I know that they mean hard and soft, and these do connote masculine and femine.
Don’t worry, I already perceive you as ignorant 
[QUOTE=omamana;54111]You grew up in England (‘the West’) and still live there, and you don’t even practice asana…or at least that was the case a few months ago.
So I ask, where is your place to comment?[/QUOTE]
Surya Deva, I would also be interested in hearing the answer to this. If you can as you say in your words, understand why everyone hates the west, then why do you choose to live in what you perceive as ‘the west?’ Why do you come onto a ‘western’ forum and speak a ‘western’ language?
Or you could ask, why do you split humanity into ‘east’ and ‘west’ in the first place?
http://www.visionsofheaven.com/articles_docs/ARyinyang.html
The yin/yang symbol is a metaphor for the constant dance between the masculine and feminine energies within each one of us. Yin is the female energy, the intuitive, receptive, nurturing side of ourselves that is in connection with the Divine. Yin is the energy that yields to the forces around it, flowing, and smooth -- the force that allows a seed to germinate in winter and makes water flows smoothly around a stone in the creek.
Yang is the masculine energy -- the strong, action-oriented, forceful side of ourselves that gets things accomplished. Yang is the force that makes a seed sprout in the spring and makes strong flowing water move or sculpt the stones in a creek.
In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin yang (simplified Chinese: 阴阳; traditional Chinese: 陰陽; pinyin: yīny?ng), normally referred to in the West as yin and yang) is used to describe how polar or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only exist in relation to each other. The concept lies at the origins of many branches of classical Chinese science and philosophy, as well as being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine,[1] and a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang, taijiquan (tai chi), and qigong (Chi Kung) and of I Ching divination. Many natural dualities—e.g. dark and light, female and male, low and high, cold and hot— are thought of as manifestations of yin and yang (respectively).
You owe me an apology sir 
QUOTE I experience a lot of suffering. At the moment I am experiencing physical suffering because of the health problems I have recently contracted. I have throughout my life suffered a lot of anxiety, especially beginning from the age of 16. QUOTE
And the thing is SD, until you learn to release hatred and stop putting the human race in little categories, you’re always going to be sick.
Everyone experiences hatred form time to time, but unless you rise above it and refuse to indulge in it, you’re always going to be ill. Next thing you know you’re a bitter old man who spent his whole life hating, who said ‘its all their fault’ and gave his power away.
You can blame the ‘west’ or the ‘north’ or even the ‘south of south east’ for the way you feel, or you can take a big step towards health and start to take responsibility for the way you feel.
Well there’s a new yoga style now in the West… Intel inside! I still like the same ol’ Kapalbhati.
I feel what ppl might hate most about the West is not the progressive attitude but the rebellious attitude!
[QUOTE=Terence;54150]I experience a lot of suffering. At the moment I am experiencing physical suffering because of the health problems I have recently contracted. I have throughout my life suffered a lot of anxiety, especially beginning from the age of 16.[/QUOTE]
I don’t know if your health permits you to, but if you are able to exercise vigorously, I would suggest this, if your not doing so already. Exercise is phenomenal for managing anxiety.
That was actually a quote from Surya Deva, but thanks for the advice!
Since 1971 I?ve found exposure to yoga, Buddhism and Hinduism bringing me an overall sense of well being. I don?t have a guru so I pick and choose parts that interest me, which leads to more picking and choosing, as long as I feel it progressing in a positive direction I?ll keep exploring. I am conscious of western culture trying to cash in and find it overwhelming the expediential rate of interest over the last 10 years compared to the first 10 years. It?s become more complicate, so many voices where there use to be few.
You are making far too many assumptions. I never said I hate the West. I did say that a lot of non-Western cultures hate the West because of its arrogance and disrespect towards others cultures.
Or you could ask, why do you split humanity into ‘east’ and ‘west’ in the first place?
Culture makes you human, without culture you are an animal. Your humanity depends on what kind of culture you have been raised in. You could have been unfortunate and raised in a cannibal society, and therefore you will lack humanity. Similarly, you may have been born in a mafia.
There are distinct differences in being born in an Eastern culture and a Western culture in the type of values you will develop, your ways of thinking and being, your attitudes etc. Generally, though not always true, if you are born in a Western culture you are individualistic and selfish. You incalculate values like conflict and competition as natural, and thus you see systems of exploitation like capitalism as natural and wars and invasions as natural. Life is about struggle of individuals and groups for things. Power and pleasure are very important values in Western culture.
In contrast, if you are born in an Eastern culture you are collectivist and selfless. You incalculate values like maintaining harmony and social order, and see everything in tems of its functional value. There is no higher or lower, everything has its function to play. Life is about attaining the highest level of harmony personally and interpersonally. Education is a very important value in Eastern cultures and teachers, masters, sages are highly respected.
Eastern culture is obviously closer to making you truly human than Western culture. So of course not all humans in all parts of the world are the same, some are more human than others.
There’s a navy expression.
‘Dead man’s grip.’
[QUOTE=Surya Deva;54164]
Eastern culture is obviously closer to making you truly human than Western culture. So of course not all humans in all parts of the world are the same, some are more human than others.[/QUOTE]
Both the cultures promote humanism. Actually, I think Western culture is more materialistic. The Western culture questions everything… good for progress, bad for values.
[QUOTE=b.shahvir;54166]Both the cultures promote humanism. Actually, I think Western culture is more materialistic. The Western culture questions everything… good for progress, bad for values.[/QUOTE]
How is asking questions bad for values? I would think it promoted sound values.
[QUOTE=FlexPenguin;54167]How is asking questions bad for values? I would think it promoted sound values.[/QUOTE]
True. Certain values are more orthodox, but necessary (well might seem necessary) to preserve culture. These values might not fair well when subject to questions. It depends what one means by sound values. Sound value to one might be blasphemous or inappropriate to the other!
Liberalism is a sound value, but without limits it could be detrimental, one might question customs and would not know where to draw the line… everything & anything goes…
Ever considered the evolution and progression of one universal culture with no illusion of division?
[QUOTE=Terence;54172]Ever considered the evolution and progression of one universal culture with no illusion of division?[/QUOTE]
Easier said than done. That is not practically possible. Even two fingers on the same hand are not identical. Both our eyes appear identical, but if you go into detail, they are not! It is very difficult to assume a universal culture. Western concept of yoga is different from the East.
There will only be one universal culture on this planet when dharmic culture gains hegemony. Today, the dominant culture is Western based on Abrahamic ideology. This culture is inclusive and competitive. We can never have a univeral culture while Western culture is dominant on this planet, this because Western culture is based on division/exploitation/competition/inequality.
With dharmic culture we can have a universal culture. As dharmic culture is collectivist and needs all individuals in the world to cooperate to ensure harmony of the world. Everybody plays their function to ensure the greater good of the planet. Capital is distributed as per needs and shared by everybody. In dharmic culture everybody is recognised as a soul and thus society is geareds towards the development and betterment of everybody.
[QUOTE=b.shahvir;54166]Both the cultures promote humanism. Actually, I think Western culture is more materialistic. The Western culture questions everything… good for progress, bad for values.[/QUOTE]
Well, yes it is true Western culture is more materialistic.
Asking questions is not a bad thing, this is actually true in Eastern culture as well. However, in the West everything is questioned for the sheer sake of questioning, and not out of any sincere desire to come to the truth. This is what is sometimes referred to as the postmodern crisis of Western civilisation. Thus it is a society that is fragmenting because it cannot recognise any unity of anything.
Likewise, it does the same with cultural forms adopted from other cultures. It cannot respect the unity of it, so it ends up breaking it up into parts, recombining them and adding other things, without any limits. The key problem here is the West lacks respect for anything. Everything here is defiled.
The kind of humanism that Western society promotes is material humanism. A society where everybody can have materials. In contrast, Eastern humanism is spiritual humanism, where everybody can be made more divine, sagely and enlightened.
[QUOTE=Surya Deva;54189]
The kind of humanism that Western society promotes is material humanism. A society where everybody can have materials. In contrast, Eastern humanism is spiritual humanism, where everybody can be made more divine, sagely and enlightened.[/QUOTE]
For overall emancipation of humanity, both humanisms have to work in tandem.
I prefer the saying 'Easier done than said.'
Here in London we have people of many races living together, born together and facing the same struggles.
My Indian and British parents had no problem evolving beyond the illusion of racial barriers in the name of love. And that was back in the '70’s.
The two fingers on your hand are different are different in order for your hand to work.
You yourself have an excellent grasp of English, you do not have trouble in communicating with other humans from a different geographical location.
Swami Vishnu Devananda, an exponent of true Indian culture, believed strongly in melting the barriers of human racial division, in order for harmony to take place. He had no issues with allowing yoga to evolve, in order to embrace all of humanity. May I suggest you study his work.
[QUOTE=Terence;54195]Here in London we have people of many races living together, born together and facing the same struggles…[/QUOTE]
True, physically they may stay together, but mentally they might not be comfortable!
[QUOTE=Terence;54195]no issues with allowing yoga to evolve, in order to embrace all of humanity[/QUOTE]
Evolution should not be at the cost of purity. Twisting of yogic practices as per one’s own whim & fancy would generally do more harm than good.