Aetherous

We weren't there, and are missing a lot of information. Off duty cops can usually (always?) carry weapons, and have a right to protect themselves.

Hey Astral_Anima, I think it will help to focus your practice on the inner smile (as well as actually smiling). Feel that energy, and let the other feelings merge into it in the heart. This tames and transmutes the wild energy which is attempting to release. Relax more. Doing breathing practices in the gentlest way will help. It can also help to put your arms around a tree that you like, and kind of pretend it's your lover. Don't hump it or anything! But feel that connection and love, and rest in it. Also, massaging your scalp is good. Oh yeah, and spend a lot of time in nature, and make sure you're getting a lot of rest.

I just saw this other music video made by those same guys. Not double rainbow related, but I love it...

Another option is just to continue on as you are. People ridiculing you is a great opportunity for growth...plus you are stirring things up, exposing them to something unique, so in the future they won't be as ignorant. Also, maybe on a deep level they feel something from it, and who knows...maybe in the next year they will start noticing Eastern methods more often and eventually be led to their own path. Keep in mind that the way a person feels, versus how they act with their friends in public, is totally different. Plus, they are laughing (even if it's at your expense)...that is good.

Ah, I was looking over the article three times and somehow missed that.

Hmm...why do they need money for a petition? Really seems like a scam. I'd love to help otherwise!

I totally know what you mean, Passenger.

Well at least their spirits are being raised by laughing, and they are saying a nice mantra. I think the effect all depends on where your mind is. Anyone can just tell when a person is fumbling with a practice, versus when they're flowing with it. During zhan zhuang for instance, it's easy for the attention to go all over the place. But if it's kept focused within the lower dantien, then there's no place energetically for onlookers to latch onto. They might not even notice you're there! It's similar to the idea of manifestation. If you are feeling worried that onlookers will ridicule you, then guess what is going to happen. Hundun, I loved your Mr Miyagi experience.

That is another good thing to discuss...if labeling is ALWAYS considered an insult worthy of suspension.

Well, seeing as how Raymond's suspension was only a week I guess he is almost back. I have read everyone's points, and while I still don't think "cheerleader" is a sexist word, it does insinuate that the person is unconscious/unawakened. Just so everyone knows, where I'm from (possibly throughout all of America) "cheerleader" is commonly used as a way to say that a person you're arguing against is a supporter of something that you disagree with. I've even heard of it being used in the positive sense, like "I'm a proud cheerleader of ____". In that case it doesn't mean the person is calling themselves stupid. So at least where I'm from, it's not a big deal. I suppose moderation is getting heavier here, and maybe that's not such a bad thing! Many of my friends don't participate on this forum due to its abrasive nature. I personally think that whenever there's more laws, then there's more criminal behavior...but everything works out regardless. So, I suppose the only problem I really have with this case is that Raymond wasn't given a warning. Is there a policy on how people will be suspended? If some people are getting 2 warnings, and some are getting none, that is seen as unfair. And Mal, you are the mod that has assisted me the most here, and I consider you a forum friend. So my questioning of this case is not personal! I mainly just felt bad about Raymond's confusion in all of this.

I personally see it as different, because of the way it was taught to me. The only similarity is that the hands are in roughly the same place.

I feel the same way...except for "cheerleader" being insulting to women. I don't see that at all. Lots of intelligent women are cheerleaders by choice. It only means dumb if you put "dumb" in front of it. Besides, "cheerleader" wasn't demeaning in context anyway. It simply meant "supporter" in a negative way. Not an insult at all. ... It's not my opinion that the mods are KAP biased. It is what I've heard from others. I think they are fair, and that this was probably just something that happened very fast. So this thread isn't a complaint that the mods are doing a bad job. I think the opposite. This thread is just me saying Raymond should be welcomed back, partly because it looks bad to at least a few out there. Totally agree...but it is confusing for a new member who was invited here to be banned for something that makes no sense. Plus, most members get a few warnings at least before being banned.

Welcome!

Maybe it's not a huge deal, but I kind of feel like it's not good to watch other people's kriyas (if these are even truly that). Feels dirty. These aren't our blockages, they are theirs...we have our own.

I really like that understanding, CowTao!

Edit: for some reason feels wrong to continue.

I agree with this, but disagree with what you said previously... Same here. But the old translated text shows that it was a practice around 900 CE, and as Blasto said from Reid's book, even earlier.

Really? It's written about as a method in Tao of Health, Longevity and Immortality...which is a translation of a book probably from 900 CE. They call it the waterwheel. Taoist Yoga by Luk talks about it as a practice... There is no rift between neigong and MCO practice. There are just some people who practice some neigong techniques who think MCO practice isn't included in "neigong".

Yay!!!

What if my little brother was born a "retard"? Do you think I'd enjoy seeing you call them that? I'm not just nitpicking, you are being insulting here. Yup, done!

Yeah, I probably should mind my own business... But I bet it's against the forum rules to insult other people's cultures, calling them "dimwits". I'm not even African and I was offended (mostly at your ignorance)...but I didn't report you to the moderators. We have African Americans here. I'm sure they wouldn't enjoy reading you insult their ancestors. So I wanted to just tell you as a fellow forum member, you should probably take it easy. But that was then. Now I just want to see you gone...mostly because you've only been in this topic to argue, and have been contributing nothing of value, and nothing that represents Taoism. Bye bye!

Tao99, you should probably stop talking now.

It's very normal on a discussion forum that if too much good is being said people feel the need to post negative things to balance it.

Horrible. Thanks for bringing this to light. May everyone on earth become motivated to change, and to value the connection of all things.

They sound confused!