A little story about human's behavior...

In Malaysia, most people will take off their shoes and wash their feet before entering the house or the temple. This is to avoid dirts dirtying the house or the temples (as sacred and pure places). This is also to show respect to the people who live in the house. We are usually bare-footing inside our house. This has became an automatic behavior for most people.

But in most business centres, shops, schools or offices, we do keep the shoes on. There are many Malay's shops still keep this tradition of "No shoes in the shop". And we would and we should respect this traditional culture.

One day, I went to a photo shop in Pantai Cenang near our house to photocopy some documents.

It has been a very long time since the last time I went into this shop (more than a year ago).

I saw many pairs of shoes in front of the entrance of the photo shop and some people are inside the shop waiting to have their photos print out and to photocopy their documents.

Without any doubts I took off my shoes and stepped into the shop. Immediately my feet could feel the dirts on the floor. But I didn't bother about it. It's not surprised that there would be sand and dirts on the floor because here is a beach area. Sand would follow our feet and came into the shop.

I found a chair to sit down and wait for my turn. It was quite busy in the shop then.

Well, I could still barely remember that when the last time I was there, I didn't have to take off my shoes. Out of curiosity I started to look at the photo shop's owner's feet to see whether he had his shoes on or not. Well, he did had his shoes on.

But then I had another thought that maybe he was wearing a separate indoor shoes for working in the shop. And so, I went out and take a quick look at the door and the wall in front the shop to see whether he had a sign board stating like "Please take off your shoes" or "Please remove your shoes before entering" or "Barefoot inside" and etc...

I found no signs at all.

And so, I wore back my shoes and went in again, and sat down.

I continued to observe some more customers that came into the shop. No matter they were Chinese, or Malay, or even foreigner, they all took off their shoes automatically before entering. There were more shoes outside the door then.

This had shown that how many people would show respect to other people's culture, and also how many people are being very nice and obeying the rules in this Malaysian society. This is nothing wrong. But there's another thing here for us to reflect is, human beings are imitating creatures and easily being influenced by other people's behavior...

No body and no sign board was there to tell anyone to remove their shoes, but everyone would automatically removed their shoes just because they saw other people's shoes were outside the door. And we would think, "Okay, seems like no shoes are allowed inside, I need to remove the shoes before entering the shop then."

It all begun with the first person who took off the shoes (I guessed this person must have the habits to remove shoes before entering any buildings). And then the next person and all other people would automatically followed this same action to show respect to the culture. This is one of the patterns of the human's behavior or mind's reaction.

When it was my turn for photocopy my things, I took the chance to ask the shop owner whether it was a new rule now that shoes are not allowed in the shop? He smiled and shook his head saying that there is no need to take off the shoes to come into the shop. Because if it was a new rule, then I would apologized to him and leave my shoes outside the shop then.

Well, maybe I was the odd one there to reason should I do as all other people are doing (even though at the beginning I took off my shoes when I saw there were many shoes outside the door, to show respect to the shop owner for keeping his shop clean).

I guess, lots of people will think, "Well, since majority people are doing the same thing, then it must be something right and good for us then... And we should follow what most people are doing."

This is what happening in our society nowadays, isn't it? There are lots of violence, crimes, hatred and killings everywhere in the world now...

When one person points at a man and shouts out loud in a big crowd, "Hey! That man is a rapist and a murderer! He is evil!" Some people would start to react and spread the words from mouth to mouth, and everyone might start to believe that this man is really evil and get fired up (since everyone are also talking about it, it might be true then), and might be beating up this man to death even before reasoning about the truth...

Om shanti.

Forgetting and remembering...

We remember the body and the mind. We remember both the pleasant and unpleasant thoughts, feelings and emotions. We remember the good and bad experiences that we have been through. We remember who is nice to us and who is not nice to us. We try to remember faces that we saw and their names, who they are, and what they do. We remember the good and bad actions that we have done. We remember the good and bad actions that other people have done. We remember the insults and hurts that came from somewhere and someone. We remember the fearful or tearful or joyful experiences that we experienced in the past.

We remember the stories of the movies that we watched, and the stories of the books that we read. We remember the conversation that we had with somebody. We remember the incidents that we saw on the streets or images that we saw here and there through out the day. We remember our name, different relationships with everyone, our culture, our pride, arrogance, anger, hatred, jealousy, what we like and dislike, what we want and don't want, and so on.

There is nothing wrong with this function of the mind to remember all these perceptions of names and forms (inputs). It is very normal. And for most people in this world of interaction, socialization, communication and business, we try to remember all these things. We need to digest, analyze and remember our conversation with somebody either in personal affair or business affair, or else we will be defined as suffering from memory loss, or not paying attention to our surroundings and the people that we come in contact with, or we do not show appreciation or respect to the people that we are interacting with, or we are not good in socializing or doing business.

It is part of human's culture to sharpen our memory power to remember everything if possible, to remember what we have learned, and to make use of the memory of the accumulated information of what we have learned to be doing something in life. And people who have a sharp mind and good concentration would also have a good memory power. This is part of the effect of developing awareness and concentration.

Somehow this very normal behavior of us to remember everything that we come in contact with everyone and with the surrounding environment, generates strong imprint of ceaseless inputs into our mind. During our sleep, all these imprints will be released and generate dreams that are made up of partials of this and that which we perceived in the day, or weeks, months and years, where we might remember some of these dreams and they also become part of the memory.

If we can maintain awareness of being aware of everything that we come in contact with, but being unattached towards all the perceptions of names and forms, without clinging, craving or aversion, and be undisturbed by all these inputs, then this is a progression in our yoga practice. But if we don't know how to stay unattached towards all these inputs of the senses, and being affected or disturbed by all these inputs, and generate lots of reactions of likes and dislikes, craving and aversion, and generate strong impressions of all these names and forms into the mind, then this is not conducive for quieting the mind for meditation.

As soon as we sit down for meditation, restricting the inputs of the senses, all these impressions will start to bubbling up to the surface of the mind. For the experienced meditator who has developed strong detachment, they won't be disturbed nor affected by this thoughts currents. But for the less experienced meditator who still hasn't developed firm detachment yet, they will be distracted and disturbed very much by these bubbling thoughts currents that might need days/weeks/months/years to subside. During this period of calming the thoughts currents, irritation and frustration may arise in the mind.

That's why if we really want to do serious Sadhana (intense practice), like participating in a long course of silent retreat, we will be told to cut off any contacts, communications or interactions with the world and people (care less). We are also being restricted in action and speech, reducing and limiting the mind activities and expressions by observe silence in thoughts, actions and speech; and focus within ourselves, and refraining the mind from going out to the objects of the senses to reduce all kinds of inputs. Keep watching our own mind, and stop minding about other people's affairs. This will help us to quiet the mind and to contemplate on the Truth.

We know/remember everything in the worldly life experiences, but we don't know/remember what we really are, or what am 'I'.

When we start to go beyond the body, the mind, the self-image, the worldly-identity, the past worldly experiences, the future imaginations, all the perceptions of names and forms, all the objects of the senses, all the dualities, all the good and bad, all the happiness and unhappiness, all the positive and negative, and the idea of a worldly existence of 'I'. We will start to know/remember what we think we are (by removing all impurities from the mind, we will know what am 'I' or what we think is myself.)

Forget what we should be forgetting, remembering what we need to remember.

We think that we are "this" or "that", we are "good" or "bad", we are "happy" or "unhappy", we are "smart" or "stupid". We also think that "this" is mine or "that" is mine. We also think about my family, my career, my future, my feelings, my thinking, my knowledge, my study, my friends, my enemies, my partner, my children, my country, my pride, my reputation, my ability, my limitation, my rights, my religion, my culture, my beliefs, and so on.

Forget everything about "I", "my", "mine". There will be no more separateness. All are equal including this selfless body and thinking mind of whom we think is 'I', is also one of the selfless names and forms, no superiority or inferiority. This will allow us to know what is selflessness and compassion.

We start to ask ourselves, contemplating upon "Who (what) am I?" (not by asking other people, our teacher or God), and in the end, we'll realize we are not all these names and forms that are impermanent. All these names and forms are not 'I'. All and everything, including this one, are selfless and impermanent.

This is the beginning of our search or quest for the real meaning of life existence.

Knowing who am 'I', will remove all the doubts, ignorance, attachments, wrong identifications, fear, worry, discontentment, disappointment, anger, hatred, greed, pride, arrogance, hurts, guilt, superiority, inferiority, separateness, loneliness, emptiness, painful sorrow, and etc.

There's only selfless compassion, peace and silence.

Little by little we'll gain strength on the path of yoga...

I heard many people saying that it is not easy to let go. It is not easy to not attached to what we perceive through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. It is not easy to be undisturbed or unaffected by our thoughts, feelings and sensations that we experience in our body and mind. It is not easy to reduce our desires. It is not easy to be not influenced by the craving and aversion. It is not easy to defeat the strong ego. It is not easy to let go of our many years of stubborn habits of the mind. It is not easy to be not judging, not comparing, not expecting. It is not easy to let go of the past (missing something that was pleasant and happy that had already gone, and continuously being disturbed and hurt by something unpleasant and hurtful that had already gone). It is not easy to let go of the future, not worrying about anything...

First, may those who think that they are very weak in letting go of "what you think you cannot let go", may you see the great strength in you that is capable to attach so strongly onto everything. You are not weak at all. But you are very strong indeed... A person who is really weak, will not even has the strength to attach onto anything...

Then, may those who think that you are just a little imperfect human being that is bound to be selfish and egoistic, may you realize the true essence in you, which is selfless and attributeless...

Last but not least, may those who want to believe that they are the pure Self but still trying hard to "reach" the Self, may you just be yourself as you are, you don't have to try hard to become the Self, because you are the Self...

If we think that we are sinful, we are weak, we are imperfect, we are not "qualified" to be the Self... This will hinders us from realizing we all are the selfless Self, but we are being deluded by different layers/levels of impurities (ignorance) in this present moment...

To realize the truth, we just need to let go of ignorance/incorrect knowledge... But we are so afraid of losing or letting go what we "know".

To realize our true Self, we just need to let go of the little "I"... But we are so afraid of not having or losing a "worldly self-identity".

It doesn't need any strength or effort to let go of the little "I", if we really want to... The problem is, we reluctant/don't want to let it go...

We all want to be "somebody" and are very afraid of being "nobody"... And thus, we don't want to let go. It is not that we are weak, but in fact, we are so strong holding on to the little self-image/self-identity that we create for ourselves...

Good things, we want...

Bad things, we don't want...

But when we don't have the right discrimination towards what is real and what is unreal, we'll keep chasing after the unreal objects which is transitory or impermanent that give us momentary happiness and momentary satisfaction. And soon, when this momentary happiness and satisfaction are gone, the sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction kick in... We are lost in disappointment and frustration... And then we will try to attain some other things (which is again transitory) to remove this discontentment... Again and again, we are lost in discontentment, never ending...

If we can just stop "wanting"... If we can just stop "not wanting"...

We will be free from this cycle of momentary contentment and discontentment... And be truly content.

The one and only real "thing", is something that will not change or disappear. And that is our true Self, or the one same nature in all and everything... Everything can be unreal and non-existing, but we cannot deny or negate the knower or the silent witness that is knowing or witnessing all kind of selfless impermanent changes in all and everything... Who is this knower that is knowing everything is selfless and impermanent, that all is unreal as there's no solid permanent independent existence of anything, if it is not "yourself" that you think you know (void of ignorance) or don't know/doubt (under the veil of ignorance)?

We cannot rely on anything that is perishable/impermanent/unreal. Or else we'll be disappointed...

We can only rely on "that" which is imperishable/permanent/real. And "that" is the one same nature in all and everything beyond all the different qualities of names and forms, of what we all really are. "That" is the only thing that is permanent and unchanging.

Be patient, be persevere, be natural, be yourself...

You will gain the strength to be unaffected by all impurities, and eliminating all the impurities effortlessly day by day...

When there are thick clouds above us, the sunshine cannot shine through and we cannot see the sun and we see the entire space is dark... When the clouds disappear, the sunshine will illuminate the entire space, we can see the sun and the space is bright... But the sun is always there shining... The space is still the same space... (The impurities are like the clouds which is the obstacle. The sunshine is like the wisdom which is already there. The darkness and brightness is like the duality, arising from the impurities. The entire space is the selfless Self which is still the same, it is neither good nor bad. It is not increasing nor decreasing (unchanging) due to the existence (arising) and non-existence (passing away) of the impurities. It is untouched, undetermined, unaffected by the impurities...)

Remember, you are the selfless nameless formless attributeless Self...

Be happy.

Try changing the habits of the mind by learning another foreign language or adopting new interests...

For those who are being troubled and influenced strongly by negative emotions and feelings (such like anger, jealousy, depression, anxiety, fear, worry, low self-esteem and etc...), and don't know how to come out from it because we don't know how to stay detached from all these activities in the mind, then we may try to change this stubborn habit of attachment in the mind towards these negative feelings and emotions by learning and speaking another language that we are not familiar with, or adopting new interests...

It will shift something in the brain and without any expectation, we might find ourselves suddenly or gradually becoming more positive and cheerful...

If we are not interested in learning languages, then we can try to learn something new and interesting that we are not familiar with (of course these new interests should be something that will bring positive effects and peaceful harmony to our body and mind)...

Or gradually break a long term stubborn habit of our behavior (such like switch on the TV as soon as we step into the house, or open the door of the fridge even though we know there is nothing that we want from the fridge, or looking at the watch frequently, or have the need of a cup of coffee at specific time, and etc)...

Or try to perform some selfless service (to ourselves and other beings without discrimination and attachment) without asking any rewards in return. Just give and let go...

It will still give the same effect of changing the habits of the mind. Of course it takes time, patience and perseverance to see any result (without expectation).

Give it a try, if we are tired of negative feelings and emotions that persistently troubling us, and we really want to make a change of ourselves, want to be kind and compassionate towards ourselves, and want to live to the fullest, be more positive and cheerful...

Be happy.

A message concerning the terms of our business license in Langkawi Malaysia

This is a message we sent to a Muslim yoga practitioner who is concern about the terms of our business license about we are not allowed to receive any Muslims of any origins for our yoga classes and yoga retreats in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Hi there - hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying married life.

Noticed a few comments about our "situation" on your Twitter page.

We don't think we are being particularly "vocal" about the matter - we are merely obeying the laws of the country we have chosen to live in.

Just to be clear - we are legally obliged to refuse Muslims by the business licensing department in Langkawi. I have attached a copy of the relevant document.

This is not a case of us merely deciding to apply "the fatwa". As you know, a fatwa is not legally binding. However, a business license is legally binding.

It is the last thing we want to cause offense to anyone (whether Muslims who want to learn and practice yoga or the city council).

The gentleman who wrote to us (and to you) seems to have taken it very personally. Even when we explained that this was not about the fatwa, he still insisted that this didn't apply to him since he has been practicing yoga for 4 years (in Malaysia).

There are 1.8 billion Muslims on the planet and unfortunately this document applies to all of them.

Of course Muslims won't be punished if they came to our classes or retreats but if we were to accept Muslims then we would lose our license and would no longer be able to legally teach yoga here and Marc would not be allowed a work permit to teach yoga either.

In the year and a half we have been based here we have had requests from a total of exactly 4 Muslims (including you) to attend classes or retreats. we have explained the situation as clearly as possible to each of them.

We still want to be able to teach yoga in Langkawi to all other people who are non-Muslim. As stated in the license - if we fail to respect the terms of our business license then our license will be cancelled.

Hope that everything is going well for you and that you are keeping up your yoga practice and improving your French.

Take care and all the best.

Warm regards,

Marc and Meng Foong

May all Muslims who are offended by this term in our business license please accept our apologies for this "ridiculous" situation.

For us, yoga is for all without any discrimination. We do not have any intention to refuse any Muslims of any race. Teaching yoga also is nothing to do with business license actually. Yoga is not a business and should not be limited by any "laws" or "terms". Just like the Dhamma of Buddhism is for all beings, but in Malaysia all Dhamma books must have a printed notice stating "FOR NON-MUSLIMS ONLY", on top of many books or social media contents are being banned in Malaysia. And all meditation retreat centres in Malaysia also have to refuse Muslim's participants. We were also "told" to put up a sign in front of our studio, stating "FOR NON-MUSLIMS ONLY".

Peace and light to all of you.

Yoga is unlimited, unconditioned. It's already within everyone regardless of our race, gender, sexual orientation, culture, religion, good or bad behavior. Yoga is every moment in our heart in our life experience, and it's not just limited to a yoga class or yoga retreat doing some yoga exercises. Yoga is in life, how we deal with our own mind, our own ego, and it's about non-attachment and how to realize selflessness and compassion. Everyone and anyone can practice yoga at anytime, anywhere. Yoga is not only to be found in a yoga studio that is limited by some local authority with terms and conditions.

Be happy.

A conversation about death...

[Yoga Kee]
Some of my yoga friends posted something in their Facebook about a senior yoga teacher passed away.

[You]
Tell me about how you feel when you heard about a young yogi passed away...
From your heart.

[Yoga Kee]
Life is unpredictable and very short.

And so... Be grateful of what we have.

Yogi is also human being.... People are born, will get ill and will die.
Impermanence.

[You]
What is death? Who is dead? Is death something not good? Is it something sad?

[Yoga Kee]
For me... I don't think so...

As it is the nature of life.

Of course for those who know him, they might feel sad for the loss...
But not everyone can accept death easily.

[You]
What is the difference between die young or die old?

What is the difference between people who practice yoga and do not practice yoga?

What is death?

"Who" is "dead"?

[Yoga Kee]
The body died.

Die young or die old, is still die... Just the matter of time...

People who do not understand that this is the circle of life, they will be affected and attached to the loss.

And that's the difference of people who practice yoga and do not practice yoga... It's the level of understanding about the nature of life... Whereby there should not be any differences between yogi and non-yogi.

And what is death... It is part of the process.

Our life process.

Talk is easy, but to practice is another thing. But without the knowledge of all these dharma, we will be even more suffer when it happens. But at least with the dharma, it will help us to attain the understanding and guide us through our sorrow.

[You]
There is no "death". "Death" doesn't exist. The true Self is never born, never die. The body and the mind, and our life experience is just forming and deforming due to karma, cause and effect. When there is no identification with the body and mind, there is no "I", no "my life", no "death", no "birth". No matter it is a yogi who is enlightened or a person who is not enlightened, this body is still a product of energy and element, it will come to an end sooner or later. Death is not something good nor bad. There is a cause of birth, there is a cause of death. There is no sorrow, no grief. Die in a horrible way or in a very nice way, there's no difference. Die young or die old also no difference. Yogi or not yogi no difference.

If we think that death is something natural, it is still not enough to not being affected by the effects of "death", because death is there (existence of death). Pain is there, suffering is there, fear and sorrow is there. But when we know that there is no death, then there will be no pain and suffering, no fear and sorrow.

[Yoga Kee]
Kee is nodding her head.

[You]
To know the truth about the true Self is not affected by birth and death of the body and the end of this life existence, but we (who we really are) are beyond birth and death, and we are never born or die, then there is no fear, sorrow, pain and suffering.

[Yoga Kee]
Kee is nodding her head again...

[You]
"Death" for the worldly mind perception means separation from something, the body, our life, our family and friends, our belongings, our accumulated wealth and success, and etc... That's why there is sorrow, when we experience "death" or when our loved ones experience "death"... The stronger the attachment and clinging towards all these things is, the stronger the sorrow it will be.

When we know our true self (selflessness), we will know that we are not separated from everything else (oneness). There is no separation. What is there to be sad or missed about? No sorrow, no sadness, no grief.

We never gain anything when we come into this world with this body and mind. We lose nothing when we leave this world, this body and mind...

A real yogi has no fear nor grief towards what is defined as "death" in the worldly mind perception...

[Yoga Kee]
True.

[You]
;)

* It is nothing wrong as well when people feel sad and cry for the loss of their loved ones. It is good to cry to relieve the sad feelings and not suppressing them, and let it go... It is very healthy to cry when we feel sad. It is not a bad or negative reaction to cry. But do not attach to this sad feeling and get lost in it. Accept the truth as it is and let go...

When a yogi is pure and selfless, there is no "death" can determine him or affect him of who he really is. There is no "death". It is just the end of a life existence and transition into another realm or another level of consciousness. The awareness that is witnessing the death of the physical body, has no painful suffering when this yogi had firmly established in selflessness or who knows the truth of his true Self.

The ego feeds on agreement and support from other egos...

Have you ever came across this type of feeling; When someone says something that is supporting what we think and say, and when someone is agreed with what we think and say, we’ll be feeling so great, so right, so successful and superior?

We will have this feeling; Yes! I’m right! Because some other people also agree with what I think and say.

Know that this is the reaction that comes from the ego.

Beware…

Especially when we are talking something bad about another person, or criticizing somebody about this and that. We will feel that we are a better person and that we are right about somebody’s imperfection, when someone else is also talking bad about the same person and is criticizing the same person just like what we have been doing.

We will have this thought and will say; Look! It’s not just me thinking and saying like this. Another person is also thinking like that and saying the same thing. This proves that I’m right about this.

And this makes us (the ego) feel so good about ourselves…

The people (the egos) who like to engage and indulge in criticism and slandering about other people to feel good about themselves, are not any better than those whom they criticize and slander…

And hence, we should move away from criticism and slandering…

Those who forbear, endure or withstand any amount of criticism and slandering, and not utter a single bad word about those who criticize or slander about them, they are the real yogis, great saints and sages…

May love grows in your heart infinitely...

Happy Valentine’s day to all of you. May love grows in your heart infinitely… Whether it is a relationship with somebody or with your own self…

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle

My little “love story” with my husband is featured in the national newspaper today – The Star.

Om shanti.

Audio - the practice of yoga

This is a mp3 audio file of one of the talks about the practice of yoga at the beginning of the yoga class.

http://www.yogaretreatmalaysia.com/yogatalk.mp3

Please click on the link above to download the mp3 file.

Om shanti.

mind conquest - yoga chitta vritti nirodhah

YOGA CHITTA VRITTI NIRODHAH… (Yoga Sutras by Patanjali)

The path of yoga is about mind conquest. Dispassion, discrimination, renunciation, meditation are the means to destroy the mind. Eradicate all desires, thoughts, likes and dislikes, craving and aversion. Mind is the dividing wall between the individual soul and the Supreme soul. If the mind is destroyed, the individual soul becomes identical with the Supreme soul.

Conquest of Mind – Swami Sivananda

This is nothing to do with whether our body is flexible and strong enough to be able to perform some “acrobatic” asana poses or not...

Mind conquest - 10 important methods from Swami Sivananda

Mind is a bundle of desires, thoughts, imaginations, likes and dislikes. Annihilation of the mind is Mano-Nasa. Manolaya is temporary absorption of the mind. This cannot give Moksha. The mind can come back again and wander in sensual objects. Manonasa alone can give release or Moksha.

1. BY VICHARA - Self-inquiry (enquiry of "Who am I?")

This is the best and most effective method. This will annihilate the mind. This is the Vedantic method. Realize the unreality of the mind through philosophical thinking.

2. BY ERADICATION OF EGO

Eradicate the feeling of egoism. Ego is the seed of the tree of mind. "I" thought is the source of all thoughts. All thoughts are centred on the little "I". Find out what the little "I" is. This little "I" will dwindle into airy nothing. It will be absorbed in the infinite "I" or Para Brahman, the source of the little "I" or Ahamkara (egoism).

The sun of Self-realization is fully seen when the cloud of ego disappears.

3. BY VAIRAGYA - Dispassion

Distaste for objects of sense-pleasures by finding out the defects in the sensual life. Objects are perishable. Sensual pleasure is momentary and illusory.

4. BY ABHYASA - Practice of ceaseless meditation

Concentrate the mind by fixing it on Brahman. Make it steady. Abhyasa is ceaseless meditation. This leads to Samadhi.

5. BY NON-ATTACHMENT

Asanga or non-attachment is a sword to destroy the mind. Take the mind away from objects. Detach attach. Detach it from the objects and attach it to the Lord. Do this again and again. The essence of the seed of the sprout of world-experience, which is desire, can be destroyed by the fire of non-attachment.

6. BY VASANAKSHAYA - renunciation of desires

Vasana is desire. Renunciation of desires leads to Vasanakshaya. This will lead to annihilation of the mind (Manonasa). Desire for objects of pleasures is bondage; giving it up is emancipation. Desire is the most essential nature of the mind. Mind and egoism are synonymous.

7. BY PRANAYAMA

Vibration of Prana causes movement of the mind. It gives life to the mind. Pranayama or control of Prana will stop the activities of the mind. But it cannot destroy the mind to its roots like Vichara.

8. BY CONTROL OF THOUGHTS

Avoid imagination or day-dreaming. The mind will be annihilated. Extinction of thoughts alone is Moksha. The mind is destroyed when there is no imagination. The experience of the world illusion is due to your imagination. It vanishes away when imagination is completely stopped.

9. BY EQUANIMITY AND BALANCE

Mental renunciation of possessions is another method. The absolute experience can be realized if you learn to be in a state of thought-suspending Samadhi.

Attainment of equanimity is another method. Be balanced in pain and pleasure, heat and cold, etc.

10. BY DEVOTION AND SERVICE

Japa, Kirtan, prayer, devotion, service of Guru and study are also means to annihilate the mind.

He alone experiences everlasting peace and Eternal Bliss who has transcended the mind and rests in his Own Satchidananda Atman.

- Conquest of mind, Swami Sivananda

Yoga teacher who doesn't like to hear or talk about the practice of yoga philosophy in daily life...

(Updated in February 2021)

 

Not everyone, but most people who had participated in our yoga classes and yoga retreats, told us that they appreciate our yoga classes that emphasize on implementing the teachings of yoga into the yoga practice and in daily life. They said that in the yoga classes that they usually went to in their countries, the yoga teachers didn't teach or talk very little about the yoga philosophy. While some of them completely haven't heard about any yoga philosophy in the yoga classes that they have been going for some years.

I wasn’t surprised when I heard about this.

Some yoga teachers are afraid to teach or talk about the philosophy, because they are afraid that the students will have strong reaction of aversion (resistance). And so, they just want to teach some yoga exercises for attaining physical fitness, physical health, good feelings and pleasant sensations that come from the yoga exercises. There is nothing wrong with this. Yoga is versatile and can suit everybody with different temperaments.

While some yoga teachers are lack of faith and confidence in the traditional teachings of yoga and its practice in daily life. I met some “yoga” teachers who are against the traditional teachings from the ancient Gurus, where they criticize the Guru’s personal life and way of teaching, and are criticizing about the teachings of traditional yoga philosophy and its practice in life are not up to date and are not suitable for the modern people in the modern world to practice in daily life. Well, if the teacher themselves have no faith and confidence in the teachings, or they don’t like and disagree with the teachings, then how can they expound the yoga teachings to anybody? There is nothing wrong with this as well, because just by teaching the yoga exercise without the philosophy is still something great and good for everybody. 

When some people, or even most minds dislike and disagree with the teachings of yoga, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s something wrong with the teachings. It’s just that the teachings are contradicting with their existing worldly passionate egoistic social/cultural/religious/spiritual/educational thinking, belief, values and practice. Just as many people misunderstand what is selflessness and compassion, and people would get very disappointed and irritated with those who are selfless and compassionate, as they don’t behave in the way that worldly passionate egoistic minds expect them to behave according to what they think and believe is selflessness and compassion. Everyone has the freedom for how they think and what they understand and believe, and disagree with some or many of the teachings of yoga. 

Some yoga teachers have strong attachment and identification towards their particular religious belief and practice, and they only want to practice and teach the yoga asana, pranayama, concentration and relaxation practice, as a form of healthy exercise to enhance physical and mental health condition, fitness level, immunity, ability, skill, memory, injury rehabilitation, focus, de-stress, sleep quality, and so on, that don’t contradict with their religious belief and practice. While they think it’s inappropriate for them to practice or teach the other practices, especially the teachings of yoga, the chanting and prayers, the self-inquiry, or even the meditation practice, as it might be contradicting with or disrespecting towards their existing religious belief and practice. That’s their freedom.

While some yoga teachers are still very unsure about the yoga philosophy. They haven’t realize the truth of the teachings through self-realization. If so, how can they share the essence of the yoga teachings with others? There is nothing wrong with this also, because we all have to start somewhere and we all are not perfect (if we are perfect, we wouldn’t be here in this existence). As yoga teachers, we all learn together with the students and evolve together. There is no superiority or inferiority. We share what we know/realized and what we had experienced through our own practice on the path of yoga. We all grow and move towards the realization of selflessness and compassion even though we all evolve at each different pace. 

Some yoga teachers know very well about the yoga philosophy and they are practicing the yoga philosophy sincerely as well. But they also think that there are many people out there who come for the everyday yoga classes are not yet ready to know about the philosophy, or to be practicing the yoga philosophy, and that these people should be kept away from hearing about yoga philosophy and just give them some yoga exercises for the body until they are ready to receive the great knowledge of the yoga philosophy about the Self and the path of Self-realization. This is nothing wrong at all. These yoga teachers are being cautious. It is indeed very wise. This is to avoid those who are not ready for grasping the deep knowledge of the yoga philosophy to engage in criticizing and condemning the teachings of yoga, as well as condemning the yoga teachers who actually practice and teach the yoga philosophy to the yoga students.

But, take a look at all the books about yoga philosophy in the market that is written by famous yogis, saints and sages. The knowledge is out there for anybody to pick up, to read, to reflect and to know about the deep yoga philosophy, these books never have statement that says, “Please be cautious! If you are not ready yet, please don’t read this book. This book is only for those who are ready to receive the great knowledge of yoga.” 

However, even if people have been reading a lot of books about yoga and hearing a lot of teachings from somebody, accumulating lots of information or knowledge about yoga, it doesn’t guarantee that the mind is free from ignorance and suffering, as all these accumulated information and knowledge doesn’t remove the ignorance in the mind, but only serve the purpose for the mind to reflect upon, to inquire towards the truth of everything under a purified intellect and calmed mind, to implement the teachings into the physical yoga practice and daily life, and attaining self-realization through direct experience, which will free the mind from ignorance.

Getting all kinds of physical and mental health and fitness benefits from performing the physical yoga practice without implementing the teachings of eliminating the ego and egoism, it doesn’t lead the mind towards liberation from ignorance and suffering. It’s like owning and sitting in a very good looking expensive car that oneself feels proud of and attracting other people’s attention and admiration, but the car has no functional engine and steering wheel as well as the fuel that allow oneself to drive the car to reach any destination.

And hence, the teachings and the practice cannot be separated. It’s like the handle and the blade of a knife. Both are equally important for the knife to be functioning. The person who uses the knife also needs to be equipped with the basic common sense of how to use the knife efficiently and safely. The knife itself has no intention to be good or bad. It’s not the responsibility of the knife whether people use it wisely or ignorantly.

More importantly, one doesn’t need to practice any teachings or practice that the mind dislike and disagree with, but one shouldn’t be disturbed by the teachings or practice of yoga that one doesn’t like or disagree with. Regardless of agreement or disagreement towards the teachings of yoga, the students of yoga shouldn’t blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing or blind-propagating, but to inquire towards the truth of everything, including all the teachings of yoga, to attain direct experience and realization.

This is indeed practical in life, as we all will come in contact with something that our minds don’t like and don’t agree with, from time to time. The yoga practice is about non-attachment, non-craving and non-aversion in daily life that allows all the names and forms that our minds like and dislike, agree and disagree with, to be what they are, to be there as they are, without being determined or disturbed by names and forms that our minds don’t like and don’t agree with under the influence of our particular worldly social/cultural/religious/spiritual/educational thinking, belief, values and practice.

Anyway, if it’s really the truth, or the teachings that lead towards the liberation from ignorance and suffering, or the yogis that really practice yoga of selflessness and compassion, all these names and forms won’t be determined or affected by any amount of disagreement, criticism and condemn coming from worldly egoistic impure minds.

When we have the opportunity to come across with the yoga philosophy, it is the right time, even if we are still under the influence of ignorance, and can’t really grasp the essence of the teachings yet, as well as we might have lots of disagreement towards many of the teachings that seemingly contradicting with our worldly passionate thinking, belief, values and practice. If we are not ready yet, then no matter how much we want and need to know about the yoga philosophy for guiding us to transcend ignorance and suffering, we won’t be able to see it, hear it, or read it. (This actually happened to me. The Bhagavad Gita in Chinese version (a gift from a friend) was on my bookshelf for 15 years, but I didn’t realize that it was there with me all the time, until after I came back from India in 2005. When it was not the right time yet for me to read the Bhagavad Gita, I wouldn’t be reading it even though it was with me all the time.)

And also, who is qualified enough to say or judge who is ready and who is not? If the person himself thinks that he is not ready yet, then he can just take up some yoga classes that only do some physical exercises. There are many of these yoga classes out there. And these are very good fitness exercise classes just like some other forms of physical exercise classes. Even if we don’t mention about yoga philosophy, but the poses, the movements and the breathing exercises are there naturally influencing and balancing the energy field in the body, and unblocking any energy blockage in the system. And hence, this will influence and balance the state of the mind, and strengthening the entire systems and functions in the body.

It definitely needs direct experience, direct realization, truthfulness, compassion, fearlessness and non-attachment for anybody to be able to expound the teachings of yoga, the path of Self-realization, or the annihilation of the ego and the mind, to “all beings” without any discrimination (whether they are “ready”, or not), without hesitation, fear and worry. Meanwhile allowing everyone to welcome or reject the gift of Dharma.

What is so fearful and worried about disseminating the teachings about the path of realizing selflessness and compassion to transcend ignorance and suffering with all these people who come for the yoga class? Being afraid of offending somebody’s ego and they won’t come back for the yoga classes anymore?

Yoga is indeed about the realization of selflessness and compassion that leads to unconditional peace, and about how to realize selflessness and compassion through implementing the teachings in daily life and into the physical and mental yoga practice.

It is about the annihilation of the selfish prideful arrogant ego, or the lower self.

It is about mind purification removing all the impurities, restlessness and ignorance.

It is about letting go of the desire of craving and aversion.

It is about non-identification with the body and the mind, and any qualities of names and forms.

It is about being in the present moment now, being free from the past pleasant and unpleasant experiences as well as future wishful and unwishful imagination.

It is about knowing who we really are, or what is the mind, through self-inquiry and self-realization.

It is about non-dualism, non-separateness and attributelessness.

It is about renunciation and non-attachment.

It is about inquiring towards the truth of everything.

It is about dispassion and discrimination towards what is real and unreal.

It is about the intense yearning for liberation.

It is about seclusion and solitude.

It is about discipline and self-control.

It is about developing the basic elements of patience, determination, perseverance, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, adjustment, adaptation, accommodation, humility, openness, letting go, self-reliance, mental and emotional independence, and so on, that enable all the other practices to be happening.

What is there to be taught to the students if not all these yoga teachings? 

It really doesn’t matter if some people are not “ready” yet, or will get very irritated by the philosophical part of yoga. They can continue to practice the yoga exercises without applying any philosophy onto it, even if the mind is not free from ignorance and suffering because they are not interested and never try to eliminate the ego and egoism. Be happy, and enjoy the exercise. The exercise itself is a very good and beneficial activity for anyone to do in life. It is the beginning stage of purification even though no body is mentioning or discussing anything about the philosophy. But, just by performing physical purification without mental purification of eliminating the ego and egoism doesn’t lead the mind to transcend ignorance and suffering. It’s like washing the car everyday, but didn’t look after the internal parts of the car, will give us a pleasant clean looking car, but the car might not be functioning well.

Some people are appreciative and grateful for the opportunity to be learning about the teachings of yoga in the yoga class, where they can implement the yoga teachings that they learned into their physical yoga practice and daily life, to free the mind from ignorance, egoism and impurities – the root cause of restlessness and suffering.

While some people get very irritated and disturbed upon coming in contact with the teachings of yoga in the yoga class, where they only want to do some physical yoga practice that give them some momentary calmness, good feelings and pleasant sensations, as well as some momentary relief from certain physical/mental/emotional tension. Out of their own particular reasons, they are not interested to be learning any teachings or practice about eradicating ignorance, egoism, and impurities – The root cause of tension, unhappiness, hurts, disturbs, restlessness and suffering. That’s their freedom.

In the same yoga class, some will feel calmed and relaxed as they let go of attachment, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation, while some are generating more tension as they are over-powered by strong attachment, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation. It’s nothing to do with the yoga class being in certain way, or how the teacher conducts the class. It’s the same in daily life.

There’s nothing wrong with people don’t like yoga classes that teach about the teachings of yoga. It’s everyone’s freedom for what they want and don’t want to learn and practice, as well as agreeing or disagreeing with anything.

There’s nothing wrong also with yoga teachers who teach about the teachings of yoga in yoga class that is about yoga.

It’s like people want to eat Nasi Lemak, and they come to a Nasi Lemak restaurant ordered and paid for a plate of Nasi Lemak, but then they are disappointed and angry when the Nasi Lemak is not what they expect it to be. They didn’t like coconut milk, or pandanus, or chillies, or cucumbers, or peanuts, or onions, or anchovies, or egg, or rice, or Nasi Lemak as it is. May it be due to allergic reason, or taste-wise, or the type of ‘Nasi Lemak’ that they had eaten before is nothing to do with Nasi lemak as it is. Out of ignorance, some even demand a refund, and then give ‘bad review’ to this restaurant for serving and selling Nasi Lemak that is not what they expect it to be. Some even want to stop the restaurant from serving or selling Nasi Lemak as it is to other people who want to eat Nasi Lemak as it is. It’s okay if one day nobody wants to eat Nasi Lemak as it is, and nobody wants to prepare, cook or serve Nasi Lemak as it is.

Teaching the yoga students about yoga or performing some yoga practice without the teachings of yoga, is like giving a cup of ‘bitter-gourd water’ to the yoga students without the bitter-gourd juice, and tell them, “I am giving you bitter-gourd water to taste. This is bitter-gourd water, even though I deliberately omit the bitter-gourd juice as I’m afraid you might not like the taste of bitter-gourd juice.” There are quite some people don’t like the taste of bitter-gourd, and that’s their freedom. Just by drinking the water without the bitter-gourd juice is good also. Although the bitter-gourd juice provides certain elements that the water doesn't have. But when people come to us and are asking for bitter-gourd water because they know they can get bitter-gourd water from us, we give them bitter-gourd water with the bitter-gourd juice, and not giving them ‘bitter-gourd water’ without the bitter-gourd juice, or replacing the bitter-gourd juice with sweet lime juice or orange juice pretending to be ‘bitter-gourd water made with bitter-gourd juice’, and let them decide whether they want to drink the bitter-gourd water, or not, even if they might not like the taste of bitter-gourd in the beginning, but they might get use to it after some time and see the goodness of it, or maybe not. Some even have strong averse reaction towards it, and never want to try it again. That’s their freedom.

If people only want water, they are not interested in bitter-gourd juice, they can get water easily in many other places. As this place is particularly about supplying bitter-gourd water.

Some suggest that adding some sugar or other sweet juice in it, so that it’s more acceptable to most people’s taste, but, it won’t be the same as pure bitter-gourd water. It’s because the people only like the additional sweetness from the sugar and not liking the bitter-gourd taste itself, and no matter how long they have been liking to drink bitter-gourd water with added sugar, but once we stop adding sugar, they wouldn’t want to drink it anymore.

Just like many yoga teachers modify the yoga class and/or the yoga practice to gratify people’s desire of craving and aversion to attract people’s interest in doing some form of the yoga practice, as well as emphasizing on the usage of ‘non-offensive suggestive words’ that are more pleasing to the ego, that doesn’t irritate the ego so much, it doesn’t really help them to be free from ignorance and egoism, but it empowers ignorance and egoism of the people. And that’s their freedom as well.

The ‘words’, or the ‘tones’, or the ‘volumes’ have no quality of ‘offensive’ or ‘non-offensive’. It’s the degree of sensitivity coming from the minds that project ‘offensive’ or ‘non-offensive’ onto the different words, tones and volumes. Without teaching the minds how to be free from the ego, egoism and duality, but instead, trying to please, protect and pamper the ego of the minds, to avoid anything that might appear to be ‘offensive’ to the ego, it doesn’t help to eradicate the ego, but empower it.

The adjustment, adaptation and accommodation in the teachings of yoga, is not about to make adjustment in the names and forms to adapt and accommodate the prideful egoistic mind, but it’s the egoistic mind needs to make the adjustment to adapt and accommodate all the mind perception of names and forms being what they are, as they are.

If the prideful egoistic minds refuse to let go of the ego even before learning the physical yoga practice, and have strong aversion towards the teachings of yoga, and only want to do the physical yoga practice, it’s their freedom, even if they are not really practicing yoga. Only the minds that are willing to let go of the ego, the practice of yoga begins as it is, even without any intention or expectation.

When we modify the yoga practice or the yoga class to accommodate the desire of craving and aversion of the egoistic minds, people only like yoga being the way that they desire, they don’t really like yoga as it is. No matter how long people have been enjoying doing yoga that is being modified to the way that they desire, but then once they are being asked to practice yoga as it is, they wouldn’t want to practice yoga anymore. Some people have been practicing yoga for many years and even possessed many yoga teachers certifications, but they complaint about many things that they think it’s the cause of their unhappiness, disturbs, hurts, disappointment and suffering.

In the end, yoga is about Silence. Many minds want to be in silence, but most minds are too restless to be in silence. Many people complaint that their minds can’t concentrate or be quiet, which they believe is due to external ‘disturbance’ and ‘distraction’. 

What hinders the mind to be silent, is restlessness, or violent thought currents, or ‘disturbance’ and ‘distraction’ arising from within the mind due to ignorance and egoism. The mind couldn’t be quiet, even if the surrounding environment is completely quiet. And hence, all the teachings are there to help the minds to be free from restlessness, to quiet the ever-restless thought currents, or to annihilate ‘disturbance’ or ‘distraction’ from within the mind.

Out of ignorance, many people misunderstand about annihilating ‘disturbance’ or ‘distraction’ means avoiding names and forms that they think is ‘disturbing’ or ‘distracting’ the mind. The ‘disturbance’ and ‘distraction’ in the mind is deriving from the mind itself, constantly and autonomously reacting towards the mind perception of names and forms through the senses, due to egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation. It’s not because of the names and forms, or the experiences, or the surrounding environment that the mind perceives through the senses being ‘disturbing’ or ‘distracting’. 

By avoiding coming in contact with certain names and forms or environment that the mind thinks is being ‘disturbing’ or ‘distracting’ might induce momentary conditional calmness/quietness or ‘silence’ to the mind, but, that is conditional and impermanent. It’s not the unconditional silence that is always there being undetermined by all the impermanent names and forms arising and passing away, which is there as it is, upon the mind is free from restlessness deriving from ignorance and egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation. 

And hence, out of compassion, the teacher guides the students in the way that allows them to develop the correct understanding and be equipped with the essential practice that can help to free their minds from ignorance and egoism through their own will, effort, discipline, inquiry, direct experience and realization. Whether the students will be successfully developing the correct understanding, or make use of the essential practice, or be free from ignorance and egoism, or not, it’s not the teacher’s responsibility. 

If the students are never being given the opportunity to come in contact with the teachings, to reflect upon the teachings, to try to practice the teachings, regardless of whether they will be successful, or not, as the teachers decided that they don’t want to teach about the teachings of yoga to all or some of the students selectively, expecting that all the students will eventually be free from ignorance, egoism, restlessness and suffering at their own cause just by participating in ‘silent yoga practice’ in the yoga class without the need of expounding any teachings for them to reflect upon, to implement into their yoga practice and daily life, then it’s the responsibility of the teachers for not teaching yoga with the teachings to the students that allow them to at least have the opportunity to decide whether they want to practice the teachings of yoga as it is, or not.

After the teachers have done their best to deliver the teachings and practice to the students, then it's the responsibility of the students themselves whether to practice the teachings and practice, or not, and whether they will be free from ignorance and suffering, or not. Some yoga enthusiasts have been 'loving' yoga and 'practicing' yoga for many years, but they are still under the influence of ignorance and egoism very much, and that's their own responsibility. Everyone takes their own pace to evolve. It's neither good nor bad, neither right nor wrong. As people can be 'practicing' and 'teaching' yoga for their entire life under certain 'Guru' or 'lineage' with the intense yearning to be free from ignorance and suffering, but not everyone attains 'the highest goal', but it's okay. More importantly, it's the non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-judgment, non-comparison and non-expectation towards the effort and the fruit of the effort that allows the mind to have peace, regardless of how much challenges, obstacles, difficulties or limitations arise on the path, while being aware of the presence of ignorance and suffering in itself, or in the world. That is already a 'success' in the yoga practice.

While some people never practice yoga might be free from ignorance and suffering, as they know what is non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-judgment, non-comparison and non-expectation.

There are very few minds are at higher level of consciousness where they don’t need to practice anything or let go anything, as they are already free from ignorance and egoism, restlessness and suffering. They don’t need to attend yoga classes to learn or practice anything. These people don’t need to practice yoga or meditation, at all, and they are wise, compassionate and peaceful unconditionally. But, most minds are under the influence of ignorance and egoism, and they are in need of the help of the teachings to be reflecting upon, to implement into the yoga practice and daily life, to find out what is going on in their minds, to eradicate egoism and impurities, which will free the mind from restlessness, that allows the mind to know Thyself, to see the truth of names and forms as it is.

Those who are free from restlessness and suffering, they don’t need to learn, understand or practice the teachings of yoga. Those who are not free from restlessness and suffering, but they are not interested to be free from restlessness and suffering, that’s their freedom. While those who want to be free from restlessness and suffering, who are interested to learn and practice yoga to transcend restlessness and suffering, they need to be able to surrender the ego, pride and arrogance, to be humble, patient and determine to learn, study, inquire and practice the teachings of yoga by implementing into the yoga practice and daily life.

After attended classes humbly receiving or learning the teachings of yoga to be reflecting upon, even repeatedly hearing the same teachings over and over again, until the basic foundation is firmly built, to be implementing into the yoga practice and daily life, one retreats into seclusion or solitude, without the need of supervision, or instruction, or help, or encouragement from a teacher, to perform self-practice independently in silence, without attachment, identification, craving, aversion, judgment, comparison, or expectation, without being determined by the surrounding environment, or the mind perception of names and forms, or the fruit of the yoga practice.

Those who said they want to learn and practice yoga, as they want to be free from restlessness and suffering, but they are too proud and impatient to learn, study, inquire and practice the teachings of yoga, but just interested in getting the momentary relief, calmness and good feelings deriving from performing some physical yoga practice in silence, or getting the momentary satisfaction from gratifying their desire of craving and aversion, and are not interested to free the mind from the root cause of restlessness and suffering, that’s their freedom.

Many yoga practitioners or teachers are still not free from ignorance, egoism, restlessness and suffering even after many years of attending ‘silent mindfulness yoga classes’ that deliberately doesn’t deliver any forms of teachings about freeing the mind from the ego and egoism, with the intention to minimize ‘distraction’ or ‘disturbance’ as much as possible, to allow the students to pay full attention of ‘mindfulness’ to look into their own minds and they will know Thyself. After many years of performing yoga practice in silent yoga class that doesn’t talk about the essential teachings and practice of letting go the ego and egoism, the minds are still being determined and disturbed by all the mind perception of names and forms, being disturbed by ungratified desires, because they never practice how to free the mind from ignorance and egoism.

Those who want or need to attend classes, as they can’t or don’t want to perform self-practice in seclusion and solitude, as they want to be accompanied by and interacting with some other people, and they need some guidance or instruction from someone to be performing the yoga practice, or they have the desire to be getting or learning something (that they want) from the teacher, while expecting the teacher to teach or not teaching the class in certain way, and they cannot allow the teacher to teach what they teach and how they teach, where they only want to do some physical yoga practice the way that they like, but at the same time, they get very agitated, disappointed, dissatisfied and disturbed when the yoga class is not being the way that they expect it to be, where they would get very irritated by the yoga teacher disseminating the teachings of yoga in the yoga class, or they have strong aversion towards hearing about the same teachings repeatedly, or performing the same practice repeatedly that they think they already know very well, and they think it’s the fault of the yoga teacher or the yoga class being bad and wrong for the presence of agitation, disappointment, dissatisfaction and disturbance in their minds, it indicates that they still have a lot to learn.

While some people get frustrated and irritated is because they only want to do some physical yoga practice in silence throughout the entire yoga class, but the teacher is disseminating some yoga teachings in the yoga class for the students who want to learn about the teachings of yoga, which irritates them very much. The irritation arise in their minds is due to their desire is not being gratified, where the yoga class is not being the way that they want it to be. It’s not the fault of the yoga teacher or the yoga class being what it is, if someone doesn’t like how the teacher teaches the class, or doesn’t like the yoga class that is about disseminating and practicing the teachings of yoga about eradicating the ego and egoism while performing the yoga practice and in daily life.

A yoga class is for people to come to learn about yoga and practice yoga under the guidance of a teacher. If people don’t need to learn any teachings or don’t need any guidance from a teacher, as they think they already know enough about the teachings and practice, and they want a mindful silent yoga practice without any guidance, they should be performing self-practice in seclusion and solitude. Why are they attending the yoga class that is supposed to be a teacher giving some teachings and guidance, but then they get irritated with the yoga class for being what it is? Unless it is a specific silent yoga class where all and everyone already know how to perform the yoga practice without the need of any teachings or guidance.

This is what happens when people are being taught to perform yoga practice in silence without being taught about the essential teachings and implementing the teachings into the physical yoga practice. Those who truly understand about yoga and the yoga practice, they won’t be disturbed, frustrated, disappointed or angry when things are not being the way that they would like it to be.

Even if the mind is being disturbed by something, the well-trained mind understands what is going on, and knows how to just observe the disturbance, without attachment or identification, without judgment or expectation, knowing that it's impermanent, and will pass away.

Those who truly understand what is mindfulness, they are being mindful under any conditions and situations, regardless of all the names and forms arising and passing away, without attachment, identification, craving, aversion, judgment, or expectation, without being determined or disturbed by the presence or absence of certain desirable or undesirable names and forms in the present moment, without trying to ‘control’ anything to be in certain way, allowing everything to be there as they are, which then allows them to be mindful unconditionally and effortlessly, while performing or not performing certain action. It’s not about selectively choosing a particular subject or object that they want to be mindful about, and get very frustrated when they feel they are being disturbed or distracted by the presence of any other names and forms that they don’t want to be mindful about. Such as, they think they cannot practice mindfulness when the teacher is disseminating the teachings of yoga while they want to be mindful towards the physical yoga practice in silence, that irritates them very much.

Hearing and reflecting upon the teachings of yoga, and implementing the teachings into the physical yoga practice doesn’t make the minds agitated or restless. It’s the reaction of aversion and disagreement coming from the mind towards the teachings being disseminated that give rise to the disturb/irritation/restlessness in the mind, from the mind itself. 

It’s the craving and expectation towards “Yoga is about mindfulness in silence. I need to be mindful towards the physical yoga practice in silence without any external disturbance or distraction,” and the aversion towards the presence of undesirable/disagreeable sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, feelings and thoughts are not being gratified, that gives rise to the disturb/irritation/restlessness in the mind, from the mind itself. Because these minds have not come in contact with any teachings about going beyond the modification of the mind and how to free the mind from egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation, that allows all the other practices to be happening simultaneously and effortlessly.

Meanwhile, out of worldly passionate egoistic sympathy or empathy, there are many ‘yoga teachers’ are either wittingly or unwittingly empowering the ignorance and egoism in the students by carefully handling their easily be hurt and offended ego by not doing, or saying, or teaching anything that they don’t like and don’t agree with, and empowering the prideful ego with praise and compliment and things that they like and agree with, while gratifying their desire of craving and aversion, to please, comfort and satisfy their minds by giving them what they desire, and avoid giving them what they don’t desire, as well as encouraging mental and emotional dependence among one another, comforting and supporting one another, so that both the teachers and the students will feel love, good, joyful and meaningful through such bonding or connection, that is also conditional and impermanent.

Compassion, that allows the minds to be free from ignorance and suffering, is being seen as ‘coldness’ and ‘harshness’ by the worldly passionate egoistic sympathetic and empathetic minds, not knowing that the act of ‘sympathy and empathy’ void of wisdom and compassion is actually empowering ignorance and egoism, which hinders the minds to be free from suffering from the root. The same yoga teacher who gives the same teachings in the same class is being perceived as ‘compassionate’ by some students and ‘mean’ by some other students under the different states of mind. Meanwhile, the yoga teacher is just what it is, neither compassionate nor mean.

The teachings of yoga and the practice doesn’t discriminate anyone, regardless of whether people only want to practice some of the practices, or disagree with some of the teachings and practices, or misinterpreting the teachings, or modifying the practices, or only want to do the physical practice without any teachings, or adding in one’s worldly ideas, belief and practice, or commercialized it, or claimed authorization over it, or trademarking certain names and forms, or using it to gain selfish desire, or whatever human minds can do with it. And whatever human minds do with it, agree or disagree with it, take it or leave it, practicing or stop practicing, realizing something or haven’t realize anything, being peaceful or disturbed, being liberated from suffering or not, it doesn’t determine or affect the teachings and its practice being what it is.

The truth won’t be contaminated or changed by anything. All is impermanent and selfless.

It’s up to oneself.

Some yogis might have already transcended ignorance, who are selfless and compassionate, but they are not interested at all to teach yoga to anyone, as the ignorance in the minds of the world are too deep even for igniting the initial process of purification. They renounce worldly actions and are resting in Silence. There’s nothing selfish or wrong with that.

Minds that are smart, intelligent and knowledgeable, might not have the interest, humility or patience to learn, study, inquire and practice the teachings of yoga.

Many intellectual people might have come across with the term of “the practice of dispassion and non-attachment” for many times, but they don’t know what is dispassion and non-attachment, and still have strong passion and attachment towards all the selfless impermanent names and forms, and are not free from disturbs, hurts, offensiveness, frustration, anger, disappointment, fear, worry, guilt, regret, painful sorrow and suffering even after many years of practicing some physical yoga practice in silence because they never inquire towards what is dispassion and non-attachment, never practice dispassion and non-attachment, and not knowing how to free the mind from passion and attachment.

Such as the basic teaching and practice of “letting go” – “If it’s too painful to hold a burning hot object, just put it down and let it go,” and “If one doesn’t want to let go and continues to feel hurt by something that is hurtful, it’s one’s own responsibility.” Most people understand what these sentences mean literally, but still, many people struggle very hard with “letting go”, or couldn’t let go something that they think is “disturbing” or “hurtful”, even after many years of trying to let go, because they have no interest and patience to get to know and practice the teachings that guide them on how to inquire towards the truth of what they think is “disturbing” or “hurtful”, even if they are smart, intelligent and knowledgeable. And that’s their freedom.

Even the teachers who repeatedly mention the term of “letting go” for many times to their students in their yoga class, if without knowing how to inquire towards the truth of “letting go” and “the object of letting go”, they themselves also couldn’t let go of something that they think is disturbing or hurtful. They might be learning how to let go certain physical tension during the physical yoga practice session, and physical, mental and emotional tension are inter-related to one another, where mental and emotional tension will also be released when the physical tension is released, but they couldn’t let go mental and emotional tension from the root as well as they are continuing accumulating tension in daily life, as they didn’t inquire towards the truth of all those tension.

Those who realized selflessness and compassion, there is nothing to let go, there’s no need to let go of anything, as there is nothing being accumulated that need to be letting go, and there’s no one there that needs to let go anything. But in the process of attaining that realization, the ignorant egoistic passionate mind needs to let go many things.

Inquire the truth of everything.

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Just as Swami Sivananda had mentioned in his teachings, "The Truth alone will triumph. No fear! No worry! The one who knows the Truth has no fear, no worry."

Here is one of my own experience while giving yoga classes which emphasizing on disseminate the teachings of yoga for the practitioners to reflect upon and implementing the practice of yoga philosophy in daily life from moment to moment.

There was a yoga teacher who attended one of my yoga class here in Langkawi.

She was very surprised and annoyed by how I conduct the yoga lesson.

The one question that she asked me after the class was, "Thank you for the class, but don't you feel tired talking so much?"

I told her, "If I think I (the ego) am the one who is doing the teaching, then I will be exhausted teaching many classes and doing so much talking. I'll be losing lots of energy. But I have no selfish intention or selfish expectation from giving the yoga classes or disseminating the philosophy. I have no attachment towards the action of teaching the class and the fruit of the action. I am not disturbed by the reactions of the students whether they are grateful and appreciative, or not, whether they are benefited from the teachings, or not. I am just there doing what I am doing, and I let it go as soon as I did what I did. And most people get benefited from the classes and are having a complete different perspective in life. Some are getting the "knowledge" instantly after one session, and some are getting the "knowledge" after a few sessions of "struggle" and "fighting" with the intense resistance coming from the impure intellect and the prideful ego. Some didn't get the "knowledge" yet, but they are still trying to grasp the meanings of yoga."

While some people were getting very irritated or agitated by the talking about the philosophy, they wanted to stand up and runaway, and shouting, "I don't want to hear this! Why are you talking about me? You don't know about me! I don't need to hear this! I know all these already! I don't need you to tell me all these things! I just want to do some exercises. What yoga are you teaching? This is not the yoga class that I want!"

All I can say to everyone is, "Be happy. Need not be disturbed and getting upset by what you see or hear that your mind doesn't like and doesn't agree with. Leave it aside if your mind doesn't like to hear and doesn't agree with all these yoga teachings. Let it go. More importantly, it's to be open to inquire towards the truth of everything that our mind agrees and disagrees with, including all the teachings of yoga, without blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing, or blind-propagating." Even if it is the Truth, because not everybody can accept the Truth as it is. Most of the time, the Truth is not what we like and what we want it to be. Truth can be very insulting and painful for many passionate egoistic minds.

And look, this is how the mind over-powered by the assertive prideful ego reacts towards what it hears, or sees, or experiences. It reacts strongly and violently towards the things that it doesn't like and doesn't agree with. This is what we are practicing. Observing what is happening in our mind, know who is getting upset, irritated, hurt, offended and disturbed, learn how to deal with the reactions in the mind, and learn how to let go, not being disturbed by the impurities in our own mind and not being over-powered by our own ego. It's not by looking out at what other people do and say, or what other people don't do and don't say, and be affected or disturbed by what other people do and say, or don't do and don't say.

Not everybody can have the patience to listen to some speech that seems like it is "talking" about our problems, or "pointing out" our imperfection, or "telling" us that our mind is ignorant, and it is like somebody there keeps telling and reminding us about we should be like this and like that. Of course, if the ego is very strong, and there's pride towards one's thinking and belief, then the resistance and resentment will be stronger as well. It is very normal that there will be somebody gets very annoyed and offended, while some other people in the same class are really interested and glad to know more about the yoga philosophy, while coming in contact with the same teachings. Actually nobody offends anybody. Nobody has the intention to offend anybody personally. We feel that we are being offended/attacked/belittled by what other people do and say, is because our own attachment and identification towards our own modification of the mind, our particular thinking and belief, the impure intellect and the assertive prideful ego, as well as the attachment and desire of craving and aversion towards all the perceptions of names and forms.

I know that it was the initial talk of the yoga philosophy (lasted about an hour) that had made her (the yoga teacher) very irritated. Particularly on the first session of the yoga retreat, there will be a longer dissemination of the basic teachings of yoga to the students who want to learn about yoga even before they start performing the physical yoga practice of Asana, Pranayama, concentration, relaxation, or meditation, where people can practically implement the teachings into the entire yoga practice and daily life, without attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation, which will allow them to be aware of and understand what is going on in their body and mind, and realize the truth of the teachings through their own direct experience and self-realization, if they want. It's also people's own choice and freedom if they don't want to implement the teachings into the physical yoga practice and in daily life, and continuously being determined or disturbed by their attachment and desire of craving and aversion towards the mind perception of names and forms.

These are some of the basic teachings that I talk about in the yoga classes for the yoga practitioners to reflect upon while performing the yoga practice and in daily life, to know about what is going on in their minds, to know the truth of names and forms, and to know Thyself, if they want;

- about selflessness and compassion

- about contentment and simplicity

- about humility and gratitude

- about accepting what we think is ourselves (the body and the mind) as we are and everything as it is, in the present moment now

- about accepting all and everything are impermanent and allowing impermanent changes to be what they are and constantly changing

- about true happiness and true confidence

 
- about developing inner strength and inner flexibility of patience, determination, perseverance, forbearance, tolerance, acceptance, adjustment, adaptation and accommodation

 

- about self-reliance and mental/emotional independence

- about the practice of letting go of craving and aversion while performing all the exercises

- about non-attachment towards the body and the mind while observing whatever the body and the mind is experiencing at the present moment now

- about not being disturbed or affected by whatever the mind perceives through the senses of what it sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches, feels and thinks

- about non-identification with the body and the mind

- about being a witness or an observer towards whatever the body and the mind is experiencing in the present moment now

 
- about letting go of the past and the future, being at the present moment now, from moment to moment

- about letting go of fear and worry, hurts and disappointment

- about non-reaction towards pleasant and unpleasant experiences, remain equanimous towards all the dualities of good and bad, right and wrong, positive and negative, meaningful and meaningless

- about non-judgment, non-comparison and non-expectation

- about the habits of the mind, the intellect, the ego, and the purpose of all the yoga practice is about purification of the mind, calming/quieting the mind, stilling the mind and going beyond the mind, unattached towards the mind perception of a selfless impermanent worldly life existence, renouncing worldly objects/ideas/affairs/relationships/connections/interactions/activities, preparing the mind for self-inquiry and meditation, to attain self-realization and complete annihilation of the modification of the mind

- about eradicating the ego, removing ignorance and attaining wisdom or insight to know the Truth of ourselves (the selfless perceptive mind or thinking faculty) and everything (the selfless mind perception of a selfless impermanent worldly life existence of names and forms) that the mind perceives through the senses, selflessly

- about how to deal with the restless impure modification of the mind and the assertive prideful ego

- about how to be free from fear and worry, hurts and disappointment, guilt and regret, low self-esteem and unworthiness, loneliness and meaninglessness

 
- about non-attachment, non-identification, non-judgment and non-expectation towards the actions and the fruit of actions

 

- about opening the mind unattached towards any thinking and belief to be performing self-inquiry to inquire towards the truth of everything, without blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing and blind-propagating, including all the teachings of yoga, regardless of what the mind agrees or disagrees with

- about how to attain unconditional peace and true happiness, and be free from being determined by all the impermanent good or bad conditions of the limited body and mind, and being undisturbed by the impermanent condition of the selfless life existence and the world that we are living in, by implementing the teachings of yoga in daily life, while performing all the internal and external yoga practice of Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, concentration, meditation, silence, selfless service, study of the philosophy, chanting and prayer, the foundation of morality and right conduct, purifying and quieting the mind and allowing wisdom to arise as it is, without attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation
 

We practically apply and practice all these teachings while performing all the yoga asana practice, the pranayama practice, the concentration and meditation practice, and the relaxation practice, in the yoga practice session as well as in all our dealings in daily life.

These are the Dharma that I practice every moment in life. I teach what I practice. I share what I experienced with the students. I teach what I am. I don't prepare myself for a speech or what to teach in the yoga class. I share what I am to the people. What I don't practice, what I am not, I couldn't share with the people. It's up to everyone whether they take it or leave it, understand or don't understand, agree or disagree with, and practice or don't practice.

And most people will have this same thought arise in their mind, "Why are you talking about me?"
(This was what some of the students who came to me and told me after the class)

But I was only talking in general about the habits of the mind and how to deal with the mind with the practice of the yoga philosophy. I didn't know their personal life problems. I don't need to know either. I never intentionally pointing at anyone and I have no intention to teach anybody about whether they should be like this or like that. I'm just there to deliver the teachings and let go of it, immediately. It depends on each individual about how they want to take it or interpret it, and whether they will get some benefits from it, or not. I never plan what I'm going to teach or say in the yoga class. Everything flows naturally. In some classes I could be saying nothing at all.

It's because all minds are having the similar habits and characteristics, such like, impurities and egoism of attachment, identification, clinging, expectation, like and dislike, want and don't want, agreement and disagreement, craving and aversion, happiness and unhappiness, fear, worry, hurt, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, impatient, irritation, frustration, agitation, depression, excitement, boredom, regret, guilt, shame, pride and arrogance, self-image, self-esteem, self-protection, selfishness, ignorance, impermanence, mental and emotional dependence, longing for love, interaction, acknowledgement, appreciation, support, sympathy and empathy, and etc. That's why when a group of people with different personalities and experiences in life are listening to the same teachings at the same time, we automatically will relate the teachings as something that is directing towards us, or talking about us personally, or it is like revealing our inner most unpleasant insecure feelings which we don't really want to confront with.

She (the yoga teacher) said to me, "I had an ex-boyfriend who talks a lots about the yoga philosophy all the time, but he never practice it. People who talk about philosophy, only know how to play around with the intellectual and don't really practice the philosophy, and what's the meaning of doing all these talking about the yoga philosophy?"

She has the freedom to feel "angry" with people who only preach and talk loud about yoga philosophy but they actually "just talk talk" only, and never really practice what they preach. Of course there will be people who like to talk loud about philosophy, but their personality and behavior might be worst than anybody who doesn't know anything about philosophy. But this is very normal. We shouldn't have any expectation towards the people who talk and teach about philosophy that they will also be practicing the philosophy at the same time. Talk is easy, practice is not so easy. But, we shouldn't be determined by other people's understanding, practice, action, reaction and behavior, for how we understand and behave, or how we practice yoga or teach yoga to other people.

This was what I said to her, "Your ex-boyfriend likes to talk about philosophy and doesn't practice the philosophy as it is, that is his own problem, not yours. You have the freedom to be angry and disappointed with him, but you don't have to. You don't have to be disturbed by it at all. It shouldn't stop you from practicing the philosophy and let him take away your own faith in expounding the Dharma as a yoga teacher."

Then she said, "But not everybody is ready for listening to all these philosophy. People will get annoyed or will reject strongly."

I didn't want to irritate her with further debates. I just said to her to let go of whatever that was irritating her at that moment. She doesn't need to be disturbed by what she thinks is not right, whether it's from me, or from anyone else.

If there is somebody who is not ready yet, then no body is really ready for yoga at all. From the moment that we have the awareness towards this life existence and we experience unhappiness and suffering, we all are ready to practice yoga (with the philosophy).

Yoga practice without implementing the philosophy or teachings, is like a picture with "God" image in it. It is nice, it is beautiful. But can this picture gives me salvation and takes away my unhappiness and suffering?

For those who couldn't stand the philosophical part of the yoga lesson, and get irritated by the "philosophical talk" very much (actually it's the ego gets irritated and being unhappy/impatient listening to the practice of the philosophy in daily life), they said it is impossible and non-practical to practice the philosophy about non-attachment in everyday life. And thus why still want to bother about the non-practical idealistic philosophy? Why waste their time listening to all these "rubbish", and why not just do the exercise only which will make them feel good and relaxed for a few hours after that? (I could understand why they think this way.)

They came for the yoga class because they want to release tensions and stress. There is nothing wrong with having this intention. In fact that is the basic effect and benefit of doing the yoga asana, pranayama, concentration and relaxation exercises. And in the daily yoga class, we will emphasize on deep relaxation for the body and the mind, to let go of any tensions physically, mentally and emotionally, especially during the final relaxation at the end of the class. It is part of the class format. We understand that most people cannot avoid generate tensions and stress from everyday life experiences, and they really need this relaxation to let go of all these accumulated tensions and stress, even though it's just a momentary relief, and people might keep accumulating unnecessary physical, mental and emotional tension in daily life, as either they don't know what is non-attachment and dispassion, or they know what is non-attachment and dispassion, but they refuse to practice them.

But, "yoga" does not just stop here. This is not the goal of the yoga practice. The body and the mind will get relaxed after the practice and will get a momentary good feeling from the practice is only part of the "side-effects" of the practice, that will change and disappear. Just like the physical body will become more healthy, more flexible and strong, the mind will become calm and relaxed, are only part of the "momentary side-effects" of the yoga practice, but they are not the end of yoga practice, or the goal of doing yoga. Though there's nothing wrong with some people take that as the goal of their yoga practice.

We should not rely on the yoga practice to feel good and attached onto that momentary good feeling that comes from the yoga practice, and generate craving and clinging towards this pleasant and calm feeling. If we attached onto it and when we couldn't perform some yoga practice due to certain reasons, then we will be so frustrated and don't feel good anymore. There is nothing wrong but this is not the true happiness that we are looking for. We still caught up in the craving and clinging towards the impermanent good condition and pleasant sensations of the body and mind.

We need to learn how to not generate tensions at the first place by practicing real non-attachment, dispassion towards worldly objects, relationships, interactions, activities and enjoyments, and discrimination towards what is real and unreal. We (the thinking mind) need to learn how to be the witness of the modification of the mind, the intellect and the ego, and not being over-powered by them. We need to learn how to go beyond the body and the modification of the mind, and not attached towards or be affected by the selfless states of the mind that is subject to impermanence, which is constantly changing from good to bad, from bad to good, due to the energy field is being influenced by all the inputs of sight, sound, smell, taste, sensation, feeling and thinking.

 

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One time, there was a girl who actually verbally stopped me from giving the teachings in the class when I was talking about the philosophy for about 15 minutes. She shouted loudly, "Excuse me, can you please stop talking about all these things? I knew all these things already, I don't need you to tell me about it. You are like my parents, telling me what I should do and should not do. I don't need to hear all these. The yoga classes that I went to in my country, the teacher doesn't talk." She was really angry. 

 

If she really knows about all these teachings of yoga, she would be patient and humble enough to be opened and listened, and not getting so furious about it, even if she didn't like it at all. If she really knows what is silence and want to be in silence, she won't be so irritated and violent due to the teacher is giving some teachings in the yoga class, because the silence without any sounds/noises/talking/actions in the surrounding is not really silence if it's only can be experienced in a space or under a condition that is void of any sounds/noises/talking/actions that one thinks it's distracting or disturbing. It's the non-attachment towards any sounds/noises/talking/actions as well as the withdrawal of the senses from the sense objects that leads the mind into silence under any conditions of the surrounding environment. May she be in peace.

 

I wasn't disturbed by her state of the mind or reaction at all, but being understanding towards her mind being unhappy and disturbed. Some people are suffering from certain mental disturbance due to past hurtful unpleasant disappointing experiences.

 

Even though the mind might feel good and relaxed momentarily after doing some yoga practice in silence without the teacher teaching about anything verbally, but the mind is still not free from restlessness and suffering, as the mind is still under the influence of ignorance, egoism and impurities, because this mind never learn how to free itself from ignorance, egoism and impurities, as it rejects to hear or practice any teachings about how to free the mind from ignorance, egoism and impurities. The mind is disturbed and angry is because it's not getting what it wants and it's getting what it doesn't want. But out of ignorance, the mind thinks that it is what it experiences being disturbing, bad and wrong that is causing the disturbs and anger in itself. To free the mind from disturbs and anger is not by gratifying the desire of the mind to please and satisfy the mind, but it's freeing the mind from ignorance and egoism.

If a yoga teacher who has been teaching 'yoga classes' for many years also will be annoyed by the talk of yoga philosophy in a yoga class, then for sure there will be many people will likely to react the same way as well. It's a form of mental blockage/disturbance, and it will turn into a form of mental illness, if we don't have awareness and don't know how to look after our minds. More and more people are suffering from mental blockage or illness, but very few are aware of it, and do something about it. There are many 'violent damaging behavior' existing in the world either inflicted upon oneself or other people, because quite many people would easily feel irritated, angry, hurt, disturbed, offended, disrespected or insulted in everyday life due to they have strong aversion towards something that they dislike and disagree with.

 

Everyone has the freedom for how they feel and react, for what they want and don't want. But, if the yoga teachers themselves are not free from ignorance, egoism and worldly passionate ideas/habits, then that is 'the type of yoga' that they teach to their yoga students, under the influence of ignorance, egoism and worldly passionate ideas/habits. Those who truly teach yoga, they teach yoga as it is, and let the students make their decision of welcoming or rejecting the teachings of yoga.

 

Anyway, we all are imperfect human beings trying to learn and practice yoga, because we want to be free from suffering and want to find out what is the cause of suffering. No judgment, no comparison, no expectation, no problem, just keep practicing.

 

Those who had been learning and practicing yoga with me, I don't check on them and ask them, "How are you? Are you OK? How is your practice? Do you need me? Well done! That's great! Wow, amazing! So proud of you! You should be proud of yourself!" Because all these don't exist for those who truly practice yoga and understand about the modification of the mind. If any of them are still not free from ignorance, egoism and worldly passionate ideas/habits, and they don't really know the practice of yoga or the modification of the mind, they would be disappointed towards my 'coldness' or 'harshness'. That's their freedom.

May all be happy and be free.