Self-transformation in the world is about changing the 'qualities' of the body and mind (what the mind identifies as 'I') from what the worldly thinking and belief categorize as bad, wrong and negative into what the worldly thinking and belief categorize as good, right and positive, in order to enhance one's self-esteem, self-image, attractiveness, confidence, productivity, knowledge, skill, ability, physical and mental performance, social networking, or success in career, life and relationships, to attain what most people's thinking and belief categorize as 'good', 'easy', 'comfortable', 'enjoyable', 'successful', 'prosperous', 'happy' and 'meaningful' life.
Self-transformation in the teachings of yoga is about reforming the thinking pattern of the mind to free the mind from being conditioned by the worldly egoistic thinking and belief that influences how the mind thinks, acts and reacts towards all the mind perception of names and forms, to free the mind from ignorance, egoism, restlessness and impurities, to be free from suffering that exists due to ignorance. Being free from attachment towards qualities of names and forms and being free from identification with the impermanent selfless existence and function of the body and mind as 'I', realizing selflessness or 'I'-lessness, unlimited by any qualities of names and forms.
If the mind is surrounded by the company of the worldly minded and constantly receiving all kinds of worldly input and influence of worldly ideas, thinking and belief, and being influence by all the ceaseless ever-changing trends in the world to make decisions and live life, then it's very difficult for the mind to practice yoga of the annihilation of ignorance and egoism (even if the mind likes to perform some forms of yoga practice), as the mind will disagree with many of the teachings of yoga that are contradicted with the worldly thinking and belief, and unable to be opened to inquire the truth of something that is unknown to the mind or something that is disagreeable to the mind that is under the influence of the worldly thinking and belief to analyze and judge what is agreeable and disagreeable.
And hence the importance of retreating or moving the mind away from the worldly way of life, behavior, habits, ideas, thinking and belief, to renounce worldly inputs and influences, relationships, interactions and activities, to allow the mind to see things beyond the limited worldly thinking and belief that influences the mind to judge everything, act and react, that empowers ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness.
Does the mind still think that 'this' is something 'good', and everyone should do 'this', and 'that' is something 'bad', and everyone shouldn't do 'that'? Does the mind still think that "To live a good and meaningful life, I need to be like this and not like that. Other people also need to be like this and not like that to live a good and meaningful life?" Does the mind still amazed by and admire towards someone or something that the mind perceives as amazing, wonderful and meaningful, that the mind would like to be like that someone and to have/experience that something? Does the mind still want to be able to inspire or amaze other people? If the answer is 'yes', then this mind is not free, even though this mind only wants to perform 'good' actions and doesn't want to perform 'bad' actions, and living everyday life being in certain ways and not being in certain ways, according to what the mind thinks and believes as 'good and bad' or 'meaningfulness and meaninglessness' based on the worldly thinking and belief about what is 'good and bad' or 'meaningfulness and meaninglessness'.
It's everyone's freedom for what they want to do with their life, body and mind, and whether to practice yoga to free the mind from ignorance, or not.
Self-transformation in the teachings of yoga is about reforming the thinking pattern of the mind to free the mind from being conditioned by the worldly egoistic thinking and belief that influences how the mind thinks, acts and reacts towards all the mind perception of names and forms, to free the mind from ignorance, egoism, restlessness and impurities, to be free from suffering that exists due to ignorance. Being free from attachment towards qualities of names and forms and being free from identification with the impermanent selfless existence and function of the body and mind as 'I', realizing selflessness or 'I'-lessness, unlimited by any qualities of names and forms.
If the mind is surrounded by the company of the worldly minded and constantly receiving all kinds of worldly input and influence of worldly ideas, thinking and belief, and being influence by all the ceaseless ever-changing trends in the world to make decisions and live life, then it's very difficult for the mind to practice yoga of the annihilation of ignorance and egoism (even if the mind likes to perform some forms of yoga practice), as the mind will disagree with many of the teachings of yoga that are contradicted with the worldly thinking and belief, and unable to be opened to inquire the truth of something that is unknown to the mind or something that is disagreeable to the mind that is under the influence of the worldly thinking and belief to analyze and judge what is agreeable and disagreeable.
And hence the importance of retreating or moving the mind away from the worldly way of life, behavior, habits, ideas, thinking and belief, to renounce worldly inputs and influences, relationships, interactions and activities, to allow the mind to see things beyond the limited worldly thinking and belief that influences the mind to judge everything, act and react, that empowers ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness.
Does the mind still think that 'this' is something 'good', and everyone should do 'this', and 'that' is something 'bad', and everyone shouldn't do 'that'? Does the mind still think that "To live a good and meaningful life, I need to be like this and not like that. Other people also need to be like this and not like that to live a good and meaningful life?" Does the mind still amazed by and admire towards someone or something that the mind perceives as amazing, wonderful and meaningful, that the mind would like to be like that someone and to have/experience that something? Does the mind still want to be able to inspire or amaze other people? If the answer is 'yes', then this mind is not free, even though this mind only wants to perform 'good' actions and doesn't want to perform 'bad' actions, and living everyday life being in certain ways and not being in certain ways, according to what the mind thinks and believes as 'good and bad' or 'meaningfulness and meaninglessness' based on the worldly thinking and belief about what is 'good and bad' or 'meaningfulness and meaninglessness'.
It's everyone's freedom for what they want to do with their life, body and mind, and whether to practice yoga to free the mind from ignorance, or not.
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