be free, be happy, be peaceful

May all find the teacher within to guide oneself towards unconditional love and peace

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Fear and worry?

Usually when we have fear and worry, it is because we are imagining or anticipating about something that we don't like and don't want that may or may not happen on us, or onto the people and things that we strongly attached to.

We generate so much unnecessary tension in ourselves and onto other beings who come in contact with us, when we are over-powered by intense fear and worry.

Fear and worry consumes and drains lots of energy from us, physically and mentally, resulting in physical and mental illness.

By having fear and worry, won't help at all, in the 'attempt' of trying to prevent the things that we don't want to experience to be happening, if they are meant to be happening. It will still be happening, no matter how much we don't want it to happen. By paying too much attention and focus onto things that we don't want to experience, it distracts or hinders us from doing and achieving what we actually can do and achieve.

If it's just some imaginations and anticipations about something that won't be happening, but then we are over-powered by fear and worry in the present moment now, being 'disturbed' by something that won't be happening at all. It is so meaningless and wasting energy.

And hence, why do we 'hold on' to fear and worry, wouldn't let them go?

Most of the time, fear and worry exists or manifests in the mind, when the mind wanders to the past memories thinking about certain unpleasant experiences which don't exist in the present moment, or when the mind wanders to the future imaginations and anticipations which also don't exist at all in the present moment now.

If we are living in fear and worry all the time in the present moment, being affected, disturbed, influenced and determined by our past memories, future imaginations and anticipations, we cannot pay attention or concentrate in our relationships with other people, we couldn't be efficient in what we are doing in the present moment, we can't enjoy our life in the present moment, as the mind is being over-powered by fear and worry, occupied by fearful imaginations and anticipations.

We have fear and worry is because we are ignorant towards the truth of things. Out of ignorance, we generate attachment towards our body and mind, towards the impermanent conditions and qualities of names and forms, towards all the objects that we come in contact with, and towards all the relationships with other beings. We have craving and clinging towards the things and relationships that we like, and afraid of losing them. We have aversion towards the things and relationships that we don't like, and afraid of coming in contact with them. We generate 'protection shields' over our body and mind, and the things and conditions that we like. We have fear towards what our mind believes as 'bad', 'negative', 'painful' and 'suffering'. We have fear of losing what our mind believes as 'good', 'positive', 'pleasurable' and 'happiness'.

If we are over-powered by fear, we cannot be truly compassionate, even if we want to be compassionate. As we will generate actions and reactions that might cause harmful effects onto ourselves and other beings out of fear. If we have fear towards certain people, insects and animals, we will attack and hurt these people, insects and animals first, even when they don't have intention to hurt us at all.

Be kind and compassionate towards ourselves and other beings by letting go of fear and worry. Relax, and allow things to be what they are. Accept the reality as it is, not necessary the way that we like it to be, or how we want it to be.

There is no fear towards losing the 'good' conditions, or towards experiencing the 'bad' conditions, when we realize the truth of impermanence and selflessness. There is no fear towards separation from our loved ones, losing the things that we like, or old age, illness, weakness, injuries, immobility, and death. This will allow us to be truly appreciate and be grateful for the good conditions that we have, and make good use of the good conditions to be performing actions that will be benefiting ourselves and other beings, but without attachment, fear and worry. When the good conditions change, or disappear due to impermanence, we are able to let them go in peace.

Nobody can remove fear and worry in us. Only ourselves can free ourselves from fear and worry by willingly to let it go, through the realization of the truth.

Free ourselves from unwittingly hurting ourselves out of fear and worry in the mind, and free other beings from being affected and hurt by the fear and worry in us, either intentionally or unintentionally.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Yoga practice in every moment...

In the intensive yoga retreat, we have an advanced practice workshop.

It is not so much about performing some complicated or difficult yoga asana poses that require certain degrees of physical strength and flexibility. As peace and compassion is nothing to do with the physical condition and abilities to perform the yoga asana poses.

It is during the process of learning and performing the yoga asana poses, we learn to let go of attachment and identification with the body and mind, letting go of the ego, judgment, comparison, expectation, craving and aversion.

We learn to accept the present condition and abilities of the physical body as it is, without craving for the condition that we like, nor aversion towards the condition that we don't like.

We learn to be aware of the reality as it is, and accepting the reality as it is, not necessary it's something that we prefer, or how we like it to be. Remain at peace, undisturbed, unaffected, uninfluenced, undetermined by the reality of the present moment now, no matter it is pleasant or unpleasant, comfortable or uncomfortable.

We learn to be truthful towards ourselves and others.

We learn to let go of the ego, by letting go of the feeling of intimidation when we 'see' other people perform some yoga asana poses that require certain degrees of strength and flexibility. Or when we 'see' other people who are more strong and flexible than us physically and mentally, perform some yoga asana poses that our own body is not ready to perform yet, due to physical limitation and mental blockage. We learn to be open minded for what our body can do and cannot do while performing the yoga asana poses that whether we have been practicing, or they are something new to us. We let go of pride and arrogance when 'finally' after some repeated practice, we can perform certain yoga asana poses that we couldn't perform before, or which we thought it's impossible for our body to be performing.

Being aware of the truth of all the names and forms, about everything is just being what it is. They are not something 'good' or 'bad', 'positive' or 'negative', 'happiness' or 'suffering'. There's no craving or clinging onto something that the mind believes as 'good', 'positive' and 'happiness'. There's no aversion towards something that the mind believes as 'bad', 'negative' and 'suffering'.

Our true nature is not determined nor conditioned by the qualities of names and forms that the body and mind is experiencing from moment to moment.

It doesn't matter what is the condition and abilities of the physical body, or the states of the mind, it won't determine nor contaminate our true nature to become something 'good' or 'bad'. As our true nature is without qualities, nameless and formless. The good and bad behaviors, actions and reactions, beliefs and thinking, all sorts of impurities, ignorance, emotions and feelings, can't affect, nor disturb, nor influence, nor determine, nor contaminate our true nature, which is unlimited and unconditional, beyond time, space and causation. And thus, we will respect all beings as they are, when we see the true nature in all which is the same in everyone and everything, disregard the impermanent different qualities, names and forms, personalities, characteristics, thinking, beliefs, behaviors, actions and reactions, and appearances that are possessed by each individual being.

The practice of yoga and meditation is every moment in our life, in our heart, whether we are performing some so called spiritual practice or not. Every moment of observation, mindfulness, non-attachment, detachment, letting go, being in the present, and self-control over the thoughts, action and speech, is the purification process to eliminate ignorance, impurities and egoism.

It is the practice of non-attachment and non-identification towards the body and mind in every moment, whether we are awake or asleep.

Not attached to this life existence and all the experiences through the function of the body and mind, through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin and thinking process, whether these experiences are good or bad, positive or negative, pleasant or unpleasant, whether in pleasure or in pain.

Not attached to the impermanent condition and abilities of the physical body, whether good or bad.

Not attached to the impermanent states of the mind, whether positive or negative, peaceful or restless.

Not attached to the sensations, feelings, emotions, thinking, speculations, anticipations, imaginations, memories and dreams, whether they are pleasant or unpleasant.

I am what I am. Our true nature is not determined nor influenced by the impermanent changes and functions of the body and mind.

The body is not me, I am not the body. The mind is not me, I am not the mind. The intellect and the ego is not me, I am not the intellect nor the ego. The sensations, the feelings, the emotions and the thinking are not me, I am not the sensations, the feelings, the emotions and the thinking.

Being aware of what is happening in the mind, but without association with the reactions of the mind towards whatever it perceives through the senses.

Go beyond the thinking and beliefs in the mind, the likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements from the ego, there is no anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, hurts, pride, arrogance, frustration, irritation, agitation, depression, craving, aversion, fear and worry. After eliminating ignorance, impurities, egoism, dualities and separateness, there is only unconditional peace and love.

It is completely being free from fear and worry.

This is real freedom. Free from being conditioned by the impermanent changes of the qualities of names and forms. Free from being conditioned by the body and mind that is subject to impermanence. Free from being conditioned by the limited and conditioned thinking, beliefs, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements in the mind. Free from being conditioned by all sorts of impurities, ignorance and egoism.

The freedom of being free from impurities, ignorance, egoism, attachment, craving and aversion, and the realization of unconditional peace and love, is nothing to do with whether we can do all the yoga asana poses skillfully and perfectly or not, whether we know all the names and the benefits of the yoga asana poses or not, whether we know about the anatomy and physiology of the physical body or not, whether we know all the chantings and prayers or not, whether we are vegetarian or not, whether our body is strong and flexible or not, whether our physical health is good or not, whether our relationships with anyone is good or not, whether we know about lots of things or not, whether we are 'qualified' and 'certified' yoga teachers or not, whether we are affiliated and recognized by so called 'yoga alliance' or not, whether we have an enlightened Guru or not, whether we learn yoga from famous yoga school and yoga teachers or not, or whether we are so called 'yogis' who practice yoga or not, and etc...

We are able to accept ourselves as we are, and accept other beings as they are. We are able to love ourselves as we are, and love other beings as they are, without attachment, selfish intention, selfish desire, discrimination, judgment, or expectation.

We allow ourselves to be different from others, and allow others to be different from us. Without trying to become like somebody else whom we are not. Without trying to change or control other beings to be the way that we think they should be. We respect everyone as they are.

Being aware of the only existence is the present moment now, we are able to live in the present moment now, letting go of the past and the future. Being undisturbed, unaffected, undetermined or uninfluenced by the past pleasant and unpleasant experiences, and future imaginations and anticipations.

We are always at peace, living in the world, but not being disturbed, nor determined, nor influenced by the world.

We perform all our actions, practice, duties and responsibilities whether towards ourselves or towards other beings, out of compassion. Without attachment towards the actions, and the fruit of the actions.

We are able to appreciate this life existence, and make good use of the body and mind, our knowledge and talents, our hands and feet, to perform actions for the well-being of ourselves and others, without discrimination, without attachment.

Practice yoga, purify the mind, meditate upon the truth, and realize namelessness, formlessness, attributelessness, non-duality, non-separateness, oneness, selflessness, fearlessness, wisdom and compassion, and be free.

Om shanti.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Yoga teachers - Help ourselves first, before we can help others...

If we think we are a 'yoga teacher' who is teaching 'yoga' to other people, what do we teach to the yoga students when ourselves is being over-powered by fear that derived from ignorance towards the truth of names and forms, and generate attachment towards this life existence, this body and mind, and everything (relationship, health, career, money, acknowledgement, achievement, love and support, connection...) that we think they 'belong' to us, full of fear and worry every moment, afraid of losing something 'good and positive' that we love, and getting something 'bad and negative' that we don't want?

We need to help ourselves to be free from ignorance first, before we can help others to be free.

Om shanti.

Ever wonder why Buddha was at peace, undisturbed nor affected by the ignorance of others?

We read and heard many stories, or the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. Do we ever wonder why did he remain so peaceful all the time, undisturbed, unaffected by the ever restless worldly beings who weren't free from ignorance yet?

That’s the difference between us, who are not free from ignorance yet and we are not peaceful, and those, who are free from ignorance and they are peaceful, living in the same world.

We want to show love and care to everyone and everything in the world, but we get so disturbed and affected by beings and happenings that we think and believe are 'bad', 'negative', 'wrong' and 'suffering'. And we know that all these 'bad elements', 'negativities', 'wrongs' and 'sufferings' are deriving from ignorance. But, we couldn't help it, to not being disturbed nor affected by all these 'unpleasant'/'undesirable'/'disagreeable' things. We feel that we are selfish or emotionless, if we are not being disturbed or affected by the 'bad and terrible' things that are going on around the world. We feel that 'some people' are responsible for all these 'bad and terrible' things in the world. We feel angry as we want to protect the world from 'bad and terrible' things.

The world during the time of Siddhartha Gautama's existence, was not having any less 'ignorance', 'corruption' and 'restlessness' than what it has now. Fear and worry, egoism, ignorance, attachment, desire of craving and aversion, selfishness, greed, jealousy, discrimination, anger and hatred, violence, immorality, and evil thinking, actions and speech, exist in all and everyone, long before, during, and after the time of Siddhartha Gautama's existence.

He also did his best to 'help' other beings to be free from ignorance, but he was at peace, being undisturbed nor affected by the ignorance of other beings and the consequences of ignorance in the world. If he ever got annoyed or frustrated by the ignorant thinking, actions and speech of other beings, then he wasn't a Buddha.

The difference between Buddha and us is, he was free from ignorance and egoism, and thus he was at peace, being undisturbed nor affected by the impermanent conditions and situations of the world, while we are not free from ignorance and egoism, and thus we are restless, being disturbed and affected by the world very much.

That is why we need to practice, practice, and keep practice, until this mind is free from ignorance and egoism.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Being aware of 'problems', is different from thinking that we have problems...

Think again, if we think we 'have' problems. As 'problems' don't recognize anyone as their master or their owner. They don't intent to attach to somebody and say, "Hey! You are our owner now. We are yours. We are your problems."

So, why do we go and pick up 'problems', and possess it, and own it, and think, "I have problems now. These are my problems." And be troubled, worried and unhappy.

Let the problems be what they are, if they exist.

But, we don't own the problems, nor the problems are ours. We don't 'have' problems. The problems are just being there, but it is not 'our' problems.

Just be aware of the problems, without attach onto them, nor possess them, and do our best to help them to dissolve, out of compassion.

If they don't dissolve after we give help or assistance, then we have to let it be. Just like we can't bring life back to a dead person. And death is not a 'bad', or 'horrible', or 'sad', or 'negative', or 'suffering' thing. Neither is 'problems'.

If they don't exist, then no need to go everywhere to find them, nor expect them to be appearing in front of us.

Usually we (the ego) don't treat 'problems' this way. We like to look for 'problems'. If there's none, we feel bored, and we want to generate one. It looks like we enjoy having 'problems', and we spend so much time and effort on 'problems'.

We attached to our family, we think, "We have family problems."

We attached to our health, we think, "We have health problems."

We attached to our wealth, we think, "We have financial problems."

We attached to our relationship, we think, "We have relationship problems."

We attached to our country, we think, "We have national problems."

We attached to our race, we think, "We have racial problems."

We attached to our culture, we think, "We have cultural problems."

We attached to our career, we think, "We have career problems."

We attached to our feelings, we think, "We have emotional problems." 

And so on...

If there is no attachment, not even towards this body and this mind, where are 'problems'? There's no problem.

If we are looking for 'problems', we will see and find 'problems' everywhere, in the home, and outside the home. If we don't look for them, they don't come to trouble us. If we want to help to dissolve other people's 'problems', then just give help without attachment. Without being disturbed, nor determined by 'problems' that don't belong to us.

Whether we are aware of it or not, 'problems' are being what they are, and they don't belong to us. If we want to help the problems to be dissolved, then do our best to help, out of compassion, and let go of the fruit of 'giving' help.

Om shanti.

To be able to recognize and admit the ignorance in us, is the beginning of the path of yoga and meditation

We don't like to hear other people telling us, or point out to us that we are ignorant, or there is ignorance in us, just like everyone whom we think that they are ignorance, but not ourselves. We think that we are either not ignorant at all, or somehow less ignorant than others. Or we think that we are very wise, or somehow wiser than others.

We get angry and irritated when other people see the ignorance in us, and be kind to point it out to us.

We refuse to admit that we are ignorant, or will get annoyed when we hear that there is no difference between us and those whom we think they are ignorant, or somehow more ignorant than us.

While we are being ignorant, we often, and like to criticize and mock other people whom we think they are ignorant, or who act ignorantly.

We easily get frustrated and angry with people and happenings that we think and believe as ignorant people and happenings. We also get frustrated and angry when other people think and believe that we are as ignorant as others whom we like to criticize and mock all the time.

We never realize, or couldn't see, or refuse to admit the ignorance in us that is the 'same' as all the other ignorance that we can see and recognize in others.

To be able to recognize and admit the ignorance in us, is the beginning of the path of yoga and meditation.

Om shanti.

Reform ourselves first, if we truly want to see reformation in the society...

Free ourselves from ignorance first, if we wish the world to be free from ignorant beings and happenings.

Have peace in ourselves first, if we want a peaceful world.

We cannot expect everyone else, except ourselves should be changing, so that we can have a better society that is free from ignorant beings and happenings, so that we can have a peaceful world to live in.

Out of pride and arrogance, we think that we are better human beings than others. We think that we are 'good' people, and we are angry with all the 'bad' people in the society. Thinking that everyone else except ourselves, are contributing and being responsible for the problems in the society or in the world.

The restlessness in us that comes from dissatisfaction, discrimination, anger and hatred towards other people's ignorance are in fact polluting the society and the world, not any less than those who we think they are responsible for all the 'problems' that we have.

Reform ourselves first, if we truly want to see positive changes, or reformation in the society.

If we, or every beings know how to 'clean up' and 'control' ourselves, the world will start to change. It is not about 'changing' others, or 'clean up' others, or 'control' others...

In tradition, whether in Buddhism, or Yoga teachings and practice, is all about 'reforming' or 'transforming' ourselves. We retreat ourselves from the world, or worldly affairs, to concentrate on our own 'reformation', remove ignorance and egoism, until we are free, and have peace. Being undisturbed, unaffected, uninfluenced, and undetermined by all the qualities of names and forms in the world, then only we can 'help' to bring certain awareness into the world to 'help' other beings to be free from ignorance and egoism, and attain wisdom, or correct understanding, and thus will have correct thinking, actions and speech. And so, the society will start to change or reform.

Om shanti.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Love and peace to all who feel hurt and angry with other beings ignorance...

Ignorance is the same in everyone, anywhere. We, ourselves are also being influenced by ignorance, but on different levels. No matter how different is everyone's behavior and thinking, or degrees of ignorance, the nature of all kinds names and forms is the same, which is, selflessness and impermanence.

Letting go of anger and hatred doesn't mean that we ignore or deny the reality. Being aware of the reality as it is, but remain at peace, undetermined by the reality regardless of whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, without generate attachment, craving or aversion. It is being compassionate towards ourselves. Why hurt ourselves, and continuing hurting ourselves with anger and hatred towards other people's ignorance and their ignorant behavior?

When we hurt ourselves by being angry and hating towards something that we think and believe as wrongful and hurtful, we are being over-powered by ignorance. How can we expect the world to be free from violence when ourselves are full of violence of anger and hatred?

We can help the world to be a better place if we realize wisdom and compassion, being free from anger and hatred, and at peace. There will be less a being generating violent thoughts/actions of anger and hatred into the world. How can we expect the world to be better when ourselves keep vibrating negative energy into the world with all sorts of impurities.

Love and peace to all who feel hurt and angry towards other beings' ignorance and ignorant behavior.


Love ourselves by be kind to ourselves. Be kind to ourselves is nothing to do with treating ourselves with nice things and pleasant enjoyments. Be free from resentment of anger and hatred, fear and worry, is truly being kind to ourselves. Those who know this, they don't even need to forgive anyone or anything. It doesn't mean that we just stand there and allow others to continuously abuse or hurt us physically/mentally/emotionally out of their ignorance, but, we can choose to move away from such ignorance of ignorant beings and behaviors.


Om shanti.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

How are you? Are you okay?

Many people like to greet another person with this common greeting sentence "How are you?" or "Are you okay?"

Most people don't really interested to know how we are, but it's just a common natural greeting sentence when we see somebody. It is not a question at all.

There are some people who really care and they really mean it, when they ask "How are you?" or "Are you okay?"

Some people don't just ask people "How are you?", but also to the other beings, like insects and animals, or plants, or even things.

Are we ready to listen, when we ask somebody "How are you?" or "Are you okay?"

Some people don't mind when sharing other people's stories and feelings that are uplifting and cheerful, but they mind when other people start to complain and mourn about negative things.

As there will always be somebody who needs to talk to someone, and needs someone to be there to listen to them about how they feel and what is troubling them, especially when they feel disturbed and unhappy.

Sometimes we only feel comfortable to talk about what is going on in our life and how we really feel, to someone who we know close enough that we feel comfortable to share with.

But sometimes, we rather talk to somebody who don't really know about us, about what is going on in our life and how we really feel. We just want to let out some frustration, to get some relieves from stress, without being judged, nor getting more unnecessary troubles coming from gossips among family and friends who know us.

Sometimes complete strangers who are selfless and wise can be good listeners. They are the third party who don't really involve in what is going on in our personal life, who will not give one-sided judgment and opinion. It's not an obligation for them to be listening to our frustration, unhappy feelings and problems. They don't really get any incentive or advantage from listening to our problems, but spending their time and energy to listen to our frustration, unhappy feelings and problems. They also have to withstand the negative vibrations from us for being unhappy and frustrated. They also will wish for us all the kind wishes without expecting anything in return.

Anybody whom we know or don't know, who is selfless and wise, can be a good listener. Their presence for being there, and their free will to share our 'unhappiness' by being a listener, will help us to reduce and minimize our 'problems', or to be free from what we think is 'problem'.

Somebody whom we know or don't know, who is impure, might not be a good listener. Their presence and their sharing our 'unhappiness' by listening to our 'problems', might not help us to reduce or minimize our 'problems', but might make our 'problems' become greater.

How many of us truly care for other people and ask them "How are you?" or "Are you okay?" when we see them?

Are we just saying it as a greeting sentence, but we are not really interested in knowing what is happening to them, or how they actually feel?

Are we having selfish intention and expectation by showing 'care' to other people, by expecting something in return? Such like expecting someone to be there for us in return, when we need to talk to somebody, or when we feel lonely and bored.

Are we doing it for any personal benefits or business incentive in return, when we show interest to know about other people's stories of their life and how they feel?

Are we just being busybody and like to gossip about other people's problems in life, when we expect someone to talk about themselves by asking them "How are you?" or "Are you okay?"

Or are we being compassionate and sincerely want to show care for anybody whom we meet in the present moment now, really care to know if they are fine and at peace? Being ready to spend some of our time and energy to be there for these people if they need to talk to us, who happen to ask them "How are you?" or "Are you okay?"

Out of compassion, without any selfish intention, without any expectation, without judgment, without getting attached, nor disturbed, nor influenced, nor annoyed by listening to other people's unhappy feelings and problems, just be there for somebody who needs a good listener to release what is troubling them at that very moment. Sometimes they will know what they need to do after the relief from talking to somebody. They don't need a judge or an adviser.

About twenty years ago, there was a woman who suffered long term depression. Whenever somebody greeted her with "How are you?", she would burst into tears and started to talk about her problems and unhappiness in life. But, gradually nobody wanted to greet her with "How are you?" anymore. They just said "Hi!" or "Good morning or good afternoon" to her. Some people even tried to avoid her when they saw her coming. Such is the world.

Be ready, even if we are not really interested in knowing about what is going on in other people's life or how they feel, when we greet them with this sentence "How are you?" or "Are you okay?", as somebody might breakdown in tears and couldn't stop talking about their problems, frustration and complaints. Be compassionate, as that is why we are the one to be there for that person, at that moment. Be unattached, just be a listener.

Sometimes people want to share their success, joy and happiness with us when we greet them with "How are you?" Then be happy for them. Be a good listener. Do not feel intimidated nor be jealous about other people's success, joy and happiness.

This is part of our yoga practice.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

May all beings be happy?

If we truly and sincerely mean it when we say 'May all beings be happy' with the correct understanding of what it means, we won't have any unhappiness or dissatisfaction about anyone or anything.

We won't make enemy with anyone.

We won't hurt anyone intentionally, including ourselves.

We love everyone and everything for being what they are, as they are.

Ourselves will be at peace. As we won't have anger, hatred, jealousy, discrimination, fear and worry towards anyone and anything, if we truly wish everyone happiness.

We cannot make other people happy, it is everyone's own freedom and responsibility to be happy, or not.

But, certainly we can wish everyone be happy if they want to.

And so,

To whom we like or dislike, agree or disagree with, know or don't know, met or haven't met,

To whom who like or dislike us, agree or disagree with us, know or don't know us, met or haven't met us,

To whom we think they are good or not good, wise or unwise, kind or unkind, selfish or unselfish, pure or impure, near or far,

To whom we think they had hurt us, or is hurting us, or may hurt us intentionally or unintentionally,

To whom in our mind and not in our mind,

To all human beings and non-human beings, living beings and non-living beings,

To myself,

May All beings be happy.

x x x x x x x x x x x x

If we think we can't wish all and everyone to be happy, as there are some people or beings that we don't want them to be happy, or think that they don't deserve to be happy, and we want to wish them unhappiness and suffering.

It reflects that we are so unhappy and suffering. We are hurting ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally, when we are over-powered by such intense resentment, anger and hatred towards other beings.

Then,

May we realize compassion, forgive all and everyone, and let go of resentment, anger and hatred.

May we be free from unhappiness and suffering that derived from resentment, anger and hatred in ourselves.

May we love ourselves, be kind to ourselves.

x x x x x x x x x x x x

If due to any reasons, we think ourselves don't deserve to be happy.

Then, at least, wish all other beings be happy.

May other beings be free from unhappiness and suffering.

But, don't forget, we are also one of the beings that need to be loved and forgiven.

May we realize compassion, and love ourselves, be kind to ourselves.

May we forgive ourselves.

If we can't do that, then wish 'nobody' be happy.

As in truth, we all are 'nobody' anyway, and the selfless nature of all and everything doesn't need to be happy.

It is unconditional peace itself.

Om shanti.

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Buddhist vs Yogi?

There's no doubt that there are some differences in the practice in Buddhism and Yoga towards the realization of Truth, to transcend suffering.

But, the essential teachings and the end of Yoga and Buddhism practice are the same, such like the law of impermanence, conditioned and limited existence of the body and mind, mind perception of names and forms through the sense organs and the senses, consciousness, intellect, egoism, ignorance, impurities, attachment, craving and aversion, cause and effect, action and reaction, desires, restlessness, dissatisfaction, suffering, the root cause of suffering, the path of transcending suffering, the end of suffering, the middle path, peace, fearlessness, non-discrimination, non-hatred, non-violence, non-judgmental, non-expectation, intention-less, self-control, morality, truthfulness, humility, simplicity, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, gratitude, contentment, perseverance, determination, adjustment, adaptation, accommodation, purification of the mind, awareness, mindfulness, selfless service, renounce the fruit of action, non-attachment, live in the present moment, observation, self-introspection, self-inquiry, observing silence (of thoughts, action and speech), solitude, renunciation, meditation, accepting the reality as it is, realizing the true nature of oneself, oneness, non-separateness, attributelessness, namelessness, formlessness, non-dualism, Self-awakening, Self-realization, selflessness, compassion, wisdom, transcending birth and death, entering silence or Samadhi.

The true nature of all beings is the same - This is the most important teaching of Yoga and Buddhism. Beyond the different qualities of names and forms 'possessed' by the 'Yogi' and the 'Buddhist', a real yogi is not different from a real Buddhist, and vice versa, if we truly practice the teachings of yoga or Buddhism.

If we think we are 'Yogis' and we are part of the family of 'Yogis', or if we think we are 'Buddhists' and we are part of the family of 'Buddhists', but we couldn't see beyond the different qualities of names and forms, and generate separateness between 'Yogis' and 'Buddhists', and criticizing one another, then we are not really 'Yogis' nor 'Buddhists'.

If the end of Yoga and Buddhism practice is separated or different from each other, then it becomes something limited and conditional (It means that if we attain highest realization in yoga practice, we will go to a 'peaceful place' only accessible for yogis only, and if we attain highest realization in Buddhism practice, we will go to a 'peaceful place' only accessible for Buddhists only). If that is what Yoga and Buddhism is about, then I don't want to practice Yoga nor Buddhism. I don't want to be a yogi nor a Buddhist.

Same as in Yoga practice itself, there are different paths, methods and styles. If the end of all these different paths, methods and styles will be different or separated from one another, then it is not Yoga anymore. If Hatha yogis will end up in a particular 'place' only for Hatha yogis, and Jnana yogis will end up in a particular 'place' only for Jnanis, and so on with all the other different practices, then it is something limited and conditional. It's not the ultimate freedom that we are looking for.

If there is a 'peaceful place' only welcomes or receives particular beings with certain qualities, I don't desire to be there, even if it is a 'heaven'.

May all beings be free, be happy - Wishes from Yogis and Buddhists

Om shanti.

Peace and compassion

Just by having peace and compassion in oneself, being kind to oneself by stop 'hurting' oneself, being free from negative thinking, action and speech, or be free from anger, hatred, discrimination, jealousy, fear and worry, is already helping the world to be a better place. It's not necessarily that one has to be 'out there' doing something in order to help the world to be a better place.

It doesn't matter whether we are yogi or not, Buddhist or not, religious or not, spiritual or not, if we don't have ill wills or ill thinking about anyone and anything, and have kind thoughts for all beings to be free (from ignorance and suffering), it doesn't matter if it's driven by the ego, or it's out of compassion or selflessness, it's all good.

Om shanti.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Indian Chants - 32 Names of Durga

32 Names of Durga
 


1. Durgā
2. Durgātirśaminī 
3. Durgāpadvinivāriṇī
4. Durgamacchedinī
5. Durgasādhinī 
6. Durganāśinī
7. Durgatoddhāriṇī
8. Durgenihantrī
9. Durgamāpahā 
10. Durgamajñānadā 
11. Durgadaityalokadavānalā 
12. Durgamā 
13. Durgamālokā
14. Durgamātmasvarūpiṇī 
15. Durgamārgapradā
16. Durgamavidyā
17. Durgamāśritā 
18. Durgamajñānasaḿsthānā
19. Durgamadhyānabhāsinī
20. Durgamohā
21. Durgamagā
22. Durgamārthasvarūpiṇī
23. Durgamāsurasanhantrī
24. Durgamāyudhadhāriṇī
25. Durgamāńgī
26. Durgamatā
27. Durgamyā
28. Durgameśvarī 
29. Durgabhīmā
30. Durgabhāmā
31. Durgabhā
32. Durgadāriṇī

Indian Chants - Sri Venkateswara Suprabatham

Sri Venkateswara Suprabatham

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Yoga retreat?


'Retreat' is a period of special time and space of solitude and seclusion for the mind to be with itself, to retreat from worldly social interactive activities, to allow the mind to have the opportunity to move away from restlessness and its usual habits, to turn the outgoing tendency of the mind inwards for introspection, for self-inquiry, to know its-Self, even if there are other people being in the same retreat.

Real (yoga and meditation) retreats are not designed for socializing or mingling. It's an opportunity for us to practice solitude. As solitude is an important element in conquest of mind or fear. Some minds are fear of being with people, they want to be alone to feel safe. While some minds are fear of being alone, they want to be surrounded by or interacting with some other minds all the time. But both of them also is about fear. Fear derives from ignorance and attachment. There's no peace in the mind, always thinking that something bad is going to happen, or somebody is going to hurt us, either when we are alone, or when we are being with some other people. There is so much tension in the mind and vibrating into the surrounding environment.

If we are afraid of being with ourselves even just for a few days, and 'have to' cling onto other people in the retreat all the time, please be considerate that we need to learn how to respect other people in the retreat centre who purposely coming here to have their own solitude time and space for themselves for some personal practice in seclusion, as what the retreat is all about. We could be disturbing other people's precious time and space to be with themselves and focusing on their own practice in the retreat centre.

We cannot expect everyone to be understanding towards this simple and basic principle about 'retreat'. As there are many other yoga retreats in the world that are not really about silencing the mind for self-inquiry, but it's more like commercialized luxury pleasurable enjoyment and socializing kind of yoga holidays.

In the end, it's about compassion. Being compassionate towards those who are influenced by ignorance and whose mind is out of their own control, and being over-powered by fear towards many things. Yoga and meditation practice are here for beings who have fear, to learn to deal with fear, and to let go of fear. But, most of us refuse to confront with the fear in us, and choose to avoid what we are fear of. Actually, there are many spiritual/religious/cultural/social/educational/political teachings, thinking, belief and values emphasize on planting 'fear' in the mind in order to control human beings to behave or not behaving in certain way complying with those teachings, thinking, belief and values in order to empowering and sustaining their particular spirituality/religion/culture/society/educational system/politics.
 
Inquire towards the truth of everything. Do not blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing and blind-propagating anything.

Most importantly, it is being compassionate towards ourselves if our minds are still under the influence of certain fear and still couldn't let go of fear, but with awareness, and without attachment, identification or aversion towards the presence of fear. All is impermanent. The one who perceives fear and the fear itself, are both impermanent.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

My daily yoga asana practice (7)



This is part of my daily yoga asana practice.

Give yourself 15 minutes, to get you going in daily yoga asana practice...

Before the start of yoga asana practice, it's normal that our mind feels reluctant to move the physical body. We will give ourselves 'reasonable' excuses to escape a two hours of daily yoga asana practice.

The point is, even before we bring the body to perform daily yoga asana practice, to overcome that 'laziness' or 'struggle' is our real yoga practice.

To develop strong self-discipline in anything that we want to pursue is indeed our yoga practice. It's not so much about how good we are in what we are doing. But to keep up the discipline is where the practice is.

It is only the first 15 minutes of physical movements that we feel 'struggle'. After 15 minutes or so, it will turn into 'enjoyable' and 'energizing' that you don't want to be disturbed until you finish your daily two hours routine.

That's why I encourage anyone to do some yoga asana practice even just for 15 minutes (It's a trick, but it works). Because that is what you need to get your body going. You will no longer need someone to 'push' you to 'finish' your daily 2 hours routine. As the energy fields in your body will tell you, "Yes! Keep going... 15 minutes is not enough."

Om shanti.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Yoga asana practice and some other wholesome activities to bring positive supports in mind control...


Especially when the mind cannot sit still quietly to turn inward yet, it keeps running outward and has to be doing something, or else it gets agitated or bored, then we need to engage the mind with some wholesome activities that will bring positive development and improvement in mind control, so that it doesn't has the 'room' to be engaged in some unwholesome activities that will bring distraction or obstruction in mind control.

It is the same as self-control or self-restraint - performing wholesome activities that will promote peace and harmony in oneself and in others. While refraining from performing unwholesome activities that will promote unrest and disharmony in oneself and in others.

Yoga asana practice, Pranayama, meditation, Japa, chanting, praying, house cleaning, gardening, laundry washing, studying the Vedanta or Bhagavad Gita, performing karma yoga or selfless service, performing all our duties and responsibilities, are some activities that we can keep the mind busy, so that it doesn't has the spare time and space to be engaging in any unwholesome activities like gossips, slander, criticism, ill thinking, speculations, fearful imaginations, worries, building castle in the air, and etc.

If we engage the body and mind with a short yoga asana practice, even if it's only for 5 minutes, there will be less a being in the world to be committing or generating negative or evil thinking, speech or actions into the world within that 5 minutes.

Imagine if 10% of the world population are engaging in yoga asana practice (with correct attitude) at the same time for 5 minutes, the whole world will have 10% less negative vibrations within that 5 minutes, not to say that usually in the traditional yoga asana practice, it will take about 2 to 3 hours for each practice, although duration is not the point at all... It doesn't mean that the longer we practice yoga asana, we will be guaranteed to be free form ignorance, egoism and suffering.

Same as all the other wholesome activities that we can do to keep the mind busy with wholesome activities that will bring peace and harmony in oneself and in others. People who cannot perform yoga asana practice, or are not interested in yoga asana practice can keep the mind busy with some other forms of wholesome activities in life. It is not necessarily has to be yoga asana practice, to bring positive development or improvement in mind control.

It's about what is most practical and convenient for us in that present moment. It can also change from time to time. Some days we are more enthusiastic to perform yoga asana practice, but some other days we might not have the same enthusiasm to perform yoga asana practice, but we can sit quietly observing the breath, mental thought waves or physical sensations. Or we can do some Pranayama, Japa, chanting and praying. Or engage in any activities that allow the body and mind to be purified as much as we can.

For those who are serious or sincere in the path of self-inquiry, we perform all the above activities as much as we can everyday to engage the mind only with activities that will encourage and support mind control, or elimination of the ego, or self-realization, or transcending ignorance or suffering, or realization of unconditional love and peace.

By having self-control or self-restraint, and not generating negative vibrations into the world through thinking, action and speech, is already benefiting the world. It is not necessarily that we have to be completely free from ignorance or suffering to be able to benefit the world. Beside not generating negative vibrations in ourselves and into the world, we can make good use of our talents, abilities, body, hands, feet, mouth, ears, eyes, nose, tongue, speech organ, mind, creativity, or merely loving kindness, to share what we have and what we can do, to bring some positive and cheerful vibrations into the world.

Om shanti.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Stop hating...

We think we are good people or behave better than some other people, and we hate bad people and are angry with bad happenings, but we don't realize that we already generate so much negative vibrations and hatred in ourselves and into the world. How can we expect the world to be free from bad and negative people, when we are one of them?

Stop hating people and things that we dislike and disagree with.

By hating them, won't change the reality to be the way that we like it to be.

Om shanti.

Self-inquiry - "Who am I?"

People like to ask other people "What do you do?", or "What did you do before this?", or "What are you going to do if you are not doing this?" in a social conversation or interview. It's about knowing "Who are you?" about other people.

In Buddhism, or in the practice of yoga and meditation, it's about knowing the one same nature of everything, including this body and the thinking mind, of what the mind thinks and identifies as 'I', or what the minds think and believe who or what they are. We ask ourselves (The thinking mind asks itself) "Who am I?".

It's not important about "Who was I?" in the past, because no matter how good or bad we were in the past, it has nothing to do with the nature of names and forms, of what we, or all and everything really are.

It's not important about "Who am I going to become?" in the next moment, because no matter how good or bad we will be transforming into, it doesn't affect or change the nature of this body and mind, of what all kinds of names and forms really are.

Even in this present moment now, of who we think we are, and whether we are good or bad, it also has nothing to do with the true nature of everything, of what we really are.

What we really are, is not being contaminated or determined by the impermanent good and bad qualities that we had, have, and will have.

But in everyday life social interactions, we are being conditioned to be 'curious' or 'caring' to know, or to analyze, or to judge other people by asking questions about their past, present, and future. We think we will know about other people by knowing their background, thinking, beliefs, values, aspirations and behaviors. And we perceive or label everyone as 'this' and 'that'. We generate like and dislike, agreement and disagreement, craving and aversion, discrimination, prejudice, fear and worry, or anger and hatred towards other beings based on our mind perception and analysis. But none of these impermanent and conditional qualities has anything to do with our true nature, of what we really are.

Sometimes, we don't really care about what other people did and do, but just want to have a social conversation only.

Ask ourselves, how often did we instantly judge somebody as 'good' or 'bad' by having a conversation with them, or by hearing somebody talking about them, or by reading news reports, articles, or books about somebody's stories and experiences?

When we realize the selfless and impermanent nature of this body and thinking mind, we will see everyone beyond all the different qualities of names and forms that everyone had, have, and will have. We see the one same nature in all beings beyond all the qualities of names and forms. Beyond all the good and bad, right and wrong thinking, beliefs, and behaviors, we all are not different from one another, where all and everyone is the same, selfless and impermanent, momentarily existing constantly changing under the law of nature governed by cause and effect. And thus, all sorts of discrimination, prejudice, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, craving and aversion, fear and worry, anger and hatred, disappear...

Om shanti.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The ego clings onto its actions and needs to be acknowledged by others about its contribution

After we performed some actions in a form of contribution, we want other people to know that it was 'I' who had performed these contributions, and 'I' feel good when other people show liking, agreement, appreciation, compliment and thankfulness towards 'my' contribution, and 'I' don't feel good when other people don't show liking, agreement, appreciation, compliment and thankfulness towards 'my' contribution, as 'I' want 'my' talent, 'my' actions, 'my' success, or 'my' contributions to be acknowledged by other people, then know that this is one of the plays of the ego.

The ego wants to be credited for what it has done especially something that is done for other people.

Recognize what is the ego, or be aware of the ego, and let go of this ego.

This is our every moment most practical yoga and meditation practice in everyday life, if we truly want to realize real peace and happiness, which will appear when we are free from the ego.

Om shanti.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Be bold, if we want to be ambitious...

If we are ambitious to do something, then be ready for positive and negative reactions, feedback or response. Be bold.

If we only welcome 'supportive' and 'positive' response or compliments, but do not want any 'unsupportive' and 'negative' response or criticism, as it will influence us and determine our self-confidence, and make us feel angry or feel bad about ourselves, then don't do anything. Don't be ambitious.

It will save ourselves and others some unnecessary troubles. Or else we will be angry and unhappy when we receive some 'negative' feedback, and other people who come in contact with us also will be affected by our angry and unhappy vibrations.

Om shanti.

Comfort zone?

It's okay to have a comfort zone, but make sure it's 360 degrees both ways adjustable...

Om shanti.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Compassion? (2)

If the mind has strong anger and hatred, or discrimination, or aversion towards the things and people that it doesn't like and doesn't agree with, it will feel very annoyed and irritated to hear this word 'compassion'.

It is a normal reaction of the ego. As compassion is the 'void' of egoism.

When the mind realized compassion, the ego (the idea of I) will dissolve. It's the same, when the ego is eliminated, the mind will realize compassion.

Egolessness or selflessness is compassion. As long as the ego is not eliminated, compassion cannot be seen. Even though we want to be compassionate, or think that we are compassionate beings, but compassion is not possible when the ego is very strong and being over-powered by impurities like anger, hatred, discrimination, pride, arrogance, dissatisfaction, disappointment, craving, aversion, fear and etc.

If we are compassionate, we won't feel that there is any separation between performing actions for ourselves and performing actions for other beings.

We won't feel that we need to have time for ourselves or to do things for ourselves.

As when we realize compassion and non-separateness, whatever we do for ourselves is also benefiting other beings. And whatever we do for other beings is also benefiting ourselves. There's no difference at all.

Just like when we are doing our own yoga and meditation practice, it is for the benefits of other beings as well. We take care of our own well-being, and have peace and love. Then we can share this peace and love with other beings, and can make use of the good condition of the physical body and the pure state of the mind to help other beings.

And when we are not doing our own practice, but we are busy with sharing yoga with other beings, doing things that seemed like is for other beings, we are benefiting ourselves not any less than performing our own practice.

The main point is that, we are not looking for any benefits or any rewards in return at all, regardless of whether we are performing actions for ourselves or for other beings.

Out of compassion, all our actions are being transformed into selfless service whether it is selfless service towards ourselves or other beings. There's no separation.

There's no calculation about how much love we have given to someone, and how many things we have done for somebody, and we expect how much love, or things, or appreciation, or gratefulness in return. Or else we'll get very disappointed and unhappy.

And so, ask ourselves "Are we really compassionate as what we think we are?" when we complain about ourselves or other people for being working too much, and have no time for ourselves, to do things for ourselves. Or, when we feel disappointed and unhappy when we think nobody is appreciating and acknowledging, or be grateful and thankful for what we have done for others, whether it's for our family, or for our friends, or for our work, or for doing community volunteering work.

Compassion is not just about being kind and loving, or be nice to other beings that we like and agree with, that we think they deserve compassionate treatments, but it is unconditional love to be able to accept everyone as they are, neither deserving nor non-deserving, and to be able to give and perform actions without attachment, without discrimination, without expectation, without disappointment and unhappiness.

There's no difference between performing action for ourselves, or for our family, or for our work where we will get some living income in return, or for charity volunteering work that we don't get anything in return. We do everything out of compassion towards all beings, including ourselves, is also one of the beings that we need to be compassionate at.

There will be something in return, even when we don't have intention or expectation towards the fruit of action. But we are not determined by the fruit of action. Sometimes the fruit of action is not necessarily pleasant, it's not something that we like or agree with, but it really doesn't matter if we know what is performing all actions out of compassion. As there's no selfish desires, or selfish intention, or selfish expectation. And so, there's no disappointment or unhappiness.

Perform yoga and meditation practice, have self-control, and letting go selfishness, pride, arrogance, ill-wills, petty-mindedness, prejudice, discrimination, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, craving, aversion, fear and worry, is being compassionate towards ourselves and other beings.

Remove egoism and ignorance is being compassionate.

Realize unconditional love and peace in ourselves is being compassionate.

Om shanti.

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Know thyself. Everything is impermanent and selfless. There is no 'I'. There is no 'I am selfless'/'I am not selfless'. There is no 'I am hurt'/'I need to be healed from hurt'. Non-blind believing, non-blind following, non-blind practicing and non-blind propagating, but be open-minded to inquire the truth of everything. Be free. Be peaceful. Be happy.

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