be free, be happy, be peaceful

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

Saturday, January 31, 2015

About the physical alignment and adjustment from the teacher in the yoga asana practice...

There's nothing wrong with performing the yoga asana exercises with proper alignment and receiving adjustment from the teacher to gain maximum benefits, as well as to 'ensure' maximum safety, or 'minimize' the risk of injuries, from the standpoint of a safe and effective physical exercise.

Yoga is about realizing unconditional peace and compassion through the realization of the truth, free from ignorance, egoism, identification, attachment, craving and aversion, and all sorts of impurities. Yoga asana practice is one of the many ways to help to influence the state of the mind, preparing the mind for meditation.

Does it mean that when the students are able to perform the yoga asana exercises with the perfect correct alignment and with some adjustments from the teacher to make the postures as 'good', as 'correct', as 'perfect', as 'graceful', or as 'beautiful' as much as possible, then they will be peaceful and compassionate, and will be free from ignorance, egoism, identification and attachment? And if the students are not able to perform the yoga asana practice with the perfect correct alignment and don't make any adjustments to make the postures as 'good', as 'correct', as 'perfect', as 'graceful', or as 'beautiful' as much as possible, then they will not be peaceful and compassionate, and won't be free from ignorance, egoism, identification and attachment? Does everyone need to be able to go beyond certain degrees of flexibility and achieve certain degrees of strength to be able to see the truth?

No doubt that the body and mind will feel good when the body is able to do what we want to do, to achieve certain results that we want to achieve, but this is just some momentary satisfaction, pride and good feelings coming from gratifying the desires of craving and aversion, through getting the things that we like and want the way that we like it to be, and by not getting anything that we don't like and don't want. It is not the unconditional peace that is undetermined by the qualities of names and forms.

Yoga asana practice is nothing to do with perfect physical alignment, nor it's about making the body to be more strong and flexible than it is now. It is also has nothing to do with adjusting the yoga asana poses until we think it is 'good', 'right', 'perfect', 'graceful', or 'beautiful' enough. Nor does yoga has anything to do with what kind of benefits that we are getting from performing all these yoga asana practice. The benefits will be there as they are as we perform our practice, but all these benefits cannot guarantee the practitioners to be free from ignorance and egoism, and realize unconditional peace and compassion. That's why there might be people who practice yoga asana regularly for years, and getting all the benefits from the yoga asana practice, but they might still be disturbed, affected, influenced and determined by the qualities of names and forms, and is restless and have no peace. Some people may never perform any yoga asana exercises, not to say in perfect 'correct' alignment, but they are peaceful and compassionate.

By giving some instructions about the 'correct' alignment, and making everyone in the class to be doing the yoga asana exercises in accordance to the 'correct' alignment has nothing to do with the realization of unconditional peace and compassion in the yoga practitioners. It is the teachings and practice of letting go of the egoism of attachment, identification, craving and aversion, and free from being affected or influenced by the past memories and the future anticipations or projections, free from judgment, comparison, expectation, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, pride, arrogance, feelings of hurt or guilt, agitation, depression, anxiety, doubt, fear and worry, that allow one to be peaceful and compassionate. One doesn't need to be able to perform the yoga asana poses with the perfect 'correct' alignment to achieve that.

Everyone has a different body with different physical limitations. Many of the perfect 'correct' alignments are beyond the physical limitations of some people. It is not natural nor comfortable for some people to perform certain exercises in accordance to the perfect 'correct' alignment, and thus unnecessary tension is generated in the mind, and injuries are generated in the physical body, when they try to do the exercises or poses to meet up the requirement for achieving perfect 'correct' alignment, and forcing their body to go beyond its limitations.

It's about to go beyond all the qualities of names and forms, to realize selflessness, oneness, non-separateness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, and to go beyond all the identifications with the body and the mind, as well as the attachment towards all the qualities of names and forms to be who we are. It's not about to go beyond the physical limitations, by challenging the physical body to be more strong and more flexible than it is now, and pushing the body to go beyond its limitations, be able to perform many of the yoga asana poses, generating unnecessary tension and injuries onto the body.

It is being aware of the reality, and allowing the reality to be what it is. It is accepting the physical condition and abilities in the present moment now as it is, without attachment nor identification with the physical condition and abilities/disabilities to be who we are. Knowing that even this present condition and abilities/disabilities of the physical body is impermanent and it will change, and allowing all the impermanent changes to be what they are, from moment to moment.

Everyone just need to perform the exercises or poses at their own capacity and in their own pace at ease, in accordance to their physical condition and abilities in the present moment now, without any judgment, comparison, expectation, craving and aversion. There's no stress or tension generated in the mind, and there is minimal risk of injuries when they perform all the exercises in a relaxed manner and moving into the poses calmly and gently, without forcing the body to go beyond its limitations. Everyone might look differently from one another while doing the same type of exercises or poses, as they all have different flexibility, strength and limitations. And it's fine.

It's about performing all our practice, actions, duties and responsibilities towards oneself and others out of compassion, without attachment towards the actions and the fruit of actions. There's no expectation towards any benefits of the yoga asana practice, nor expectation towards the results or benefits of the yoga asana practice to be the way that we think it should be, but allowing the results or the benefits to be there as they are.

May all be free through self-inquiry.

Om shanti.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Disinterest is different from aversion...

Aversion is intense dislikes, hatred, or rejection towards certain qualities of names and forms, and be disturbed or determined by the qualities of names and forms that it likes and dislikes, wants and doesn't want, agrees and disagrees with, to feel good, happy and satisfy, or not.

Disinterest is not the same as aversion. One who is disinterested towards worldly objects of names and forms without craving and aversion, isn't being disturbed or determined by the qualities of names and forms, as one doesn't generate craving or aversion towards any qualities of names and forms, regardless of it's pleasant or unpleasant, agreeable or disagreeable.

Disinterest towards worldly passionate desires, relationships, connections, activities and enjoyments comes naturally when one starts to see the truth of the worldly objects of names and forms.

One stops chasing after worldly objects of names and forms, as one realized there is no real satisfaction in the fleeting good and happy feelings coming from attaining the worldly objects of names and forms that it likes and wants, or by gratifying the desires of craving and aversion.

One doesn't even need to feel good, or happy, or confident, or meaningful at all, not to say, attaining those sentiments through experiencing or possessing names and forms that are subject to the truth of impermanence and selflessness, when one realized 'I'-lessness, or ego-lessness, or selflessness.

One is peaceful and happy as one is. One doesn't need to feel confident or meaningful about oneself or one's existence. The search for peace and happiness is no longer exist, as one is peaceful and happy as one is, undetermined by any qualities of names and forms, while living among the world of names and forms, and performing all its actions, duties and responsibilities without any attachment or identification.

Om shanti.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

The observation of silence?


The observation of silence is a very important practice for those who are sincere and determined in the path of self-inquiry, and take seriously about their yoga and meditation practice.

The observation of silence is not just about not talking for a specific duration, but it is every moment observing the mind perception of names and forms without generate attachment, identification, craving and aversion towards all these names and forms.

When one observes silence for a particular duration, during those hours/days/months one
  • doesn't talk,
  • doesn't waste energy in vain talk, or social conversations that strengthen the worldly ideas, passionate desires and attachment,
  • doesn't be curious,
  • doesn't ask questions,
  • doesn't discuss,
  • doesn't interact with others,
  • doesn't argue,
  • doesn't criticize,
  • doesn't comment,
  • doesn't judge,
  • doesn't compare,
  • doesn't expect,
  • doesn't anticipate,
  • doesn't hold on to the past,
  • doesn't project into the future,
  • doesn't look at others to find out how they behave, what they do and don't do, or how is their practice,
  • doesn't have physical or eye contact with others,
  • doesn't express through verbal speech, body gestures or facial expression,
  • doesn't be ambitious,
  • doesn't plan, scheme, or plot,
  • doesn't read,
  • doesn't write,
  • doesn't exert too much energy,
  • doesn't involve in verbal, or physical, or mental activities that will stimulate, or agitate, or strain, or drain, or depress the mind,
Moving the mind away from its usual habits and things that it familiars with or is addicted to, checking the desires of wants and don't wants, and letting go of craving and aversion, limiting and restricting the inputs and outputs of the mind.

Restricting the mind to express or project itself verbally, physically and mentally, limiting physical or mental activities to conserve energy and to calm down or quiet the thought waves, develop mindfulness, turning the mind inward for self-introspection and self-inquiry, to allow the mind to be able to see things as they are, without generate judgment, comparison, expectation, attachment, identification, craving and aversion.

Allow the mind to be aware of the reality as it is, without interfering, nor changing or controlling the reality to be the way that it likes it to be.

There is exception in the case of emergency, one speaks and acts when it is necessary.

If one practiced all these observations with the correct understanding, right effort and right attitude, one will develop great mental strength and flexibility to tolerate any conditions and situations, remains equanimous, undisturbed and undetermined by all the names and forms that the mind perceives through the senses. One will have clear understanding of what is happening in the mind, and have self-control over one's actions and speech, not being over-powered by any impurities to influence one's actions and speech.

Serious yoga and meditation practitioners who see the attainment of self-realization (be free from ignorance) is the greatest duty for the well-being of oneself and for all humanity, who show disinterest or dispassion towards worldly activities and enjoyments, they don't just occasionally observe silence when attending some courses in some retreat centres, but they also observe silence in everyday life with some adjustments to accommodate whatever that need to be accommodated, to strengthen self-awareness and self-control, and to quiet the mind while living everyday life in the midst of the society.

Ask ourselves, how much time and energy we have spent on engaging in conversations with others everyday, and found ourselves have not enough time and energy to perform our duties and responsibilities, or to perform yoga and meditation practice?

This is not selfish at all. One must know how to take care of oneself before one can truly benefits others in the society. When one has attained a great foundation for non-attachment, then it is not necessary for one to observe complete silence, as one's mind won't be affected, nor disturbed, nor influenced, nor determined by all the perception of names and forms. One can blend into the society without being disturbed nor influenced by the society.

If this is not the path that we would be interested in, we don't have to take up this practice. It doesn't make us 'bad' or 'less good' than others if we are not interested to practice some or all of the teachings of yoga and meditation. It doesn't make us 'good' or 'better' than others if we decided to take up yoga and meditation practice.

May all be free through self-inquiry.

Om shanti.

The yoga students and the yoga teacher...



A doctor can diagnose ailments and prescribe medication for patients, but since the doctor might not suffer from the same condition the doctor won’t need to take the medication prescribed.

Nor will the doctor prescribe the same medication for every patient as they might have different diseases or conditions. Even patients with a similar condition might react differently towards a particular medication or therapy. In this case the doctor will need to adjust the dosage or prescribe something different.

If the doctor also suffers from a medical condition then medication might be required, but even if the doctor recovers through use of a particular medication, it doesn't mean that this medication will be suitable for all other patients.

This is similar to the case of yoga students and a yoga teacher.

There is no need to look at others, not even our teachers, but concentrate on our own path and practice.

Be happy.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Yoga retreats in Langkawi Malaysia

The warm climate, the sea air, the slow pace of life and the tranquil environment all make Langkawi the ideal yoga destination.

If you are new to yoga, then a yoga retreat will give you a comprehensive introduction to this ancient practice. If you are already an experienced yoga practitioner then you will be able to deepen your yoga practice in a conducive setting.

  • All yoga retreats are open to all levels - beginners welcome.
  • We keep our retreats and workshops deliberately small to ensure you receive personal attention.
  • Yoga mats, towels & drinking water provided free of charge.
Yoga Retreats for people who want to practice yoga
  • minimum 4 hours yoga a day (except on Nature Discovery Retreat)
  • pranayama
  • kriyas
  • meditation
  • yoga philosophy
  • start anytime* (we arrange a retreat even if there's only one person)
  • minimum 4 days 3 nights - maximum 14 days 13 nights
 *All retreats are subject to availability


Please click on this link to our website for retreats outlines - http://yoganowmalaysia.com/retreat.html

Please click on this link to our website for retreats pricing -  http://yoganowmalaysia.com/fees.html

Please contact us at yoganow@hotmail.com for further details, retreats availability and booking.

Kind regards

Marc and Meng Foong

Please visit our website for more details - Yoga Now Malaysia

Monday, January 26, 2015

Realize Selflessness, or ego-lessness, or 'I'-lessness through self-inquiry...

"I cannot comprehend what is the teaching about there is no 'I' in the teachings of yoga."

Without self-realization of the truth of who is this 'I' that we identified as 'somebody' or 'an individual being' with certain qualities of names and forms which we recognize as 'I', or 'me', or 'myself', then even after many discussion, talking, reading and hearing about the teachings on Selflessness, or ego-lessness, or 'I'-lessness, the mind still cannot perceive attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness beyond all the names and forms.

The mind cannot see itself without a 'tool'. Just like the eyes cannot see itself unless with the help of a tool that serves like a mirror to reflect its image.

The 'tool' that can allow the mind to see itself is none other but the mind itself. If the mind is moving all the time and is full of impurities, this 'mirror' cannot give the reflection as it is. Just like when we want to see our face from a mirror that is shaking and is full of dust and stains, we cannot see our reflection as it is. The distorted image reflected from the shaky and dirty mirror that we see will be incorrect, it's not what we really look like.

And so, all the yoga practice and meditation practice are here to help to 'still' the 'mirror' and to 'clean up' whatever dust and stains on the 'mirror'. This process might take time, especially if the stains on the 'mirror' are really old and stubborn, not to say if we keep adding more stains on it. And thus it requires a lot of patience, determination, perseverance, will power, forbearance and tolerance to keep 'cleaning' the 'mirror' without judgment, comparison and expectation, until the moment the 'mirror' is still and free from any impurities, naturally whatever we put in front of the mirror will be reflected as it is.

By asking another person how do we 'look' without seeing with our own eyes with the help of a still and clean 'mirror', then no matter how other people try to explain to us that 'This is how you look', we will still have doubts and couldn't know how the look is, as it is. We might imagine and visualize how we look through other people descriptions about us, but what we imagine and visualize are not necessary exactly what we really look like.

And thus, no need to ask any other people about what is this 'I', expecting somebody can give us an answer that will remove our ignorance and egoism, but it has to come from our own effort, determination and perseverance to keep practice yoga and meditation arduously and unceasingly to free the mind from ignorance and egoism until the mind is able to reflect upon itself, and realizes the truth of this 'I', who we think that is what we are.

No one can remove or eliminate the ignorance and egoism in oneself, but oneself. Not even the saints and sages who have attained liberation can take away any others' ignorance and egoism. If the liberated beings can make everyone be free from ignorance and egoism, then everyone should be free from suffering long ago, and every beings in the world will be living in peace and harmony with one another, there's no hatred, no violence, no wars, and all sorts of conflicts and painful sorrows created out of human's ignorance.

Keep contemplate upon "Who is this I?", or "What is this selfless perceptive thinking mind?"
Perform self-inquiry, self-introspection, self-investigation, and realize the truth by oneself, and be free from all doubts. As nobody can give us an answer that will clear all our doubts. Even when someone give us an answer, we will still have doubts about "Is it true or not?"

That's why by reading many books and hearing from many people giving lectures/discussing/debating on 'Selflessness', doesn't free one from ignorance. It's about the mind, the one that doesn't know itself but would like to know itself, turning inward to look at itself, to know thyself, and not by looking out for knowing the truth.

May all be free through self-inquiry.

Om shanti.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Yoga practice?

An honest and thoughtful feedback coming from a retreat guest who might have missed out the teachings of yoga about non-attachment, patience, acceptance, tolerance and accommodation during the yoga class, as the mind was being disturbed by the sounds of the airplanes, showed dissatisfaction and disappointment about the occasional sounds of the airplanes during the yoga sessions.

Everyone has the freedom to give their point of views and review about their personal experience.

There's nothing wrong if some of the guests might not like the sounds of airplanes flying over the sky, or feel annoyed or disturbed by some sounds coming from the surrounding environment. Even at the old yoga studio we would hear the occasional sounds of the airplanes flying over the sky, as well as some loud music from the houses nearby, and some 'strange' noise coming from our neighbour's house EVERY morning clearing his nose and throat for about half an hour, where anyone who practice yoga and compassion shouldn't be disturbed by it.

If we truly practice yoga, we are letting go of craving and aversion, the craving for a particular type of environment, and the aversion towards a particular type of environment to practice yoga. We learn to not attach to the objects of the senses, remain equanimous, undisturbed and undetermined by the impermanent qualities of names and forms, or the pleasant and unpleasant experiences coming from the reactions of the egoistic mind based on the likes and dislikes of the egoism.

Yoga practice is everywhere and anytime, under any conditions and situations. It's about being aware of the reality and allow the reality to be what it is, not necessarily it is the way that we like it to be, or the way that we think it should be.

If we think we can only practice 'yoga' or 'meditation' in a particular environment, time and space, or will only feel happy and satisfied when everything is the way that we like it to be, then we don't really practicing yoga and meditation, but just doing some so call 'yoga' and 'meditation' practice, the way that we like it to be.

We actually find the occasional sounds of airplanes are quite helpful to allow the teacher to have a few moments of break from giving teachings until the sounds pass away within a few seconds, to allow the students to practice non-attachment, patience, acceptance, tolerance and accommodation, as well as to have a few moments of break to be in silence to digest the teachings, and to help to wake up those who fell asleep while listening to the 'boring' teachings about yoga.

Thank you for the honest feedback. It allows us to reflect upon it.

Be happy.

Om shanti.

Stop judging anything based on the conditioned thinking and beliefs in our minds, is yoga practice...

Every time when we judge something or someone as 'good' or 'bad', 'right' or 'wrong', 'nice' or 'not nice', it is coming from the mind reacts towards what it perceives through the senses, and judging all these names and forms based on what it likes and dislikes, what it agrees and disagrees with, according to what the mind believes what things are and how things should be like. It is not the truth of what things really are.

It's common that our minds are conditioned to think in certain ways and to believe in certain beliefs.

Whether with awareness or without awareness, whether intentionally or unintentionally, we don't just expect ourselves to live life and to behave according to the thinking and beliefs in the mind, we also expect others (especially those who are close to us in life) to live life and to behave according to these thinking and beliefs in our mind. If others have different types of thinking and beliefs, and live life and behave contrary to our thinking and beliefs, or our way of life and behavior, we will judge their thinking and beliefs as 'not right' or 'wrong', and their way of life and behavior is 'not good' or 'bad'. And if we are unable to live life and behave the way that we think we should be according to certain beliefs in our mind, then we will judge ourselves as 'not good' or 'bad'. But this is not the truth.

Yoga practice is to change this habit of the mind, and stop judging anything or anyone based on the conditioned thinking and beliefs in our minds. Allow everyone and everything to be what they are, even if our minds dislike or disagree with them. Not expecting or trying to change them to be the way that we like them to be, or the way that we think it should be. We can share peace and harmony with others, and do our best to give the best guidance that our minds think and believe is 'best' to others, out of compassion, without attachment towards our actions and the fruit of our actions.

For example, being a parent. Naturally we will have some expectation towards ourselves to be a 'good' parent based on what our minds believe how a 'good' parent should be like. We will also have expectation towards our children how they should be like based on what our minds believe as 'good' children and 'right' behavior.

There's nothing wrong with this. Just that our minds will be unhappy, upset or angry, being dissatisfied, disappointed or frustrated with ourselves and our children whenever things didn't happen the way that we think it should be, nor as 'good' as how we like it to be. We think and judge that either we are not 'good' enough, or our children are not 'good' enough, or both. And if we don't have self-awareness nor self-control over our actions and speech, we might generate actions and speech that will hurt ourselves and our children, generate disharmony and tension in oneself and in others who directly or indirectly coming in contact with us.

For example, food. We like and dislike certain types of food and taste. We cannot force everyone especially our children to have the same liking and disliking towards food and taste as us. If they don't like the food and taste that we like, or vice versa, our egos will be offended. "Fish is very good. Why don't you like to eat fish? It's so bad for you to dislike eating fish.", or "Fish is not good. Why do you want to eat fish? It's horrible to eat fish.", or "I am your parent. You should listen to me. Fish is good for you. You should eat fish, whether you like it or not." and etc...

It is not necessarily that we must have our own children to be our teachers to teach us about life and compassion. Or else if we don't have any children, does that means we won't have the teachers to teach us about life and compassion? It's not. Everyone and everything including our children (if we have), are our teachers to teach us about life and compassion, to allow us to realize compassion. But the greatest teacher above all, is none other but ourselves. As it depends on ourselves to have the awareness and humility, to recognize, to acknowledge and to allow all these beings and things to be the teachers to be teaching us. And whether we will learn something from them or not, whether we can let go of egoism and attachment or not, and whether we will realize compassion or not, it is coming from ourselves.

And so, no need to feel bad or think that something is missing, if we don't have any children.

Be happy.

Om shanti.

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Basic steps towards peace and happiness in oneself...

Basic steps towards peace and happiness in oneself -

Be kind to ourselves and others. Stop judging ourselves, stop comparing with others, stop expecting ourselves to be in certain way that we think it should be. Stop judging others, stop comparing others with others, stop expecting others to be in certain way that we think it should be.

Accept ourselves as we are even if the egoistic mind thinks that we are not perfect, not smart, not good enough. It's okay if we are not perfect, not smart, or not good enough. To be peaceful and happy is not necessarily that we have to be all perfect, smart and good. As peace and happiness doesn't come from being perfect, smart or good. Or else all the perfect, smart and good beings in the world are all peaceful and happy beings, but it's not necessary so.

Love ourselves as we are even if the egoistic mind doesn't like something about ourselves and expect ourselves to be somebody else whom we are not. Love others as they are even if our egoistic mind doesn't like something about others and expect others to be somebody else whom they are not.

Free our mind from being disturbed by anger, hatred, jealousy, pride, arrogance, dissatisfaction, disappointment, frustration, irritation, fear and worry, by free the mind from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification, judgment, comparison, expectation, craving and aversion.

Do our best, perform all our actions, duties and responsibilities towards oneself and others, and let go of the fruit of actions.

Be happy.

Ignorance, egoism and identifications...

Ignorance doesn't discriminate any beings. It exists in all beings, including those who think everyone else is ignorant but themselves, or those who think they are somehow less ignorant than everyone else, or those who want to fit into the group of 'good', 'kind', 'beautiful', 'smart' and 'intelligent' beings.

It takes tremendous courage, determination and perseverance to be free from ignorance and egoism. Without courage, one has fear of losing all the identities with qualities of names and forms that one identifies with and wants to be identified with, upon the annihilation of ignorance and egoism.

Om shanti.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Open mind - Unattached to what the mind thinks and believes...

There are certain types of thinking and beliefs that influence the egoistic mind to think, to behave, to act and react. The ego attached to certain thinking and beliefs, as well as certain qualities of names and forms to be 'I'.

When we practice yoga and meditation, it is not about comparing the different types of beliefs, to find a particular belief that meets our liking or preference to believe in, to be the guidelines for how to live our lives and how we should behave.

It is letting go of attachment towards any thinking and beliefs, allow the mind to be opened, to inquire the truth of everything, including the thinking and beliefs that are existing in the mind, as well as the teachings of yoga, without judgment, comparison, nor expectation. Stand as a witness, allows all the different thinking and beliefs, or any teachings and philosophies to be there as they are, without generate attachment of clinging or aversion, without identification with any of the thinking or beliefs to be who 'I' am, or who 'I' am not.

Some people have intense disagreement or aversion towards 'open mind', as 'open mind' is being misunderstood as self-indulgent without morality and self-control, nor having any restraints to do whatever we like and want to do, completely surrender to the passionate desires of craving and aversion, to attain what we want to attain disregard whether it will generate harmful effects onto ourselves and others, as well as indulge in unrestrained love affairs or relationships with different people without responsibility nor commitment, and allowing everything that the mind comes in contact with to influence its thinking and behavior, and taking whatever kinds of thinking and beliefs to be who 'I' am.

The witness stays unchanged, unaffected, undisturbed, uninfluenced and undetermined by the act of witnessing, or the objects being witnessed.

Om shanti.

Meaningfulness and meaninglessness...

Free the mind from egoism, identification and attachment, then all the actions (including yoga practice) that had been performed, is being performed and will be performed through this body and mind will be free from 'meaningfulness' and 'meaninglessness'.

There is no 'I'.
There is no 'I am'.
There is no 'I am a yogi'.
There is no 'I am a good yogi'.
There is no 'I am practicing yoga'.
There is no 'I am receiving the fruit of practicing yoga'.

It's just actions and the consequences of actions.
It's neither 'meaningful' nor 'meaningless'.

Impermanent changes are happening unceasingly in all the names and forms, but there is no 'I' existing in all these names and forms, nor do 'I' exist in all the impermanent changes.

Be happy.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

"How much time to spend on yoga practice as yoga teacher?"

"How much time to spend on yoga practice as yoga teacher?"

Yoga practice is unlimited by time and space, unlimited by names and forms.

There's no difference between 'a yoga teacher' and 'not a yoga teacher'. 'Yoga teachers' don't practice yoga differently from those who are 'not yoga teachers'. 'Yoga teachers' don't practice yoga more or less than those who are 'not yoga teachers'.

Realization of the truth and be free from egoism and ignorance is not determined by the duration one has spent on 'external' yoga practice with a particular name and form, nor the type or the amount of yoga practice one has performed.

It is every moment in our mind awareness, in our life, whether in action or in inaction, unlimited by time and space, being in the present moment, being aware of the mind activities, without attachment, craving and aversion. Every moment unceasingly restraining and purifying the mind, free the mind from egoism, attachment, identifications, craving, aversion and impurities. Undisturbed by the mind perceptions of names and forms through the senses. Undetermined by the impermanent qualities of names and forms to be who 'I' am.

The body is not me, I am not the body.

The mind is not me, I am not the mind.

The sensations, the intellect, the thinking, the beliefs, the feelings and the emotions are not me, I am not the sensations, the intellect, the thinking, the beliefs, the feelings and the emotions.

The actions and inactions are not me, I am not the actions and inactions.

The fruit of actions is not me, I am not the fruit of actions.

Be happy.

Om shanti.


Saturday, January 17, 2015

Smile, and be happy...

If we want to be happy, no one can make us unhappy...
If we want to be unhappy, no one can make us happy...
If we want to be offended, anything can offend us...
If we don't want to be offended, nothing can offend us...
Be happy or be unhappy, be easily offended or be cool, it's up to us.

Friday, January 16, 2015

It's all about self...

It's all about self.

And it's not selfish at all.

Self-reformation, self-evolution, self-cultivation, self-transformation, self-practice, self-awareness, self-control, self-discipline, self-restraint, self-realization, without judgment nor expectation...

One must be able to take care of oneself, then only one can truly benefit others, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

It's not about convert others, reform others, control others, discipline others, restrain others, correct others, with judgment and expectation...

Om shanti.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Feel intimidated or frustrated by some of the yoga asana exercises?

Due to some physical limitations, or injuries, or weakness, or stiffness, or diseases, some people might be limited from performing some of the yoga asanas.

It's totally okay if someone cannot perform some or all of the yoga asanas. It doesn't limit anyone to realize selflessness to be free from ignorance and egoism, and realize unconditional love and peace.

As selflessness, peace and compassion is not determined by how many yoga poses one can perform, nor how 'good' can one execute the yoga poses.

Everyone and anyone also can practice yoga and be free, but it is an undeniable fact that not all the yoga asana exercises are suitable for everyone, nor anybody should be performing all the yoga asanas disregards their physical limitations.

Yoga is not at all to push the body to go beyond its limitations, nor to make it stronger or more flexible, but it is to go beyond all the identifications with impermanent qualities of names and forms, and realize attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness.

One should be more calm and relaxed by performing the yoga asana exercises instead of feeling intimidated or frustrated by some of the yoga asana exercises that one couldn't perform due to some physical limitations.

Om shanti.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Yoga teachers refresher course?

"Do 'yoga teachers' need to attend 'refresher course' from time to time (to improve themselves, or to 'refresh', 'update' and 'upgrade' their teaching skills and knowledge about 'yoga')?"

This question doesn't really mean anything...

Does a peaceful and compassionate being needs to attend 'peace and compassion courses' or 'refresher courses' from time to time to be qualified to share one's love and peace with others?

If one has realized unconditional peace and compassion, is peaceful and compassionate, one doesn't need to identifies oneself as 'peaceful and compassionate being', nor identifies oneself as 'peace and compassion teacher' to share peace and compassion with others, nor does one needs to attend any 'peace and compassion refresher courses' to remind oneself what is peace and compassion, and to 'refresh', 'update' and 'upgrade' the peace and compassion in oneself, nor to 'update' the 'skills' on how to share peace and compassion with others.

If one is not peaceful nor compassionate, then how does one share peace and compassion with others?

If one is peaceful and compassionate, naturally one can share one's peace and compassion with others. If one is not peaceful nor compassionate then one can't share peace and compassion with others, even though one has been attending and graduated from 'peace and compassion training courses'.

If one is not peaceful and is not compassionate, and needs to attend 'peace and compassion courses' and 'refresher courses' from time to time to learn about peace and compassion, and to remind oneself how to share peace and compassion with others, then this type of 'peace and compassion courses' is available everywhere and anywhere, within this mind existence, in the present moment now.

'Yoga teachers' as well as 'yoga training courses' are available everywhere and at anytime. Everything and everyone (all the perceptions of names and forms) is teaching and guiding us to realize yoga, at anywhere and anytime. But one must be able to see one's very own mind and is aware of the ignorance and egoism in one's mind, to realize the greatest yoga teacher above all, which is oneself.

When one is not free from ignorance and egoism, one can attend 'yoga courses' to learn about its teachings and practice that can help one to be free from ignorance and egoism.

If one is free from ignorance or egoism, who is peaceful and compassionate, one doesn't need to attend any 'yoga courses' to learn how to be free from ignorance or egoism, nor to be 'qualified' to share peace and compassion with others.

If one who has graduated from 'yoga teachers training course(s)', and identifies oneself as a 'yoga teacher' and teaches 'yoga' to others, find oneself has to attend 'refresher courses' from time to time, to 'refresh', 'update' and 'upgrade' their teaching skills and knowledge about 'yoga', then one hasn't realized what is yoga. If one hasn't realized what is yoga, how does one identifies oneself as 'yoga teacher' and teach 'yoga' to others?

Those who are free from ignorance and egoism, have no identification as 'yoga teachers', nor identify the actions of sharing peace, wisdom and compassion with others as 'teaching yoga'.

May all be free.

Om shanti.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Actions, reactions and the consequences of actions...

When we hit someone's face whether intentionally or unintentionally, do not expect zero reaction coming from that person whether intentionally or unintentionally, nor expect the person should react the way that we think one should be reacting, nor expect the person shouldn't react in the way that we think one shouldn't be reacting.

Nobody should hit another one nor should anyone deserved to be hit.

When there are actions and reactions, there will be consequences of actions.

One takes full responsibility for the consequences of one's actions and reactions.

Om shanti.

Friday, January 9, 2015

Be truly happy and peaceful by free the mind from ignorance and egoism...

By doing something that will make us feel good and happy will only give us momentary good and happy feelings. This good and happy feelings will be disturbed and disappeared.

If we are looking for peace and happiness that is always there which doesn't increase nor decrease, then we need to learn how to free the mind from ignorance and egoism, and realize compassion and be truly compassionate towards ourselves and all other beings.

One can never be truly happy nor satisfied no matter how many things one can perform or attain through the body and the mind in the world of impermanent names and forms. If the mind hasn't be free from ignorance and egoism, then one will still be disturbed and determined by whatever the mind perceives through the senses, and be restless and unhappy from time to time, even though occasionally the mind might feel good and happy when it is able to do and attain the things that it likes and wants.

There's nothing wrong with being unhappy from time to time when the mind reacts towards the objects of names and forms that it doesn't desire, dislikes and disagrees with, or being unable to do or attain the things that it likes and wants, but if we don't have self-control, we might generate actions and speech that will hurt ourselves and other beings out of the unhappy state of mind.

If we want to be truly happy and peaceful, then we should realize compassion or selflessness by free the mind from ignorance and egoism.

Om shanti.


Thursday, January 1, 2015

"How long do we need to practice yoga to be trained to be a yoga teacher?"

"After how many years of practicing yoga that will qualified a person to be trained to be a 'yoga teacher'?" Someone asked.

Teaching yoga is nothing to do with how many years one has been practicing yoga, as the amount of yoga practice that one has performed or how much 'time' one has spent on 'yoga practice' doesn't determine nor guarantee that one has realized the truth and unconditional peace, be free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identifications and impurities, or not.

One can learn and practice yoga under the guidance of some other experienced yoga practitioners, but one doesn't need to be trained to be a 'yoga teacher' to be qualified to teach yoga to some other people.

Anyone who knows how to perform some yoga asana practice or some other forms of yoga practice can teach or guide other people to perform the same practices based on one's knowledge and experience about those practices, but everyone has to realize yoga through self-realization.

If one hasn't realized yoga, how can one be teaching yoga to some other people? If one hasn't be free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification and impurities, how can one shows others the way to be free from all these defilements? If one is not peaceful, how can one guide others towards peacefulness?

One who has realized yoga cannot make others to realize yoga, but can only share one's knowledge and experience through one's self-realization to others who need guidance to be free from ignorance and suffering. If one can make others to be enlightened then all beings would be free from ignorance and be at peace already, as there were/are many enlightened beings existed or existing in this world.

'Yoga teachers training course' is for one to learn and practice yoga, to develop self-awareness, self-control, self-discipline and self-introspection, and be one's own teacher.

Teaching yoga or sharing the path of yoga with some other beings comes naturally and intentionlessly when one realizes unconditional love and peace, which is not determined by how long one has been practicing yoga or who is one's yoga teacher or Guru. Some may never practice yoga with a particular name and form, but they may have realized selflessness, be free from ignorance and realized unconditional love and peace, through letting go of egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion.

One will naturally know what to share and how to share with other beings when one realizes the truth of oneself, and realizes unconditional love and peace, when one is free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, and impurities. All these have nothing to do with 'yoga teachers training course' and 'yoga teacher certification'.

One doesn't need to go through any 'yoga teachers training course' to attain 'yoga teacher certification' to be qualified to share one's love, peace and wisdom with other beings who want to be free from ignorance and suffering, when oneself has realized unconditional love and peace, and is free from ignorance and suffering.

If one hasn't realized the truth of the mind perception of names and forms, and is not free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identifications and impurities yet, and is still very much be affected, or disturbed, or influenced, or determined by the objects of names and forms that the mind perceives through the senses, and is not peaceful, then even though one has gone through many years of yoga practice with a particular name and form, or has been attending many yoga courses or teacher training courses, or has been reading many books about yoga, and has been accumulating many 'Internationally recognized' certifications from here and there, or trying to be good and do good, but then one cannot share love, peace and wisdom with anyone because oneself hasn't realized unconditional love and peace, and is still very much under the influence of ignorance and egoism.

When one realizes non-duality, oneness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, being free from egoism, there's no identification of 'I am a yogi', or 'I am a good yogi', or 'I am an advance yogi', or 'I am a yoga teacher', or 'I am an experienced and qualified yoga teacher', or 'I want to teach yoga to other people', or 'I want to be qualified to teach yoga.'

One just shares what one naturally is.

Everything and everyone is our teacher to guide us to realize yoga when we have developed self-awareness, self-control, self-discipline and self-introspection, and become our own teacher. All these names and forms don't need to be 'trained' and 'certified/qualified' to be a 'yoga teacher' to teach us yoga.

May all be free, be peaceful, be happy, starting from oneself.

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About Yoga

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

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