Karuna HIV: HIV Centre on Second Life!

Karuna Centre on Second Life




Karuna HIV: Stories from Second Life

Came across a novel idea, called Karuna, to celebrate the lives of those dealing with HIV/AIDS and making information, support, and creative services available to them in the Second Life community.

Karuna means to ease suffering and bring about happiness and well-being in the world.

Karuna is a Second Life SIM to help people deal with the consequences of HIV/AIDS.

Second Life, as you know is a free 3D virtual world imagined and created by its Residents. Although, Second Life interface and display are similar to most popular massively multiplayer online role playing games (or MMORPGs), it is massively popular among net-savvy patients.

Though these stories are from avatars, they are equally as “real”.

Karuna was conceived not just as an information and education resource, but as a place where creativity and community could grow and thrive as well. As a result, the island was designed to be inviting, restful, and imaginative.


There are six main areas on Karuna, each with its own charm and secrets to be discovered and explored:

1. The Garden of Experience
2. Resource Centre
3. Community Centre
4. Island of Hope
5. Memorial Centre
6. Auditorium and Event Space


The Garden Of Experience

In the Garden of Experience stories of all kinds are collected and shared. You can take free writing courses, attend weekly storytelling and music events, meditate to the relaxing sounds of chakra sound bowls, embark on story and poetry quests, play drums, and plant flowers in honor of loved ones.

The Resource Centre

The Resource Centre provides information and educational. The centre is staffed by a consumer health librarian and offers a wide range of factual data and links to real life resources about HIV/AIDS.

Memorial Centre

At the Memorial Centre you can feature photos of those you have lost to AIDS, the mountain quickly morphed into a symbol of hope, featuring cascading falls, a stunning observation deck, and a secret cave where you can float and listen to singing crystals.


What are Healing Quests at Karuna?

“Healing Quests” are part of the ongoing efforts at Karuna to celebrate the lives of those dealing with HIV and AIDS. Participants in the quests embark on a journey of self-discovery designed to help them tell stories.

Why should people go to Karuna?

There is a small but growing number of people dealing with HIV/AIDS who have come to Second Life to explore and find sources of community and support. Karuna provides such a resource to those dealing with HIV/AIDS.

So without much ado, go on to Karuna at Second Life to see it for yourself!

There you might find a small group of avatars is sitting on stumps around a crackling campfire. Like most avatars, they are each exceptionally attractive. Buff bodies, voluptuous curves, and intricate tattoos abound. Clothing is decidedly stylish, and the only hairs out of place are calculated fashion statements.

What makes these avatars unique, however, is that they part of a small but growing number of people dealing with HIV/AIDS who have come to Second Life to explore and find sources of community and support.

Many HIV Patients turn to the Net for the latest, updated information on HIV and for these net-savvy patients AIDS.gov also writes about Karuna.