Second Zazen

I recently explored the on-line phenomenon of Second Life, a virtual world where you can interact with others via an avatar (designed pictorial persona). You may style your avatar to reflect how you would want yourself to look, and change that representation at will. No more taking what is given (how old-fashioned) ! Avatars can fly, teleport, walk, talk, and otherwise interact with other avatars. There is no food required, except for the wandering hungry ghost avatars who search for objects to purchase, virtual money to purchase them with and, it seems, virtual sexual experiences. That is not to say that all is hunger and tawdry things. Some interesting avatars do populate the virtual world, and there is kindness, compassion, and mindfulness.

Ironically, there are multiple Zen sites "in-world", including a Zen Center with a zendo and several others. Your avatar can even sit zazen in some of them, achieving the painless full lotus and posture so hard to earn in your First Life. So far, I have not seen virtual dokusan, sesshin, or kensho, (Ha!). Some sites have teshios.

For now, zazen in my First Life is enough.