Want to learn and practice yoga? (8)

The practice of non-attachment and non-identification, or letting go all kinds of worldly identities with certain names and forms, and the worldly family ties/connections/relationships with all and everyone, can be challenging and painful for many minds.

It doesn't mean that throwing out all our worldly personal identity security certificates or documents, be a stateless illegal undocumented person, or throwing out all our stuffs, or abandoning and stop loving our family and friends, or resigning from our existing work, duty and responsibility, or not doing anything that would benefit the well-being of this body and mind.

It's the mental detachment and non-identification towards all the existing identities of what the mind thinks and believes is 'I', 'This is me', 'This is who and what I am', and 'These are my ...', as well as mentally and emotionally renouncing all forms of existing family ties, connections and relationships with everyone, objects, possessions and past memory of pleasant and unpleasant experiences, seeing all and everyone are merely selfless impermanent beings and objects of names and forms, without discrimination of family and not family, friends and not friends, mine and not mine. Seeing all the past pleasant and unpleasant experiences are merely existing in the form of memory, they don't exist in now, one doesn't need to be continuing be determined by them, where there's no missing/longing towards the pleasant experiences or relationships, and there's no 'painful sorrow', or 'hurts', or 'anger' towards the unpleasant experiences or relationships. One would be able to let go 'missingness', 'longing', 'painful sorrow', 'hurts', or 'anger' once the mind starts to see or know what is going on in one's mind.

One can still be physically carrying all kinds of 'personal legal documentations of different worldly identities' wherever one goes, as it's part of the compulsory procedure to be living and moving on this planet for convenience, but there's no mental/sentimental attachment, identification or expectation towards all these different legal documents with a particular name of an individual, as 'I'.

One can be making good use of things and objects that are available in the present, for certain purposes and convenience, but there's no physical/mental/sentimental attachment, identification or possessiveness towards all these things and objects, where the mind is not being determined by the impermanent changes of the availability and non-availability, or the good and bad condition of all these things and objects. Such as a car, where one can make good use of it for certain convenience with care and responsibility, but one can also let it go easily without any difficulty when it's time to let it go.

One can still be physically living or interacting among family, friends, relatives and communities, carrying out one's worldly duties and responsibilities towards family, friends and communities, but there's no mental/emotional attachment, identification or expectation towards all these family ties/friendships/connections/relationships, where one treats all the same without discrimination or separation of my family, my friends, my relatives and my communities, or not. There's no sense of meaningfulness or meaninglessness being determined by the presence and absence of family, friends, relatives and communities.

One can still be physically engaging in business/investment, or having a job, or doing some kind of volunteering work, but there's no mental/emotional attachment, identification or expectation towards one's efforts/actions/duties/responsibilities/contributions and the fruit of one's efforts/actions/duties/responsibilities/contributions.

One can still be physically and mentally performing many actions that would benefits oneself and/or others and/or the world, but there's no physical/mental/sentimental attachment, identification or expectation towards all kinds of actions and the fruit of actions.

One can be looking after the well-being of this body and mind, and making good use of the good condition of the body and mind, to be doing something for oneself and/or others and/or the world, but there's no attachment, identification or expectation towards the impermanent and selfless body and mind has to be and not to be in certain way. There's no expectation towards the body and mind has to be able to do and achieve this or that, by respecting what is possible and impossible in the present moment now. It's okay when certain things are not possible in the present moment. Focus on what is possible. While both possibility and impossibility are impermanent. Respect all the impermanent changes of the physical condition and the state of the mind as they are. Allow the body and mind to be what it is, after doing one's best performing actions to look after the well-being of the body and mind. Without forcing the body and mind beyond its limitation. It's impermanent, and it's not 'I'.

There's no sense of confidence or lack of confidence being determined by the impermanent condition, abilities and disabilities, achievements and non-achievements of the body and mind. There's no sense of positiveness or negativeness, the sense of pride or shamefulness, or the sense of superiority or inferiority, being determined by the action/inaction and the fruit of action/inaction, the different worldly identities/titles/positions/achievements, the pleasant/unpleasant or desirable/undesirable experiences, the good/bad relationships, the success and failure, the possibility and impossibility, or the agreeable/disagreeable condition and situation in the world.

The minds that know how to non-attaching and non-identifying towards the body and the modification of the mind, without expectation towards the body and mind has to be or not to be in certain way according to certain thinking and belief, values and practice, while making use of the opportunity of this selfless life existence to be doing something for the benefits of all and everyone, but without attachment or expectation towards the actions and the fruit of actions, will also be free from discrimination, interference, control and expectation towards all and everything in the world has to be or not to be in certain ways. Respecting the world being what it is, even if it's a mess due to the ignorance and egoism of the impure minds. Respecting all kinds of diversities, of different names and forms, colours and shapes, thinking and beliefs, values and practice. Respecting everyone being what they are. And all are impermanent. Regardless of people who do good or bad, who are rightful or wrongful, who are kind or unkind, who are happy or unhappy, who are selfish or generous, who are healthy or unhealthy, who are knowledgeable or not knowledgeable, who realize or don't realize Selflessness/Peace/Compassion, who are short-lived or long-lived, all are impermanent. Those who are not aware of ignorance and egoism, and those who are aware, but don't want to be free from ignorance and egoism, is their freedom.

It's not complicated, and yet, it could be absurd, or mad, or inappropriate for the minds that are being conditioned by worldly thinking and belief, values and practice.

It will take some time for the mind to get use to this practice, and until the mind be able to unattached and unidentified towards names and forms effortlessly, without judgment, comparison or expectation. If after some time doing one's best trying to unattached and unidentified towards all kinds of names and forms, but the mind is still not free from attachment and identification towards certain names and forms, it's okay. Accept that in this present moment now, the mind is still not free from attachment and identification, and this is also impermanent. And keep practicing.

For those who have certain degrees of understanding and mental/emotional independence, who's worldly duties and responsibilities have came to an end, such as there are no elders or young children that need to be looked after (parents who are physically/financially dependent had passed away or are being looking after by some others, and/or children have already grown up), who have intense yearning for liberation, they may also gradually renounce or retreat from worldly life, duties and connections, to go into seclusion and solitude for a prolonged period of time, and this will allow the mind to actually realize the truth of selflessness and all kinds worldly ties, connections and relationships, practically.

The practice of non-attachment and non-identification, as well as renunciation, is neither easy nor difficult, but it appears to be not so difficult for the dispassionate minds, while it appears to be not so easy for the passionate minds.

The difficulty is not just arising from within the mind couldn't let go certain attachment and identification, but it's the pressure coming from the family, relatives, friends and the communities who don't understand and don't respect one's freedom and choices for one's practice, where they criticize and condemn such practice as 'wrongfulness', 'inappropriateness', 'selfishness', 'madness' or 'insanity'. Only those who are determined, and are not being disturbed or influenced by such egoistic reactions coming from the world, can proceed further in the yoga practice towards the annihilation of the modification of the mind.

The minds that are free from disturbs and restlessness, that are resting in unconditional peace, being undetermined by any names and forms, remain equanimous under all kinds of pleasant and unpleasant condition and situation, they don't need to practice yoga, or perform any practice of renunciation, dispassion, non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-expectation, and so on, as the mind is void of such impurities. There is no grief or painful sorrow towards the deterioration/weakness/disabilities/illness/death of oneself or loved ones.

If the mind is not free, is disturbed and restless, is drowning in painful sorrow and suffering, being determined by certain names and forms that the mind perceives and recognizes as unpleasant, undesirable, disagreeable and undeserving, and it wants to be free from such disturbs and restlessness, painful sorrow and suffering, this mind may take up yoga practice, and start practicing.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Want to learn and practice yoga? (7)

In the beginning of the yoga practice, no doubt that many impure minds are being conditioned by worldly thinking, belief, values and practice to behave, act/react and expect in certain way, and hence, they needed to rely on certain 'intention', 'inspiration', 'aspiration' or 'encouragement' to ignite the interest and motivation to be practicing yoga, to set a goal/resolution to be the inspiration of one's practice. However, this is neither the entire practice nor the end of practice.

There's a very common values and practice among the many different types of worldly egoistic thinking, beliefs, values and practices, where many people believe that most human beings don't have initiative and discipline to be doing and achieving something, and so, people need to be 'pushed' or 'lured' to perform and engage in certain actions/activities. In order to 'attract' and 'encourage' people to be doing and achieving something, they needed to be given some kind of 'sweets', or 'advantage', or 'pleasant rewards', to motivate them to do and achieve something, or else people won't have self-initiative and motivation to do or achieve anything if without any 'nice rewards' in return. Most people are being brought up in such way, and hence, being conditioned to act and react and expect in such way. "Well done!", "Good job!", "I'm so proud of you!", "Yeah!", "Fantastic!", "Congratulation!", "Thank you!", "Your work is much appreciated!", "I'll give you something that you want, if you do this or achieve this," and so on. While some people even use discipline, punishment or threat to threaten the people to perform or engage in certain action/inaction. "I won't give you what you want, or I will 'hurt' you (or your loved ones), if you do this (or don't do this.)"

This is not yoga practice at all, but somehow, someone under the worldly egoistic thinking, belief, values and practice had introduced this type of practice into the path of yoga.

The yoga students or yoga practitioners must inquire towards what is egoism, and how to eliminate egoism.

The one that needs to set a specific intention or goal, and constantly receiving some kinds of motivational praise and encouragement and rewards to be performing actions that would benefit oneself and/or others, as well as to keep going, is the ego. The one that would be threatened by certain threats to engage in certain action or inaction, being fearful towards not getting something that one desires or losing something that one loves, is the ego.

Either by temptation (something pleasant and enjoyable) or threat (something unpleasant and painful) to 'influence', 'attract', 'lure', 'make' or 'force' some others to do or don't do something, either out of good or evil intention, are merely the play of ignorance and egoism.

Many 'yoga teachers' were learning and being trained in the 'yoga teachers training course' to teach about 'setting intention, or goal, or resolution (Sankalpa)' in the 'yoga class' as part of the yoga practice, such as "I am strong", "I am pure", "I am good enough", "I am healthy", "I am whole", "I am positive", "I am this and that". And then, somehow it turns into "I can achieve this and that" or "All my desires will be gratified." It's not about right or wrong, however, most minds aren't aware of this practice doesn't help to eliminate egoism from the mind, but instead, it's empowering egoism and ignorance.

'Yoga teachers' are also being trained to be equipped with the knowledge or information about what are the mental and physical 'effect' or 'benefit' of the different yoga practices, and to teach 'yoga classes' by explaining all kinds of benefits and goodness of each practices or yoga asana/pose/position/movements (If you do this, you will receive certain pleasant rewards in return), as well as precautions and badness (If you do this, you will receive certain unpleasant rewards in return), to indicate that they are well-trained, well-informed and professional enough to teach yoga classes. They are also being trained to say 'positive' and 'motivational' words and sentences, in order to motivate/compliment/please the ego, or not saying anything that the ego doesn't like and doesn't want to hear in order not to demotivate/offend/displease the ego. All these are nothing but part of the worldly egoistic thinking, belief, values and practice.

Meanwhile, yoga practice is indeed about 'starving' and 'breaking' the ego to its annihilation, by the mind itself. That's why in the very few and rare traditional yoga schools, many worldly passionate egoistic minds would feel 'disturbed' and 'offended' by the teachings and the teachers' certain way of teaching and guiding the minds to be aware of and eliminate the ego. It's not the teacher being the one that 'breaks' the student's ego. The teacher is only guiding the student to be aware of what is going on in the mind, and out of the student's own awareness and will, it 'breaks' its own ego by itself. The egoistic minds need to be guided to look within, and see how the mind is behaving/acting/reacting, functioning under the influence of ignorance and egoism, and of course, it's not a pleasant process, and even could be extremely painful for certain passionate egoistic minds, but it's an inevitable process to free the mind from ignorance and egoism.

It's not about "Being afraid of offending/displeasing the ego, and they don't want to practice yoga anymore," but then the 'yoga practice' that the passionate egoistic minds love, that pleases them, that makes them feel good and meaningful, doesn't lead them towards what yoga is about, no matter how long they have been 'practicing yoga'.

The main reason that supports the idea of "Do not offend/displease the students/clients, keeping their ego happy and satisfied," is about not wanting to hurt 'the business' or 'the income' from running and teaching 'yoga classes', 'yoga courses', or 'yoga retreats'.

It's the mind's own responsibility and will, whether it will or will not practice yoga, as it is. If they don't want to practice yoga to eliminate ignorance and egoism, because they reject and couldn't allow the teachings and practices being what they are, not necessarily being the way that they like and agree with, it's their freedom and choice. The teachers don't have to manipulating/modifying the teachings and practices to 'attract' and 'lure' the minds to be practicing 'yoga' that is not what it is. The mind might think and believe that this is compassion, to treat the minds carefully, don't offend/hurt the ego, but it's not compassion, but mere ignorant egoistic loving kindness, sympathy and empathy. Just as how some children are being 'pampered' and 'ruined' by the 'loving' parents.

Life is uncertain, selfless and impermanent. Life doesn't change or modify or adjust itself into the way to adapt and accommodate the different desires of all and everyone. All and everyone learn how to respect life as it is, and learn how to adjust, adapt and accommodate life being what it is, as it changes selflessly, under the law of cause and effect. The Truth cannot be contaminated and doesn't change into something else to accommodate everyone's desire and don't desire, even if ignorant egoistic minds could 'manipulate' everything into something else under selfish intention and aspiration.

From the very beginning in the path of yoga, it's very important to be taught about what is self-inquiry and how to allow the mind to be opened, to investigate the truth of everything, without blind-following, blind-believing, blind-practicing, or blind-propagating anything that we learned from different types of teachers in life, including everything that we learned from the yoga teachers training courses, even when the mind is under the influence of ignorance and egoism strongly. If the mind will be offended and rejects, let it be, it's their freedom and choice for what they want and don't want.

All minds that want to learn and practice yoga, regardless of the degrees of ignorance, must develop the basic understanding towards "All the action and reaction in one's mind is the responsibility of the mind itself." Where, "It's because of you/him/her/them/this, that's why I behave, act and react in certain way, and it's because of you and your wrongful behavior, that's why I feel good or bad, I am happy or unhappy, I am pleased or hurt," is mere ignorance. The very basic foundation to be engaging in yoga practice, is to be aware of one's actions and reactions is one's own responsibility. The mind wants to be happy, none can make it become unhappy. The mind wants to be unhappy, none can make it become happy. The mind wants to be free, none can stop it from being free. The mind doesn't want to be free, none can liberate it.

The real 'teachers' won't be offended, if the students are offended and rejecting the teachings and practice of yoga, not to say, if the students are practicing non blind-following, non blind-believing, non blind-practicing and non blind-propagating, and be initiative to purify the intellect and reasoning power, to discipline and quite the mind, to develop self-inquiry, to investigate and reflect the truth of everything, to attain direct realization towards the truth of the teachings. It's not like certain 'teachers' and 'teachings' that demand their followers to be blind-following, blind-believing, blind-practicing and blind-propagating their teachings, while prohibiting their followers to question or investigate towards the truth of the teachings, or else, one is considered sinful, and would be condemned and be punished, if one questions or investigates the truth of the teachings.

Letting go the intention or aspiration of trying to influence, change or control the world to be in certain way, even if it's out of 'good and positive' intention to be creating a 'good and positive' world. It doesn't mean that one doesn't perform or stop performing any actions that would benefit the world in certain way, if without 'intention' or 'aspiration'. The sun, the earth, the wind, the water and the space don't have any intention or aspiration, but their selfless existence and intentionless action is allowing everything else to be existing and changing.

Without the intention or aspiration to influence, control or change the world to be or not to be in certain way, just do one's best utilizing one's opportunity, knowledge, experience and ability to be performing selfless actions that could benefit the world in certain way, without attachment, identification, craving, aversion, judgment, comparison, or expectation.

Reflect and realize the ONE nature of everything, which is selflessness and impermanence.

There's no "I am strong", "I am pure", "I am good", "I am positive", "I am deserving", "I am meaningful", "I am healthy", "I am this or that", not to say, "Gratifying all my desires, where everything is the way that I desire it to be."

Inquire the truth of everything, including all the teachings here.

Want to learn and practice yoga? (6)

What the body can do and cannot do, is not important.

What the mind can achieve and cannot achieve, is not important.

Peace, compassion, and the ability to let go, is not determined by what the body can do and cannot do, or what the mind knows and doesn't know about the different names and forms, the characteristics and the purposes of the many things that exist in the world of names and forms, as well as what the mind achieves and doesn't achieve by utilizing the intelligence and accumulated knowledge.

Knowing and memorizing many names and forms, and their characteristics and purposes, doesn't change the truth of names and forms being selfless and impermanent regardless of all the different qualities, and it doesn't determine the ability of seeing things as they are without grasping, or the capability of non-attachment, non-identification, non-clinging, non-longing, non-craving, non-aversion, and letting go what the mind perceives, judges, thinks and believes as good and bad, right and wrong, positive and negative, pleasant and unpleasant, meaningful and meaningless, deserving and undeserving, and so on, according to certain worldly thinking and belief, values and expectation.

What the body can do and cannot do, or what the mind can achieve and cannot achieve, is impermanent. No matter what the body can do or cannot do, no matter what the mind achieves and doesn't achieve, this body and the modification of the mind, or the perceptive, cognitive, assertive thinking faculty of the physical body, is subject to selfless impermanent changes of decay, weakness, injury, illness, pain, old age, death or decomposition, being powered and influenced by energy and elements.

Above all, there's no 'I', or individual being existing, to be in control or altering the truth of selfless impermanent changes that is governed and influenced by the law of nature, or cause and effect. There's no 'I' existing to be going through impermanent changes of decay, weakness, injury, illness, pain, old age, death or decomposition, but merely the limited adjunct of the body with the perceptive cognitive assertive modification of the thinking emotional mind.

If being physically and mentally fit, strong and flexible determining a person as a 'yogi', then all the competitive athletes especially gymnasts and contortionists, who are also possessing the strong mental quality of concentration, focus, determination, perseverance, will power, forbearance, positive thinking, and etc, on top of the extraordinary physical ability to perform certain actions, as well as all the intelligent knowledgeable scholars and scientists, are all 'yogis'. But, it's not necessarily so.

The most healthy, strong, flexible, intelligent and knowledgeable human beings in the world might not be free from the perception of physical/mental/emotional suffering and have no peace, if the mind is not free from ignorance and egoism.

What distinguish 'the yogi' from the competitive athletes, gymnasts and contortionists, as well as the scholars and scientists, is the presence and absence of non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-judgment, non-comparison, and non-expectation. More importantly, 'yogis' or not, all are subject to selfless impermanent changes, however, 'the yogis' are resting in unconditional peace, transcending the modification of the mind, of a selfless impermanent worldly life existence, not being disturbed or determined by the ceaseless and selfless impermanent changes in the body and the mind, and in everyone and everything in the world, not being disturbed or determined by the actions and fruit of actions. Meanwhile the others of the many different qualities, abilities and limitations, might be disturbed and determined by the selfless impermanent changes, being restlessly swaying in between satisfaction and dissatisfaction, happiness and unhappiness, meaningfulness and meaninglessness, enjoying or suffering, being influenced and determined by the actions and fruit of actions, success and failure, abilities and disabilities, pleasantness and unpleasantness, desirable and undesirable life experiences, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, good and bad relationships with all and everything, the conditions and situations in the world, and so on, perceiving all kinds of suffering due to ignorance and egoism.

Competitive athletes, gymnasts and contortionists, intelligent scholars and scientists, as well as anyone who are not as physically or mentally fit and strong as them, also are 'yogis', if the mind is free from egoism of attachment, identification, craving, aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation.

Being mentally positive and optimistic, or being good, righteous, kind, loving, generous, happy, content, grateful, cheerful, forgiving, sympathetic and empathetic, also doesn't change the truth of selflessness and impermanence of this body and mind, and all kinds of names and forms that are existing in this world being perceived through the selfless thinking assertive intellectual emotional mind.

There's not even the idea, or identification of, "I am practicing yoga and I am a yoga practitioner", or "I am a yogi," not to say, "I am a good or bad yogi."

This teaching that distinguishes 'the yogis' from 'the non-yogis' is beyond worldly egoistic judgment and comparison, where it's not about comparing between the qualities of 'yogis' and 'non-yogis', to judge who is better/worst or who is superior/inferior. But, it's about whether one realized the truth of names and forms, being free from ignorance and egoism, and is peaceful as one is, or not, regardless of all kinds of different qualities. It's about looking at the different names and forms, and to reflect upon the one same truth of all kinds of names and forms that portray different qualities from one another. It's about knowing what is yoga, what is the yoga practice, what is the main purpose of practicing yoga, and how to realize yoga through the practice.

Regardless of good or bad quality, all are impermanent. If there's attachment towards either good or bad quality, not respecting the law of impermanence, there will be suffering arise in this mind. And there's nothing wrong if the mind doesn't want to be free from attachment. It's everyone's freedom for what they want and don't want. However, a disturbed mind in pain or anger might not have self-control to not generate actions that would hurt oneself and/or others, and the surrounding environment. That's all.

'The yogis' look at things, they see the selflessness and impermanence in all and everything, regardless of the different qualities, void of desire of craving and aversion towards the different qualities, respecting the law of nature, respecting all the impermanent changes as they are. There's no clinging or longing towards 'good' qualities. There's no aversion towards 'bad' qualities. They live and perform actions among the worldly minded, but the mind is void of disturbs, hurts, sorrow, fear and worry.

'The non-yogis' look at things, they see the different qualities, and generate likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, and the desire of craving and aversion towards the objects of names and forms that the mind perceived through the senses. From there, restlessness arise upon discontentment and unwittingly chasing after the names and forms that it desires, and trying to get rid of the names and forms that it doesn't desire, where suffering arise upon non-gratification of the desire of craving and aversion, when it gets what it doesn't desire and doesn't get what it desires, when things don't happen in the way that it desires and expects it to be. The mind misses the people, the objects, the relationship, the interaction, the goodness, the happiness, or the meaningfulness that it likes and desires, but are absence in the present moment. The mind reacts with and suffers from disturbance, disappointment, dissatisfaction, unhappiness, hurts, painful sorrow, grief, guilt, regret, anger, hatred, fear and worry, upon coming in contact with undesirable/disagreeable experiences, and upon not coming in contact with desirable/agreeable experiences.

There are some highly intelligent creative minds in the world of advanced technologies, as well as there are some wise and compassionate 'yogis' in the world of selflessness and impermanence, but can they stop the ignorance, egoism, suffering, hatred, discrimination, greed, jealousy, corruptions, wars, violence, illness, old age, death, and so on in the world of limited adjunct? Nope. Not even enlightened beings in the present or in the history can do anything to change or control the world to be or not to be in certain way. It's all about self-transformation. One can only liberate one's mind from ignorance and its by-products. This path is alone, but not lonely.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Want to learn and practice yoga? (5)

The kind and sympathetic mind or the intelligent and knowledgeable mind can be free from suffering if it knows what is non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-judgment, non-comparison and non-expectation.

The mind can be very kind and sympathetic towards all kinds of suffering in other beings, and/or being intelligent and knowledgeable, but it might not be free from the suffering of disturbed, disappointment, frustration, dissatisfaction, irritation, annoyance, anger, hurts, grief or painful sorrow, if it doesn't know what is non-attachment.

There's nothing wrong, and it's normal for the untrained impure mind to feel disturbed, disappointment, frustration, dissatisfaction, irritation, annoyance, anger, hurts, grief or painful sorrow, and maybe some other kinds of feelings and emotions, it's only indicating that the mind is still functioning under the influence of ignorance and egoism.

The mind that is free from ignorance and egoism, that knows and respects the truth of selflessness and impermanence in all kinds of names and forms that is arising, changing and passing away governed by the nature law of cause and effect, that knows thyself, knowing what is going on in the modification of the mind, will be aware of the different kinds of agreeable and disagreeable names and forms, or pleasant and unpleasant experiences, that are happening to oneself and/or other beings and/or the surrounding environment, where it might feel sympathy and empathy towards other beings' difficulties and suffering, while it might or might not be performing certain actions that might or might not bring certain improvement or relief, but without being determined or disturbed by the names and forms or experiences, without attachment, identification or expectation towards one's action/inaction and the fruit of action/inaction, without intention to change and control the names and forms to be something that the mind likes, agrees with and desires.

Accumulating and memorizing a lot of knowledge about the teachings doesn't mean anything, if the mind doesn't practice the teachings, and doesn't realize the teachings through direct experience via self-inquiry and self-realization.

The mind that thinks and believes that itself already had studied and knew a lot about many different kinds of teachings through reading and hearing, with the notion of, "I'd already learned a lot of philosophies about this and that. I know enough. I don't need to be repeatedly hearing the same philosophies again and again from different teachers. Now, I just want to learn to do some physical movements/positions that I would like my body be able to do, that makes my mind feels good, positive, healthy, strong and meaningful. That's all. I don't want to keep hearing some teachings that I already read and heard many times." Then obviously, this mind hasn't been practicing any of the teachings/knowledge that it learned and remembered, even though it has been accumulating a lot of knowledge about many teachings from here and there. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's mere ignorance.

Most untrained minds would spontaneously feel being judged when they come in contact with or hear the teachings that aren't directing towards anyone personally, but merely in general, about how the impure egoistic minds are being conditioned to behave, act and react unwittingly, where many minds naturally relate such ignorant egoistic behavior, action and reaction being mentioned in the teachings to their own behavior, action and reaction, and thus, they think and feel that they were being judged, criticized and attacked by the teachings and/or the teachers who are disseminating the teachings. "Are you talking about me? Why are you talking about me and judging/criticizing/attacking me?" This is also nothing wrong, and it's a very common and normal reaction of the impure egoistic minds, but it's only indicating that the minds are reacting in such way under the influence of ignorance.

The teachings and/or the teachers who disseminate the teachings to the student(s) don't have intention to be judging or criticizing anyone, but merely being what they are, as they are, to allow the minds to reflect upon oneself, to be initiative to learn how to discipline and purify the impure egoistic modification of the mind, to annihilate ignorance and egoism through self-effort, independently.

Most egoistic minds will have strong reaction of annoyance and defensiveness towards certain teachings that relate to themselves, and don't like to hear or practice the teachings that are pointing out the ignorance in the impure mind, and to be doing something about it. For the minds that are being conditioned to behave, act and react under the influence of ignorance and egoism, it's absolutely normal and nothing wrong or bad about how they themselves behave, act and react, and hence, they don't think that there's any urgency to transform the egoistic behavior of the mind, as they think and believe that all their suffering and misery, as well as how their mind behaves, acts and reacts, are induced or caused by other beings who were/are being bad and wrongful towards them. "It's because of you, and your bad behavior are hurting me, that's why I am behaving, acting and reacting like this."

The minds that reflect upon everything, and realized what is going on in itself, are aware of all their mind's behaviors, actions and reactions are the responsibility of the mind itself. And this understanding will free the mind from all kinds of corrupted thinking and suffering that arise due to ignorance or incorrect understanding. What others think and don't think, and how others behave/don't behave, act/don't act and react/don't react, are their own freedom and responsibility, but it cannot determine this mind to behave, act and react in certain way, unless this mind allows that to be happening. And when this mind behaves, acts and reacts in certain way, it's its own freedom and responsibility, it's nothing to do with other minds being good or bad, right or wrong, kind or unkind.

There's nothing wrong if the mind is still feeling hurt and being miserable towards certain undesirable, disagreeable and unpleasant experiences/objects/people/names and forms, and is still have clinging and longing towards certain desirable, agreeable and pleasant experiences/objects/people/names and forms. It just needs to take its own pace and effort to keep practicing and keep purifying until it starts to see what is really going on in itself.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Want to learn and practice yoga? (4)

What other bodies and minds know and don't know, can do and cannot do, achieve and don't achieve, act/react and don't act/react, desire and don't desire, expect and don't expect, understand and don't understand, think and don't think, believe and disbelieve, like and dislike, agree and disagree, appreciate and don't appreciate, practice and don't practice, eat and don't eat, and how others want to live their life, are their freedom.

There's no judgment, or comparison, or expectation towards oneself and others, and between all and everyone who have different qualities of names and forms, condition, opportunity, experience, achievement, ability and limitation.

There's no superiority or inferiority.

One doesn't feel inferior, or admire/envy towards, or feel being intimidated by others who have higher qualities, condition, opportunity, experience and ability than oneself. Neither does one feel superior, or being proud and arrogant towards oneself has higher qualities, condition, opportunity, experience, achievement and ability than others.

'The yoga teacher' doesn't necessarily have to be someone who possessed/possesses higher qualities of names and forms, condition, opportunity, experience, achievement and ability than 'the yoga students', but, someone, or anyone and anything, or any names and forms, that allows 'this mind' to reflect, to look within, to inquire the truth, to have self-control and self-discipline, to be self-reliant, to realize, to be aware of ignorance and egoism in oneself, to annihilate ignorance and egoism in oneself by oneself, to be transcending all the selfless impermanent names and forms or the modification of the mind, and to attain self-realization towards the truth of selflessness and impermanence via self-effort, all and everything of different qualities of names and forms, regardless of superior or inferior/good or bad/desirable or undesirable/agreeable or disagreeable qualities, where all and everything are subject to selfless impermanent changes, are 'yoga teachers' to 'this mind', and above all, 'this mind' that is opened, and allowing all those teachings and practices to be happening, is the greatest teacher above all.

'The minds' that don't know this, will only in search for certain 'yoga teachers' who possessed/possess certain higher qualities of names and forms, condition, opportunity, experience, achievement and ability than oneself, with the intention or aspiration to be 'learning' and 'practicing' certain 'yoga practices of certain names and forms', in order to be able to also achieve those higher qualities of names and forms that oneself agrees with, likes, desires, admires, wants to possess and be identifying with. These minds are not free, including 'yoga teachers' and 'aspired yoga teachers', even though they might be attaining higher qualities of names and forms that they wanted to possess through practicing certain 'yoga practices of certain names and forms' learning from and practicing under the guidance of certain 'yoga teachers of certain names and forms', regularly and persistently, for many years.

'The yoga teachers' or 'the yoga students' who think and believe that, as 'the yoga teacher', they need to acquire and possess certain higher qualities of names and forms, in order to be able or be qualified to 'teach yoga' to others, still need to keep practicing until the mind is free from such thinking and belief.

Regardless of higher or lower/good or bad/pleasant or unpleasant qualities, all are subject to impermanent changes of decay, old age, weakness, injury, illness, pain, unpleasantness, cease functioning, death or decomposition.

Letting go attachment and identification, longing and clinging and chasing after towards any qualities of names and forms that are subject to selfless impermanent changes, is the 'yoga practice'.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Want to learn and practice yoga? (3)

Regardless of,

What is the condition of the body,

In good health, strong and flexible, or not,

What the body can do or cannot do,

What is the state of the mind,

In calmness, or not,

What the mind knows and doesn't know,

What is the condition and situation in the world,

How is the surrounding environment,

Agreeable or disagreeable,

Desirable or undesirable,

Pleasant or unpleasant,

Possibility or impossibility,

What the body and mind and this life existence can achieve or cannot achieve,

What type of family and social background, origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, culture, belief, spirituality, values, education, profession, ambition, aspiration, inspiration, past and present experiences and non-experiences, achievements and non-achievements,

What type of yoga lineage, brand, style, level and practice,

Which yoga schools and who were/are the teachers,

In this present moment,

Where one is,

In motion or motionless, thinking or not thinking,

While doing some sort of yoga practice, or not,

While performing duty and responsibility in life, or not,

In solitude, or not,

There's no past, no future, no grasping, no attachment, no identification, no craving, no aversion, no judgment, no comparison, no expectation, no aspiration, no admiration, no longing, no clinging, no good, no bad, no positive, no negative, no meaningfulness, no meaninglessness, no superiority, no inferiority, no regret, no pride, no fear, no worry, no grief, no painful sorrow, no hurts, no suffering, no end of suffering,

There's no 'I', 'my', 'mine'.

There's no 'I am',

There's no 'I am not',

There's no 'I want',

There's no 'I don't want',

There's no 'I wish', 'I hope', 'I aspire', 'I inspire',

There's no 'I practice', 'I love', 'I give', 'I forgive', 'I let go', 'I inquire', 'I meditate', 'I receive', 'I realize'

There's no 'good enough', 'not good enough',

There's no 'I am free', 'I am not free',

There's no 'I am good, wise, generous, loving, kind and compassionate',

Merely selfless impermanent changes of names and forms arising and passing away.

Being what it is, as it is.

Void of egoism or desire, is silence.

*If the mind still has the idea or desire of "I want to learn and practice yoga from this or that teacher because I want to .....", then keep practicing, until the mind is void of such idea or desire.

If the mind doesn't agree with, doesn't like and doesn't want this, let it be.*

My life stories - Part 17 (Uncertainty - That's life, and it's okay)

My life Stories – Part 17 (Uncertainty - That's life, and it's okay)
Stories from my past memories – childhood, family, friends, growing up, poverty, integrity, dreams come true, finding peace and happiness, Buddhism, Yoga, and now…

Before we came to France, we had contacted the French embassy in Kuala Lumpur to enquire about the legal procedure for me as the non-European spouse of an European citizen to be residing in France, regarding whether I needed to apply for a long term visa for entering France among some other things.

They said that as the spouse of an European citizen moving to France with my European husband, I don't need a long term visa to enter France. I just needed to enter France as a tourist and then apply for the resident card in France within 90 days after arrival. We also checked online for getting ready all the required documents for applying the resident card.

We wanted to apply for the resident card as soon as possible during the first week after we arrived. Being unsure about many things, we went to the sub-prefecture here to inquire about it, and we were being told that we needed to get to the main branch in Annecy for applying the resident card, but before that can happen, we needed to wait until my husband has renewed his old Health Medical Card, which afterwards we found out over the counter on the day when we went for the appointment that this procedure is unnecessary as my husband is actively being employed in France. Didn't know that it was a misinformation being given to us, we had followed the instructions from that officer. And hence, we waited until my husband renewed the Health Medical Card after receiving his first payslip, which then would take many weeks for it to be processed. And after that, we needed to make an online appointment reservation via the website that was being introduced due to the pandemic.

We didn't want to wait until two months later for us to start trying to get an appointment. As soon as he sent off the documents for renewing his Health Medical Card upon receiving his first payslip in the beginning of March, we started trying to get an appointment for applying the resident card, however, it wasn't easy at all.

We were told by the officer in the sub-prefecture office that we should try to make an appointment through the website on Sunday nights at 12 midnight. We didn't understand why it has to be at midnight hour and only available on Sundays, but we just follow his advice. Not just that we have tried to make a reservation for an appointment on Sunday midnight, but we also tried on different days and different timing, and we still couldn't even get through the first step which is about the available date and time slots. We have been trying a few times everyday for a few weeks and we still couldn't get an appointment. And apparently, it's not possible to make a phone call to talk to someone.

It was quite unsettling for us, as I might need to fly out of France and Europe if I still couldn't get an appointment before the deadline of 90 days after arrival. It would cost a lot of money and troubles to be travelling during the pandemic which was still going strong in many countries at that time.

Since it's not possible to just make a phone call to enquire about anything, we made an effort to re-visit the sub-prefecture on my husband's off day, to see if we can find out about what can we do, if we still couldn't get an appointment, however, the one and only officer who is responsible for administrating the foreigners affair, was on holiday for that whole week. While the other people who are working there 'refuse' to take any of our questions even before we asked anything, by saying that it's not their department's responsibility. And so, we came back empty handed, and continuing trying to get onto the website to get an appointment. And nothing changed.

Meanwhile, I was also looking at flights and entry requirements in different countries for travelling amid the pandemic, about where can I fly to at the minimal cost, if I still couldn't get an appointment closer to the deadline. I was ready to just go somewhere, anywhere, if that's the way it has to be. This life journey has been teaching this mind that it doesn't need to fight against any difficulties, but just do its best to move on by gliding through the difficulties, allowing the current to bring it to where it is.

Then we looked at the website again to see if we can find some useful information, then only my husband found a contact form after browsing the website for some time, and sent a message via the contact form explaining about our situation. Surprisingly, we got an email reply on the same day telling us that the reservation slots will only be opened between 8 and 9 in the morning on Mondays.

And so, we waited for the upcoming Monday to come, and got onto the website even before 8 am. At last, we managed to make an appointment. There were less than 40 slots available for that particular week, and they all were gone within the first few minutes. No wonder we couldn't make a reservation after trying so many times. It reminded me about the time when we tried to make an appointment for the AZ vaccination in Malaysia where all the available slots were gone in less than half an hour as millions of people were racing to get an appointment for early vaccination.

Many people were so disappointed at that time as they couldn't get an appointment after trying very hard to get one, and then, they had to go through many months of uncertainty while waiting to receive their appointment date set by the health ministry department, by checking their status many times everyday, not knowing whether they will be getting an appointment for sure, as there was rumour about there were not enough vaccine for everyone, or when will they get it, while seeing some others who were younger were getting their appointment and vaccination done, but they themselves still haven't received an appointment after many months of waiting. The anxiety level was building up for many people who were anxiously waiting to receive their appointment, as there was no confidence and trust at all towards the 'messy' government at that time. Ironically, there were other people in many other countries in the world rejecting any kind of vaccination out of their own particular reasons, and the governments have been throwing out their expired unused vaccines. And that's their freedom.

Meanwhile, the earliest dates that we could get an appointment for applying the resident card were a few weeks after my 90 days deadline. And hence, immediately, my husband sent another email to them explaining about the situation of whether there will be any complication for me since I couldn't start applying for the resident card within the 90 days deadline due to the difficulty of booking the appointment slots. And very efficiently, they replied within a few hours, saying that they understood the complication that many people have been going through, and would take the confirmation email with the date of making the reservation for the appointment before the deadline as part of the application procedure, which means that I don't need to leave France. What a relief after two months of uncertainty trying to find a living space and dealing with legal documentation. That's life. And it's okay.

Finally, the appointment day arrived. We took the train to Annecy on the day before and stayed one night at the Hotel des Alpes (highly recommended for its cleanliness, friendly staff, and excellent location), to make sure that we won't miss the appointment due to any reasons, since it's very difficult to get an appointment. The next morning, we went to the Prefecture half an hour earlier than the appointment time, and got our numbers. After waiting for a few minutes, we were called.

It was a really fast and warm experience, maybe because we had prepared the few documents (both original and copy) that is needed for the application in the exact order that they asked for. The officer who attended our files, was really friendly, helpful and funny, which we normally don't see in some countries' government departments where most of the officers are very 'formal', or even 'shouting' at the people who are anxious and confused about many overly complicated procedures. She was really 'impressed' that we even had kept our flight tickets that show which date that we arrived in France. It was a complete opposite governmental affair experience from where I came from. After checking all our documents, we got our 'temporary' resident card being issued immediately, and I can now officially live and work in France. Usually the resident card will be ready within six months, but due to the past two years of pandemic, there are backlogs and delays in processing and issuing the resident card, but it's not a problem at all, said the officer. We can just go directly to the Prefecture in the afternoon without making appointment to renew the temporary card, if we still haven't received our resident card within six months. The entire application process took less than 30 minutes for both our applications. Thank you, France.

The world just needs more openness and humanity to make life easier and simpler for everyone. However, due to survival instinct on top of the political influenced racial and national identity, that is propagating selfishness and discrimination, more and more human beings in different areas in the world are heading towards the opposite of openness and humanity, which they don't realize that it will only lead towards many different types of complication and difficulty in all and everyone, including themselves.

We just do our best to make things work, if possible, and let it be.

Thank you.

Want to learn and practice yoga? (2)

It depends on whether one is interested to learn and practice yoga for self-inquiry and self-realization to transcend the modification of the mind, to know thyself, or, one is only interested to learn and practice some sorts of physical yoga asana, breathing and relaxation exercises, or, one is interested in both physical and mental practices. 

Just as some 'yoga teachers' of certain lineages emphasize on teaching the physical movements and exercises, as they believe that most minds are not ready or suitable for the mental practices before purifying and disciplining the physical body first (perfecting the body first, then only perfecting the mind), and some 'yoga teachers' of certain lineages emphasize on teaching the mental practices (looking after the 'head', and everything else will look after themselves naturally if the 'head' is perfect), while some 'yoga teachers' of certain lineages emphasize on teaching both at the same time, believing that both practices being practiced together are complimenting each other respectively (a knife needs to have both the handle and the blade to be useful and efficient). And there's nothing wrong as they all have their own good reason.

It's about the different degrees of ignorance and egoism that determining which method is more suitable or less suitable for some.

No matter what is/are the reason(s) that ignited the interest to be learning and practicing yoga, either for self-inquiry and self-realization, or to be doing some yoga asana, breathing and relaxation exercises for maintaining and enhancing physical and mental health and fitness, there are some mental practices that are important even before the start of doing some sorts of physical movements and exercises mainly for health and fitness, for attaining maximum benefits and minimizing the risk of injury, not to say, before the start of the intense mental purification process that leads towards self-inquiry and self-realization.

One might not be able to perform certain kind of physical movements and exercises due to some physical condition or time and space limitation, but one can still be practicing yoga if one knows and is engaging oneself in the mental practices in every moment, regardless of whether one is engaging in some sorts of physical movements and exercises, or not, and regardless of what is the physical health and fitness condition, ability and disability.

One can be doing some sorts of yoga physical movements and exercises diligently and regularly, which is also part of the yoga practices that can be influencing the state of the mind to certain extend, which is also impermanent, but one might not be practicing yoga at all, if one doesn't know and doesn't integrate these mental practices into the physical practices, that eventually leads the perceptive mind to go beyond or transcending the impermanent conditions of the body and states of the mind.

There's nothing wrong if someone is not interested in disciplining the egoistic behavior pattern of the mind for self-inquiry and self-realization, to free the mind from ignorance and egoism, but only interested in gaining momentary benefits and satisfaction from doing some physical movements and exercises regularly, regardless of it's from doing some physical yoga asana, breathing and relaxation exercises or some other forms of physical fitness training. It's just that the mind might still be functioning under the egoistic behavior pattern, being over-powered by the passionate desire of craving and aversion, attachment, identification and expectation, and is still being determined and disturbed very much by the selfless impermanent perception of names and forms being perceived through the senses, of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, and thoughts/feelings/emotions/past memories/future anticipations, that the impure mind spontaneously likes and dislikes, agrees and disagrees with, desires and doesn't desire. And hence, the mind is still restless, even after many years of doing some sorts of physical movements and exercises, while enjoying the momentary benefits and pleasant sensations and feelings deriving from the physical training. These minds would blame others' imperfection and the perceived names and forms that they dislike, disagree with and don't desire, for their own mind reaction of dissatisfaction, disappointment, hurts, painful sorrow, unhappiness or suffering towards undesirable, disagreeable and unpleasant experiences.

A healthy, strong and flexible physical body that can perform many physical actions and movements doesn't and cannot determine a person as a 'yogi'.

Meanwhile, those who are interested in learning and practicing both physical and mental practices at the same time, would be developing essential mental/inner stamina, strength and flexibility that is essential for self-inquiry and self-realization when they integrate the mental practices into the physical practices under the correct understanding and attitude towards the goal of learning and practicing yoga.

One learns about how to observe the behavior pattern of one's mind, to know what is going on in the mind, during the learning process and while performing the yoga practices under certain names and forms. Understanding that those physical movements and exercises as well as the side-effects/benefits deriving from the physical practices don't determine anything, but only serve as tools to help influencing the state of the mind, to help eliminate egoism and quieting the restless modification of the mind, preparing the mind for self-inquiry and self-realization. Understanding that peace, compassion, and the ability to let go, are not being determined by physical condition, ability and limitation. One learns about focusing on one's practice, developing self-reliance through correct understanding and self-inquiry, knowing that the one and only teacher cum practitioner is none other but the mind itself. None can purify and discipline the mind, and remove ignorance from the mind, but the mind itself.

These basic mental practices are indeed the foundation as well as the entire mind purification process of freeing the mind from egoism and ignorance, which is the root cause of restlessness, peacelessness, unhappiness, painful sorrow, or suffering. Upon the annihilation of egoism and ignorance, the mind is free from all these corruptions, where unconditional peace is there as it is, that is uncontaminated, undetermined or undisturbed by the selfless mind perception of names and forms, that is free from identification, or the idea of 'I', 'my' and 'mine'. These mental practices being integrated into the physical practices also help to minimize the risk of physical injury, while allowing the body to absorb the benefits/effects of the yoga asana, breathing and relaxation exercises more efficiently.

It's understandable that many minds are not interested in the mental practices, as it is not a pleasant or agreeable process, and it could be extremely disgusting and painful for the passionate egoistic minds under the influence of ignorance being conditioned strongly by certain worldly thinking and belief. Especially the passionate minds that have strong egoism, or the closed minds that are not opened for anything that is different from their own particular thinking and belief, or the minds that take pride in their 'intelligence', 'education', 'accumulated knowledge', 'origin', 'social status', 'religious status', 'nationality', 'ethnicity', 'achievement', 'profession' and 'life experiences', as well as the disturbed minds that are highly sensitive and defensive, might generate certain degrees of aversion towards the mental practices that meant to be 'weakening', 'breaking' and 'eliminating' the ego, or what the mind thinks and believes, and identifies as 'I'.

And hence, some minds might not be ready or suitable to be practicing such mental practices unless they have certain degrees of awareness, and are willingly to go beyond the aversion/resistance in them, while letting go the ego and egoism that made them think and believe that 'that' is who and what they are, and starting to take responsibility for investigating and knowing what is happening in their own mind, without self-blaming or blaming others for all kinds of corruptions or actions and reactions arising and passing away in the selfless modification of the mind.

1.) Let go past desirable and undesirable/pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Let go future anticipation/imagination/expectation. There's only the present moment, it's impermanent, and there's no 'I'.

2.) Let go any expectation towards oneself, the teacher, the experience, the process, the performance, the practice, the result of practice, the life existence, the relationships, the surrounding environment and the world to be or not to be in certain way.

3.) Let go judgment towards oneself and others, the physical condition/ability and limitation, the mental state/ability and limitation, the teacher, the teachings, the different practices, the consequences of the different practices, and all kinds of names and forms that the mind perceives through the senses.

4.) Let go comparison between one's past and present experiences/abilities/disabilities, between oneself and others, between others and others, between the different types of names and forms (such as between apple and orange), and between the different qualities of the similar type of names and forms (such as between different varieties of apple).

5.) Let go desire of craving and aversion. Allow the perceived reality being what it is, as it is, as it changes from moment to moment. Respect the law of nature and all the impermanent changes as they are. One can still be aware of what is agreeable and disagreeable, but without generate craving/clinging towards what is agreeable and without generate aversion/hatred towards what is disagreeable.

6.) Let go all kinds of identification towards the body and the mind, the existing worldly egoistic thinking and belief, the momentary worldly relationships with all kinds of living beings and objects, the actions and fruit of actions. Observe what is happening in the physical body, what is going on in the mind, and what is happening in the surrounding environment or in the world, without attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation.

7.) Respect the body and mind, and their ability and limitation in the present moment as it is, even if it's unlikable, disagreeable or undesirable to the impure mind under certain worldly standard and expectation, without forcing the body and mind to go beyond its limitation in the present moment.

8.) Just do one's best, regardless of whether in one's daily life, or in one's yoga practice, according to the present condition of the body and state of the mind, as well as the possibility and impossibility being conditioned by the current situation and the surrounding environment, while allowing the fruit of the practice or the action being what it is. Both possibility and impossibility in the present moment will change. Focus on the possibility and let go the impossibility in the present moment, without attachment, identification or expectation.

9.) Let go the existing worldly thinking, belief and values in one's mind. Allow the mind to be opened towards what is already known, yet to be known and unknown to the mind.

10.) Let go blind-agreeing/disagreeing, blind-believing/disbelieving, blind-following, blind-practicing and blind-propagating. Investigate and inquire the truth of everything, of what is known and unknown to the mind, upon coming in contact with all kinds of names and forms, including the teachings and practices of yoga.

11.) Let go the idea of 'I', 'my', and 'mine'.

12.) Let go the sense of origin, belonging, self-worth, self-image, self-esteem, meaningfulness, superiority/inferiority, and etc.

13.) Let go worldly habits of socializing, gossiping, criticizing, condemning, slandering, back-biting, boasting, glorifying, story telling, scheming, plotting, hoarding, day-dreaming, building castle in the air, aspiring, inspiring, or chasing after attention, acknowledgement, love, liking, support, accreditation, praise, compliment, approval, acceptance, agreement, appreciation, connection, interaction and companionship.

14.) Let go discrimination and interference towards the different qualities of names and forms. Embrace accommodation and non-interference. This is living in peace and harmony with all kinds of living beings of different qualities sharing this space of the universe, both known and unknown, near and distance, without the need of building or maintaining worldly personal relationship or friendship. This is nothing to do with selfishness or unfriendliness, but in fact, it's non-discriminating friendliness towards all and everyone, beyond interactive personal relationship or friendship building. One can be kind towards others and helping one another even when one is disagreeable with the others, and without the need of knowing one another personally. What others do and don't do, what others think and believe or don't think and disbelieve, how others live their life, how others act and react, and what others want to do with their body and mind and life existence, is their freedom. Just mind about one's mind, and let others mind about their minds. It's not selfish. It's compassion.

15.) Let go mental and emotional dependence, passion and lust. Embrace mental and emotional independence, dispassion, renunciation, silence, seclusion and solitude. One can still be performing actions (both action and inaction) that benefit oneself and/or others, that contribute to peace in oneself and in the world, while being dispassionate and renouncing worldly affairs and activities, in silence, seclusion and solitude. This is not easy for many egoistic minds, as most people growing up being 'trained' to be mentally and emotionally dependent on 'parents', 'siblings', 'children', 'family and friends', 'community', 'pets', 'anything that represent interaction of acceptance, love and support', and so on, deeply believing that it's wrong, abnormal, selfish and crazy, if human beings are mentally and emotionally independent, where somebody doesn't need to depend on receiving acceptance, love and support from any other living beings to feel good and meaningful about oneself or life existence.

16.) Develop self-management or self-discipline. Choosing and filtering inputs and activities of the body and mind, unless the mind is no longer being determined, influenced or affected by the physical condition, the state of the mind, and any kinds of physical and mental inputs and activities, regardless of depression or stimulation to the mind. Such as one isn't being determined or affected by food consumption, caffeine intake, sleeping pattern/hour/duration, other people's state of the mind, behavior, action and reaction, the surrounding environment, the worldly affairs and conditions, the personal and group relationships, or certain physical and mental activities. This is not discrimination, but it's compassion towards oneself, knowing that oneself doesn't have strong foundation of non-attachment yet, and would easily be influenced and affected by the different qualities of names and forms, either physically or mentally, or both.

17.) Allow the body and mind to take their own time to be relaxed, to release tension, to build up physical and mental skill, stamina, strength and flexibility, to take rest, to recover, to work, to realize, to understand, and to absorb the effects of the practice.

18.) One doesn't need to be perfect, or good enough. One doesn't need to be a hero to save the world from badness. One just do one's best of what is possible and within one's capability in the present moment. What is good or not good enough, and what is goodness or badness, is impermanent. It's not 'I'.

19.) One doesn't need to be super strong or strong enough physically, mentally or emotionally to forbear pain, hurt or unpleasantness up to certain degrees. One just needs to know the truth of names and forms, or knows thyself, or knows what is going on in the mind, to be aware of all kinds of pleasant and unpleasant, desirable and undesirable experiences, without attachment and identification, without being determined or disturbed by the perceived reality that is impermanent and it's not 'I'.

20.) One doesn't need to be able to know everything, or be able to do everything, or be somebody of certain qualities, or be able to achieve anything, or be superhuman with extraordinary ability, or be positive and optimistic, but just needs to be understanding towards and respecting the law of nature, of cause and effect, of selflessness and impermanence. It's okay if the mind is still under the influence of ignorance and egoism, and still perceiving painful sorrow, unhappiness, hurts, dissatisfaction, disappointment, fear, anger, or any forms of suffering. Accepting the mind as it is even though it's not perfect and still doesn't understand many things, or still be determined and disturbed by names and forms, or still can't let go, or still can't do certain things after trying many times. There's nothing wrong with emotion, to laugh or to cry, either with or without reason, but without attachment, identification or judgment. It's impermanent, and it's not 'I'.

The mind that knows this, doesn't attach onto any names and forms, or be able to let go if there's presence of attachment. This mind is fearless. This mind is void of painful sorrow, even though the body is subject to limitation, uncertainty, unpleasantness, pain, illness, injury, weakness, old age, decay, or cease functioning/decomposition/death.

Walking away out of wisdom and compassion vs Running away out of aversion

Some yoga enthusiasts might be confusing and criticizing about the important yoga practice of renunciation, dispassion, silence, seclusion and solitude as 'a form of aversion towards something that the mind doesn't like and doesn't desire', or 'running away' from 'unpleasant reality', 'problems', 'difficulties' or 'duties and responsibilities'.

It's common that many passionate minds would like to be able to escape or runaway from what the mind doesn't like, doesn't agree with and doesn't desire, while yoga practice is not about escaping or running away from 'the unpleasant/disagreeable/undesirable problematic and chaotic world' at all, but being aware of and respecting the world being what it is, as it is, even if it's unpleasant, disagreeable and undesirable.

The yoga practice of renunciation, dispassion, silence, seclusion and solitude through letting go and retreating or moving away from the worldly egoistic community, social affairs, activities and interactions has nothing to do with aversion towards 'what the mind doesn't like and doesn't desire', or running away from 'unpleasant reality', 'difficulties', 'problems', or 'duties and responsibilities'.

It's out of wisdom, one is aware of all kinds of ignorance and the consequences of ignorance in the world, and, out of compassion towards oneself and the world of ignorance, as well as for conserving energy and diverting attention to be focusing on one's yoga practice, one chooses to move away or walk away from something that sprung from ignorance as well as feeding and empowering ignorance. One doesn't need to be wasting any energy and attention into forbearing and dealing with all kinds of ignorance and the consequences of ignorance in the world.

The practice of renunciation, dispassion, silence, seclusion and solitude is indeed one of the toughest practices for many yoga enthusiasts. It's indeed a challenging and difficult task for many impure egoistic passionate minds, however, ironically, it's also being widely misunderstood by many passionate minds as 'Running away from the worldly commitments, cares, worries, difficulties and problems to be enjoying a free and easy way of living.'

The main teaching and practice of yoga is about realizing unconditional peace through transcending all kinds of ignorance induced suffering or mental corruptions by freeing the mind from passionate egoistic attachment, identification, and desires of craving and aversion. All kinds of physical and mental benefits deriving from performing some sorts of yoga practice regularly doesn't mean anything, if the mind is still being over-powered by worldly passionate egoistic attachment and identification, and the desires of craving and aversion, even after many years of practicing yoga or teaching yoga to others.

One who never works on eliminating or transcending the passionate desires of craving and aversion, who doesn't work on disciplining the senses, but whether wittingly or unwittingly being the slave of the senses and ceaselessly chasing after the objects of the senses to gratify the desires of craving and aversion, and taking the achievement of gratifying the desires of craving and aversion as the highest meaning and enjoyment of life existence, while trying to live a 'pure and clean' way of 'yogic' living by promoting and consuming bio-organic type of vegetarian non-animal products and adopting an ecological environmental friendly way of living, but then the mind is unwittingly being 'disturbed' or 'annoyed' by what the mind sees, hears, smells, tastes, senses and thinks/imagines/visualizes that it doesn't like, doesn't agree with and doesn't desire, as there is intense attachment and identification towards the body and mind as well as all kinds of qualities of names and forms as 'who/what am I', being conditioned strongly by certain worldly thinking and belief and values to behave, act and react, then one isn't really practicing yoga, even though one is being an avid vegetarian and is being motivated for doing some sorts of yoga, breathing and meditation practice on a regular basis, and is enjoying the many momentary physical and mental benefits deriving from performing those practices for many years.

The passionate egoistic minds, including some yoga enthusiasts who think they love practicing and teaching yoga, couldn't comprehend but rejecting this essential teaching and practice of disciplining the passionate egoistic behavior pattern of the mind, and that's their freedom of thinking and understanding.

None can remove ignorance from one's mind but the mind itself.

Unless the mind is already firmly grounded in selflessness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, where the senses are perfectly tamed, where the mind is no longer being 'determined', 'disturbed' or 'influenced' by the selfless modifications of the mind, of the ceaseless perception of names and forms being perceived through the senses (the selfless impermanent world of names and forms), then there's no more yoga practice. There's no need of the practice of renunciation, dispassion, silence, seclusion and solitude, where one can live and mingle among the worldly passionate egoistic minds and affairs, but being at peace as one is, being undetermined by actions and inactions or the fruit of actions and inactions, being free from restlessness, painful sorrow and suffering, being free from ignorance and egoistic attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion, or expectation, being undisturbed and uninfluenced by what is happening in the world, regardless of goodness or badness.

Loneliness doesn't exist for the minds that know this. There's nothing wrong in those who are suffering from loneliness, and those who think and believe that loneliness is a suffering or illness caused by not having enough companionship, love, care, support, attention, acknowledgement and social interaction from some other beings, it's just that the minds are still functioning under the influence of worldly passionate egoistic thinking and belief and values.

Inquire the truth of everything.