When
the mind perceives happiness or unhappiness, it's about whether the
mind can go beyond the mind perception of dualism and the impermanent
changes of all the qualities of names and forms, and be free from
ignorance and egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving
and aversion, judgment and expectation, or not.
When the mind is under the influence of ignorance and egoism, there is the existence of an individual identification with the modification of the mind, the physical body and the worldly self-image as 'I', and there's attachment towards the mind perception of the duality of good and bad, positive and negative, auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, happiness and unhappiness, pleasurable enjoyment and suffering, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, and from there, arise the desire of craving and aversion towards all the perceived names and forms (of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches/sensations and thoughts.)
The perception of happiness and unhappiness or contentment and discontentment in the impure egoistic mind, is determined by the gratification or non-gratification towards the desire of craving and aversion.
There is only a fine "line" between being happy and being unhappy. If we can "erase" that separation "line" with wisdom or correct knowledge, we (the thinking mind) will realize that there is no difference between the two extremities. The mind is just what it is. It is neither happy nor unhappy. It doesn't need to be happy and doesn't have to be unhappy. The sense of happiness and unhappiness are impermanent and they derive from the mind attaching onto names and forms which have no intention or quality to be good or bad, to be positive or negative, to make us happy or unhappy, to give us pleasure or suffering. True happiness is beyond the mind perception of happiness and unhappiness that comes from how the mind reacts towards the qualities of names and forms.
We will stop categorize things/objects or happenings into good or bad, pleasurable enjoyment or suffering. We'll stop longing for happiness or rejecting unhappiness. We will stop craving for something being perceived as "good" and stop rejecting something being perceived as "bad". That's where the true contentment and confidence, unlimited and unconditional peacefulness and happiness are.
People go for attending some yoga retreats or yoga classes in search for happiness, or hoping and expecting that "yoga classes" or "yoga retreats" or "yoga teachers" can or will give them happiness or make them happy or chase away their unhappiness. But they will be very disappointed because "yoga classes" or "yoga retreats" or "yoga teachers" cannot make these desires come true. This is because true happiness or peacefulness is coming from within, when the mind is being free from ignorance, the ego and egoism (attachment, identification, craving and aversion, expectation, selfishness, pride and arrogance), and not by looking outward, expecting something "good" from the external to give us happiness, to make us happy, or to make unhappiness disappears.
As long as we (who we think we are) still need to rely or depend on certain qualities of names and forms, such like having good relationship and friendship with some others, having a supportive family and like-minded community, doing the things that we enjoy doing, achieving what we want to achieve, receiving love, affection, companionship, acknowledgement, praise and compliment, or performing the yoga practice, to give us peacefulness or to make us feel good about ourselves (the idea of 'I' and 'my life existence'), we will be disappointed, because it won't satisfy our craving/longing for happiness and good feelings, unless the mind is able to be free from an individual identification of the idea of 'I' or the ego, and stop chasing after all the transitory names and forms to give us momentary satisfaction or sense of happiness, which is the fundamental yoga practice in every moment, dealing with the selfless modifications of this mind, in daily life experiences.
When the mind is under the influence of ignorance and egoism, there is the existence of an individual identification with the modification of the mind, the physical body and the worldly self-image as 'I', and there's attachment towards the mind perception of the duality of good and bad, positive and negative, auspiciousness and inauspiciousness, happiness and unhappiness, pleasurable enjoyment and suffering, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, and from there, arise the desire of craving and aversion towards all the perceived names and forms (of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches/sensations and thoughts.)
The perception of happiness and unhappiness or contentment and discontentment in the impure egoistic mind, is determined by the gratification or non-gratification towards the desire of craving and aversion.
There is only a fine "line" between being happy and being unhappy. If we can "erase" that separation "line" with wisdom or correct knowledge, we (the thinking mind) will realize that there is no difference between the two extremities. The mind is just what it is. It is neither happy nor unhappy. It doesn't need to be happy and doesn't have to be unhappy. The sense of happiness and unhappiness are impermanent and they derive from the mind attaching onto names and forms which have no intention or quality to be good or bad, to be positive or negative, to make us happy or unhappy, to give us pleasure or suffering. True happiness is beyond the mind perception of happiness and unhappiness that comes from how the mind reacts towards the qualities of names and forms.
We will stop categorize things/objects or happenings into good or bad, pleasurable enjoyment or suffering. We'll stop longing for happiness or rejecting unhappiness. We will stop craving for something being perceived as "good" and stop rejecting something being perceived as "bad". That's where the true contentment and confidence, unlimited and unconditional peacefulness and happiness are.
People go for attending some yoga retreats or yoga classes in search for happiness, or hoping and expecting that "yoga classes" or "yoga retreats" or "yoga teachers" can or will give them happiness or make them happy or chase away their unhappiness. But they will be very disappointed because "yoga classes" or "yoga retreats" or "yoga teachers" cannot make these desires come true. This is because true happiness or peacefulness is coming from within, when the mind is being free from ignorance, the ego and egoism (attachment, identification, craving and aversion, expectation, selfishness, pride and arrogance), and not by looking outward, expecting something "good" from the external to give us happiness, to make us happy, or to make unhappiness disappears.
As long as we (who we think we are) still need to rely or depend on certain qualities of names and forms, such like having good relationship and friendship with some others, having a supportive family and like-minded community, doing the things that we enjoy doing, achieving what we want to achieve, receiving love, affection, companionship, acknowledgement, praise and compliment, or performing the yoga practice, to give us peacefulness or to make us feel good about ourselves (the idea of 'I' and 'my life existence'), we will be disappointed, because it won't satisfy our craving/longing for happiness and good feelings, unless the mind is able to be free from an individual identification of the idea of 'I' or the ego, and stop chasing after all the transitory names and forms to give us momentary satisfaction or sense of happiness, which is the fundamental yoga practice in every moment, dealing with the selfless modifications of this mind, in daily life experiences.
Physical yoga
practice (asana, pranayama, observations, restraints, chanting, kriyas, concentration) might generate momentary peacefulness and calmness in the
mind, but this state of peacefulness and calmness is subject to
impermanence, and is limited and conditional. The mind won't be at peace anymore if
we don't do any of these physical form of yoga practice. We will feel
bad/frustrated/depressed/meaningless when we are not doing any of these physical yoga practice,
because there is an identification identifying with the body and the mind that is
subject to impermanence under the influence of selfless energy and
elements, which can be influenced by the practice of asana, pranayama,
observations, restraints, chanting, kriyas, concentration practice to render it
calm and quiet. But then, all these effects of the practice are also impermanent.
Yoga is when the mind realizing selflessness of being free from the individual identification with the body and the modification of the mind under the influence of energy and elements to be existing and functioning, that is selfless and impermanent, constantly changing . Upon the realization of selflessness, there is no 'I' existing being disturbed/affected/determined by the forever changing conditions of the body and the mind, as well as all the mind perception of names and forms perceived through the senses.
Yoga is when the mind realizing selflessness of being free from the individual identification with the body and the modification of the mind under the influence of energy and elements to be existing and functioning, that is selfless and impermanent, constantly changing . Upon the realization of selflessness, there is no 'I' existing being disturbed/affected/determined by the forever changing conditions of the body and the mind, as well as all the mind perception of names and forms perceived through the senses.
Yoga practice is there to help the mind to purify the impurities in the
mind, balancing the energy field in the body and calming the mind, to
allow the mind to see the truth as it is, being free from desire of
craving and aversion, being able to allow the perceived reality to be
what it is, regardless of whether the reality is pleasant or unpleasant,
agreeable or disagreeable to the thinking mind, to prepare the mind for
deeper meditation of absorbing into silence, or the annihilation of the modification of
the mind, void of duality that derives from the mind perception
of names and forms.
Upon the absence of an identification with the body and the mind as 'I', then no matter the body and mind is being in a positive or negative condition, surrounded by what the mind perceives as positive or negative people and environment, it won't affect/determine/change the unconditional peace of selflessness, on top of the practice of Pratyahara - Withdrawing the senses from the objects of the senses, being unaffected or undisturbed by the presence of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches/sensations and thoughts being what they are. We can be with people who have a very negative state of mind, but we are not being affected or influenced by them. Instead, we can be uplifting them without being disturbed by their negativity, intentionlessly, and there's no attachment towards the action and the fruit of action.
Go beyond the craving for happiness/pleasantness/agreement and the aversion towards unhappiness/unpleasantness/disagreement, and stop identifying with the body and the thinking mind or the modifications of the mind as 'I', and the true happiness or unconditional peace that is not subject to the state of the mind, the condition of the body, or the surrounding environment, is right here and always here. It never disappear nor fade away. It doesn't increase or decrease. It is not being determined or affected by all the goodness and badness, or happy and unhappy experiences that the mind perceives through the senses via the sense organs of the physical body.
*Some people are still being disturbed very much by the past bad, unhappy or traumatic experiences, and continuously being unhappy and have fear in the present moment now, and will want to know how to be able to be free from the past unhappy memories that keep disturbing us physically/mentally/emotionally in this present moment now, even though those unhappy happenings are already gone or don't exist anymore.
The simple way is to know why we couldn't let go of the past. Most people couldn't let go of the past unhappy happenings is because they cannot forgive themselves for being incapable to avoid/prevent such happenings, or they can't forgive those whom they think and believe as the ones who had inflicted the unhappy happenings that they experienced in the past.
Practice loving kindness and compassion towards oneself and what the mind perceives as 'other beings'. Forgive ourselves and other beings whom had intentionally or unintentionally had caused us painful and unhappy experiences, out of ignorance. Learn to accept the reality of the past as it is, not necessary the way that we would like it to be. Accept that we cannot change the past or undo the past. Forgive everyone including what the mind thinks is the imperfect self, and accept that all beings are imperfect and none can please anybody, neither can everybody please us exactly the way that we desire it to be. This will allow us (the thinking mind) to be able to let go of the past unhappy memories, and move on in this impermanent and selfless life existence without being disturbed or determined by the past good and bad or happy and unhappy experiences.
Live at the present moment now, and have gratitude and appreciation towards all the "good" and "bad" experiences that we've been through which serve as training ground for us (the ignorant impure egoistic thinking mind) to realize compassion and selflessness (the path of yoga or self-realization), is the path towards true freedom, true confidence and true happiness.
Forgive and let go...
Upon the absence of an identification with the body and the mind as 'I', then no matter the body and mind is being in a positive or negative condition, surrounded by what the mind perceives as positive or negative people and environment, it won't affect/determine/change the unconditional peace of selflessness, on top of the practice of Pratyahara - Withdrawing the senses from the objects of the senses, being unaffected or undisturbed by the presence of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touches/sensations and thoughts being what they are. We can be with people who have a very negative state of mind, but we are not being affected or influenced by them. Instead, we can be uplifting them without being disturbed by their negativity, intentionlessly, and there's no attachment towards the action and the fruit of action.
Go beyond the craving for happiness/pleasantness/agreement and the aversion towards unhappiness/unpleasantness/disagreement, and stop identifying with the body and the thinking mind or the modifications of the mind as 'I', and the true happiness or unconditional peace that is not subject to the state of the mind, the condition of the body, or the surrounding environment, is right here and always here. It never disappear nor fade away. It doesn't increase or decrease. It is not being determined or affected by all the goodness and badness, or happy and unhappy experiences that the mind perceives through the senses via the sense organs of the physical body.
*Some people are still being disturbed very much by the past bad, unhappy or traumatic experiences, and continuously being unhappy and have fear in the present moment now, and will want to know how to be able to be free from the past unhappy memories that keep disturbing us physically/mentally/emotionally in this present moment now, even though those unhappy happenings are already gone or don't exist anymore.
The simple way is to know why we couldn't let go of the past. Most people couldn't let go of the past unhappy happenings is because they cannot forgive themselves for being incapable to avoid/prevent such happenings, or they can't forgive those whom they think and believe as the ones who had inflicted the unhappy happenings that they experienced in the past.
Practice loving kindness and compassion towards oneself and what the mind perceives as 'other beings'. Forgive ourselves and other beings whom had intentionally or unintentionally had caused us painful and unhappy experiences, out of ignorance. Learn to accept the reality of the past as it is, not necessary the way that we would like it to be. Accept that we cannot change the past or undo the past. Forgive everyone including what the mind thinks is the imperfect self, and accept that all beings are imperfect and none can please anybody, neither can everybody please us exactly the way that we desire it to be. This will allow us (the thinking mind) to be able to let go of the past unhappy memories, and move on in this impermanent and selfless life existence without being disturbed or determined by the past good and bad or happy and unhappy experiences.
Live at the present moment now, and have gratitude and appreciation towards all the "good" and "bad" experiences that we've been through which serve as training ground for us (the ignorant impure egoistic thinking mind) to realize compassion and selflessness (the path of yoga or self-realization), is the path towards true freedom, true confidence and true happiness.
Forgive and let go...
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"There is no perfect recipe of outside circumstances and relationships that can provide me with happiness all the time, it’s simply a matter of being able to find a way to appreciate where I am and what I’m doing, regardless of what that may look like."
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