of information there
Santoshima Resident: hello
stevenaia Michinaga: we are our own exploration group of sorts,
stevenaia Michinaga: investigating the nature of reality
Almadi Masala nods
stevenaia Michinaga: every 15 minutes a bell rings and we stop for 90 seconds and observe
stevenaia Michinaga: and relax and watch
Almadi Masala: ok
stevenaia Michinaga: it's a nice break and offers a persepctive to discuss the other 13 1/2 minutes :)
stevenaia Michinaga: but in the mean time.. do you ahve any questions?
Almadi Masala: is there a topic or format for the discussion?
stevenaia Michinaga: it's loose, probably worth reading the early logs from 2008 when we began
stevenaia Michinaga: but we try to take those 90 seconds and just observe, see what thoughts pop into our minds and just "see"
Almadi Masala: all right
stevenaia Michinaga: it's often something new, typically I change my breathing pattern or those 90 seconds , helsp me relax and watch quitely
stevenaia Michinaga: what brought you here Cache?
Cache Forster: I say the discussion event - and then looked at website for a few minutes
stevenaia Michinaga: :)
Cache Forster: I had never heard of this before
stevenaia Michinaga: we just recently posted our discussions notifications, guess it works
stevenaia Michinaga: the wiki is a great resource

--BELL--

stevenaia Michinaga: I often am amazed at where 90 seconds can take you, tonight I was enveloped by the sound of Air conditioner enveloping me
stevenaia Michinaga: something I didn't even notive a moment ago
Almadi Masala: I noticed the sound of the water in the fountain, and then the sound of my computer's fan
stevenaia Michinaga: Hi Para, good to see you agin
Santoshima Resident: Paradise!
Santoshima Resident: hello dear
Paradise Tennant: hiya steve .. san .. alma ! So nice to see everyone :)
stevenaia Michinaga: it's been a while, how have you been?
Santoshima Resident: and Cache
Cache Forster: :)
Almadi Masala: hi Paradise
Paradise Tennant: hiya cache sorry in a new viewer
Paradise Tennant: oh all is well here :)

stevenaia Michinaga: sometime, while I sit for 90 seconds an entire sequence of "things" appear and tranisision to something else, like a literal "train of thoughts"
stevenaia Michinaga: note on the schedule below we meet at a variety of times of the week, so feel free to stop by any of those times
Almadi Masala: I will when I can
Almadi Masala: mindfulness is difficult for me
stevenaia Michinaga: we do take things lightly here, so no rush
Almadi Masala: :)

stevenaia Michinaga: sometimes our discussions can be topical, on thurdays throughout the summer other members were discussing a book
stevenaia Michinaga: at the 1:00 PM session
stevenaia Michinaga: the book next to Paradise there
Almadi Masala: oddly enough, I have a copy of that book in my home library
Almadi Masala: I bought it many years ago, but never read it completely
stevenaia Michinaga: it was a read that had "homework", so you know, you can read their discussion on the wiki
Paradise Tennant: smiles me too :) though I am not sure I can say I understand it :)
stevenaia Michinaga: from what I read, everyone doesn't understand it equally
Almadi Masala: I will have to get it out and look at it again
stevenaia Michinaga: but in diifferent ways
Paradise Tennant: ah the human condition mutual confusion :)))
stevenaia Michinaga: you can follow along with the chapters they discussed on our group's wiki
stevenaia Michinaga: perhaps it will help (or confuse you more)
Almadi Masala: ok I will try doing that
stevenaia Michinaga: I attended the for the first few excercises but didn't have the time to keep up
Almadi Masala: oh, I'm sure it will confuse me, but perhaps that is the point
stevenaia Michinaga: nods, perhaps confusion is the intend
Almadi Masala: "grant your blessing so that confusion may dawn as wisdom"
stevenaia Michinaga: isn't google wonderful... "The Four Dharmas of Gampopa"
Almadi Masala: yes, I say those every morning before I meditate

--BELL--

Cache Forster: time flies
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, 90 seconds can me an instant to take forever, funny about time
stevenaia Michinaga: *or
Paradise Tennant: more subjective than you would think
Almadi Masala: when the bell rings, my awareness broadens to take in both the screen showing SL and all that's around me in RL
stevenaia Michinaga: I gave you the group's notecard with some landmarks for you to explore when you have some time
Almadi Masala: its a curious feeling, like I am in two places at once
Almadi Masala: thank you
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles
Cache Forster: I noticed similar feelings Alma
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, some people go places, some stay right here, others can do both
stevenaia Michinaga: time can take you
Almadi Masala: time is mysterious
stevenaia Michinaga: there is an entire section in our wiki taken up with chapters on time
Almadi Masala: I saw that, and intend to read it soon
stevenaia Michinaga:  the group's founder wrote it
stevenaia Michinaga: worth reading slowly.. like the book
Santoshima Resident: for the time-being, must be going ~ peaceful evening and lovely to meet you all ~
stevenaia Michinaga: don't expect it to bring you instant clearity
Cache Forster: bye San
Paradise Tennant: big hug san
stevenaia Michinaga: by San
Paradise Tennant: there are interesting new theories .. on time .. that past present and future co exist ..
Paradise Tennant: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2932870/Is-future-decided-New-theory-time-suggests-past-present-future-exist-universe.html
stevenaia Michinaga: thanks Para
Almadi Masala: on the one hand, it seems like the present is an infinitesimal point between past and future; but on the other hand, the present is all there is - past and future exist only as concepts within the present moment
Cache Forster: and a fossil bed ?
stevenaia Michinaga: and a fossil bed ?
Cache Forster: it seems that time is perceived but very real as well
Almadi Masala: that is the paradox - past and future are real, but all we can directly know is the present moment
stevenaia Michinaga: if the future exists, what then?
Paradise Tennant: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternalism_(philosophy_of_time)
Paradise Tennant: smiles ..

--BELL--

Paradise Tennant: it seems there is quite a lot we don't know :))

Cache Forster: i have a question

stevenaia Michinaga: sure
Almadi Masala: theories are fascinating, but I am more interested in what I can learn from my own direct experience
Cache Forster: do you pab with the 15 minute timer outside sl as well ?
Almadi Masala: I have been doing that sometimes, since discovering this group and website
stevenaia Michinaga: in the begining, we took the the meditations as a 9 second break, so it can be something we can take with us and even make brief notes about
stevenaia Michinaga: we are the experiment
Almadi Masala: I found an app that rings a gong on my smart phone at intervals of time
stevenaia Michinaga: or as it is also put here, life as a lab
stevenaia Michinaga: so yes, you can take it with you :)
stevenaia Michinaga: I use it as a tool to assist me in observing, in some cases observing myself
Paradise Tennant: kind of like training wheels I find so your thinking does not get too woobly :)
stevenaia Michinaga: sure you may have a blank look on your face for a few seconds, but that would only be to those observing you :)
stevenaia Michinaga: sometimes "homework" works for you
Almadi Masala: oh, that happens anyway. no one would think anything of it. haha
stevenaia Michinaga: smiles
stevenaia Michinaga: I view it as one state or another , like yin and yang
Almadi Masala: I notice how quickly thoughts come rushing back in after a short time of being mindful
stevenaia Michinaga: nothing distinct or fixed, just another side of the coin
Cache Forster: so the website spoke about a 9 second pause / does the 90 work better for you ?
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, the mind can be a very active and loud place
stevenaia Michinaga: well like I said, sometimes 90 seconds too little and 9 seconds too much
Cache Forster: ah ok
stevenaia Michinaga: neither is better
Almadi Masala: 90 seems harder to do in the midst of everyday life
stevenaia Michinaga: it's more important to make use of the time
stevenaia Michinaga: yes, you could get hit by a car and not know it
stevenaia Michinaga: but just clearing you mind for a moment couldn't hurt
stevenaia Michinaga: just take a moment to drop your thoughts
stevenaia Michinaga: something always comes into the 'space" that's what you watch
Cache Forster: ok
Cache Forster: looks relaxing

(I moved from sitting to floating on the fountain)

--BELL--

stevenaia Michinaga: yes, float for the next bell
stevenaia Michinaga: hmmm seems to have missed the top of the hour
stevenaia Michinaga: we have a bell repair person
Cache Forster: and I kept thinking Para's feet are unduly wet
Paradise Tennant: smiles yes wet toes and a calm mind .. not a bad state to be in :)
stevenaia Michinaga: well thank you all for coming
stevenaia Michinaga: I hope you look through the wiki and come back and see us sometime
Almadi Masala: a pleasure, thank you for hosting
Paradise Tennant: thanks stev nice to just sit with you
Paradise Tennant: be well Alma Cache :)
Almadi Masala: you too Paradise
Cache Forster: Thank you all
Almadi Masala: good evening all
Cache Forster: bye
Almadi Masala: hope to see you again soon
Cache Forster: WooT
stevenaia Michinaga: nice to have met you, feel free to explore our lands
Paradise Tennant: nite nite all :))
Cache Forster: :)