Brahma Yoga Class Still Going On In Second Life

By Grease Coakes

Even with the departure of Pramiil Magne, a Guru or Teacher of the ashrams of the sims at

Airtol Hill (67/242/61), the mediation upon Brahma is still going on. In real life, Pramiil has been a Guru for over thirty years. He said he was lucky to have two Gurus, Babaji and Baba, that he met in real life.

When Pramiil left Second Life to be more involved in real life, his students like myself missed him dearly. To honor his teachings, we still have classes and spiritual dancing in the ashrams. Stjohn Noyes himself over voice said he had a funny sense of humor and a funny laugh. We both wished Pramiil to return in Second Life, but at this point and time it seems very unlikely.

He was also stern and fair. One of the things that he stated as a spiritual teacher was how important it was to serve others. One of the things that Stjohn said was that he met his girlfriend, who he is now engaged to in real life, through Brahma Yoga class. That's one of the first people I met in class, was Eyll Tripsa a long time student of Pramiil.

Stjohn and I both miss Pramiil dearly. As I remember, his catch-phrase over Voice was “Time to wind up class.”

Stjohn also made the comment over voice that I didn't think of that Guruji's or Pramiil's energy was still active in the many ashrams. Even though his avatar is long gone, over a year, his energy is still around after teaching and guiding meditations for so long.

Stjohn said he had other things to do, so I went to talk with Aldaida Resident and Mirta Alecto, both students of Pramiil's teachings they had these things to say.

Aldaida Resident spoke, "I found this ashram a little more than couple years ago. Since that time, my life has completely changed. It was like I found a missing piece of me in the teachings of Guruji."

Mirta said the energy at the Babaji ashram was good and cozy. Also that she was used to familiar people that are her classmates. She was speaking in Italian but her words were translated into English through an SL attachment. 

 Aldaida had this to say as well, "If I had to add one more thing is that although I miss Guruji, I am happy that Stjohn is taking care of this ashram now. Guruji made the best choice to pass the ashram to him. He is indeed the best person for this."

Mirta Alecto was saying Stjohn is a mirror which we reflect ourselves. Dominater Haven, who logged off before I could catch a hold of him, is the main builder of the ashrams. Before, it was Pramiil Magne who built the ashrams and temples. Now Dominater, who Stjohn told me is doing a wonderful job, is a professional who does quality work. He built upon the old Brahma Ashram and improved upon it, making it seem very realistic. Right behind the Shiva Temple at Airtol Hill (131/208/30) is an amazing view that Dominater built.

Not only are there lovely ashrams, but Dominater is a building wizard with gardens and a fountain I found with an elephant. One of the gods of Hinduism is Ganesh, A furry version of an elephant. He is seen as a god of wisdom and knowledge.

Stjohn said anyone is welcome to come participate in Brahma Yoga classes. With Pramiil gone, he was put in charge of the ashrams and teaching classes. One of the classes is at 4AM SL time at the Shiva Temple at Airtol Hill (131/208/30) on Saturday. On 5AM SL time spiritual bajons, or songs, and meditations are at Quietly Tuesday (205/131/35).

Or also if you wish to explore and see the wonderful sights feel free to explore the ashrams and gardens.

Grease Coakes

Grace Baptist Church of Second Life

By Bixyl Shuftan

Where can one go in Second Life to go to church? One such location is the Grace Baptist Church of Second Life. Located in Lionheart Pumbaa, the location is the setting of an active church on the Grid that has several events every week. The church also has members in a Relay for Life team: Crusaders for Christ.

The church makes it's home in the Lionheart Estates, which Becky Shaman described in an article last year, mentioning it at the end. The grounds are made up of two brick buildings, plus a yard between them. The building on the right (facing west) is the main one, where the congregation meets and most of the official events are held. Besides sermons, inspirational Christian videos are also shown in the chapel area. At the front of the building, one can get information about the church, or donate to a Relay kiosk.

Not all meetings are held inside the building. In the yard area is a circle of chairs, which can be used for discussion groups. The left, or Southern, building is a game room with bowling, carnival, and arcade games, with a teleporter to a paintball arena.

I met up with the pastor of the church, Pastor Bryan Sarjeant (leroy.zoon). So what defines a Baptist church from other denominations? "All Baptist Churches are independent churches joined together to support missionaries," Bryan told me, "We also all believe that (people) can only be saved or born again after they reach that age they truly know right from wrong - so no infant baptism."

Grace Baptist Church is less than a year old, established on June 3, 2013. Bryan informed, "In first life I am a Southern Baptist Chaplain and my associate pastor (or co-pastor) has 15 years experience as a Southern Baptist Youth Pastor." The two had met in August 2013.

Bryan is also a Relay for Life team captain, Team Crusaders for Christ, "I found out about Relay for Life through the Tombstone AZ team, "To Tough to Die" last season. I decided to start a church based team this year and we have members from multiple churches on the team. ... The office/HQ is on the other side of this region. ... My home (real life) church actually has its own team so I am on two RFL teams - one in SL and one in real life. I am a retired army and a disabled vet. So while my wife and kids will walk the track in real life, I will be manning the tent."

Grace Baptist Church has worship services on Saturday at 5AM and 5PM, and Sunday at 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM. Other events include a Wednesday service at 5PM and a Friday Night Bible study at 5PM.

Lionheart Pumbaa (39/72/29)

Star Journey: A Journey of the Self

Within the vast realm of Second Life, I found something neat as I always do. Something called a star journey. Something created by the author of “Star Journey - A Cosmology of Self" by Richard H Geer. His SL self Starman Heron holds a guided tour and shows you what it is all about.

For starters his tour on Monday at 7pm SL is great if you have never been to his sim before. When you warp to his Star Journey sim, you’re surrounded by stars and space. You see arrows on the floor directing you where to go. Starman using voice greets everyone in a friendly manner. Before he starts, he gives everyone a notecard explaining the 96 symbols in his star journey.

I asked him what inspired to create star journey. He answered, “I wanted to teach in a new way and he wanted to build a set of tools for what wasn’t there before.” The star journey may sound new age, but actually it’s not. It’s actually a practical way to answer your own questions and life concerns. Starman also mentioned that real life counselors and mentors and coaches use it on a professional level to help their students.

Like a tour in real life, Starman/Richard shows everyone around towards his star journey group and a HUD you can play with. Then he directs everyone towards a deck of cards on the star floor. He asks a person to volunteer to ask a topic he or she may be thinking over one night. I volunteered and from the deck of cards I picked the leaf out of 96 symbols. Whatever symbol is drawn he asks what you think about that symbol and also what other people in the tour may think. Class participation is encouraged as the picked symbol is discussed about what it could mean. In the notecard he hands out to you is a list of all the symbols. When that card is picked out you teleport to that location.

Below the starting star environment of the tour he shows you a picture of, down below is a whole another sim with the 96 symbols each in the same position of the star map. You and the class teleport to that same symbol and look around and discuss the symbol further so it clicks on how it applies to your question.

 Next on the wall he shows a star map on the wall with the 96 symbols in certain places. He points out that leaf is no. 30, which is fresh young and represents new growth. Amazingly that’s pretty accurate when I asked about my children’s story. Another night that I came to the tour a woman drew the field card no. 82, asking about her career. When I thought field it made me think this woman has the world in her hands like in a vast open field. She described she had a lot of freedom in her job.

Pure luck? Maybe not. In a more advanced class on Saturday, three symbols are picked at once and talked about three symbols randomly picked. Picking water, rope, and the serpent, me and the class visualized those three things together and how it connected to my book. One woman saw me riding the serpent in the water and using the rope as a lasso to grab a publisher. Haha!

Starman’s set of tools the Star Journey deck of cards is addicting and exciting to play with. You don’t even need the tour to poke at the deck with Starman around.

Next time you want to check out something new and you have a burning question check out the Star Journey tour with Starman.

Class times are: 7pm SL time on Monday & Wednesday, and 2 PM SL time on Saturday.

Star Journey , Star Journey (125, 123, 439)

Grease Coakes