Shin Tao Haiku Retreat

Beach Party Dance

2010-01-11T01:33:00.001-08:00

Put on your dancing sandals and come rock out by the sea! The Shin Tao Haiku Retreat presents a BEACH DANCE PARTY, Friday, January 15, 2010, at 7pm slt.

DJ DanteOsaka Deschanel will be spinning tunes and swishing his spotted tail in the sea breeze. Everyone is welcome!

SL poetry

2010-01-04T00:08:00.000-08:00

The Lag Monster's Intrusion Into a Moment's Proposal

"What's wrong, dear?" she said. "You look pensive tonight." Indeed I did, standing midst-stride with one leg sticking out to the side. "Oh nothing," I said. "Just a bit of lag." Just a bit of lag. As if that which gashed the inestimable pride of Titanic, sending her to the depths of immortality's ruin was just a bit of ice. I tried to reassure her, tell her good things, In fact, tonight was to be that special night When I would tell her all I felt, all I believed and dreamed as we stared longingly into one another's pixelated eyes

I knew I had to blurt it all out, tell her everything before my nerves got the best of me, and so I began, but there was that other thing, just that bit of lag, like a court recorder turning innocent pleas into confession, stealing letters and jamming words, delighting in defiling all my treasured, carefully selected texts, and I delivered all my heart with daggers plunging deep. "I am so glad," I thought, "We met and are more than mere friends." "I'm so glad," I said, "Wet and a mother fiend." "You are a dear to me," I thought, "One of a kind, fun, deserving." "Youre a demon, "I said, "of a kind undeserving ."

"Excuse me?" she said, and though I wasn't sure, it seemed her avatar was frowning to a scowl. "You are a fair delight, my love!" I thought, "always in the know, on the go." "You're a fright, "I said with exclamation point. "Move away now, go." "I want you to move in, my pet," I thought, "share my wish, complete me." "I want you to move," I said excitedly, "my harem is complete." "YOU CREEP!" she said, all caps for certain emphasis "I never want to see your sorry toon again! And so she left, and left me pondered, wondering at my sorry state, my screen now frozen to her final words. And through it all, with just a bit of lag, and unseen breaking heart, my avatar still standing, one leg stuck out to the side.

by DanteOsaka Deschanel

All Hallows Festival in Second Life

2009-10-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat is holding the All Hallows Festival on Saturday 10/31 & Sunday 11/1. There will be many events, including the Great Pumpkin Scavenger Hunt, performance of “A Lantern for the Crane Maiden” written by DanteOsaka Deschanel, Haiku contest winners, Halloween Dance, Poetry Reading and Dia de los Muertos celebration. Come join us or drop by any time to see the Haunted House or read some haiku in the Library.

The Ugly Duckling- Kabuki performance

2009-09-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

The Shin Tao Theatre presents "Le Vilain Caneton" the ugly duckling, a kabuki performance by the Shinmachi Kabuki Group.

Everybody is welcome at the Shin Tao Haiku Retreat on Tuesday, October 6th, at 6pm SLT.

The Shin Tao in motion

2009-08-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

Watch the Shin Tao Theatre Haiku Play & Kabuki performance at last week's Obon festival on youtube. “The Haijin Tea Party” is a play written by DanteOsaka.
Thanks to the performers and everyone who joined the play and the Obon festival!

Shin Tao Theatre

2009-07-30T05:48:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat is celebrating the 2009 Obon Festival with lanterns, poetry, plays, dance, fireworks, and more, August 7th - August 9th in Ophelia, Second Life.

Make sure you catch the world premiere of The Haijin's Tea Party, a haiku drama with dialogue straight from the masters. Happy Obon!

"Spirit of Obon" haiku contest

2009-07-06T06:29:00.000-07:00

Announcing the "Spirit of Obon" haiku contest for the Obon Festival at the Shin Tao Haiku Retreat, to be held August 7,8,9. The deadline for the entries is August 2nd at Midnight, slt. Haiku, Haiga, Senryu and Tanka are all welcome for this contest. Please contact DanteOsaka Deschanel, Pomona Writer, or Sunnie Beaumont in Second Life if you have other questions. Happy writing! -- Dante

Flying Insect Haiku Contest Winners

2009-04-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to everyone who helped out and attended our Sakura Mushi Festival, which was a great success. Congratulations as well to our Flying Insect Haiku Contest Winners.

Zen meditation
I must try to concentrate
But the mosquito!

by Inarra Onmura

I tap the cold glass
but the trapped fly does not care.
He keeps crawling upward.

by Rosarie Alecto

a moth leaves
a young girl's grave...
only moonlight now

by Dalloway Palianta

small squashed mosquito
you wanted so little
now both our blood's spilled

by Mudpie Mornington

afternoon sun -
a honey bee greets
his eighty-first flower

by Dalloway Palianta

shortening day
the lonely sound
of a cicada

by Ngagpa Writer

Rondeau Short Poetry Workshop, Tue - 4/7 - 7 pm SLT

2009-04-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

DanteOsaka Deschanel guest hosts this week’s Rondeau Short Poetry Workshop. This French style of short poetry is similar to the Rondolet, which was also one of our previous workshops. This 15 line lyrical poetry style has refrains, syllables, and rhymes. Dante will teach us all about it, so join us at Inksters to learn, write and share your Rondeaux.
Rose Garden. Inksters Rose Garden Classroom (212,135,21) in Second Life

Sakura Mushi Festival

2009-04-05T02:30:00.000-07:00

The Sakura Mushi Festival of Blossoms and Insects will take place on Saturday, April 18,2009, all day.
There will be poetry readings, the awarding of the flying insects haiku contest winners, opening of the Flying Insects Display in the Shin Tao World Room, music, dancing and a lot of fun.

Oh and don't forget to submit your insect haikus! The deadline has been extendet to April 10. Contact DanteOsaka Deschanel, Pomona Writer, or Sunnie Beaumont in Second Life.

The Basics of Haiku-season words

2009-03-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat presents an installment of The Basics of Haiku, wherein we examine many of the key components to writing haiku in English.
This week we will be taking a look at Season Words. Please join us in the courtyard of the Library of Haiku for a discussion on the importance of the seasonal element in the history of haiku, and how you can use it to better your own poems. Friday, March 20, 7.30 pm, slt. Come help us explore the world through haiku.

-- DanteOsaka

Insects haiku contest

2009-03-08T11:05:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat is accepting entries for its current haiku contest on a theme of flying insects. If you have any haiku about butterflies, wasps, flies, bees, beetles, mosquitos, moths or any other flying bug you can think of, send them to us! There will be prizes for the winners, and all poets will also be eligible to have their entries accepted for our flying insect display which will debut in SL on April 18.

Deadline for the contest is midnight, SLT, April 4. Poets may enter as many times as they like. Haiga may also be entered, which will not influence the chance to win in the contest, but will likely increase the chance to be selected to appear in the display.

The flying insect display will be a featured part of our Sakura Blossom festival to be held on the weekend of April 18.

All poets are welcome to participate. Send submissions on a notecard with your name, or as an object with Modify and Copy rights, to DanteOsaka Deschanel, Pomona Writer, or Sunnie Beaumont. Contact any of them for further information.

--DanteOsaka

Short Poetry Workshop 1st Anniversary

2009-02-04T00:31:00.000-08:00

Shin tao proudly congratulates our own Sunnie Beaumont for the completion of one year as head of the Short Poetry Workshop at inksters.

Endings and Beginnings

2009-02-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

Shin Tao has awarded NGAGPA WRITER our first place in our Endings and Beginnings Haiku Contest. DALLOWAY PALIANTA is our second place winner (please visit Dalloway's blog Australian Haiku), and honorable mentions go to LEZLIE LATTE and INARRA ONMURA. Thanks to all of our participants for making this a fun and exciting contest.

2009 Shin Tao Haiku Retreat
"Endings and Beginnings" Haiku Contest winners and entrants.

Judge: DanteOsaka Deschanel Assistant Judge: Sunnie Beaumont

Icicle water
drips drips drips, upon
green spring shoots.

Black suits with white shirt,
winter faces, ladies weep,
a life on earth ends.

Summer love, now
inside within a week
new heart starts beating.

Acer leaf turns red,
memories of summer sun
fading like the days.

Crisp uniforms all,
new pencils and books and bags,
new term time begins.

Red pen on answers,
the wise teacher smiles and frowns,
exams are over.

In stillness ripples
echo the invading thought
...disturbing the mind

Sunshadow Skye

The Cycle of life.
Comes with the cycle of death.

It's the cost to live.

Vera Jonson

fine chopped ginger

fresh lime on seasoned fingers
cookbook aired at last

by Dalloway Palianta

final thrust
breath released
rolling eyes

aching chill
abandoned bus stop
desperate prayer

puffer fish
bead of sweat
exposed intent

peircing strike
rebellious fist unclenches
dreams to dust

by Conundrum Aristocrat

New Years Day
a blackened wick
stands in melted wax

by Ngagpa Writer

leaving

silently she left
what does she see and feel there

the crows all cry out

~inarra onmura

seppuku samurai

she cries with sharp pain
seppuku samurai gone honorable mention $L100
but yurei returns!

- inarra onmura

passing

a friend passed today

he who flew high and swam low
leaves drift peacefully

- inarra onmura

autumn

a chill breeze passes
a shower of yellow leaves
dances to the ground

~inarra onmura

Adio

When was the ending of our love?
Yesterday I saw you in a mirror
Keeping the flowers so close of your heart,
Today I see the flowers in a stranger's vase ...
by Lumi Michinaga

Bonsai Exhibit

2008-11-02T23:17:00.000-08:00

The new Bonsai exhibit is on display in the Japan Room in the Haiku Library at Shin Two. There are examples of bonsai trees, history, art and poetry. Check out the entries in the 2008 Bonsai Haiku Contest. 1st place winners are NGAGPA WRITER and LEZLIE LATTE. Honorable mention goes to to SKYLARK THIBEDEAU, LEZLIE LATTE, and NGAGPA WRITER. Praise to all the poets for their wonderful work, we have it here! Special thanks to POMONA WRITER and SUNNIE BEAUMONT for all their help! - Dante

Poetry Workshops!

2008-09-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

The friday haiku workshop is on again! Bring your haiku to share and settle in for poetry, friendly conversation, and more. On Friday, September 26, 7:30 pm, slt.

On Tuesday Sunnie Beaumont discussed the Septet Short Poetry style which is a seven lined short poem.
Next week Tuesday, September 30 ToryLynn Writer will hold an Erotic Poetry Workshop at Inksters Rose Garden Classroom (212,129,21)

Premodern Japanese Art Circles and Second Life

2008-08-28T08:49:00.000-07:00

A recent article in the New World Notes analyzes an academic paper by Eiko Ikegami and Piet Hut, which was published in The Journal of Virtual Worlds Research.
The authors of "Avatars Are For Real:Virtual Communities and Public Spheres" compare the Tokugawa era of Japan (1603-1867) with the virtual world of Second Life and find many parallels.

There were many artistic circles and haiku/poetry networks that provided alternative realities where people could develop a second life, not within their prescribed roles, but as individuals liberated from status and gender restrictions. Each person could express his or her love of particular cultural pursuits, unhindered by their formal background.
"Through tea ceremony and flower arrangement to haiku and the game of Go, Tokugawa citizens could escape political pressure and meet each other freely in the safe realms of the virtual worlds of art."

That sounds much like what the friends of Shin Tao do now. But I'm not sure if there really is a connection. Maybe it would work with other periods in history too. And artsy people always try to create their own society and culture in opposition to mainstream politics and restricitions.
Perhaps DanteOsaka knows more about the Tokugawa era and can give us his opinion.

Second Life HAIGA contest winner

2008-08-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the winner of the 2008 Summer HAIGA contest at Shin Tao: LEHUA LAMINGTON!

--hibiscus blossoms
flash their red petals at me
stoplights on sidewalks--

And thank you to everyone who participated in the contest and in our celebration.

Among the contest entries were traditional haiga with drawings but also haiga with high quality SL-photography.

The participating haiga in the 2008 Summer Shin Tao Haiga Contest are on display near the Zen garden in the courtyard of the Haiku Library in Shin Tao Haiku Retreat Two in Ophelia.

RIVERS display celebration on Friday, August 8!

2008-08-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao is proud to announce the opening of our RIVERS display, celebrating the wonder of flowing water in haiku, haiga, and art. We will have an Open House all day on Friday, August 8, and a haiku workshop announcing the winners of our haiga contest at 7pm slt, followed by a dance at 8pm. Come join us! -- Dante

Rivers haiku display

2008-07-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat would like to invite everyone to attend a celebration
for the opening of our new Rivers display in the Library of Haiku, Friday,
August 8, with Open House all day, a haiku workshop and announcing winners of
our haiga contest at 7pm slt, and a dance at 8.  Come celebrate with us!  --
Dante

Haiga Contest in Second Life

2008-07-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

The Shin Tao is holding a haiga contest open to all sl residents.
Deadline - Midnight SLT Wednesday August 6, 2008.

Haiga is a haiku painting, originally combining the elements of
poetry, painting and calligraphy in one form. The contest will combine original haiku plus an original image.

Please contact DanteOsaka Deschanel, Sunnie Beaumont, or Pomona Writer for further info and contest rules.

Happy Haiga!

Dante's Creek

2008-06-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

It is still not too late. We are seeking haiku or short poetry about rivers, streams, brooks, creeks, rivulets, becks and the like to use in our next Library Display. This is an open call to any Shin Tao members to contribute. Deadline July 4. Please deliver them to me, Sunnie Beaumont, or Pomona Writer. -- DanteOsaka

Haiku in Hawaii!!

2008-06-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

Our weekly friday haiku workshop is back, and this time we are going Hawaiian! We will be holding our workshop at its usual time, 7pm slt, this coming Friday, but at an exciting location! Shin Tao member LEHUA LAMINGTON has graciously offered her authentic and beautiful Hawaiian sim in Utwig for our workshop. We will discuss seasonal references in non-Japan settings, Hawaiian haiku and much more! Come join us! Aloha and Mahalo! -- Dante

New Haiku!

2008-05-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

Come to the library of haiku in Shin Tao 2 for new haiku from TOR LOCK, SUNNIE BEAUMONT, and DANTEOSAKA DESCHANEL. Also check out the winners list for the 2008 blossom haiku contest!
Dante

Basho Workshop on Friday, May 23rd

2008-05-20T03:54:00.000-07:00

The Friday Shin Tao Haiku Retreat haiku workshop will feature "An Evening with Basho," being a look at the premiere master of the haiku form. Time for our meeting will be Friday, May 23rd, at 7 pm slt, until the frogs come home!. This meeting will take place in our sister sim, Shin Tao 2, in the LIbrary of Haiku. Landmark enclosed! Dont forget to bring your own haiku, and snacks for the leopard!

sLiterary Magazine features DanteOsaka!

2008-05-05T03:57:00.000-07:00

The Spring 2008 issue of sLiterary Magazine published a poem of our leopard. The poem 'Internet Avatar Crashtime Blues' by DanteOsaka Deschannel combines modern virtual world romance with a classical lyrical Blues form.

You can read the sLiterary Magazine here! Dante's poem is one page 11 but there are other awsome poems, short stories and serial novels too. I really like the layout of this magazine and even their ads are perfectly designed. I couldn't find an inworld issue but it's more practical in a browser anyway.

Blossom Contest Winners!

2008-04-21T00:32:00.000-07:00

Ngagpa Writer 1st place

Reading sutras
Cherry-blossom -
Lands on the open page

Ngagpa Writer 2nd place

By the Temple gate
Old plum tree -
Flowers once more

Morrhys Graysmark 3rd place

Your sleeping ashes
Don't hear the petals gossip
Gaily on your grave.

Honorable mentions

Burnt Burt

The falling blossoms,
Colliding with reflections,
Rippling the still pond.

Ngagpa Writer

Chanting monks
Fallen cherry-blossoms
Line the path

Nebbisk Oh

Sakura bloom
In two hundred varieties
But only one for you

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat Blossom Festival

2008-04-16T03:13:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat proudly announces the Grand Opening of its new Library of Haiku, with Geisha and Leopard displays, and the celebration of spring and Cherry Blossoms at Shin 2 and Shin Tao Haiku Retreat on April 18 and April 19.
We will have an Open House and a haiku reading, and a dance!

Friday, April 18, from 4 pm to 10 pm SLT
Saturday, April 19, from 4 pm to 8 pm SLT

We will be reading “Blossom” Haiku from the Masters and modern haiku poets. Winners of the Blossom Festival Haiku contest will be announced, and the submitted haiku will also be read.

Join us as we celebrate a new beginning and come see our petal dropping cherry trees as we celebrate Sakura Matsuri. Of course, the Library of Haiku will be open to anyone at any time, so if you can’t make these dates or times, please feel free to come any time.

The Shin Tao Haiku Retreat in Ophelia<93,154,21>

The Geisha, a display of art and haiku

2008-04-14T01:36:00.001-07:00

The Shin Tao Haiku Retreat presents The Geisha, a display of art and haiku, appearing in The Japan Room at the Library of Haiku, in the Shin 2 Sim in Ophelia.

Any Blossom will do, Haiku Contest

2008-04-04T03:22:00.000-07:00

Shin Tao Haiku Retreat will be holding another haiku contest in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the new Library of Haiku in Shin2, and the theme is “Blossoms,” after the Japanese Sakura Matsuri festival.

The winning haiku will be announced on Saturday, April 19, 8:00 pm SLT, and prizes will be awarded.

Contest rules:

Haiku or Senryu should be blossom related. Any blossom will do.

Type your haiku onto a notecard, and save the notecard with your name and “Blossom Contest” in the title and file name.

Submit your haiku by dropping it into DanteOsaka Deschanel’s inventory by Wednesday, April 16. If you are unfamiliar with how to do this, find DanteOsaka Deschanel in Search and open his profile. Drag your notecard from your inventory to the space towards the bottom of the profile for inventory. Or you can simply drop it onto Dante if you see him wandering about ShinTao.

If you have any questions or need any assistance with submitting your entry, IM Pomona Writer, Sunnie Beaumont, or the great cat himself, DanteOsaka Deschanel.

Haiku/Senryu Contest March 27

2008-03-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

Amatsu Okiya will be celebrating its one year anniversary on Saturday, March 29th.

To celebrate this festive occasion Amatsu, in conjunction with Shin Tao Haiku Retreat will be holding a Haiku/Senryu contest. Submissions for the contest can be either Haiku or Senryu with themes of: Anniversary, Rebirth, Purification, Renewal, or Love and Kindness.

Submissions should be placed on notecards. Be sure to put your name in the notecard and lable the Description and Notecard as your name. Drop all notecard submissions into Pomona Writer’s inventory by Thursday, March 27th.

Prizes will be awarded and winning haiku read at the Amatsu Anniversary celebration.

A panel of judges will read all haiku and award prizes to the winning Haiku. Winners will be announced and their haiku read during the celebration. All haiku submitted will be available on notecards for anyone interested.

For additional information, please contact Pomona Writer.

Geisha Graduation Ceremony, March 6!

2008-03-06T00:04:00.000-08:00

Shin Tao member Kati Palen will be graduating to full geisha, here at Shin Tao Haiku Retreat. Her san san kudo will be held Thursday, March 6, at 7pm SLT. Come by and help Kati celebrate!

Dantastic!

2008-03-01T00:56:00.000-08:00

"Artemis and the Transformation of Actaeon" a polyptych/multi-panel art piece utilising inworld photography and SL models (DanteOsaka and Defifee) is now showing in the Gods of Second Life section of the art museum at Angel Gate.

Geisha School Grand Opening 1 March

2008-02-28T23:31:00.000-08:00

The Okasan, Onshi and students of Hana no Sei Okiya and Geisha School hold their grand opening, at Hana No Sei in Chodron on Saturday, 1 March at 5:30 PM SLT:
An evening of storytelling, music, and an introduction to the unique and fascinating history of the village and its mystical residents.

The Hana no Sei Geisha School offers education in the traditional Japanese arts, set against the Asian/fantasy backgroup of the village of Hana no Sei. Human and non-human students and patrons are welcome.

Senryu - Short Poetry Workshop on 2/26

2008-02-24T02:30:00.000-08:00

The difference between Haiku and Senryu has been an ongoing debate as the blurring between the two continue to puzzle the Haiku world. Come join Shin Tao member Sunnie Beaumont and look further into Senryu and try your hand at writing a few.
The Workshop will be on Tuesday, February 26 at 7 pm PST at Rose Garden in Cookie.
The INKsters Community in Second Life will be holding a series of Short Poetry Workshops focusing on the short poem - poetry of ten lines or less, beginning with the more popular or well known short poem styles such as Haiku or Limericks, to the more contemporary or obscure poetry styles such as Fibonnaci or Quinzaine.

Shin Tao Haiku Presents: The Leopard

2008-02-24T01:58:00.000-08:00

The Leopard....an exhibit of haiku, artwork, history and big cat facts on display at Shin Tao 2 in Ophelia. Come and see the artwork by DanteOsaka and the Shin Tao members.
With information about the leopard around the world, its spots, leopardic mythology an much more.
You can browse through some leopard haiku at the Shin Tao Haiku Gallery on the right!

Haiku Workshop on Fridays!

2008-02-21T00:19:00.000-08:00

In case you haven't noticed: DanteOsaka Deschannel hosts the Haiku Workshop every Friday at 7 pm PST at the Meeting House in Ophelia. You can bring and share your Haikus or just have a chat with some popcorn.
This week's workshop will be looking at the Japanese short poetry Senryu, which is similar to Haiku. Senryu however is not about nature but more about emotions and human weaknesses. Come and join!

Links to Shin Tao Friends

2008-02-01T00:48:00.000-08:00

When I checked if google finds the Shin Tao Blog with the metatags i had added a while ago I also found some blogs of DanteOsaka's friends:

Cyanide Seelowe is the founder of the Virtual Artist Alliance a group that wants to make the Arts more accessible to the public in RL and SL. Join their weekly Haiku Speedbuild at the Blekinge Sculpture Park. Cyanide also maintains her own blog Wherein I try to balance my First and Second Lives

Honoria's blog with Haikus and a portfolio with amazing drawings.

And Wila Shepherds blog The Teachings of the Scholar about the role-play of a group of geisha in Second Life, known as the Maneki Neko Okiya and Teahouse. By the way Wila Owns a beautiful house at the Shin Tao 2.

Soon we will tell u more about what's going on at the new and still growing Shin Tao 2 in Ophelia.

Meditation 2

2008-01-18T06:22:00.000-08:00

This is the 4th day of my meditation experiment. I got a book by Tobin Blake that teaches meditation in 30 days. I don't think I can learn it within 30 days but maybe I can get an idea. I try to meditate 5 minutes in the morning and in the evening with the kneeling meditation position. Yesterday's lesson was forgiving someone which i found very difficult and even a bit ridiculous. I'm not sure if it really worked but at least I tried to see things from a different view. I also made this picture because I enjoy looking at symmetrical shapes. It was inspired by the hungarian Matyo embroidery my mother used to make.

Oh the running made!

2008-01-14T05:31:00.000-08:00

I thought maybe there is an easy way to create a haiku. And because I read a lot about artifical intelligence, I searched for some haiku generators, a kind of artificial poets. Actually i expected something like i add a word and a program generates me a haiku. But most of the generators I found didn't have this option. Here is a choice of my generated Haikus:

energy purrs, door
meanders, adolescent
flying sallow hand
Everypoet
most of the haikus generated with everypoet are rather dark, but I found them best

Oh the running made!
fie! ouch! weaving sweeping shoe.
Alice hunts quickly
Randomhaiku
after clicking through some of randomhaikus I noticed that the vocabulary is not that big

Rain breaks then snow sets.
Hail works but a flower talks.
Old fish diminish.
Peter's Haiku Generator
Peter's Haiku generator probably hasn't been updated for a while. I could only use the standart vocabulary but there are others like erotic and noir

practice and patience
the leopard speaks welcome to
the shin tao blog thanks
memes.angrygoats
This is interesting. You can have haikus produced out of recent blog entries. Hmhm...if only we had more entries...

oh and btw, if you wonder why my texture in the picture is checkered, try the browser-based SL Movablelife

Meditation

2008-01-10T06:16:00.000-08:00

I don't know much about Asian culture and philosophy. Some days ago i read that meditation is one way to clean your mind (I have many troubling thoughts and I would like to not to think about anything for a while)
Then I asked Dante how to do it and he told Defifee to sit in a meditation pose, close my eyes and shh away thoughts that pass by. I have always wondered if people really meditate with their avatar on a poseball. Well it didn't work for me. There is always something to think of, even if I think 'now I'm not thinking' .. But I'm trying it offline everyday for about 10 mintues now. Probably it takes a lot of practice and patience.

The Leopard Speaks

2008-01-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Shin Tao blog. Thanks to Defifee Fizir {the cute kitten on the right} for all of her help in getting this blog going. Tune in here for more info about the Shin Tao Haiku Retreat in Second Life!

Hello Avatars!

2008-01-04T11:28:00.000-08:00

Good News for the Friends of the Shin Tao and all the rest:
DanteOsaka's Shin Tao Haiku Retreat in Ophelia has its own blog! From now on you can find information on events, new haikus and artwork and important messages from the leopard HERE.