BaguaKicksAss

Don't forget SotG's forum http://mopai.forumotion.cc/

I know they are out there, I've always heard about such groups over the years... I just don't currently know of any. Resources? Edit to add: must not mind disgruntled angsty, yet pretty awesome once you get to know her, youth in her 20's.

I've met a lot of homeless people. There tend to be two types. Those who are empowered by the situation (no 9-5 job YES, all this free time and can travel too!), and those who are empowered by it. Since it is such an extreme way of living than what we are used to , these 2 attitudes in thinking and being can really make an extreme difference in level of life enjoyment. More so than those living a regular comfortable life. Some of us have the ability to have negative thoughts and they only create small ripples for ourselves; but those who are living free of it all as you are, don't have this luxury so much, your thoughts and actions make larger ripples for yourself and your inner being. You can either take this wonderful learning and growing opportunely and make something of it, some change, some spiritual growth, and increase in your Bagua abilities (not like it isn't going to suck sometimes, but still), or you can use it to not change at all, stay the same, and not make use of this profound experience. Yes I know easier said than done when you wake up saoked and cold from the pouring rain and have to walk a couple of miles for breakfast, but hey no worse than some folks in india, tibet, napal, etc. have endured . I have met many folks who just travel around with their tent (or lackthereof) and just live the adventure that is life. I know really easy for me to say all this from my warm house and having had vietnemese takeout last night, however I can assure you that I have been through just as difficult times in my life, though vastly different than your specifics, just as challenging. Feel free to ask Brian about this... Fortunately I was able to stay driven and positive through most of it (though anytime I would get a bit pessimistic or feel sorry for myself, would always be the time that I finally got a night in the hospital, but next to someone who was dead within the week (or hour in some cases), due to something twice as painful as what I was dealing with.... that always put things back into perspective). Hm, now that I think about it, if it wasn't for taxpayers and my free medical I would have been dead at least 20 times over by now . Full time jewelry school for $2.50 per hour of instruction and use of their tools ($3000 per year for full time), is a neato benefit too. Though I do agree the system overall is severalty fucked up I'm not going to pass up the good bits of it.

2 western students were taught, they taught some others. Though like martial arts, one group says the other group is illegitimate etc. etc. The friendly discussion of such for example would be allowed, however outright insults to one another is not tolerated here. It was more a matter of 10 insults to one. The problem was perhaps 10 different people against one, but, then it's just time to cultivate more if you are the one I guess... because each of the 10 just does 1/t0th of the insulting the one ever does. My personal opinion is this is where the feeling like unfair rules would come in. Each of the 10 would only have one or two infractions each, and the one would have 10 and get banned... in my example. However being the bigger person and still being polite while someone is trashing your views/system tends to work really well in the ways of both stress management and staying on the forum . Thought I would point a few things out in case you were going to take up for MPG...

to upload photos to ttbs turn off illusion and ego, then try again. If that doesnt work,ask one of your kids or neighbors kids for help

I'm really sorry (and saddened) to hear about your experiences . I now remember you mentioning this before. It happens in all paths unfortunately (I have some horror stories of my own, and many people have confided with me). It is unfortunate that some people who are so spiritually immature, teach others. (they of course think of themselves as all enlightened like). Speaking of Dr. Johnson, he has a chapter on clinical ethics, which all teachers should take to heart. One on one teaching can go either REALLY well, or really horribly. It is such a strong connection, some people can't handle it (and I mean the teachers here). Oh the local guy I just talked with a little between the lectures he was giving, not someone I'm going to train with, just someone with a lot of balance and some good ways of sharing information. Fortunately the local community has tested him out already for awhile (people who I have known since prior to them meeting him). On a side note, if you have trained with a few good ones, you wouldn't fit into my only book learned category either, in whatever you trained in .

Have you tried just uploading the photos to some online photo site then linking them? I mean after you convert them to .jpg that is (yeah the file extension thing really is a PIA sometimes). Are these photos you take, or?

I have seen a LOT of folks really messing up other folks by teaching them and offering advice from a background of practice without a teacher ever to offer guidance or a second opinion. The ego (or whatever) tends to take over, and the person can go very very far astray. Not always obviously, but I'm still waiting to see the 100% completely self taught master who is way more in tune, powerful and self aware than those who have at least had some guidance or checks on their progress at some point. I'm not so sure I'd agree with that; I've only ever met one Rinpoche in my life, and he definitely had more balance, grounding and obvious ability than the self taught spiritual folks I have met (it's been many, I get around a lot to various events and such). On a side note, I'll meet a second Rinpoche soon, I'll let you know my thoughts . (though I have also heard some Rinpoche horror stories).

I see JAJ's books as quite a bit different than most. They are manuals for medical qigong practitioners, as well as a neigong manual with many advanced techniques. Most books leave anything which works really strongly, or is advanced out (because really one should seek a teacher by that level). I'd say just be careful, and I think offering folks advice from a standpoint of only being book taught (and not even 10 years experience) would be a very bad thing. Though I feel this way about anything strong enough to actually work .

OK Dewai and I figured it out. I think we should create a couple more for him though...

Anyone else at all having this trouble?

I should just merge the picture issues threads and pin them, we get this question a lot . Actually, perhaps a top 20 or something...

Hmmmm Perhaps... I'll go change that, brb.

Have you trained with Dr. Johnson or one of his students? I would personally worry about a lot helping guide others practices with his medical qigong books without training and feedback from one of the actual teachers. Philosophical discussion sure, but the practice bit past the first couple of basics would concern me. Even moreso with his neigong work.

Did you run into trouble though? 1mb is the largest it accepts (I know it says 2mb, but it lies lol)

It's here: http://thetaobums.com/topic/35153-jerry-alan-johnson-ttbs-interview-answers/ Wow, just wow! I think I need some time..... Back, much later .

Try a different browser for fun. Also checkout the other thread about photo uploading difficulties, maybe some clue there...

687kb

146kb (need to find larger ones)

nearly 200kb

What is the largest you can upload?

This was brought up before, and the limit is 1mg (not 2 like it says). See my PPF "what I was doing while you guys were debating mopai" to see that photo uploads work fine with many diff size files... There is another thread on this too btw., in the office somewhere.... where someone was having some difficulties with it... please make sure it was a file SIZE issue... also restart your browser, roboot your computer, removie cookies and done use IE .

Tech is offering a black friday sale on... PERSONAL PRACTICE FORUMS!!!!! Yes that is right, if you order your very own PFF, until Sunday at midnight, it will be FREE! Well OK they are always free, but as this special offer you can also have an extra special buy one (for free) and get a (also for free) additional sub forum for your PPF!!! Checkout http://thetaobums.com/forum/15-personal-practice-discussion/ to see some samples of the various glorious PPFs we offer! (well OK there is really only one type, but still, check them out). You may wonder how a PPF would benefit you? Well you get to post your personal practice if you wish. You could have a fun back and forth discussion between your own and another member's PPF. You can post stuff that just isn't on topic on TTBs. You can rant all you want! But this is not the best part, the best part is that you get to MODERATE as you see fit your very own PPF!!! Can you imagine, no trolls cluttering up your threads! Or even better you can delete the posts which are off topic, or hell even get rid of posts which disagree on your (most obviously right in every way possible) opinion! (how cool is that?) So don't delay, we have a limited number in stock (does this count as false advertising?) and get your shiny new PPF TODAY! If you would like to purchase (for free) your very own PPF, please do PM me and I will set one up for you, for a limited time (well not really, but just go with it OK). So sign up for the ULTIMATE POWER of a TTBs PPF ASAP! :excl: *Offer available only to all members, in all states and countries of the world. YMMV. This coupon is only worth 0.00000001 of a cent and is not redeemable for cash, nor any other offer. The mods can still moderate your PPF if things get out of hand. If you don't use your PPF for 6 months it goes into the "Sleeping PPFs zZzZz" section. If you never ever ever use your PPF it may get deleted one day after sitting there all dusty for a year. If you want a sleeping PPF woken up, just contact Tech. If you have read this all the way to the end, I recommend going outside a bit and circle walking .

It's all setup . Tech is too tired to discuss the privacy and spam policy with you; but you do have a nice shiny new PPF

OK I'm really confused now. I had set it up for ZYD right after he asked (just didn't post and tell him lol), but then apparently so did you Dewai??? But there is still only 1? Where did the other get to? hmmm