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Masks and Millstones. Simulating religious rituals in Second Life. The Problem. DR2535, Encountering Buddhism rituals social processes and groups We read about ‘temporary monastic ordination‘ — but what’s it like ?. A Strategy.
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Masks and Millstones • Simulating religious rituals in Second Life
The Problem • DR2535, Encountering Buddhism • rituals • social processes and groups • We read about ‘temporary monastic ordination‘ — but what’s it like?
A Strategy • What if we extended the idea of role-playing in class by creating an entire Buddhist monastery in a virtual world? CLT Research <-> Teaching grants.
Why Second Life? • Millions of users: virtual societies • Free to use • Viewer on all three platforms • Large educator community Teaching
Why Second Life? • Obsessed with appearance • Lonely • Highly commodified • Close fit with Buddhist description of suffering • Would Buddhist rituals be possible? Research
The plan Orientation • Immersion • Renunciation • Group activity • Giving back robes • Review
Masks • Immersion in Second Life • is as ordinary as immersion • in reading a novel. • For some students, drawing • a line between the avatar and • themselves made becoming a • Buddhist monk acceptable.
Millstones • Building for immersion requires multiple skills in depth and a fat toolbox. • Scheduled blocks of time online are essential.
Thanks • Phil Marston and CLT. • Derek Logan and Paolo Marioni in DIT • The 2009 pravrajika group in Emptiness Hall