Usually this blog only reports on various media available. I try to remain impartial on events and limit my own comments. However some times the guardians of Internet stupidity come out to validate there existence, and I feel the need to open my big mouth. There's a great article on some of this here.
Many people that use this blog are under the assumption that I'm some Monk that lives in a cave in the Himalayas with a laptop trying to disrupt the flow of Capitalistic Dharma endeavours. Far from it. I am a human prone to many mistakes and with the subtleties of a Chainsaw. I'm not a teacher of Buddhism nor is this blog, so save your praise and disdain. The only people that deserve respect are teachers listed here. My only teaching from this blog is when you have what your looking for, stop coming here.
I'm sure some people are thinking just STFU and just post some more links. In fact I have only one more link to post. A special project being worked on by devoted people in Europe. Which will be released here as well. Then I will stop coming here.
I would pass that advice along to anyone who decides to visit Second Life and the artificial Monks/Admins/ that dwell there. My trip there was taken under the assumption that a second life would be a better life. A life in which you could be the person you really wanted to be and do anything you wanted. In fact that's what it is.When you burst into a artificial house with artificial people discussing there real world problems you have even more artificial and real problems.
When my Father died I didnt rush off to a fictional reality. When I have a fight with my spouse I dont go and hide in someones blog either. When I'm having physical pain I dont try and find a distracting TV program. When shot with an arrow I don't thrust a second arrow in my body to take my mind off the first. I look directly at the source. If your tools for Pschyo-therapy are based on the constant flow of electricity to your home what will you do during a blackout?
The people in SL have real problems. The people in First Life have real problems. Do we need a Third life on top of those two to make sense of it all? Do our world leaders need to meet in a virtual reality to solve our Climate Crisis , Hunger issues and War? Does all that Bullshit bring you closer together?
The Internet is not going anywhere, torrents will never disappear, nor will human creativity. Second Life will be replaced by something better. Digital Sanghas will have holographic technology enabling you to be present at temples half way across the world. To what extent do you emerse yourself in today's technology? Is having a Twitter feed, Blog, Facebook account, Black Berry and Second Life character enough to find your digital Bodhi Tree?
Technology is here to stay as are all the constant upgrades.
The question is what do you need as a raft? And when do you reach the other shore?
“IMHO, whether in front of the television or the pulpit, a man’s day is wasted if he looks for salvation outside of himself. ”- yuttadhammo
If you dont know what Second Lie is all about here's an interesting documentary about it.
Someone recommend I refer to that world as Second Lie, which I think is very appropriate.
Update:
In case people haven't noticed the scathing assessment of my article/trip you can always go over to Open Sores Buddha and comment there. Dharma nerd and virtual reality guru Al Billings be only too happy to moderate your comments. Also if anyone wants to obtain there Zen Monk robes via Fedex the system requirements of your computer are very low but the financial requirements may be quite high.
Al has also pointed out on his Flickr page that I am a Second Life Loser. Which is true, better a Second Life loser than a First Life Flake. This coming from a man who calls himself a "Zen Priest" and poses with guns on his Flickr page. You got me there dude. I also have a Flickr page devoted to my middle finger going out to you. I would show you my real Flickr page but its filled with boring real world stuff like Rock Climbing, Backpacking and World travel, plus I'm not stupid enough to have my real name out there.
Please have for compassion for me, I'm a flawed person. In my previous life I was a very deprived person and I'm still working out the kinks in this life.
