be free, be happy, be peaceful

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

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Righteousness, fearlessness, criticism and condemn...

There's nothing wrong when people make criticism and condemn towards other people and things that they dislike and disagree with. That is their freedom of thinking, actions and speech.

Letting go of the urge to criticize and condemn, no matter what our mind think and believe how right we are, and how wrong they are (those whom we dislike and disagree with), is one of the observations for yoga and meditation practitioners.

Some people might think that being righteous and supporting the freedom of speech means that they need to criticize and condemn anyone that they dislike and disagree with, to make a standpoint that they are good and right, and those whom they criticize and condemn are bad and wrong, as well as to induce the sense of righteousness in others, to get supports from others to also criticize and condemn what and who they dislike and disagree with, it doesn't matter if it will provoke anger, hatred and violence in other people and those whom they criticize and condemn, where they think that this is an act of righteousness and fearlessness. But this is not the right discrimination and fearlessness that we are talking about in yoga and meditation practice.

This is pure ignorance, whether intentionally or unintentionally provoking and inducing anger, hatred, violence and disharmony between us and other beings who are different from us, whom we dislike and disagree with, whom we think they are wrong, and we are right, based on what our own particular thinking and belief about what is right and wrong.

It is the tendency of the assertive ego to criticize and condemn - 'I' am good and right, and what is oppose to what 'I' think and believe as good and right, is bad and wrong. As a righteous and good being, 'I' should criticize and condemn what 'I' believe is bad and wrong.
 
It is the ego that doesn't want to let go of the urge to be self-righteous, to be a critic, to be the one who has the right thinking and righteousness to teach other people a lesson, to punish other people for their wrong doing based on what our minds believe what things are, about how people should and shouldn't think and behave.

If we want to help the world to be a more peaceful and harmony place, why are we constantly generating unrest and disharmony into the world by constantly generating criticism and condemn through action and speech that will induce anger and hatred among all beings who are different from one another?

It's purely the play of ignorance and egoism.

If we want to help to promote and maintain peace and harmony in the society, it's by stop sharing intentional information (resources from somewhere) that will provoke disharmony, doubts, anger and hatred among the different diversities in the society. Meanwhile there are many people are unaware of themselves are being used by some people, or politicians, or social medias, to achieve what they want to achieve for their personal ambitions and desires.

As yoga and meditation practitioners, while living among the society, if possible, one can learn to observe, unattached and uninvolved with the egoistic 'games' that the worldly people are playing in order to gain their personal interests and benefits.

That was what the Gurus and teachers in the past had advised anyone who wants to practice yoga and meditation, that they must stay away from vain talks, gossips, criticism, condemn, slandering, back-biting, boasting, and so on.

Using the time and energy that we spend on criticism and condemn to be performing our yoga and meditation practice will be more helpful for promoting and maintaining world peace.

Om shanti.

Know our minds...

The mind never showed interest in something that was always there until the moment it sees, or found certain qualities that it likes, or admires, or attracted to, which directly or indirectly existing along with that particular thing, it starts to show great interest in that thing.

Just like in any kind of relationships among people, including friendships. We never showed interest in some people whom we know for a long time, until the moment we start to see, or found certain qualities that we like and interested in, which directly or indirectly existing along with these people, and then we start to show interest in these people.

This indicates that we don't really like or interested in these people as they are, nor interested in these people for being who they were in the past, or who they are in the present moment, but we only like and interested in some qualities that we like, and which drawn our mind's attention and interest.

Look within, and rest in our very own nature of unconditional love and peace. Love all beings as they are, be free from craving, longing, attachment, possessiveness, projection and expectation. We will never feel disappointed and hurt, or be disappointed and hurt by anyone or anything, when we start to understand how the mind works.

Only those minds that are free from ignorance and egoism know how to love others and be loved by others as it is unconditionally, in any relationships. All the others are just loving their own desires for what they like and want, selfishly...

Be happy.

Beautiful nature around our new home and yoga studio...

We have been busy with moving our home and yoga studio to a new location, as well as running on going yoga retreats in the past three months, and haven't got the chance to look around the neighbourhood. Last week, we have the whole week off. And so, we have the opportunity and free time to wander around the neighbourhood, and we discovered some of the beautiful nature that we haven't seen before.




































May all be free, be peaceful, be happy.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Pride and arrogance is a great obstacle for self-realization

Pride and arrogance is part of the plays of the egoism. The ego takes prides in certain qualities that it possessed and what it can achieve whether it is worldly achievement or spiritual achievement. Arrogance co-exist with pride as the ego thinks and believes that by having the qualities and achievements that it has, it is somehow more superior, greater and better than others.

This is like the 'header' wind that is pulling the aspirants further away from self-realization. It's like the aspirant is looking at the destination (self-realization) with a binocular (pride and arrogance about certain good qualities and spiritual achievement), thinking it is already very close to the destination, but actually it is still a very long long way to go and require greater effort, especially with the wind pulling it back from moving forward towards the destination.

Pride and arrogance will dissolve naturally when the mind is able to let go of worldly and spiritual identifications and letting go of attachment towards qualities of names and forms to be existing, to be somebody, to be acknowledged, to gain liking, support and approval, or to attract attention.

The termination of pride and arrogance is the dawn of right conduct, right view and correct understanding. This is like the 'lift' wind that helps to push the aspirants closer towards self-realization with less effort.

Om shanti.

Video - my daily yoga asana practice (13) 8x speed-up version





May all be free, be peaceful, be happy.

Video - my daily yoga asana practice (12) 8x speed-up version





May all be free, be peaceful, be happy.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Video - Keep practice



Keep practice...

Good as it is...

Something or someone that is 'good' doesn't need self-justification, announcement, branding, marketing, promotion, or to seek acknowledgement, agreement, support, liking, praise, compliment, or appreciation in any forms. It doesn't need to prove itself or to convince anyone that it is good.

It is good as it is.

Someone will acknowledge and appreciate it naturally if they see the good in it.

If others don't see the good in it, it is useless to justify its goodness, or to convince anyone that it is good.

Be free from the play of the ego. 

A lot of times, something that is really good would be perceived by many minds as 'bad', and vice versa, in this world of ignorance and egoism. Those who understand this, could be performing actions or not performing any actions in this world, and there's nothing wrong or selfish if they are not performing any visible actions. Not performing any actions, is also an action. Inaction under certain circumstances could be contributing to world peace and harmony, while igniting the quest towards wisdom and compassion in some other minds, intentionlessly.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Teaching yoga? (2)

The teachings of yoga, the purpose of the yoga classes, and how the yoga teachers teach the yoga classes, are to allow the yoga students to :-
  • Become their own teachers
  • To know/see the truth by their own self-realization through self-inquiry (Insights)
  • Develop self-awareness and mindfulness
  • Develop dispassion (Vairagya) and right discrimination (Viveka)
  • Develop non-attachment and non-identification
  • Develop purity of thoughts, actions and speech
  • Develop calmness
  • Develop magnanimity
  • Develop forbearance
  • Develop self-discipline and self-control
  • Have right livelihood, right view, correct understanding
  • Be self-reliant
  • Be vigilant, determined, persevered (stamina)
  • Be patient and tolerant (strength)
  • Be able to adjust, adapt, accommodate (flexibility)
  • Be able to let go of the desire to interfere with the reality, or to control everything to be the way that we like it to be, or to change other people to be the way that we think they should be
  • Be simple and content
  • Be truthful and straightforward
  • Be forgiving
  • Be observant towards what is going on in the mind
  • Be open-minded
  • Be free from blind-faith, blind-belief, blind-agreement, blind-following towards any practice, thinking and beliefs, including the teachings and practice of yoga
  • Be free from being conditioned by past pleasant and unpleasant experiences or happy and unhappy memories
  • Be free from being conditioned by future imaginations, anticipations, projections, speculations
  • Be free from judgment, comparison, expectation
  • Be free from craving and aversion
  • Be free from egoism
  • Be free from duality
  • Be free from both worldly and spiritual attachments and identities
  • Be free from impurities - Anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, pride, arrogance, feelings of hurt, feelings of guilt, regrets, agitation, depression, anxieties, doubts, fear, worry, ill-will, ill-thinking, violence, wickedness, selfishness, stinginess, and etc
  • Be free from restlessness
  • Be free from ignorance and suffering
  • Be free from actions and the fruit of actions (Inaction in actions - Selfless-actions)
  • Be free from the cycle of birth and death (Stop producing good and bad karma through the realization of Selflessness)
  • Realize oneness, non-separateness, non-duality, attributelessness, namelessness, formlessness (Neither good nor bad, neither positive nor negative, neither happiness nor suffering, neither right nor wrong)
  • Realize Selflessness / ego-lessness
  • Realize unconditional love and peace (Compassion)

Om shanti.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Home cooked vegetarian food recipe - Tofu with herbs and home made tomato sauce



Here is another new vegetarian cooking recipe for our yoga retreats guests here in Langkawi.

Tofu with herbs and home made tomato sauce (serve 2-3 people)

5-6 blocks of firm tofu, cut into inch size cube, season with a heap teaspoon of salt, drained off the excess liquid after 10-15 minutes

4-5 tablespoons home made tomato sauce (Click here for the recipe)

1 medium size onion, chopped finely

1 small red or green chilly, remove seeds and chopped coarsely

2 cloves of garlic, chopped coarsely

1-2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

Some dried herbs - Rosemary & Thyme

Black pepper to taste

A bit of cooking oil

A bit of water

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

Heat up the non-stick wok in medium heat.

Add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil into the hot wok, sauté the tofu until lightly browned. Put aside.

Add tiny bit of oil and add in onion, stir well until slightly soften, and then add chopped garlic and chillies. Stir evenly until the onion browned and fragrant.

Add 4-5 tablespoons of homemade tomato sauce, a bit of water, black pepper, dried herbs and balsamic vinegar.

Add in tofu. Stir evenly until the sauce thicken.

Remove from the heat.

Serve hot with rice, or as a snack on its own.

Bon Appétit!

Teaching yoga?

Teaching yoga is not about teach what other people want us to teach, or teach what we like to teach.

It is also not about teaching yoga with a particular brand name, or a particular style of yoga asana practice.

It is purely teaching yoga as it is.

It's not teaching the information that we have accumulated from reading, watching and hearing about yoga.

It is teaching what we have realized from within.

Om shanti.

May all be free...

It doesn't matter if we think we have been practicing yoga and meditation for a long time, or we think we are smart, friendly, caring, good and kind people, it doesn't determine that we are free from ignorance.

Ignorance leads to corrupt thinking and understanding. Corrupted thinking and understanding strengthens ignorance.

It's not easy to be free from ignorance and egoism, but be determined, don't give up, keep practice.

Om shanti.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Unconditional love and peace is within us, but for some people it appears to be so far away...

Yoga is about realizing unconditional love and peace. It's nothing to do with attaining good physical condition, physical strength and flexibility, good health, longevity, or worldly happiness.

It is right here in this moment, right here within us, but somehow, for some people it appears to be so far away, that we need to take a long time and to go a long way to reach it.

It's because it is beyond the mind perceptions of names and forms, it is beyond all the qualities of names and forms, and unconditioned by any qualities of names and forms. That's why it appears to be very far away, or it's almost unreachable for some people, as the untrained egoistic and impure mind is unwittingly and unceasingly attached onto all the qualities of names and forms that the mind perceives through the senses from moment to moment, being busy or restless all the time, and constantly looking for love and peace in the qualities of names and forms that is impermanent, and this is what make it appears to be so difficult to realize the unconditional love and peace that is always here.

Just like the mind is always busy looking at objects of sights via the eyes, recognizes this and that, admiring this and that, desiring this and that, but it doesn't and couldn't see itself. It doesn't know itself.

If this love and peace is determined by the qualities of names and forms, is influenced by what we eat or don't eat, or what we do or don't do, or what we have or don't have, then it will be so easy for everyone to attain this love and peace. If so, by eating certain types of food, and doing certain types of activities, and having certain types of objects will allow us to be peaceful and compassionate. But, it doesn't, as unconditional love and peace is undetermined by any qualities of names and forms, uninfluenced by energy and elements, and unaffected by what we eat and don't eat, what we do and don't do, or what we have and don't have.

The state of mind will always be determined by qualities of names and forms, be influenced by energy and elements, and be affected by what we eat and don't eat, or what we do and don't do, or what we have and don't have, but the unconditional love and peace is not part of the impermanent states of the mind being influenced by energy and elements. It is beyond all the different states of the mind that are impermanent.

On top of that, it's not determined by the egoism of who we think we are, or what we are, or how we are, or where we are. It is also nothing to do with the physical health and fitness condition and abilities to do this or that. It is nothing to do with how much knowledge we know about this and that. It is nothing to do with all the pleasant and unpleasant life experiences. It is nothing to do with whether our behavior is nice or not nice, good or not good.

The love that is in a form of feeling, of affection towards certain qualities of names and forms that we like and agree with, and the peace that is coming from the mind being influenced by energy and elements, being determined by what we eat or don't eat, what we do or don't do, what we have or don't have, is conditional love and peace that is impermanent. It is not the unconditional love and peace as mentioned in the teachings of yoga and meditation, which is unlimited and unconditional, which never increase nor decrease, that doesn't exist or cease existing due to cause and effect.

Go beyond the mind perceptions of qualities of names and forms, go beyond all the different states of the mind, by practicing non-attachment and non-identification persistently, freeing the mind from egoism, ignorance and impurities, without craving for a particular state of mind, without aversion towards a particular state of mind, allowing the selfless state of mind being impermanent, while being undisturbed, unaffected, uninfluenced, and undetermined by the mind perceptions of names and forms, and realize this unconditional love and peace, and be truly free.

Just like a movie is being determined and influenced by many different elements and efforts from many people to make it into a movie, to be available on the movie screen for people to watch, but the screen is not affected, or disturbed, or influenced, or determined by the movie that is being projected onto the screen.
 
When there's attachment, peace is absent. Peace is there as it is upon the absence of attachment.
 
All kinds of yoga and meditation practice is for developing non-attachment while witnessing the selfless modification of the mind. Unattached towards the action, and unattached towards the fruit of action.
 
Om shanti.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Discrimination or hatred towards those who discriminate others?

We are not any different from those whom we think they discriminate others, when we discriminate them for discriminating others.

And hence, if we truly are against discrimination, how can we discriminate anyone?

Embrace silence. Rest in silence.

Be happy.

Most people like to do some 'yoga', but very few are interested to let go of egoism, attachment, identification and desires of want and don't want...

Most people like to do some ‘yoga’, but very few are interested when come to serious yoga practice to eliminate ignorance and egoism, to let go of attachment, identification and desires of wants and don’t wants (craving and aversion).

Especially when one is deeply attached to certain thinking and beliefs to be who ‘I’ am, and takes pride in being somebody with such and such qualities of names and forms, one will generate intense rejection towards the yoga teachings and the yoga practice about letting go of egoism, attachment, and worldly identification with qualities of names and forms. They enjoy being attached to certain qualities of names and forms, and be influenced by passionate desires to motivate them to live life ‘meaningfully’.

Even yoga teachers might also have identification as somebody who practices yoga and teaches yoga, and generate attachment towards the yoga practice and the action of teaching, and attached to the fruit, or the results of the yoga practice, or the action of teaching to be who ‘I’ am, attached to what ‘I’ do and what ‘I’ am receiving from the yoga practice, or from the action of teaching, whether with or without awareness of it.

There’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone is free to decide what they want to do with their lives, and what they want to do with their body and mind.

If anyone is not interested in some or all of the teachings and practice of yoga, but only interested in doing some yoga exercises for attaining some health and fitness benefits, they can put aside all the yoga teachings and the yoga practice that they don’t like, or don’t agree with, and be happy. Maybe one day later they might come in contact with the moments that they might pick up what they have left behind, or not. It really doesn't matter.

Om shanti.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Think again, if we think we are compassionate beings...

Real compassion is unconditional love, acceptance, forgiveness, tolerance, forbearance, patience and respect towards all beings without discrimination of likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, based on what our minds believes what things are and how things should be. The mind is completely free from egoism, identification, attachment, judgment, expectation, craving, aversion, and all sorts of impurities like anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, feelings of hurt, feelings of guilt, regrets, ill-will, ill-thinking, fear and worry...

So, think again, if we think we are compassionate beings and identify ourselves with the quality of a 'compassionate being'...

Om shanti.


Letting go of certain thinking, beliefs and superstitions that doesn't lead us to unconditional love and peace...

One of the means of yoga practice is to free the mind from being conditioned by any kind of thinking, beliefs, and superstitions that doesn't lead us to unconditional love and peace, but, instead it generates unnecessary disharmony, fear and worry in us and in our relationships with everyone who comes in contact with us.

It takes a lot of courage and a little bit of insecurity in the beginning to let go of certain thinking, beliefs and superstitions that hinder us from realizing unconditional love and peace. It seems like we 'believe' that as human beings, and being part of the community of the world, we have to hold on to certain thinking, beliefs and superstitions to be who we are, to live our lives, to be existing in this life form.

But once we allow ourselves to step beyond that line, we will see the freedom beyond all the qualities of names and forms.

May all be free.

Pratyahara - Withdraw the senses from the sense objects

When we observe the practice of Silence or Mauna, we are restraining the mind from going out through the senses to chase after the objects of the senses, of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations and thoughts, and thus reducing comparisons, judgments, expectations, imaginations, anticipations, projections, scheming, plotting, arguments, justification, and etc.

This is part of the yoga practice of Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the senses from the objects of the senses.

When one limits or reduces the activities of the sense organs and the senses, the mind has less objects to perceive, to compare, to judge, to comment, to argue, to generate likes and dislikes, to generate agreements and disagreements, to generate desires of wants and don't wants, to expect, to be disturbed, to be restless, and thus it helps to allow the mind to quiet down to the maximum.

It is being care 'less' about the world and the surrounding beings and things. Most important it is being care 'less' towards what the mind thinks and feels. Some might think and judge that this is a 'selfish' behavior or practice for being 'uncaring' for what is going on in our surrounding environment, about other beings and happenings. But it is not so at all.

This is a great noble action to take care the well-being of oneself, so that when one is liberated from ignorance and realize unconditional love and peace, one can contribute to the society by being at peace, without generating disharmony and violence in oneself or into the surrounding atmosphere. And hence, one is able to care for the world efficiently.

The untrained mind is always chasing after the objects of names and forms to be stimulated, to enjoy, to be existing, to express, to be acknowledged, to take pleasure in the sense objects of names and forms.

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the mind wants to see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think, unceasingly chasing one after another one. It is always busy with seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and thinking. And thus the mind is ever restless. Restless state of mind doesn't allow the mind to see the truth as it is.

And hence, in the beginning, we need to limit and reduce the inputs of names and forms to quiet the mind, by withdrawing or retreating the senses from the sense objects, to allow the mind to have a break from seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and thinking, to have moments of stillness to see the truth. When the mind starts to see the truth as it is, then there is no need to limit any kinds of inputs, as the mind won't be chasing after the objects of names and forms anymore.

The mind is aware of all the sense objects of names and forms perceived through the senses, but without generate attachment, identification, clinging, craving or aversion. It doesn't take pleasure in the sense objects anymore, it doesn't need to be acknowledged, to be stimulated, to be existing, but it is resting in peace, in silence.

Om shanti.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Non-comparison and non-judgment...

Not long after the teacher mentioned about let go of comparison during the yoga asana practice, the student saw the teacher was teaching some of the movements being different from some other teachers, and started to compare and asked the teacher, "I saw you bring the feet in when you do this. My teachers at home said we should not bring the feet in."

The teacher replied, "Your teachers must have their good reason why they tell the students that they should not bring the feet in while doing this movement. There's nothing wrong in their teaching.

In the yoga asana practice here, it's about using the yoga asana practice to help to balance and quiet the mind, to prepare the mind for meditation, to free the mind from ignorance and egoism, identification and attachment, craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation. It's nothing to do with achieving the perfect physical alignment at all.

If by having perfect alignment while performing all these yoga exercises will bring peace and compassion, then all those people who perform physical movements with perfect alignment are all peaceful and compassionate, be free from unhappiness and suffering, be free from anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, feelings of hurt, feelings of guilt, fear and worry.

People who don't have the flexibility or strength to put their bodies into so call perfect alignment in the yoga asana practice can still be free from ignorance and suffering, realize unconditional love and peace, if they know what is non-attachment and non-identification, if they know how to free the mind from egoism and all sorts of defilements and impurities, and realize the truth, be free from ignorance.

It depends on each individual whether they will be comfortable or not in any physical movements. Everyone has a different body and different physical flexibility and limitations. We cannot tell the students that they have to do the movements in such and such way. By bringing the feet in or not in this movement, has nothing to do with peace and compassion. It's about whether your body is comfortable or not while performing all these movements, and it's about do what your body can do in the present moment now without forcing your body to go beyond its limitation. It's not about trying to imitate other people especially the teacher, to be doing the exercises exactly the same like how other people do. We might be doing the same exercises, but everyone might look differently from one another."

When we see two things that appear to be different, the mind is conditioned to make comparison and judgment, to decide which one is right, and then the mind will judge the other one that is different from this one must be wrong then.

But the truth of everything is that they are neither right nor wrong. Everything has their different reasons to be existing.

Once we know how to train the mind to let go of this habit of comparing and judging, we will start to see the truth of things as they are, and be free from ignorance.

Om shanti.

What happens when we feel 'touched' or 'moved' by someone or something?

We might think it is because we are admiring or appreciating some 'nice' qualities in others that is deeply 'touching' or 'moving', or we think it is because other people show us and others unconditional friendliness, assistance, acceptance, forgiveness, loving kindness, or simply being nice to us, which we didn't expect to be receiving, that make us feel 'touched' or 'moved'.

What happens is, in that 'touching' moment, we are reconnecting with those 'nice' qualities that exist in us but somehow we might have forgotten, or suppressed, or denied for some time, most probably because we think and believe that we have to be selfish, defensive, aggressive, hard and mean, when things get rough in life, or when we feel threaten by someone or something. We are actually being 'touched' and 'moved' by the unconditional love that was always there in us. And that allows us to 'see' or 'recognize' those 'touching' qualities in others, and generate such admiration towards other people having such 'touching' qualities that actually comes from within us.

When we think we are 'touched' by someone or something, it is not the intention of that person or that thing to touched anyone's heart, but it is coming from ourselves realizing the similar qualities in us that allows us to reflect them on another person or onto something.

That's why within the same situation, some people feel touched, but some others don't.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Yoga in the commercial world and practicing yoga while living among the society...

The means of yoga is to attain annihilation of the egoism, realize unconditional peace through the self-realization of the truth, be free from ignorance, and thus transcend suffering.

The mission of yoga being spread into the society of the commercial world is for the sake of world peace. It's not so much about getting some health and fitness benefits from performing the yoga asana exercises. Though there's nothing wrong about that.

World peace has to start from individual peace that is unconditional, undetermined by physical conditions and abilities, or qualities of names and forms. When one has attained unconditional peace in oneself, one is no longer being affected nor disturbed by any impurities or disturbance that exist in the world. One will be free from ill-will and violence, and will not generate disharmony in oneself or into the surrounding atmosphere. And this is how yoga contributes to world peace.

Yoga practice is about self-awareness, self-discipline, self-control, self-restraint, self-transformation, self-realization. It's not about to convert other people to abandon their existing beliefs or religious practice, and to believe in the teachings of yoga and to take up the yoga practice, nor to change other people to behave the way that we think they should behave, nor to change the world to be the way that we think it should be.

Yoga practice is eliminating the egoism and ignorance through the practice of non-attachment and non-identification, and letting go of craving and aversion. All these yoga practice can be integrated into any existing beliefs or religious practice that one already has, without interfering with what one used to believe and practice.

While allowing the existing beliefs and practice to be there, one also allows the mind to be opened. One learns how to stay detached from the existing beliefs and practice, without identification with the beliefs and practice to be who 'I' am. One also doesn't attach towards the teachings of yoga, but will perform self-inquiry inquire into the truth of everything, including the existing beliefs and practice, as well as the teachings of yoga.

For many people, it is not that easy to have the determination and perseverance to perform serious yoga practice (Sadhana) while living among the society in the commercial world, unless the aspirant has developed a strong foundation of non-attachment (Vairagya) and right discrimination (Viveka). As there are many distractions around that will hinder one to immerse into the yoga and meditation practice especially if the aspirant has not yet developed a strong foundation of non-attachment, non-identification, right discrimination, self-discipline and self-control. One might be influenced by the worldly thinking and beliefs, and easily swayed into the worldly passionate desires and greed.

Most of the contents in the worldly social conversations in everyday life are strengthening worldly ideas, identifications, desires and attachments. It is empowering the egoism without us being aware of it. We tend to move away from the path of yoga and meditation, while thinking that we are pure enough, and we love yoga very much.

And thus, it is quite useful for someone who truly wants to be free from ignorance and to realize unconditional peace, by having the company of the wise (Satsanga) if there is one, or by attending yoga and meditation retreats once in a while, provided that these yoga and meditation 'retreats' are about the yoga and meditation practice, and it's not about indulge in luxury sensual enjoyment 'treats'. It can help to remind ourselves about Dharma, and to re-ignite the desire to attain liberation (Moksha).

Om shanti.

Friday, February 13, 2015

'Please' and 'Thank you' is part of human cultural values and practice, it's nothing to do with yoga...

'Please' and 'Thank you' is part of human cultural practice, it's nothing to do with yoga.

Gratitude, gratefulness and thankfulness are not necessarily has to be expressed in words like 'Please' and 'Thank you'.

Selfless actions are not influenced by human cultural values and beliefs. It is being performed regardless of whether there is politeness, acknowledgement, appreciation, gratitude, gratefulness, thankfulness, or not, before the actions, in the process of the actions, and after the actions.

If people want to say 'Please' and 'Thank you', let them be. Selfless actions are not being determined by the presence of such 'words' or 'appreciation' from anyone.

If people don't say 'Please' and 'Thank you', let them be. Selfless actions are not being determined by the absence of such 'words' or 'in-appreciation' from anyone.

If we need to hear other people to say 'Please' for us to do something for them, or to give something to them, and we will be performing such actions 'happily', then we are not really practicing yoga.

If we need to hear other people to say 'Thank you' to us for doing something for them, or giving something to them, as it will make us feel satisfied and well-worth doing, then we are not really practicing yoga either.

If it is something beneficial for everyone, even without anyone says 'Please' and 'Thank you', we will do it out of compassion.

If it is something detrimental for anybody, even somebody says 'Please' and 'Thank you', we won't do it out of compassion.

Performing all actions, free from the influence of personal human cultural values and practice, free from egoism, identification, attachment, expectation, craving and aversion, go beyond worldly cultural thinking and beliefs.

There's no 'I' existing to be 'performing' actions. There are no actions being 'performed'. There's nobody 'receiving' the fruit of selfless actions. There's no 'I' being there to be 'giving' or 'receiving'. Although there are actions deriving from the mind and the body.

The elements of fire, wind, water, earth and ether don't need any politeness, acknowledgement, appreciation, gratitude, gratefulness, thankfulness from anything and anyone to be performing their ceaseless intentionless actions influencing everything and everyone to be existing and ceased existing.

Be free.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

If Yoga belongs to a particular nation, or religion, or beings, it is not Yoga anymore...

Yoga is universal. That's the teaching of yoga, whether we like it or not, agree with it or not.

It is self-realization towards the truth of selflessness that leads the mind towards unconditional love and peace, beyond all the qualities of names and forms, beyond the existence of life, beyond the conditioned impermanent physical body and the limited mind perception of everything.

Even without a human teacher or Guru, without any written texts from books or Scriptures, without hearing about yoga from anyone or anywhere, one can still realize yoga and be free from ignorance and suffering.

All these so called commercial and non-commercial yoga classes doesn't guarantee anyone anything.

Whether some people see it as a fitness exercise, or business product and service, or religious practice, or spiritual practice, or personal self-evolution, or life philosophy, or unthinkable, or impossible, or untouchable, or mystical, or absolute, or realistic, and some people believe that Yoga belongs to them, and only them who think they are somehow purer than all the others can have the authority on Yoga, and are the only people to be allowed to practice yoga, and be liberated from ignorance through profound yoga practice, and they want to protect yoga from being contaminated or disrespected by some other people who have impure minds and impure intentions, or have misunderstanding about Yoga, but still, Yoga cannot be limited, conditioned, or determined by what people think and believe what yoga is.

Isn't that yoga exists for all beings who are influenced by ignorance and impurities to be practicing yoga, so that all beings can transcend ignorance and suffering? Isn't that what compassion is about?

If a being is already be free from ignorance and impurities, Yoga is not separated from this being. This being doesn't need to practice yoga at all. Yoga practice is useless for a liberated being, that is peaceful, wise and compassionate.

Something that is so pure, sacred, unconditional and unlimited, how can it be damaged, or destroyed, or contaminated by something impure? It doesn't need any sorts of protection from anyone who claims authority on it to maintain its purity or sacredness.

Whether we want to name it as 'Yoga' or something else, it is available for all and everyone, it exists in all and everyone, whether we realize it, or not; aware of it, or not; believe in it, or not; agree with it, or not; practice it, or not; and know what it is, or not. Just as the basic survival instinct that exists in all living organism.

If Yoga belongs to a particular nation, or religion, or beings, it is not Yoga anymore. It is no longer universal. It is something that what the people want it to be. And Yoga is still going to be what it is no matter how many different types of possibilities that different people want it to be. It doesn't change into or become the things or qualities that what people want it to be.

Be free.

Om shanti.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Contribution to the society begins with the realization of unconditional love and peace in oneself...

When one realizes the truth of names and forms, and has gone beyond all the qualities of names and forms, realizes unconditional love and peace in oneself, naturally, one radiates love and peace into the world, without intention, desire, identification, attachment, prejudice or discrimination.

Just by being oneself as it is, have love and peace in oneself, have self-awareness and self-control, being free from ignorance and egoism of attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion, judgment and expectation, and impurities of pride, arrogance, anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, fear, worry, dissatisfaction, disappointment, feelings of hurt and guilt, violence, agitation, depression, offensiveness, defensiveness, prejudice, discrimination and etc, is the greatest contribution to the society.

One won't be intentionally generate ill-thinking, ill-will, actions or speech that will promote unpeacefulness and disharmony in oneself and in others (human beings and non-human beings) who are sharing this space of the universe.

Whether one is able to be physically performing actions that will bring different types of selfless contribution to the society or not, it is something that will happen naturally as it is. It isn't necessarily that contribution towards the society must be involving certain physical action or interaction under particular name and form.

One who is free from ignorance and egoism is free from egoistic intention to be doing good or bad. Just like the elements of fire, water, wind, earth and ether. There's no desire or intention to benefit anyone, or to destroy anything, and yet, everything exists and stop existing influenced by these elements.

If we think we are good enough only when we are performing some actions or can have the opportunity to do something that we think is 'contribution' to the society, and we are not good enough when we are not performing some actions or can't have the opportunity to do something that we think is 'contribution' to the society, then we are not free from ignorance yet. Although by having such thinking will motivate us to be performing certain actions or to do something that will bring benefits to the society, but that is nothing to do with the realization of the truth and be free from ignorance and egoism.

We can be performing none, or a little, or a lot of 'selfless actions' in this world, but it's free from egoistic intention, attachment, identification, desires, judgment or expectation towards all these actions and inactions and the fruit of actions and inactions. It doesn't make us 'good' or 'bad'. It doesn't determine us to be 'happy' or 'unhappy', to feel 'meaningful' or 'meaningless'.

Be free.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Commercial and non-commercial yoga classes?

Some people labelled the yoga in yoga classes being taught without fees as ‘non-commercial’, and the yoga being taught in yoga classes with fees as ‘commercial’. Does that mean the teachings of yoga being taught in both commercial and non-commercial yoga classes will be different, although there might be different intentions behind it? There’s no guarantee that there won’t be any impure intention in the non-commercial yoga classes, nor there must be impure intention in the commercial yoga classes. Non-commercial yoga classes doesn’t guarantee all the yoga students will be free from ignorance and egoism. And it doesn’t mean that all the students in the commercial yoga classes will not be free from ignorance and egoism. If yoga being taught in the commercial yoga classes can bring certain awareness to the society, and more people are becoming more aware of their minds, and learn how to be kind to themselves and to others, what’s so wrong with the commercial yoga classes then? Unless there are corruptions exist in the yoga classes among the teachers and the students, it doesn’t matter if it is non-commercial or commercial yoga classes, then there’s something is going against the teachings of yoga.

Om shanti.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Silence?

Silence?

We might relate it as there's nobody talking or making noises, or it's about being speechless, movement-less, or action-less.

We might understood it as soundless, quietness and calmness of the environment.

Actually, it is silence of the mind.

The mind is silent, the thought-waves are rendered still and calm, being unmoved, undisturbed and unaffected by all the perceptions of names and forms, under any circumstances, even if the surrounding environment is noisy, chaotic, full of all sorts of sounds and actions.

The mind is free from egoism, attachment, identification, judgment, comparison, intention, expectation, impurities, craving, aversion, fear, worry, anger, hatred, greed, jealousy, dissatisfaction, disappointment, hurts, guilt, imagination, assumption, good and bad, positive and negative, elevation and depression, and so on.

In Bhakti Yoga, there are lots of chanting, prayers, Bhajan, Kirtan, listening to the stories of the Scriptures, where all these 'sounds' and 'melodies' will lead one's mind into silence, stillness, calmness, peace...

Are we still looking for a yoga class that is completely silent where the teacher doesn't say anything, or are we looking for a place or environment that is completely soundless to practice yoga and meditation as there are such sayings about "Meditation is based on silence..." or "Yoga class is build upon silence..."?

Om shanti.

Divert the attention of the mind away from what it thinks is troubling it...

For those who haven't developed a strong foundation of non-attachment and detachment, then whenever they feel that their minds are being disturbed by something, they can try to divert the attention of the mind away from what it thinks is troubling it, by focusing on something else. It can be anything that draws the interest of the mind, like watching a movie that they like to watch, or doing some form of mental or physical activities that they like.

But this is only a momentary relief for the mind to stop thinking about what is troubling it, to stop feeding these thinking, and eventually let these thoughts to eventually die out by themselves. The mind might sway back and forth between different attentions, swaying back and forth between happiness and unhappiness, being restless. It also won't guarantee that the mind won't be disturbed by the same kind of names and forms again, or be disturbed by some other kinds of names and forms. The mind will be forever restless, no peace.

For those who have developed a strong foundation of non-attachment, their minds won't be disturbed by anything. They just let all the perceptions of names and forms to come and go as they are, from moment to moment.

For those who haven't developed a strong foundation of non-attachment, occasionally their minds might generate attachment towards certain names and forms, and be disturbed by these names and forms, but they know what is detachment, or how to let go. They are aware of this disturbance in the mind without association, and they are able to observe the disturbed state of the mind without generate judgment or expectation, just accept the reality as it is, that the mind is being disturbed in this present moment now, have self-control not being over-powered by the disturbed state of the mind to perform actions and speech that will generate more disturbance in oneself or into the surrounding environment. They don't need to runaway from or ignore the disturbance in the mind by diverting the attention of the mind onto something else. But they observe without being determined or over-powered by the disturbed state of the mind, and allow the disturbed state of the mind to pass-away eventually.

Keep practicing. Strengthening the practice of non-attachment and detachment, or letting go.

Om shanti.

Yoga teachers, teaching yoga, and make a living...

Some yoga teachers are disturbed by doubt and guilt about whether it is alright for them to be able to make a living from teaching yoga by giving yoga classes or courses, as some ‘good’ people who are directly or indirectly involve in the world of yoga insist that there should be no fees charged, or there should be very minimal fees charged for giving yoga classes, as some people think and believe that teaching yoga should be a selfless service or charity work, that part of the yoga practice is about performing selfless actions, and not expect anything in return. Even if there are fees charged (small or big amount), then all the profits from running yoga classes and courses should be given away for charity cause. They ‘expect’ yoga teachers should have no living expenses by living in a cave or on the street and maintaining their lives from begging, or they should have some other forms of livelihood or income (but not coming from teaching yoga by giving yoga classes) to support their life of all kinds of living expenses in the modern world. Or else, it is wrong, or it’s a great sin, or bad karma to make a living from teaching yoga.

There are also quite many ‘yoga’ enthusiasts who come from different backgrounds with different social or financial status who are interested to take up yoga classes or yoga courses who actually think and believe that all yoga classes and yoga courses should be free, and they are reluctant to pay some fees, or only want to pay a little amount of fees that they think is sufficient to cover the cost for the yoga classes or courses, as they think yoga teachers should not make any profits or make a living from running yoga classes or courses. And they think and believe that all yoga teachers should be the role models for others to live a 'basic' life with limited livelihood. They believe that yoga teachers don’t really need much money to live life, or don't have any living expenses. And hence, they think yoga teachers don’t need to take or receive any fees from teaching yoga.

People would actually think that it's not okay for any kind of exploitation and slavery in the modern world of civilization, except for those who teach yoga to others, just like those who want to perform charity work or volunteering work. Doing any kind of good actions that would bring goodness to the world should be purely on charity/volunteering basis. Those who want to get involve in activity that help to promote other people's quality of life must also have enough source of income or savings to support their own living, in order to have the money, free time and energy to help others. 'Good actions' should be on charity/volunteering basis. There will not be any 'good' if there is money/payment transaction or profit involved. What kind of logic is that?

There's nothing wrong with those thinking and beliefs, coming from these people's particular worldly point of view. Everyone is free to express what they think and believe, to criticize and to condemn other people whom they dislike and disagree with. But those who truly know what is yoga, they are aware of all the different points of views, but they will not criticize or condemn anyone. If it is the truth, there's nothing to be criticized about. If it is not the truth, it's pointless to criticize anyone who is being ignorant towards the ignorance in oneself.

Here are a few points to let anyone who directly or indirectly relates to this matter to reflect upon this subject and measure it by themselves.

Before we get into these information given below, take note that yoga practice is not limited in a yoga class or yoga course with a particular name and form, or at a particular time and space. Yoga and the practice of yoga is unlimited by names and forms, time and space. It exists everywhere and anytime. Everything and everyone can be teaching us yoga to realize the truth, it’s not necessarily has to be a human being who is graduated from yoga teachers training course who bears the title of ‘yoga teacher’, and is ‘certified’ and ‘qualified’ to teach yoga to others.

1.) Most people who identify themselves as ‘yoga teachers’ in the world nowadays are not really teaching yoga, but they are fitness instructors who teach yoga asana exercise classes under many different styles, names and forms. And so, they are not limited by the above ‘moral observations’ at all. They can charge fees as high as they like, depending on their cost for conducting classes and their ‘qualifications’, ‘teaching experience’, ‘competency’, ‘unique teaching skills and flair’, ‘creativity’, 'types of clients', and of course, ‘popularity’ and ‘demand’. It’s a legal and healthy livelihood. It’s a very meaningful job that can enhance one's physical and mental health and fitness, as well as to encourage many others to have a healthier and active lifestyle by igniting great enthusiasm in these people to do some yoga asana exercises regularly.

They deserve to make some money to pay back their cost of acquiring the knowledge of the yoga asana exercises and learning the teaching skill and technique, and to attain various certificates and qualifications recognized by such and such international yoga affiliations to qualified them to teach yoga asana exercise classes to the public by continuously attending ‘yoga courses’ and ‘yoga workshops’ regularly to maintain and upgrade their professionalism in teaching yoga asana exercise classes, to ensure safe and effective yoga asana exercises, as well as fun and enjoyable innovative yoga asana exercise classes to be delivered to their students or clients. They are constantly being judged and evaluated by the clients as well as the employer, and either unwittingly or wittingly, they need to be competitive enough as they are constantly competing with the other yoga fitness instructors, just like any other forms of career in the world.

On top of that, they need to be able to make more than enough income to support their everyday life expenses on food, living space, transportation, holidays, entertainments, social activities, continuing education and learning, saving, investment, retirement plan, and for some people, they might even need to support their family, or helping out relatives and friends financially. And they also need to have some extra money to allow them to perform charity, or to be able to participate in some forms of volunteering works to contribute to the society once in a while.

There’s nothing wrong, or sinful, or bad karma in this at all.

No one can criticize or condemn them for anything as they are not teaching yoga.

2.) Yoga, the teachings of yoga, the yoga practice and Dharma are not for sale. It is not a trading object that can be exchanged or trade in for something else. It is not possible to make ‘yoga’ into a worldly business and make profit out of it. No one owns yoga, or has authorization over yoga, but it exists in all and everyone waiting to be realized. ‘Yoga classes’, or ‘yoga courses’, or ‘yoga asana exercise classes’ are something different. They can be made into a business to make some profits out of it, whether we think it’s okay, or it’s not okay. And those who really teach yoga don’t identify themselves with any names and forms. Neither will they call or advertise themselves as ‘yoga teachers’. There are no yoga teachers. They are just selfless instruments performing the actions of transmitting the teachings of yoga to others, regardless of in the form of 'organized yoga class' or 'unplanned spontaneous sharing'.

3.) What’s the difference between fees and donations? It doesn’t matter whether they are in the form of money or in some other exchangeable forms, it is something that we show gratitude to somebody who gives us, or shares with us something that is invaluable which cannot be bought with money, whether the receivers are selfless and don’t expect anything in return, or they are not selfless and they expect something in return. Why is it if it’s ‘fees’, it is ‘not okay’, but if it’s ‘donations’, it is ‘okay’? Is it that if we think yoga teachers are supposed to be selfless beings, that they should be performing selfless service, and they shouldn’t expect or receive anything in return, and that allows us to take them for granted?

4.) Many of those who think and believe that yoga teachers should live in poverty and live on charity or begging, are not necessarily that they can’t afford to pay the fees or donations, but they just want to have ‘free’ or ‘cheap’ yoga exercise classes. So that they can keep their money for other expenses to support their social activities and life enjoyments. They think the teacher doesn't deserve more than what they think they want to 'pay'. What are these people with such mentality learning and practicing when they claim themselves as yoga enthusiasts who love yoga (or yoga exercises more precisely) very much and want to learn yoga under a teacher, but they don't respect the teacher or don't know how to appreciate the invaluable yoga teachings and practice at all?

Humility and respect oneself and others are the basis of yoga practice. We need to learn how to be free from arrogance, defensiveness and offensiveness, to respect all without discrimination of personal likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements based on what our minds believe how things should be like, not to say, to show humility and respect towards someone who teaches and guides us about the teachings and practice of yoga.

Those who are truly humble and sincere to learn yoga from a teacher will naturally want to contribute and support the living of the teacher, even if it's not an obligation to do so. Even when the teacher doesn’t expect or doesn’t want to be respected or served by the students, they will respect and serve the teacher out of their own free will. The students will be performing selfless service to serve the teacher even after they have been contributing something or supporting the living of the teacher. Nowadays, many people who say they want to learn yoga, they don’t know anything about this precious value of yoga – to eliminate egoism. The students complain and criticize about their teachers when they are not getting what they want, or when they are being dissatisfied about something that they don’t like or disagree with. They are not learning or practicing yoga at all. They expect the teacher to be in certain ways with certain professional image and behavior. They expect the teacher to give them something in return that they like and want, which they think it should worth the similar value of money or other forms of contribution that they have given to the teacher. They want the teacher to serve them or treat them with some sorts of customer service and gratifying their desires of craving and aversion, as they have given some fees/donations or other forms of contributions to the teacher.

5.) People who pay some fees for attending yoga classes or courses, may drop out half way of the course when it becomes quite challenging physically and mentally, or when they didn’t get what they expect to be getting from the yoga classes, even if they know that their money will be ‘wasted’. Not to say, those who pay no fees or very little fees for the yoga classes or courses, may easily drop out half way of the course when it becomes quite challenging physically and mentally, or when they didn’t get what they expect to be getting from the yoga classes, as they know they won’t be ‘wasting’ much money.

6.) When ‘real’ yoga teachers who teach yoga by giving yoga classes or courses at a specific time and place to allow people to come together to learn and practice yoga, they don’t sell us yoga or Dharma, or the realization of the truth, or liberation, or peace and compassion. They can’t. Even if someone wants to ‘sell’ us yoga or Dharma, or the realization of the truth, or liberation, or peace and compassion, we can’t ‘buy’ it and ‘have’ it, no matter how much money we have. They can only deliver the knowledge and share their personal experience and realization that served as possible hints that might help us in performing our own practice and self-inquiry.

7.) The fees or donations (whether it is a fixed amount or ‘donate as you wish’) that the yoga teachers receive from those who participate (or not participate) in their classes or courses, are for the time, effort and costs to make the classes or courses available, to show their gratitude and support to the teachers and Dharma by paying some fees or giving some donations that would allow some other people to be able to come together at a particular time and place, to learn and practice yoga or Dharma. And everyone has to work very hard individually and independently to attain their own realization and salvation, regardless of whether the amount of fees or donations is big or small.


It doesn’t mean that if the amount of fees or donations is big, they’ll get faster and more efficient results and greater achievements, and if the amount of fees or donations is smaller, they’ll get slower and less efficient results and smaller achievements. And above all, yoga is not about the results or achievements, and it’s nothing to do with the existence or non-existence of fees or donations.


8.) The fees or donations that we pay or give to ‘real’ yoga teachers who teach yoga, not just some yoga asana exercise fitness classes, is also a form of generosity or an act of charity coming from us to allow these yoga teachers (who allow the yoga classes to be available to us, and to share the great knowledge of yoga of how to be free from ignorance and suffering, to realize unconditional love and peace, it’s not just about doing some fitness exercise routines) to support their living, and for them to have the time and space to perform their personal practice to attain higher realization, apart from giving their time to teach classes to others. They also need to have some sorts of livelihood to support themselves, their lives and all other necessary expenses to perform their duties and responsibilities towards themselves and towards those who depend on them in lives financially, physically or mentally.

9.) Why should yoga teachers (or more precisely, experienced yoga practitioners who teach yoga to others) live in poverty, be homeless, or to survive under poor and insufficient conditions, solely depending on begging or receiving ‘charity’ from other people, to prove that they practice ‘detachment’, or ‘non-attachment’, or ‘non-possessiveness’, or they are ‘super human beings’? What is the real meaning and practice of detachment, non-attachment and non-possessiveness? What does yoga or yoga practitioners has anything to do with ‘super human beings’? Even enlightened beings will also need to maintain and feed their body, and witness or go through the law of impermanence through the existence of the selfless physical body and thinking mind. Their bodies will need constant maintenance, and will decay, experiencing changes, old age, illness, pain, discomfort, and eventually stop functioning (decomposition or death.) There are constant thoughts arising and passing away in their mind just like everyone else. But they are not associated with, or be determined or disturbed by the mind perception of ceaseless changes of names and forms arising and passing away.

10.) Why should the yoga teachers who teach yoga be limited by the above ‘moral observations’, and be criticized and condemned by ‘certain people’ who think they know about yoga more than other people, and they think they have the authorization on yoga and all that is related to yoga, to give them the superiority to condemn those who teach yoga, who are able to make a living and be financially independent from giving yoga classes or courses, and don’t need to spend the rest of their time and energy engaging in a worldly job for livelihood, or don’t need to depend on charity or begging from others? Isn’t that a great thing for people (including those who teach yoga to others) to have a better quality of life with the right livelihood that will benefits oneself and others? While in another point of view, the yoga students are being given the opportunity to perform charity by supporting the livelihood of the yoga teachers by giving some fees or donations to the teachers.

11.) Why would ‘real’ yoga teachers who know what is yoga be bothered or determined by the criticism and condemn by these worldly minded people? Those who have realized yoga, they have gone beyond egoism and worldly image, identification, ideas and values.

12.) Even when ‘real’ yoga teachers give yoga classes or courses to teach yoga to others, whether with or without fees/donations in the form of money, it also cannot guarantee that all the students or clients will be satisfied, or will appreciate, or will be benefited from their teaching, or will be free from ignorance and suffering.

13.) Of course, there are also some ‘yoga teachers’ who do not really interested to teach yoga to others, neither do they care for the well-beings of anyone but themselves, as their main motive or objective to give ‘yoga classes’, or ‘yoga asana exercise classes’, is solely about getting some profits for making a living, to attain name and fame and the sense of achievement. But there’s also nothing to be criticized about that, as some people maybe enjoying their classes very much and are benefited from attending their classes, even though they don’t have any intention to benefit anyone at all. And these people see them as their greatest ‘Gurus’ and they are willingly to give part or all of their money to these people whom they see as their ‘Gurus’.

14.) ‘Real’ yogis who know yoga, they are not obliged to teach yoga to anyone. They don’t have to give yoga classes or courses to anyone even if there are ‘high profits’ in return, or even if we beg them to teach us. And if they do teach us yoga whether in the form of giving yoga classes or courses, or not, and there are fees or donations involved, it doesn’t mean that they are not ‘real’ yogis, or they are ‘bad’ yogis. Some ‘spiritual’ people think and believe that ‘money is evil’, and so, yogis can only take offering in the form of food from begging and should not touch money, or receive money from anyone, or else, they are evil.

Money is like everything else, it is neither evil nor good. Whether touching money, or not, it doesn’t make one a yogi or not, be free from ignorance, or not. Money is just pieces of commercial papers for the convenience of the worldly society to exchange goods and services while living in this materialistic commercial world. It depends on the purity of mind whether the money is being used wisely, or not. Don’t have any money or not having any money transaction also cannot guarantee that one is free from ignorance, egoism, greed and attachment. Having money or using money doesn’t determine that one is not free from ignorance, egoism, greed and attachment.

15.) Does by not taking any fees, or taking less money, or charging lower fees than other people, will make us better yogis or yoga teachers than the others who take some fees, or take more money, or charge higher fees?

16.) Who are we to judge or to condemn anyone, including judging and condemning ourselves?

17.) Why is it that those who don’t really teach yoga cannot be condemned for not teaching yoga the way that we think it should be, as they are not teaching yoga at all, but those who truly teach yoga could be condemned for teaching yoga not the way that 'the moral people' think it should be? It doesn’t make sense in yoga. Though it totally makes sense for the ignorant and arrogant worldly minded ones.

18.) How does selflessness and selfless service be determined by getting something in return, or not? It’s about not attach towards the actions and the fruit of actions. Being undisturbed and undetermined by the fruit of actions to be peaceful, happy, confident, or meaningful, or not. Who says anything about not having anything in return? There will be something in return naturally whenever there are actions being performed, but it might not necessarily be the way that we think it should be or how we would like it to be, and there’s no identification or attachment towards the actions or the fruit of actions to be who ‘I’ am. There is no ‘I’ existing to be the doer of actions. There is no ‘I’ existing to be the enjoyer of the fruit of actions, or to be receiving the fruit of actions. It doesn’t mean that after selfless actions are being performed there shouldn't be any fruit of actions in return. All actions including inactions, will bear the fruit of actions, regardless of whether it's pleasant or unpleasant, expected or unexpected.

19.) Some might think that those who are using the information/teachings from the Scriptures to teach yoga to others, or those who have realized unconditional love and peace through their own self-realization and share the knowledge with others, or those who are using the yoga asana exercises to teach fitness exercise classes, and make a living out of it, is like ‘stealing’ something from ‘God’ and 'selling' it to make profits.

Well, just like some scientists/engineers knew how to harvest the sunlight, the wind and the water to make use of them for mostly good reasons and generate electricity from them, and some people who involve in the harvesting process will make some profits out of that, and some people also can generate some livelihood utilizing the sunlight, the earth, the wind and the water for growing food or doing something, while many people are being benefited from it for enjoying the convenience coming from the availability of electricity in the modern world.

Does that mean everyone who involve with harvesting the elements of fire, wind and water to generate electricity, as well as making use of the earth for growing food for self-consume or trading purpose, and all the consumers of electricity are robbers and sinful?

While there might be people who think that since the resource is coming from ‘God’ or nature, it should be 'free', no one should make any profits from it, we shouldn’t pay anything for using the electricity?

‘God’ must be very proud of these Scientists/Engineers having such creativity/knowledge to utilize the resources from ‘God’ and turn them into something great and beneficial for all and everyone, as well as some people can make a living out of utilizing these resources.

In the modern world, many people's livelihood and everyday living depend a lot on the availability and convenience of electricity being supplied to their villages, cities, homes, factories, farms, offices, schools and shops. Some people insist not to use the electricity for some ethical/environmental reasons, and that is their own freedom of choice.
 
It doesn't mean that when someone surviving on growing and harvesting food that grows on earth utilizing the natural resources for self-consume is okay, but then working hard and expending effort and energy into growing and harvesting food utilizing the natural resources for trading purpose that could bring convenience to other people for their consumption as well as making some profits out of that effort, is not okay.

20.) Some people labelled the yoga in yoga classes being taught without fees as ‘non-commercial’, and the yoga being taught in yoga classes with fees as ‘commercial’. Does that mean the teachings of yoga being taught in both commercial and non-commercial yoga classes will be different, although there might be different intentions behind it? There’s no guarantee that there won’t be any impure intention in the non-commercial yoga classes, or there must be impure intention in the commercial yoga classes. Non-commercial yoga classes doesn’t guarantee that all the yoga students will be free from ignorance and egoism. And it doesn’t mean that all the students in the commercial yoga classes will not be free from ignorance and egoism. If yoga being taught in the commercial yoga classes can bring certain awareness to the society, and more people are becoming more aware of their minds and behavior pattern, and learn how to be kind to themselves and to others, what’s so wrong with the commercial yoga classes then? Unless there are corruptions exist in the yoga classes and outside the yoga classes among the teachers and the students, regardless of whether it is non-commercial or commercial yoga classes, then there’s something going against the teachings of yoga.

Now, it’s up to us, whether to add something else onto these information, or to take away some of these information that we think are irrelevant, to figure out the truth through our own self-inquiry.

Om shanti.

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Go beyond the idea of 'I'...

There's no 'I' exist in all the names and forms of what 'I' think 'I' am, to be evil or kind, bad or good, unhappy or happy, compassionate-less or compassionate, ignorant or wise, weak or strong, lack of confidence or confident, fearful or fearless, disgraceful or graceful, suffering or liberated from suffering, limited or infinite, incomplete or whole, empty or full, imperfect or perfect, impure or pure, existence or non-existence, birth or death...

Whenever there's an identification of 'This' is 'I', or 'I' am 'That', even 'This' and 'That' is also within the limitation of mind perception of qualities of names and forms.

Go beyond the mind perception of names and forms, realize attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, and hence 'I'-lessness.

Under the influence of ignorance, the mind perceives suffering and desires to be liberated from suffering. There are different paths exist to be liberated from ignorance which leads to the realization of 'I'-lessness.

Upon realization of 'I'-lessness, there's neither suffering nor liberation from suffering.

If 'I' cannot go beyond the idea of 'I', and thinking and believing that 'I' exist as an individual being with certain qualities of names and forms, which is separated and distinguished from everyone else, either 'I' am better or worst than all the others that is not 'I' and is separated and different from 'I', and 'I' am the doer of actions and the enjoyer of the fruit of the actions, 'I' am either enjoying or suffering, then there's nothing wrong with that either.

If possible, if we like, we can perform this practice. Pause for a few moments. Allow this body and mind to be what they are in this very moment, drop off any cares and worries, duties and responsibilities, drop off the idea of 'I'. Just be in the present. Without judgment nor expectation towards the mind or how it should be. Just be with silence for a few moments. And if possible, when we pick up our duties and responsibilities again, let the cares and worries stay where they are, and leave the 'I' behind.

Om shanti.

The practice of surrendering...

What do we surrender in the practice of surrendering?
Or what are we giving up or letting go?
  • The egoism
  • The idea of 'I' and 'my'
  • Worldly self-image and identifications with qualities of names and forms
  • The sense of self-esteem and self-worth
  • Attachment and possessiveness
  • Craving and aversion
  • Desire of wants and don't wants
  • Dissatisfaction and disappointment
  • Feelings of hurt and guilt
  • The past and the future
  • Greed and stinginess
  • Anger and hatred
  • Pride and arrogance
  • Jealousy
  • Lust
  • Fear and worry
  • Petite-mindedness
  • Conditioned thinking and beliefs
  • Ill-will and ill-thinking
  • Criticism, gossip, slander, condemn, back-biting, vain talk, boasting, argument, politic, plot, scheme, scam, bribe, tempt
  • Hypocrisy, untruthfulness, indirectness and lies
  • Justification and glorification
  • Intention and expectation
  • Judgment and comparison
  • Inspiration and aspiration
  • Racism, discrimination, prejudice, bias, violence, intolerance
  • Worldly passionate desires and sensual enjoyment, achievements, name and fame, social status and power
  • Day dreaming, imagination, anticipation, projection, speculation
  • Control or change the reality to be the way that we like it to be
  • Longing for attention, affection, approval, support, encouragement, praise, compliment, acknowledgement, recognition and appreciation
  • Duality and the sense of separateness
  • The sense of meaningfulness and meaninglessness
  • The sense of positiveness and negativeness
  • The sense of goodness and badness
  • The sense of worthiness and unworthiness 
  • The sense of belonging
  • Self-righteousness
  • The urge to control, change, convert, threaten, discipline and punish others
  • Superstitious ideas and practices
  • Heroism, fairy tale, wishful thinking, magical and miracle moments
  • Blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing, blind-agreeing/disagreeing and blind-propagating
  • Restlessness
  • Laziness
  • Over-eating, over-sleeping, over-talking, too much physical and mental activities
  • Spiritual transcendental achievements
  • The fruit of actions

Om shanti

Friday, February 6, 2015

I want to be a great yoga teacher to inspire other people to practice yoga?

"I want to be a great yoga teacher one day to inspire other people to practice yoga to have peace and happiness."

This is full of love and good intention for somebody who practices yoga, to have great aspiration, aspires to be a great yoga teacher one day in the future, aspires to inspire other people to practice yoga, to have peace and happiness.

If I think there is something wonderful, and I want to have this wonderful thing, I also have good intention and great aspiration to share this wonderful thing with others, in hope that others will also have this wonderful thing that I have, then although this is something good for myself and for others, but I am not free yet.

Though this is a very good motivation to motivate me to immerse into my own yoga practice to make this great aspiration be materialized one day.

If there's something in us or something that we have that can inspire other people to also have the same thing, then it will come naturally as it is when it is matured, without any intention nor expectation.

Something that is pure, it's free from egoism (I), pride or identification (I am very good, or I have something good), desire (I want to), attachment, intention and expectation (I want to inspire other people to be good, or I want other people to also have the the good thing that I have.)

Naturally as we develop insight and realize the truth, we can share the knowledge that we acquired through insight with other people, without the idea of "I am sharing this knowledge with others. In hope that others will be benefited from this knowledge."

We don't need to become a great yoga teacher. We don't need to have aspiration to inspire other people to practice yoga. We don't need to have good intention to benefit other people through our aspiration.

People are inspired by another being for different reasons without any intention from that being aspires to be inspiring to inspire anyone.

Compassion comes naturally. Though aspire to be compassionate is also good for oneself and the society.

Om shanti.

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About Yoga

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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