2. Masks and Millstones Simulating religious rituals in Second Life

3. The Problem DR2535, Encountering Buddhism rituals social processes and groups We read about ‘temporary monastic ordination‘ — but what’s it like?

4. 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.

5. Why Second Life? Millions of users: virtual societies Free to use Viewer on all three platforms Large educator community Teaching

6. Why Second Life? Obsessed with appearance Lonely Highly commodified Close fit with Buddhist description of suffering Would Buddhist rituals be possible? Research

7. The plan Orientation Immersion Renunciation Group activity Giving back robes Review

8. And So I Began to Build

10. 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.

11. Millstones Building for immersion requires multiple skills in depth and a fat toolbox. Scheduled blocks of time online are essential.

12. Thanks Phil Marston and CLT. Derek Logan and Paolo Marioni in DIT The 2009 pravrajika group in Emptiness Hall