2012.01.26 07:00 - Rest. Trust. Vision. Play.

The Guardian for this meeting was Storm Nordwind. The comments are by Storm Nordwind.

Spring grass.

Storm Nordwind: Good morning Eliza!
Eliza Madrigal: Good morning Storm :))
Storm Nordwind: See how optimistic I am? The spring grass is already poking through the pavilion. :)
Eliza Madrigal grins
Eliza Madrigal: Nice to see ::::let's spring fragrances waft through her imagination::::
Storm Nordwind: Good morning Pema!
Eliza Madrigal: Morning, Pema :)
Pema Pera: hi Storm and Eliza
Pema Pera: keep running into you two these days :-)
Pema Pera: (still the same day in Japan!)
Eliza Madrigal: we do seem to frequent the same circles
Storm Nordwind: Oh! I'll try to be more elusive if you prefer. ;)
Pema Pera: hehehe
Pema Pera: nice to be back again in New York City.
Pema Pera: may be easier to attend some more PaB sessions from here
Storm Nordwind: That will be great!
Eliza Madrigal: yes it would

Spring sky.

Storm Nordwind: Brilliant deep blue mountain sky here this morning - waking me up nicely
Pema Pera: grey cozy clouds above Central Park, good with jet lag :)
Eliza Madrigal: robins egg blue with wispy clouds in Miami... beautiful...
Eliza Madrigal: and last night one of the nicest nights to walk in all year
Eliza Madrigal: where would you be without jet lag Pema?
Eliza Madrigal: seem to work with it well
Storm Nordwind checks the local webcam at http://apcd.state.co.us/live_image/chpark.jpg
Pema Pera: :-)

Shifting PaB.

Pema Pera: btw, I have a strong intuition that a lot is shifting in PaB these days . . . .
Storm Nordwind: Please tell us more!
Pema Pera: hmmm, . . .
Pema Pera: various strands of conversations are one aspect
Pema Pera: from retreat overhaul to discussions about not having quite enough guardians to populate enough sessions
Eliza Madrigal waves Hello to observerm
Pema Pera: to aspects of my own practice of the last week or so
Pema Pera: Hi observerm!
Pema Pera: As for my own practice, I've been caught by a koan
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Pema Pera: let catching a flu,
Pema Pera: of how to practice without practicing
Pema Pera: and part of my symptoms are that even the 9 sec feels like too much :)
Eliza Madrigal: :)

Talk about the 9 seconds.

Pema Pera: ah, yes, that was one other strand of conversation this last week and a bit:
Pema Pera: that there has been so very little talk about the 9 sec, the last couple years
Storm Nordwind agrees
Pema Pera: one approach would be to rekindle such talk

Buddhahood in the bathtub.

Pema Pera: another option would be to become even more radically playful
Storm Nordwind: oh?
Pema Pera: "Buddhahood without Meditation" is a book title that just now pops in my head
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Pema Pera: not that I want to toss out the 9 secs practice
Storm Nordwind: Currently next to my bathtub!
Pema Pera: but more as a parallel track, no practice as all, no attempt at improving anything
Pema Pera: wow!
Pema Pera: the visions of the next to last Dudjom Rinpoche
Pema Pera: (^_^)
Storm Nordwind nods and smiles

Rest. Trust. Vision. Play.

Pema Pera: so a parallel track could be to fully rely on play, on visionary play if you want
Pema Pera: surrender to Time, to the Universe, to Being, whatever labels we want to use
Eliza Madrigal: bathtub seems a good place to read that book... relaxing, release, rest
--BELL--
Pema Pera: "the depth of the bathtub is the height of the moon" -- free after Dogen :-)
Eliza Madrigal: :)) would love to hear more about visionary play
Pema Pera: Rest as the basis
Pema Pera: Trust as the attitude
Pema Pera: Vision as what comes naturally
Pema Pera: Play as what goes out then, equally naturally
Eliza Madrigal: basic rest, trustful stance, natural insight, joy
Storm Nordwind: I like that

Deeper, directer, simpler.

Storm Nordwind wonders how much of that we are already doing
Eliza Madrigal: mmm
Pema Pera: quite a bit perhaps, certainly we have the right direction
Pema Pera: but purely for myself, I feel I'm continuing ways to go deeper, directer, simpler
Pema Pera: and I also sense something similar around me
Eliza Madrigal: feel this very much too
Pema Pera: though I'd be hard put to separate my own practice experience from what I sense around me :-)
Pema Pera: all so connected and mutually inspiring
Eliza Madrigal: nods
Storm Nordwind: Perhaps that is what tends to happen naturally through a process of continual dropping that happens without even trying once the attitude is there.
Pema Pera nods
Eliza Madrigal: props dissolving
Storm Nordwind: Less and less habitual clinging
Pema Pera: rest

Natural and unforced.

Storm Nordwind: Sometimes it is hard to consider 'just being' as a practice, it is so natural and unforced
Pema Pera: yes
Eliza Madrigal: there's a sense of, not needing to do anything, just leave the usual defaults alone... then further, not even leaving defaults alone... so odd to articulate
Pema Pera: yes
Pema Pera: hi Lucinda!
Eliza Madrigal: and it IS fascinating how the whole community seems to hm shift or flow at once, though still with unique individual waves and rhythms
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Lucinda :)

A favor for Lucinda.

Lucinda Lavender: Hi everyone..came to ask a favour for tomorrow morning...with my van out of commission I need to start my session late if someone could gather the first few minutes...I will be getting on at a cafe...
Eliza Madrigal: OK Luci
Pema Pera: I will try to be here at 7 am SLT, Luci
Pema Pera: should be possible
Pema Pera: shall I just claim the log?
Eliza Madrigal: actually I claim the morning log so it can just stay attached even if I have to leave
Eliza Madrigal: after Maxine's session
Lucinda Lavender: I thought probably so Eliza:)
Pema Pera: ah yes
Lucinda Lavender: so if I come on at 7:15 and claim then with that work?
Pema Pera hits head, forgot about Maxine's session
Pema Pera: sure!
Eliza Madrigal: not a great idea because then you'll get the whole thing...
Pema Pera: Eliza and I can compete in a round of log claiming :)
Eliza Madrigal: better if I just send it :)
Eliza Madrigal laughs
Eliza Madrigal: OR yes, Pema can take it then you claim
--BELL--
Eliza Madrigal sits on hands and lets the universe decide

Throwing logs.

Pema Pera: log throwing is a Scottish pastime, isn't it? what do they call it again . . . Storm must know . . .
Lucinda Lavender: Luci smiles and takes deep breath...thinking...whatever is best
Eliza Madrigal: hahah
Storm Nordwind: "Tossing the caber"
Eliza Madrigal feels muscular
Lucinda Lavender: is that the caber toss
Pema Pera: ah yes
Pema Pera: Toss the log, mate
Lucinda Lavender: last week my log was kind of connected to Maxines
Eliza Madrigal: yes, because I had to leave early... so didn't "stop it"
Lucinda Lavender: does there need to be a special closing out and starting for mine?
Eliza Madrigal: yes
Lucinda Lavender: so needs chopping
Eliza Madrigal: for the early session I start and stop it and then usually it is fine by 7am
Lucinda Lavender: gets out her axe
Eliza Madrigal giggles
Eliza Madrigal: we're hearty today
Lucinda Lavender: will arrive tomorrow with tools in hand

Unopened mail.

Pema Pera: btw, I'd better go -- two months of unopened mail is staring me in the face from behind my computer screen . . . .
Storm Nordwind: Oh!!!
Eliza Madrigal: :) okay... thank you Pema and Luci too
Pema Pera: just came home yesterday after two months . . .
Eliza Madrigal: take it to the bath tub
Lucinda Lavender: have a great opening then Pema
Storm Nordwind: Wonderful to see you Pema :)
Pema Pera: let it (dis)solve itself . . .
Eliza Madrigal: mhm
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Lucinda Lavender: :))
Pema Pera sharpening his letter opener
Lucinda Lavender: must go for now too:)
Eliza Madrigal: no need to use an axe for that
Pema Pera: will open up to my heart's content, Luci!
Eliza Madrigal smiles
Lucinda Lavender: very good:)
Pema Pera: though those amazon.com packages can be tough at times . . . .
Lucinda Lavender: yes!
Pema Pera: half a dozen of them waiting too . . .
Pema Pera: c u !
Storm Nordwind waves
Lucinda Lavender: sounds really fun!
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Lucinda Lavender: ha ha
Lucinda Lavender: well...on to work...see you all soon...
Eliza Madrigal waves
Storm Nordwind: Bye for now!

Enthuse and infuse.

Eliza Madrigal: when Pema shares his (no) practice everything sort of infuses with his enthusiasm... so nice
Storm Nordwind: Yes. And he is speaking my language it seems.

Simplicity.

Eliza Madrigal: do you see this in the group as a whole as well? things sort of lightening ?
Storm Nordwind: I hadn't thought to widen it. But I sense that there is often a yen for simplicity, at least for some.
Eliza Madrigal: simplicity, yes
Storm Nordwind: With simplicity comes accessibility. The 9 seconds practice is simple and accessible, for sure, but what Pema touches on seems more so.
Eliza Madrigal: maybe in part, it is that the practice is there and doesn't need help or promotion...
Eliza Madrigal: when we're in sessions there is the taste of it
Eliza Madrigal: and plenty to follow up on should someone want to
Eliza Madrigal: so there is a hm, rippling out
Storm Nordwind nods
Storm Nordwind: On the other hand, I know some people do crave structure and seem bereft without it.
Eliza Madrigal: I relate to that in some ways at some times
Eliza Madrigal: it isn't easy to learn to trust
Eliza Madrigal: and one must have a taste for what they are trusting
Storm Nordwind: Indeed. Especially if one's trust has ever been misplaced.
Eliza Madrigal: :)
Eliza Madrigal: ah, indeed... have yet to meet anyone who fits opposite criteria
--BELL--

Naming.

Alfred Kelberry: hi :)
Eliza Madrigal: Hi Boxy :)
Storm Nordwind: Hi Boxy!
Alfred Kelberry: time shoes :)
Alfred Kelberry: aww, the trees are gone :(
Storm Nordwind: You are checking out Eliza's latest gear ;)
Eliza Madrigal: :::kick your knees up step in time:::
Eliza Madrigal: ( you may not know that one Boxy since you don't care for musicals) :)
Alfred Kelberry: except grease
Eliza Madrigal: hah
--BELL--
Eliza Madrigal: did you see Sam's PARTY suggestion for meets retreats? cute...
Alfred Kelberry: creative :)
Storm Nordwind: hehe - yes... although I have to say the acronym didn't stick in my mind!
Eliza Madrigal: all these angles have a similar spirit in a way...
Eliza Madrigal: playful, easy, explorative
Eliza Madrigal: like Pema earlier in the session :)
Storm Nordwind: Yes :)

Namaste.

Eliza Madrigal had better go... such a pleasure, this morning
Eliza Madrigal: thank you Storm
Alfred Kelberry: name is important, but not as much as the actual form of the meeting
Eliza Madrigal: true Boxy
Storm Nordwind: You're always welcome dear Eliza
Alfred Kelberry: yet no one commented on that
Eliza Madrigal: but maybe misunderstandings can be avoided with a simple name
Eliza Madrigal: so it is a good place to start
Alfred Kelberry: i wonder if there's really an issue
Eliza Madrigal: nah, seems less and less of one
Eliza Madrigal: :))
Storm Nordwind will go too. Vacation week
Eliza Madrigal: Oh, nice
Alfred Kelberry: bye :)
Eliza Madrigal: Storm on holiday
Alfred Kelberry: vacation away from sl?
Storm Nordwind: More my wife on holiday!
Eliza Madrigal: :)) same thing
Eliza Madrigal: love to M
Eliza Madrigal: Namaste'
Storm Nordwind: :)))
Storm Nordwind: Namaste