2008.07.10 19:00 - I Don't Have To Believe ...

The Guardian for this meeting was Pia Iger and the comments are Pia's.

When I arrived, Syl, Dakini, Maxine and Fred were already seated, with Steve sitting in one of the tiny cushion.

Sylectra Darwin: Greetings!
Sylectra Darwin: what's wrong with Steven?
Dakini Rhode: Hi Pia, Sylectra!
stevenaia Michinaga: strange pillows, very soft
Maxine Walden: hi, Sylectra and Pia
Sylectra Darwin: Hi Dakini!
Dakini Rhode: haha
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: heh
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: hi pia
Sylectra Darwin: Is Steven broken?
Pia Iger: Hello, there,
Dakini Rhode: I was just thinking there's no need for the tinies cushions :)
Dakini Rhode: and steve found a use for them !
Sylectra Darwin: Friedrich, can you scoot over one? I like the kneel poses better?
Sylectra Darwin: Thanks!
Sylectra Darwin: It's a nice gesture, to make room for the tinies.
Sylectra Darwin: Manners cost nothing, I once heard in a TV show!
Dakini Rhode: we had some at the zen retreat, but our former tinies seem to have grown up

Syl was still in the mood of making 9-sec video.

Sylectra Darwin: We were just playing with animations for the 9-second video
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: we were talking the other day about a small group configuration in here
Dakini Rhode: ah!
Sylectra Darwin: Cool
Sylectra Darwin: I am learning to use the software.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I sat on the table, but then I got accused of being the teacher
Sylectra Darwin: I am wondering if I need to size the window down before beginning.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: <kidggin. not accused>
Sylectra Darwin: But the animations we were trying were such a hoot.
Sylectra Darwin: haha
Dakini Rhode wonders whether begging to see them would help...
stevenaia Michinaga: not exactly contemplative, were they
stevenaia Michinaga: although, the 9 second chicken dance had possibilities
Sylectra Darwin: they were hilarious!
Maxine Walden: LOL
Sylectra Darwin: I like the crane one
Dakini Rhode: oh, did you try the onigokko?
Maxine Walden: can imagine it just now!
Sylectra Darwin: that would be an excellent one, Dakini
stevenaia Michinaga: pas it over
Dakini Rhode: or the chocolate disco?
Dakini Rhode: those are sort of PaB classics
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: bawk bawk
Sylectra Darwin: I can see that we could use some more
Maxine Walden: can't you see it now: 10 yrs down the road 'PaB classics' coming up
Sylectra Darwin gave you floating-meditation.
Dakini Rhode: oh my, Maxine :)
Maxine Walden: thanks, Sylectra
Sylectra Darwin: thank you
Sylectra Darwin: sure!
Dakini Rhode: that sure makes me think....

Fred spoke up of his mind.

Friedrich Ochsenhorn: well, I don't know about anyone else, but my mind has been all over the place this week
Maxine Walden: please Fred, what about?
Dakini Rhode: did you stay with it, Fred?
Dakini Rhode: (I should say did you follow it)
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: if there were some consensus, perhaps I could fixate this on a common cause... something about the stars and planets?
Dakini Rhode: brb
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: nothing specific. vacuum kinda. openness and freedom of the summer, for me I think
Sylectra Darwin: sure, sounds good
Maxine Walden: sort of a vacation of a sort?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: you could say that.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: always an internal pressure to make something of it
Maxine Walden: yeah, I know about that pressure as well
Maxine Walden: sometimes it's difficult to just 'let it be' at least for me
Sylectra Darwin: the lure of the projects
Maxine Walden: just resting like this can be relaxing

I thought of those not so relaxed weekends of mine.

Pia Iger: I used to have that kind of pressure during weekends, too.
Pia Iger: like have to do something fun, have to finish some project,
Pia Iger: instead of just relax
Maxine Walden: or have to go out and make the most of the sunshine
Pia Iger: exactly, Maxine,
Maxine Walden: funny, isn't it, how we can pressure ourselves in any direction
Pia Iger: Yes, felt like if just rest at home was a waste of time.
Maxine Walden: I know exactly what you mean! Rest and relaxation as a waste!
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I think the only wasted time is time spent wallowing in guilt about the past
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: though, I suppose that too can be redeemed
Maxine Walden: wallowing is such an interesting term about guilt, but it really seems to apply
Maxine Walden: these thoughts seem to me to express how difficult it can be to just stay appreciating the value of this very moment, every moment
Dakini Rhode: the really nice thing about a practice such as ours...
Dakini Rhode: is that it makes wallowing, stressing, etc. so much more optional
Dakini Rhode: do you think?
Maxine Walden: yes, indeed, Dakini
Pia Iger: nods.

Dakini said more about options we can have.

Dakini Rhode: ordinarily, we're so caught up in our thoughts and judgments about things
Sylectra Darwin: I like that thought - negative emotions as optional
Dakini Rhode: (or can be)
Dakini Rhode: :)
Dakini Rhode: any practice which can give us more flexibility...
Dakini Rhode: in how we view our thoughts...
Dakini Rhode: gives us more options
Dakini Rhode: like the bumper sticker I saw recently...
Dakini Rhode: I DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING I THINK
Dakini Rhode: :->
Sylectra Darwin: hahaha
Maxine Walden: (appreciating the birdsong and lovely company of these friends at this moment) sad to have to go in a minute or so
Maxine Walden: wonderful bumper sticker, Dakini
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: but, does all this letting go require relinquishing agency?

Like Syl, I am not clear about the word "agency'used here.

Sylectra Darwin: awww
Dakini Rhode: (sad you need to leave, too)
Sylectra Darwin: agency?
Dakini Rhode: what do you think, Fred?
Sylectra Darwin: Can you explain?
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: intention
Sylectra Darwin: oh
Maxine Walden: no, holding on to agency, for me lightly though
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: lightly. that’s a good answer.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: heh. I didn't mean letter agencies
Sylectra Darwin: there's a difference I guess between intention and expectation.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: g'night Maxine
Dakini Rhode: don't you have even more agency when you have the option to hold on or let go?
Maxine Walden: have to go, lovely conversation, bye all
Sylectra Darwin: nite, Maxine
Pia Iger: bye, Maxine
Dakini Rhode: than when you're compelled to hold on?
Dakini Rhode: (just wondering...)
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: yes, that helps too. letting go of expectation is very different from holding lightly to agency
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: the universe is full of surprises
Sylectra Darwin: smiles
Dakini Rhode likes surprises
Tea Cup whispers: Tea Time!
Dakini Rhode: well, I regret I must leave too...
Sylectra Darwin: OK, night, Dakini
Pia Iger: bye, Dakini
Dakini Rhode: take care!
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: cya, D

Maxine and Dakini left. Fred, Syl, Steve and I had our tea time. It took Fred a while to hold the tea cup right:)
Syl showed us new poses for her video project.

Sylectra Darwin gave you Tea Cup.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: tnx! I think in the tea house the kettle provided.
Tea Cup whispers: Tea Time!
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: maybe I should have kept my cup ;-)
Tea Cup whispers: Tea Time!
Sylectra Darwin: Did it not work?
Tea Cup whispers: Tea Time!
Sylectra Darwin: OK, good
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: good? its burning my leg!
Sylectra Darwin: LOL
Sylectra Darwin: Well Pia I wanted to show you those two poses if you don't mind
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: oh - is it a right handed tea cup?
Sylectra Darwin: These gentlemen have already tried them
Pia Iger: Fred, just click Wear
Tea Cup whispers: Tea Time!
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: ha!
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: I was attaching it, but now, I am floating on air
Pia Iger: attaching to leg?
Sylectra Darwin: Pia, this is the one we were thinking of using after the meditation demo
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: eek! get it off of me!
Sylectra Darwin: or...
Sylectra Darwin: no, too militaristic
Sylectra Darwin: Steven is demonstrating the meditation pose
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: yup. right handed tea.
stevenaia Michinaga: ....smile
Sylectra Darwin: haha, Fred
Sylectra Darwin: this one is good too, it's like "whoa" I perceive Being
Sylectra Darwin: I think Steven has left the building...in spirit
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: "whoops, you've done it again"?
stevenaia Michinaga: I love that symbol
Sylectra Darwin: haha
Sylectra Darwin: You know what's funny is trying to walk while in a sit pose.
Sylectra Darwin: got it narrowed down to three.
Pia Iger: can't wait to see the final video.
Sylectra Darwin: Thanks! I hope it's good
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: anybody want catch some jazz soon?
Sylectra Darwin: Warning: I am a rank amateur at this.
Sylectra Darwin: Like FDR said, I promise to experiment.
Sylectra Darwin: sorry, I am in a state tonight
Sylectra Darwin: I am being disruptive
Pia Iger: np, we are in state of letting go.
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: going, going, gone
Sylectra Darwin: smiles

I misunderstood what Fred said about Jazz.

Pia Iger: Is Fred performing jazz soon?
Sylectra Darwin: There is a lovely person who runs Madhu's Cafe in the sky
Sylectra Darwin: She has a tiny av that would fit that tiny cushion
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: oh, I don't play an instrument in here. (I say as I am tapping my leg)
Friedrich Ochsenhorn: but, sylectra mentioned something about a club she knows

Time was already 7:50pm. We decided to leave for the dancing club Syl knew. and Wow, we can t/p right inside the club. Guess bouncers are truly out of job in SL.