Craving and aversion

Some minds, including some long time yoga and meditation practitioners/teachers, don't know or don't understand what is craving and aversion.

In a simple way, if the mind feels disturbed, frustrated, irritated, angry, or unhappy upon not getting or not experiencing something that it likes, agrees with, and desires, that is the presence of craving in the mind.

Similarly, if the mind feels disturbed, frustrated, irritated, angry, or unhappy upon getting or experiencing something that it dislikes, disagrees with, and doesn't desires, that is the presence of aversion in the mind.

It's okay, and there's nothing wrong to have likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, and desires and don't desires.

It is the presence of craving towards something that the mind likes, agrees with, and desires, as well as the presence of aversion towards something that the mind dislikes, disagrees with, and doesn't desire, that give rise to 'disturb', 'unhappy', 'frustrated', 'irritated', 'angry', or 'suffering' state in the modification of the mind upon coming in contact with the names and forms that the mind has aversion towards, that it dislikes, disagrees with, and doesn't desire, as well as upon not coming in contact with the names and forms that the mind has craving towards, that it likes, agrees with, and desires.

The mind that is devoid of craving and aversion, it is not being determined or disturbed by the presence and absence of names and forms that the mind likes or dislikes, agrees or disagrees with, and desires or doesn't desire. Such mind is peaceful as it is, upon coming in contact with the names and forms that the mind dislikes, disagrees with, and doesn't desire, or upon not coming in contact with the names and forms that the mind likes, agrees with, and desires.

Different minds react differently towards the same thing/object/name and form/experience/affair/condition/situation.

It is not the thing/object/name and form/experience/affair/condition/situation that has the intention or quality to make the minds to be reacting or not reacting in certain way, to feel good or bad/happy or unhappy, to be disturbed or undisturbed, to be enjoying or suffering.

It is coming from the minds themselves of how they (choose to) react or don't react in certain way towards whatever they perceive and experience or don't perceive and don't experience.

The minds that think and believe that they don't have the free will to choose how they act and react, that is because these minds are being conditioned deeply by certain thinking, belief, ideas, values, desires, and practices that are influencing and conditioning the mind behavior pattern in certain way.

Yoga practice is all about transcending or eradicating such conditional mind behavior pattern by freeing the mind from being conditioned or influenced by any kind of beliefs, ideas, values, desires, and practices to think, desire, behave, act and react in certain way, including the teachings and practices of yoga and/or buddhism, via non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-comparison, non-judgment, and non-expectation.

The mind doesn't even attach or identify towards the teachings and practices of yoga and/or buddhism as, "I am a yogi and/or buddhist," and "I am practicing yoga and/or buddhism."

It's not even about changing the mind behavior pattern to be something different from what it is.

That is also why the highly essential observation of renunciation, dispassion, silence, solitude, and seclusion for a prolonged period of time, for at least five years or more, in yoga and/or buddhism.

Some minds might also have been 'observing' renunciation, dispassion, silence, solitude, or seclusion for certain extended period of time, however they might still not free from ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness, but that doesn't mean that all these observations don't work. Most probably, either they need to undergo a longer purification process of 'keep practicing and keep purifying', or they are lack of right attention, right effort, right practice, and right understanding. As there were/are some other minds attained self-realization through observing these observations under the presence of right attention, right effort, right practice, and right understanding.

Some rare minds don't even need to observe any kind of observations, and they can attain self-realization via a simple and spontaneous reflection, but certainly, these observations can help the many minds that are under the deep influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, to attain liberation from all that, provided if all these observations are being observed under the presence of right attention, right effort, right practice, and right understanding.

Even Siddhartha Gautama Buddha also needed to undergo first few years of wandering around under the observation of renunciation (moving away from worldly life affairs, duties, responsibilities, family, relationship, and community), learning and practicing different kinds of practices from different lineages and teachers, and still hadn't attain liberation, not until he came to a conclusion of immersing into deep meditation in silence, solitude, and seclusion (stop wandering around, and stop looking outward for teacher, guidance, assistance, and answer), as well as under taking the middle path.

Be free.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Knowledge and intelligence and wisdom are irrelevant to one another

The mind doesn't need to be highly intelligent in order to be accumulating and memorizing knowledge or information about this and that.

Being highly intelligent doesn't necessarily means that the mind is wise, devoid of ignorance, or is peaceful, devoid of suffering.

Being more intelligent than the other minds doesn't necessarily means that the mind must be more knowledgeable than the other minds that are less intelligent than this mind, and vice versa.

Although the mind can be highly intelligent as well as has been accumulating and memorizing vast knowledge or information about this and that.

The amount of accumulated knowledge in the mind as well as the different degrees of intelligence doesn't determine that whether the mind is wise/devoid of ignorance, or not, or whether the mind is peaceful/devoid of suffering, or not.

The mind that is functioning under the influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, that is devoid of wisdom and peace, might be utilizing the accumulated knowledge or information about this and that, under the presence of certain degrees of intelligence, specific talent, and specific skill, to be generating certain impure thoughts, ideas, desires, and aspirations, that externalized and materialized into certain damaging destructive behaviors, actions, and reactions, and the consequences of all that, into the world, unto oneself and/or others and the surrounding environment, either wittingly or unwittingly.

Most minds growing up being conditioned by the worldly passionate egoistic belief, values, and practice about all and everyone need to be developing, achieving, possessing, and accumulating certain qualities of names and forms that all and everyone would agree with and feel proud of, as well as devoid of certain qualities of names and forms that all and everyone would disagree with and feel ashamed of, in order to attain acknowledgement, recognition, acceptance, agreement, validation, respect, and glorification not just from oneself, but especially from others or the world, in order to feel good, righteous, virtuous, meritorious, positive, confident, deserving, proud, happy, joyful, successful, accomplished, or meaningful about oneself and life existence. That is everyone's freedom of thinking and belief.

The minds that are free from such ignorance and egoism, there is no need to be acknowledged and be proud of towards anything.

The mind that doesn't need to be receiving acknowledgement, recognition, acceptance, agreement, validation, respect, or glorification from oneself and others or the world, that doesn't need to be proud of by oneself and others towards something that most minds think and believe and recognize as pride deserving, and that doesn't need to be receiving understanding, sympathy, and empathy towards something that most minds think and believe and recognize as sympathy and empathy deserving, is a free mind.

The mind that can be by oneself in silence/solitude/seclusion for a prolonged period of time without any family/friends/social contacts, communications, activities, and interactions, for at least 5 years or more, and without the sense of loneliness, meaninglessness, joylessness, left-out, failure, shame, badness, negativeness, or wrongfulness, is a free mind.

The mind that is not being determined or disturbed by the mind perception of names and forms, of the presence and absence of certain pleasant and unpleasant/desirable and undesirable/agreeable and disagreeable sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, thoughts, feelings, emotions, experiences, family ties, connections, relationships, interactions, affairs, conditions, and situations, is a free mind.

The mind that doesn't need to feel good, righteous, virtuous, meritorious, positive, confident, deserving, proud, happy, joyful, successful, accomplished, or meaningful about oneself and/or life existence, that is resting in unconditional peace as it is, is a free mind.

Such mind can be busy doing something or not doing anything, and still be peaceful as it is, regardless of all kinds of selfless impermanent changes in the selfless limited and conditional existence and function of the body and mind, regardless of the evitable condition and situation in the world that is mostly the consequences of the actions generated by the many minds functioning under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness (suffering/devoid of peace), and regardless of the inevitable process of decay and disintegration in all kinds of names and forms that is ceaselessly happening under the truth of selflessness and impermanence.

It's okay if the mind is not highly intelligent, or knowledgeable. It's also okay if the mind is not wise and not peaceful, in this present moment now. More importantly is that, the mind is not being over-powered by the impermanent condition and state of the mind to be hurting oneself and/or others, and without attachment, identification, craving, aversion, comparison, judgment, or expectation towards all that, while having the understanding that, even this will change, and pass away.

More importantly, one must inquire towards the truth of all the existing knowledge or information about this and that in the mind, coming from from anyone and anywhere, including all the teachings of yoga and/or buddhism, coming from any yoga teachers, or Gurus, or yogis.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Inquire the truth of everything

Regardless of whether someone/something that had existed in the past, or is existing in this present moment now,

Regardless of who or what the mind thinks and believes and identifies as "This is who/what I am,"

Regardless of whether

Male, or female, or neither male nor female, or both male and female,

Young or old,

Healthy or unhealthy,

Fit or unfit,

Strong or weak,

Flexible or inflexible,

Intelligent or non-intelligent,

Educated or non-educated,

Knowledgeable or non-knowledgeable,

High or low quality of living,

Success or failure,

Wealthy or poor,

Ordinary or extra-ordinary,

Talented or non-talented,

Skillful or non-skillful,

A lot of experience or very little experience,

Qualified/Certified or non-qualified/non-certified

High or low qualification/education/status

Normal or abnormal,

Contented or discontented,

Happy or unhappy,

Generous or non-generous,

Selfish or unselfish,

Wise or ignorant,

Kind or unkind,

Peaceful or non-peaceful,

Sane or insane,

Good or evil,

Right or wrong,

Positive or negative,

Meaningful or meaningless,

Joyful or sorrowful,

Proud or humble,

Easy or difficult life,

Desirable or undesirable experiences/relationships,

Agreeable or disagreeable affairs/interactions,

Pleasant or unpleasant conditions/situations,

Belief or disbelief,

Cultural or non-cultural,

Spiritual or non-spiritual,

Religious or non-religious,

Sentimental or non-sentimental,

Passionate or dispassionate,

Graceful or non-graceful,

Extrovert or introvert,

Complicate or simple,

Perfect or imperfect,

Free or not free,

Whatever origin, background, appearance, condition, colour, shape, sound, smell, taste, texture, sensation, thinking, feeling, emotion, reason, understanding, values, practice, food choice, way of living, way of doing things, inspirations and aspirations, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, desires and don't desires, known and unknown, true or untrue,

And etc,

All and everyone were/are decaying and dying, since the beginning of the selfless impermanent existence.

All and everyone were dead or had passed away or had vanished / will die or pass away or vanish.

And, all kinds of actions that were/are being generated during the momentary selfless impermanent existence gave/give rise to the consequences of actions, affecting or inter-influencing all and everyone and everything in this space that doesn't belong to anyone or anything, regardless of whether it's something wholesome/constructive/beneficial or something unwholesome/destructive/harmful.

Meanwhile, during the momentary selfless impermanent existence in this space that doesn't belong to anyone or anything, some minds were/are peaceful as they were/are, being undetermined/undisturbed by the selfless mind perception of all kinds of names and forms/experiences/affairs/conditions/situations/ties/connections/relationships/interactions, under the presence of correct understanding, upon the absence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness.

While other minds were/are not peaceful, being determined/disturbed by all that, under the absence of correct understanding, due to the presence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness.

And all kinds of yoga and buddhism teachings and practices are here for the non-peaceful, disturbed, and suffering minds to develop correct understanding, by annihilating ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness from the selfless impermanent existence/function/modification of the mind.

So that the mind stops hurting all and everyone and everything deliberately and/or randomly in this space that doesn't belong to anyone or anything, during the momentary selfless impermanent existence and function of the limited and conditional body and mind.

Peaceful, or not, is right here, in this present moment, in this selfless perceptive cognitive intellectual emotional thinking and acting mind. It's not something to be attained/claimed somewhere else, in the future, or in 'another' existence, or under a specific condition/quality.

This 'unconditional peace as it is', that is always there in all and everyone, that doesn't increase or decrease, is nothing to do with the presence or absence of 'good or bad quality', 'good or bad karma', 'merits and virtues', 'rituals', 'prayers', 'chanting', 'sound vibrations', 'specific position', 'specific movements', 'specific direction', 'specific condition', 'specific atmosphere', 'specific place', 'specific timing', 'specific cause and effect', 'blessings', 'auspiciousness or inauspiciousness', and etc.

The mind that doesn't know any form of rituals, prayers, chanting, or sound vibrations, that doesn't know any particular cultural/spiritual/religious belief and practice, that doesn't know any particular superstition, or inappropriateness, or inauspiciousness, that doesn't communicate, or express, or interact, or read, or write, or speak in many different languages, or in any particular language, that doesn't belong to or identifying with any particular names and forms or 'community/organization' as "This is who/what I am," that has never come in contact with the teachings or practices of yoga and/or buddhism, that doesn't or couldn't perform any kind of yoga and/or buddhism teachings or practices, that doesn't have any external teacher or 'Guru', can also realize this 'unconditional peace as it is', upon the absence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, if there is a will, if there is an intense yearning towards liberation, to be liberated from ignorance and the consequences of ignorance, if the mind is opened.

As this 'unconditional peace as it is' is universal, unconditional and unlimited by any names and forms, that doesn't belong to any particular names and forms, that doesn't belong to 'yoga', or 'buddhism', or 'anything'.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Dispassion and non-attachment

Dispassion and non-attachment is the essential practice of yoga and/or buddhism.

Dispassion and non-attachment doesn't mean that one doesn't love anyone.

On the contrary, one loves all and everyone unconditionally as they are, without the influence of passion, lust, desire, possessiveness, selfishness, attachment, identification, craving, aversion, comparison, judgment, expectation, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, or any kind of impurities, such as dissatisfaction, disappointment, hurt, anger, hatred, jealousy, resentment, bitterness, exploitation, violence, pride and arrogance, and so on.

One doesn't need to have, or be in a relationship/family ties/relative connection/friendship with anyone, or have any physical/mental/emotional interaction with anyone, in order to show that one loves all and everyone unconditionally as they are.

It's about one stops generating thoughts, actions, and speech out of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness (dissatisfied, disappointed, disturbed, agitated, violent, angry, hating, jealous, unhappy, prideful, or suffering state of mind), under the intention of causing unnecessary damages, or inconveniences, or obstacles, or difficulties, or painful sorrow, or suffering unto anyone and anything.

One can love one's family and friends unconditionally, accepting and respecting all and everyone as they are, even if they are imperfect, but one doesn't need to be like one's family and friends, especially if they are behaving, acting, and reacting under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness.

One also doesn't need to be determined, or influenced, or disturbed, or affected by the behavior, actions, and reactions of one's family and friends that are under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness, to also behaving, acting, and reacting like any of them, even if they are one's parents, siblings, lover/spouse, best friends, or teachers, or the highly respectable or famous people.

By loving all and everyone unconditionally, accepting and respecting all and everyone being what they are, it doesn't mean that one should agree with, or support, or justify, or empower, or glorify any kind of behavior, action, and reaction of one's family and friends, or anyone, that are under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness.

Out of jealousy, or anger, or disappointment, or disagreement, or dissatisfaction, or hurt, or ungratified desires, or the disturbed state of mind, lovers/spouses, or siblings, or best friends, or parents and children, or anyone in any kind of relationship/ties/connection will hurt each other deliberately, not to say, towards some others that are not in any relationship/ties/connection with oneself.

Perform self-introspection, look into the modification of this mind, and see how this mind behaves, acts, and reacts, even if one thinks and believes and identifies oneself as a good and kind human being with great enthusiasm, aspiration, and expectation towards hoping and making the world to be a better place. And then, without any judgment, attachment, or identification towards the ignorant egoistic impure modification of the mind, inquire towards why does this mind behaving, acting, and reacting in such way, to develop correct understanding towards the mind's behavior pattern under the influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, or knowing Thyself, attaining self-realization towards the truth of impermanence and selflessness.

Many minds might be having such 'confused' state of the mind that is functioning and behaving under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness, thinking and believing that oneself loves and appreciates all and everyone very much, but then, they keep behaving, acting, and reacting in the way that cause unnecessary damages and inconvenience to all and everyone, while without any awareness towards all that, and don't have any initiative to be looking after one's mental health, while thinking and believing and identifying oneself as a healthy, intelligent, knowledgeable, educated, talented, experienced, qualified, successful, good and kind, cultured/civilized, well brought up, generous, unselfish, loving and compassionate human being, while constantly craving and longing for receiving attention, acknowledgement, recognition, praise, compliment, agreement, appreciation, acceptance, validation, admiration, and affection from others towards 'I' and 'mine' that the mind recognized as 'strength' or 'accomplishment', and to be receiving understanding, tolerance, sympathy, and empathy from others towards 'I' and 'mine' that the mind recognized as 'weakness' or 'imperfection', in order to feel good, proud, confident, happy, deserving, or meaningful.

Inquire the truth of everything.

It's everyone's own choice towards what to do with the selfless impermanent momentary life existence

Some minds choose to live in the past, where they do their best to hold onto the past pleasant and unpleasant experiences (memories), clinging and missing towards what appeared to be pleasant, desirable, agreeable, and enjoyable to the mind in the past, but that is not here in this present moment, while continuously be determined and disturbed by the past unpleasant, undesirable, disagreeable, and non-enjoyable experiences (memories), affecting its physical and mental well-being as well as all its relationships with all the others in this present moment.

Some minds choose to live in the future, where they do their best to indulge in insecurity, hopefulness, craving, longing, fear, and worry, being determined and disturbed by all kinds of wild imagination/anticipation/projection/expectation towards the future, that don't exist in this present moment.

Some minds choose to keep behaving in the way that gives rise to unnecessary problems or suffering unto oneself and/or others, while giving themselves reasonable justification for keep behaving in the same way, "We all are imperfect human beings, and hence, we are allowed to keep making mistakes and behaving hurtfully," or, "I was the victim of other people's bad and hurtful behavior, that's why I am behaving the way that I behave. Don't blame me. Blame all those bad people and bad things that had happened on me."

Some minds choose to do their best to create as much unrest and damages as possible in their own life and/or some others' life and the surrounding environment.

Some minds choose to be closed-minded, blind-believing, blind-following, blind-agreeing/disagreeing, blind-practicing, and blind-propagating this and that, without inquiring towards the truth of all that.

Some minds do their best to make life as complicated as possible.

Some minds do their best to be unhappy with themselves and others most of the time.

Some minds do their best to be envy and jealous towards all others.

Some minds do their best to be as difficult as they can be.

Some minds do their best to be as miserable as possible.

Some minds do their best to be happy and stay positive.

Some minds do their best to enjoy life as much as possible.

Some minds do their best to live life the way that they desire it to be.

Some minds do their best to achieve all their limitless desires and ambitions, regardless of whether it's something that hurt all and everyone and everything in this space that doesn't belong to anyone or anything.

Some minds do their best to be interfering with and controlling others' life to be and not to be in certain way in accordance to their desires and don't desires, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements.

Some minds choose to not doing anything else, but only eat, drink, pee, shit, procreate, day dreaming/fantasying, sleep, wake up, and repeat.

And so on.

That is everyone's freedom of what they want or don't want to do with their selfless impermanent momentary life existence in this world, and be responsible for the consequences of their action and inaction under the influence of their desire and don't desire.

Some minds choose to live in the present moment, as it is, and appreciate whatever that is available in this present moment now to live life and perform actions that might or might not help other minds to be free and have peace, without attachment, identification, craving, aversion, comparison, judgment, or expectation towards the selfless impermanent life existence of the body and mind, towards all kinds of names and forms of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, thoughts, feelings, emotions, or experiences that appeared to be pleasant or unpleasant to the body and mind, as well as towards the actions and the fruit of actions. Respecting life to be what it is. Respecting the body and mind to be what it is. Respecting the world to be what it is. Respecting all and everything to be what they are. Respecting the truth of selflessness and impermanence, where all and everything are constantly changing, decaying, and passing away, while appreciating this present moment being what it is, even if it's not perfect.

What will this mind choose?

Inquire towards the truth of everything.

The initiative of want to stop hurting this body and mind as well as all and everything

Out of the mind's own awareness, reason, and freewill, the mind is interested in learning and performing the yoga and meditation practice, and is determined to free the modification of the mind from the influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, out of the initiative of want to stop hurting this body and mind as well as stop hurting all and everything out of ignorance and the by-products of ignorance.

Under the influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I' (the ego), egoism, impurities and restlessness, the thinking and acting mind that is functioning under the influence of the idea of 'I' keeps hurting the body and mind with the ceaseless actions and reactions being generated under the influence of the desires of craving and aversion towards the pleasant or unpleasant, desirable or undesirable, and agreeable or disagreeable names and forms, in order to achieve or gratify all its boundless desires of craving and aversion, aspirations, ambitions, visions, and expectations, in accordance to its likes and dislikes, desires and doesn't desires, or agreements and disagreements, under the influence of certain conditional thinking, belief, ideas, values, desires, and practices.

"I want the mind to be like this and not like that. I want the body to be like this and not like that. I want the body and mind to be able to do this and achieve that."

And, under the same influences and the desires of craving and aversion, the thinking and acting mind also keeps hurting all and everything.

"I want and expect all and everything to be like this and not like that. I want and expect the world to be like this and not like that. I want and expect all and everyone to think, to believe, to value, to desire, to practice, to behave, and to act and react like this and not like that." Or, "I love you very much. But I will be very angry with you, as I will feel disappointed and hurt by you, if you don't love me and behave in the way that I want and expect you to love me and behave. And if I am very angry, I will be punishing and hurting you with my hurtful thoughts, actions, and speech."

That is not love at all. This mind only loves its desires. This mind doesn't even love itself, not to say, it doesn't love anyone or anything at all, regardless of whether it's between lovers/spouses, or between parent and children, or among siblings, or among friends, or among the members of the community in the world. This mind just want to be able to control all and everything to be the way that it desires, or to gratify/achieve all its desires/ambitions the way that it likes and agrees with.

The mind that realizes this, "Oh, what have I been doing? I have been hurting this body and mind, as well as hurting all and everything, including whom and what I think I love very much, and whom and what have been kind and compassionate to this body and mind, not to say, I have been hurting all and everything that I don't like, that I don't desire, and that I don't agree with, ignorantly and intentionally," there might or might not be an initiative of not wanting to hurt the body and mind as well as all and everything anymore.

Some minds might continue to hurt the body and mind, as well as all and everything, intentionally, under the awareness of, "Yes, I am aware of this is something hurtful, and yet, I don't care. I want to achieve all my desires and ambitions. I still want and expect this body and mind, as well as all and everything to be the way that I like and desire them to be." That's their freedom of thinking and desire and action. It is also their own responsibility towards their actions and the consequences of their actions out of their thinking and desire.

Some minds might have the initiative of want to stop hurting the body and mind as well as all and everything, regardless of whether someone or something that the mind likes or dislikes, desires or doesn't desire, agrees or disagrees with, and loves or doesn't love. That is the beginning of the practice.

Appreciate this selfless impermanent existence and function of this body and mind, without attachment or identification. Make good use of the existing knowledge, talents, skills, experiences, good conditions, abilities, positions, and opportunities that this body and mind has, to be performing actions that would be benefiting all and everyone unconditionally, without forcing the body and mind beyond its limitation, without hurting the body and mind, and without attachment, identification, craving, aversion, comparison, judgment, or expectation towards the actions and the fruit/result of actions. Just do one's best, and let it go.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Upon the annihilation of the ego, the body and mind is just the body and mind existing and functioning as what it is

What generates the separateness or distinction between a selfless sentient living beings with the function of a thinking faculty and all other kinds of selfless names and forms, is the existence of the idea of 'I' or the ego in the form of thinking or thought process in the thinking mind.

Upon the annihilation of the idea of 'I' or the ego, upon the realization towards the truth of selflessness and impermanence in all kinds of limited and conditional names and forms, including the existence and function of the limited and conditional body and mind, there is no separateness or distinction between sentient living beings and non-sentient living beings and non-living objects.

All are merely selfless impermanent names and forms that are constantly changing, that are inevitably decaying and disintegrating from the moment of being existing, that there is no infinite and independent individual identity of 'I' existing in all kinds of selfless impermanent names and forms, regardless of whether sentient or non-sentient, conscious or non-conscious, mobile or immobile, living beings or non-living objects.

All are selfless and impermanent names and forms. All kinds of names and forms have their own particular cause of existence and function, that rely on and influenced by many other selfless impermanent elements and energy to be existing and functioning as what they are.

It's the idea of 'I' or the ego that identifies with the impermanent qualities of names and forms as, "I am distinctive from all the others. I am different from and more superior than all the other names and forms." Nope. You (the ego) don't even have a real and substantial worldly impermanent existence, just as all the other wild imaginations/projections/anticipations of the mind. You can't even be compared to a table, or a tree, or a tiny micro dust that has a real and substantial worldly impermanent existence, as you are only an idea or part of the thinking process in the selfless modification of the selfless mind deriving from ignorance, powered by energy. However, even if you don't really exist, but you are 'powerful' enough to influence the selfless thinking and acting mind to be performing many actions and reactions through the selfless physical body or the organs of the senses, perception, cognition, reason, thinking, and action, that lead to many consequences of actions and reactions, that give rise to unnecessary damage or suffering unto all and everything, ignorantly and intentionally. You can't even be compared to the selfless impermanent destructive natural disasters that are intentionless.

Upon the annihilation of the idea of 'I' or the ego, the body and mind is just the selfless impermanent body and mind existing and functioning as what it is, selfless and impermanent. Life existence is just what it is, selfless and impermanent. It is neither good nor bad, neither meaningful nor meaningless, neither joyful nor sorrowful, neither a cause for enjoyment nor a cause for suffering.

What doesn't change upon the annihilation of the idea of 'I' (the ego), is the nature's law of cause and effect, actions and consequences of actions, and the truth of selflessness and impermanence in all and everything.

Inquire the truth of everything.

It's not about can't let go, it's about don't want to let go

Many minds think, believe, and say that they can't let go or don't know how to let go.

It's actually they don't want or reluctant to let go. That's all.

"I am hurt and suffering. I don't deserve this. I want them/him/her/someone else to be hurt and suffer as well. They/He/She/Someone else deserve(s) this."

Similarly, in all kinds of unpleasant, undesirable, or disagreeable experiences/conditions/affairs/interactions.

If (it) is something unpleasant, undesirable, and disagreeable, if (it) is something hurting, if (it) is something burning hot, just let (it) go.

Can't really blame anyone or anything, if the mind doesn't want or reluctant to let go.

Be free.

The yoga asana practice and the sense of pride or low self-esteem

The sense of pride or superiority and the sense of low self-esteem or inferiority is a huge obstacle on the path of yoga, where the mind is being determined by the presence and absence of impermanent qualities of names and forms, and it keeps chasing after the attainment, possession, and identification towards the presence and absence of certain qualities of names and forms that will give rise to the sense of pride or superiority, that needed to be maintained and empowered regularly, as most passionate egoistic minds are being conditioned to think and believe that one must attain and possess certain qualities that will give rise to the sense of pride or superiority, in order to be free from the sense of low self-esteem or inferiority.

The sense of pride/superiority and the sense of low self-esteem/inferiority are the two sides of a coin. They exist together.

The vanish of the sense of pride or superiority will lead to the vanish of low self-esteem or inferiority, simultaneously, and vice versa.

None need the presence of the sense of pride or superiority towards anything, to be existing, to be living, to be happy, to be peaceful, to be free, and to be constantly improving in this world. While the presence of the sense of pride or superiority a.k.a. the sense of low self-esteem or inferiority gives rise to many unnecessary 'troubles' in one's life, particularly in one's relationship and interaction with some others.

The mind that is being over-powered by the sense of pride will feel being offended or annoyed easily by certain teachings and practices of yoga that the mind dislikes and disagrees with, as well as upon coming in contact with certain affairs and interactions with some others that appeared to be unpleasant, disagreeable, and undesirable to the mind. It wants and expects the yoga practice or the yoga classes as well as all and everything to be in certain way that it prefers, desires, likes, and agrees with.

Certain kind of physically and mentally demanding intense yoga asana practice is existing and suitable for the mind that is being over-powered by the sense of pride or superiority a.k.a. the sense of low self-esteem or inferiority. 

The prideful ego will be hammered repeatedly by the more and more challenging yoga asana poses or sequences, that has no limit of higher and higher degree of difficulty and complexity, upon attaining certain degrees of enhancement and achievement in the yoga asana practice, where the mind will eventually be 'humbled' by such limitless practice. Such as, in the beginning one couldn't do even one push up, but then after some time having developed certain degrees of strength and stamina, the body can do 10 push ups consecutively, and it makes the mind feels good and confident or superior about itself, and then, the mind is highly motivated and expects the body to be able to do 20, 30, 40, or 50 consecutive push ups, then, 75, then 100, then 150 push ups, and so on. However, if the mind doesn't develop the basic correct understanding towards the teachings of yoga or the means of the yoga practice, it will only be focusing on continuously challenging the body and mind beyond its limitation until the body and mind suffers unnecessary injuries, regardless of how long and how much the mind has been practicing such yoga asana practice, or regardless of how fit, strong, and flexible is the physical body becoming, because there is never ending of higher and higher degree of difficulty and complexity in such yoga asana practice.

Being able to do 200 or more two arms, or one arm, or two fingers, or one finger consecutive push ups, or being able to perform many physically and mentally demanding complex yoga asana poses and/or sequences, and the mind is highly focus or attentive while performing all these physically and mentally demanding physical activities or yoga practices, is irrelevant to whether the mind is free from ignorance and the by-products and the consequences of ignorance, or not.

The mind that is being over-powered by the sense of low self-esteem or inferiority might feel being intimidated by certain teachings and practices of yoga that appeared to be challenging, unfamiliar, and unease to the body and mind, as well as it would feel being intimidated by and envy towards the physical and mental condition, ability, performance, progression, and achievement of some others that appeared to be 'better' or 'more superior' than oneself. However, at the same time, it's also because of the sense of low self-esteem or inferiority, such mind will be feeling good and confident or superior about itself upon the presence of certain enhancement in the physical and mental condition, ability, performance, and achievement, upon being able to perform certain yoga asana poses or sequences that it couldn't perform in the beginning, that it couldn't be able to perform comfortably and effortlessly. And hence, it is being motivated to keep practicing regularly in order to attain higher and higher enhancement, ability, performance, and achievement in the yoga asana practice, so that it can keep feeling good and confident or superior about itself.

That is not liberation at all.

Such minds would feel greatly disturbed, disappointed, and frustrated, if for some reasons, the persistent regular yoga asana practice is being disrupted by someone or something, or upon the absence of further improvement or higher ability and achievement, or upon the presence of declination in the physical and mental condition, ability, performance, and achievement in the yoga asana practice, either due to disruption in the regular practice, or illness, or injury, or decay, or weakness, or old age, or any unforeseen circumstances.

Upon the prideful ego is being hammered repeatedly by the challenging intense yoga asana practice that has no limit of higher and higher degree of difficulty and complexity until the body and mind ceased functioning and existing, the mind might either becoming more prideful for being able to do and achieve this or that by pushing the body and mind beyond its limitation as much as it can, regardless of whether there is the presence or absence of unnecessary injuries, or, it might be 'humbled' by such intense physical and mental demanding yoga asana practice, as well as be 'humbled' by the truth of impermanence, where the mind will start to think and acknowledge, "I am humbled by this intense yoga asana practice and the truth of impermanence of this physical body. I will now be humble and modest, as no matter how good I am or how good the physical condition can be, and no matter how much I can do and achieve with this enhanced physical and mental condition and ability, there will always be something else that I still can't do or achieve (yet), and this physical body is inevitably constantly changing and decaying. I don't need to push the body and mind beyond its limitation that hurt the body and mind in order for me to feel good and confident or superior." Note that this realization is not the end of the yoga practice, but it's the beginning of the path of self-inquiry and self-realization.

There is still the idea of 'I' or the ego, existing in the mind being humbled by the intense yoga asana practice that has no limit of higher and higher degree of difficulty and complexity, as well as acknowledging and identifying as, "I am humbled, and I am a humble and modest being, devoid of pride or superiority."

There is no 'I' existing to be 'humbled' and to be acknowledging and identifying as a 'humble and modest being, devoid of pride or superiority', upon self-realization towards the truth of selflessness. There is neither pride nor humbleness, neither superiority nor inferiority.

Similarly, the physical and mental demanding yoga asana practice might be rendering the mind focusing within, calm, and quiet, not being disturbed or affected by the external names and forms during those moments of concentration focusing within onto the breath, or the point of focus/attention/awareness (Drishti), or the position and movement, that gives rise to conditional peace that is impermanent, where the mind is acknowledging and identifying as, "I am focused within. I am not being disturbed or affected by the external names and forms. I am calmed and quiet. I am peaceful." But all these are conditional and impermanent.

If without self-inquiry, if without working on freeing the mind from the veil of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, and impurities, all those impermanent moments of concentration/focus/attentiveness and the state of calmness and quietness (a.k.a. conditional peace) don't necessarily mean that the mind is liberated from ignorance and suffering, as if without eradicating the idea of 'I', ignorance, and egoism from the modification of the mind, the mind will still be disturbed and affected by the mind perception of names and forms outside those moments of focusing within, calm and quiet state of the mind that is conditional and impermanent, and hence, it might still act and react in the way that could be harmful to oneself and/or others and the surrounding environment, either intentionally or unintentionally, under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and the disturbed/agitated state of mind, or under the absence of correct understanding.

No doubt that by engaging in such physically and mentally demanding intense yoga asana practice, the senses or the organs of the senses are being withdraw from the world of names and forms, to allow the mind to be focusing within, and hence, the mind is rendered to be in a state of attentiveness, calmness, and quietness, being undisturbed by the external names and forms during those moments of withdrawing the senses, but that is also impermanent. It's not the end of the practice.

It's like if the senses are being withdraw turning inward focusing within, where the mind doesn't perceive, or doesn't see, or doesn't hear, or doesn't smell, or doesn't taste, or doesn't touch, or doesn't feel, or doesn't think about any names and forms that appeared to be either distracting or disturbing to the mind, and hence, the mind won't feel being disturbed, and will be in a state of calmness and quietness. That is not liberation.

Liberation is upon the mind isn't being determined, or distracted, or disturbed by the perceived names and forms being what they are, under the presence of correct understanding, upon the absence of egoistic attachment, identification, craving, aversion, comparison, judgment, and expectation. It's not about don't see, don't hear, don't smell, don't taste, don't touch, don't feel, and don't think about anything that appeared to be distracting or disturbing to the mind, so that the mind won't be distracted or disturbed. That's why the minds that don't work on the annihilation of the idea of 'I' and egoism might feel good, calm, and peaceful by moving the mind away from what it thinks and believes is distracting or disturbing, but then the mind wouldn't feel good, calm, or peaceful anymore once they go back to 'everyday life existence' as it is, as they are being distracted or disturbed by what they see, hear, smell, taste, touch, feel, and think. It's not liberation.

That is also why the teachings of yoga emphasized on continuously extending or expanding the duration of holding the different yoga asana for as long as possible, or holding the breath for as long as possible, or maintaining the concentration/focus/attentiveness, or the calm and quiet undisturbed state of the mind for as long as possible, that have no limit of duration, and that are conditional and impermanent, so that the mind will spend most of its existence, energy, attention, and effort onto the regular practice, and hence, will spend less energy, attention, and effort onto something else that might be harmful to oneself and/or others and the surrounding environment, but it doesn't necessary mean that the mind is free from ignorance or the by-products and the consequences of ignorance.

And that is totally okay as well, particularly upon the realization towards the truth of selflessness.

The important thing is that the ignorant passionate egoistic impure minds that are still under the influence of ignorance and its by-products, but were being rendered focus, calm and quiet through the intense regular physical and mental yoga practice, even if it's conditional and impermanent, that needs to be maintained regularly through engaging in certain action or practice, but at least, they are not generating or are generating less unnecessary ignorant harmful actions and reactions unto oneself, others, and the surrounding environment, within those impermanent moments of focusing onto performing the yoga practice, focusing within, attentiveness, calmness, and quietness (the momentary undisturbed state of mind that is conditional and impermanent), while still existing and functioning momentarily in this space of the universe that doesn't belong to anyone or anything.

Even so, the complete annihilation of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, or the attainment of self-realization via self-inquiry towards what is 'I', is still upmost important, if possible, where the mind is no longer being determined or influenced by the impermanent imperfect states of the mind or the impermanent imperfect effects of the yoga/concentration/meditation practice, being undisturbed or unaffected by the mind perception of names and forms beyond the impermanent states of the mind, regardless of performing or not performing certain yoga/concentration/meditation practice, in action or inaction, transcending the impermanent selfless existence and function of the mind, resting in unconditional peace unconditionally while the selfless impermanent body and mind is still functioning and existing.

There are different types of yoga students/practitioners/enthusiasts that are similar to the different types of wood. The dry wood can be ignited easily, and the slightly wet wood can be ignited after spending certain period of time to be undergoing the process of drying under the right conditions, while the highly wet wood can never be ignited if it stays wet, even after spending certain period of time undergoing the process of drying, but for some reasons, it keeps getting wet, or it isn't getting dried properly under the right conditions.

The minds that are being over-powered by the sense of pride or superiority/the sense of low self-esteem or inferiority are similar to the wet wood that keeps getting wet, or is not getting dried properly under the right conditions. The physically and mentally demanding type of intense yoga asana practice is most suitable for these minds, as it makes the mind feels good/confident/superior about itself whenever there is some improvement or achievement in the challenging yoga asana practice.

The minds that are not being over-powered by the sense of pride or low self-esteem, however, they are still under the influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, are similar to the slightly wet wood that needs to go through the process of getting dried for a certain period of time (the mind purification process).

The minds that are devoid of the sense of pride/superiority or the sense of low self-esteem/inferiority as well as some other impurities, but somehow, there is still the idea of 'I' existing in the mind due to the veil of ignorance, are similar to the dry wood that doesn't need to go through any kind of drying process at all. These minds don't need to be spending much energy and effort into any kind of yoga practice, not to say, in certain physically and mentally demanding type of intense yoga asana practice, in order to be performing self-inquiry, and attaining direct self-realization towards the truth of selflessness. As unconditional peace, compassion, self-inquiry, and self-realization, or the liberation from ignorance and suffering, is not being determined by the degrees of health and fitness, strength and flexibility, as well as the selfless impermanent effects, benefits, improvements, abilities, performances, and achievements of performing the yoga asana practice and/or any other forms of yoga practice regularly.

The minds that are devoid of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, they are resting in unconditional peace, as they are. Any kind of yoga/concentration/meditation practice or self-inquiry, is irrelevant or useless to them.

Out of ignorance and egoism, some minds might perceive this as a form of criticism, discrimination, comparison, or judgment. That's their freedom of thinking and understanding.

This is not a form of criticism, discrimination, comparison, or judgment at all, but merely about things or the teachings and practices being what they are. The highly wet wood can also be ignited upon getting dried effectively under the right conditions. Meanwhile, even the dry wood might somehow get wet under certain conditions, and hence, it needed to go through the process of drying (performing certain yoga/concentration/meditation practice).

If the mind still thinks, acknowledges, and identifies as, "I am humbled. I am now humble and devoid of pride," upon the realization towards the truth of impermanence, then know that this mind still need to keep practicing and keep inquiring towards the truth of selflessness, or 'I'lessness, or egolessness.

Inquire the truth of everything.

It's about be free from fear, it's never about sowing and empowering fear

The essential teachings and practices of yoga and/or buddhism is very much about peace, which is also about freeing the mind from fear, or the sense of separateness. It's never about sowing and empowering fear in the minds with all kinds of authoritarian conditions, rules and regulations, oppression, threat, intimidation, judgment, punishment, violence, painful sorrow, and suffering.

Ignorance and the idea of 'I' give rise to the sense of separateness.

Separateness gives rise to fear.

Upon the realization of selflessness and impermanence, upon the absence of ignorance and the idea of 'I', the mind that is devoid of the sense of separateness, is devoid of fear.

Peace is absence upon the presence of fear, as well as other kind of impurities and restlessness.

Peace is there as it is upon the absence of fear, as well as other kind of impurities and restlessness.

Yoga and buddhism is all about peace, or fearlessness, as well as the absence of all kinds of impurities and restlessness.

Peace is of two kinds - conditional peace and unconditional peace.

There's nothing wrong with conditional peace that is there upon the absence of unpleasant, undesirable, disagreeable, and disturbing experiences, and upon the presence of pleasant, desirable, agreeable, and soothing experiences. However, this conditional peace is still part of the impermanent manifestation within the modification/states of the mind that is determined by the mind perception of names and forms, or experiences, or the energy fields and elements, where it will change and pass away.

Just as the momentary effect deriving from performing certain yoga practice that can help to render the mind calm and quiet. It's relieving 'the symptoms', but it's not the solution of eradicating 'the cause of the symptoms'. However, the momentary conditional peace is also important as it enables the mind to have a few moments of momentary calmness that is essential for inquiring towards the truth of names and forms, that would lead to the realization of unconditional peace.

Unconditional peace, is beyond the selfless impermanent modification/state of the mind, that neither increase nor decrease, undetermined and unaffected by the mind perception of names and forms, or all kinds of desirable and undesirable experiences.

It's the realization and understanding towards selflessness and impermanence in both the perceiver and the perceived, where the selfless existence and function of the perceptive mind as well as the perceived names and forms are all selfless and impermanent, that enables the selfless perceptive thinking and acting mind to transcend the impermanent modification/state of the mind, being undetermined or undisturbed by the selfless impermanent modification/state of the mind, of all kinds of perceived names and forms ceaselessly arising, changing, and passing away, of different states of the mind arising, changing, and passing away.

The names and forms, or all kinds of experiences, are just being what they are. They don't have the quality to be something pleasant or unpleasant, agreeable or disagreeable, desirable or undesirable, positive or negative, right or wrong, good or bad, meaningful or meaningless, joyful or joyless, deserving or non-deserving, and so on. It's coming from the mind itself, of how the mind reacts towards the names and forms, or all kinds of experiences, where the mind categorized this or that as pleasant or unpleasant, agreeable or disagreeable, desirable or undesirable, positive or negative, right or wrong, good or bad, meaningful or meaningless, joyful or joyless, deserving or non-deserving, and so on, based on the existing likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, desires and don't desires, under the influence of the particular thinking, belief, values, and practices in the mind.

This fearlessness, or the absence of fear under the truth of selflessness and impermanence, where the mind is resting in unconditional peace, is nothing to do with the presence of 'courage' where the mind is 'fearless' towards performing all kinds of actions and activities, ignorantly, even if it's something that gives rise to unnecessary damaging consequences or inconveniences unto oneself and/or others and the surrounding environment, regardless of whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Inquire towards all kinds of beliefs, values, and practices in the world of passionate egoism and desire, as well as certain 'teachings and practices' in the world of yoga and/or buddhism.

The mind will see that most of the beliefs, values, and practices in the world are mostly about sowing and empowering fear in the minds, while at the same time, propagating 'conditional' peace and love in the way of, "I will love you, and you will have peace, if you ..." and "I won't love you, and you will suffer (or more precisely, I will make you suffer), if you ..."

If there are certain 'teachings and practices' of yoga and/or buddhism that appeared to be sowing and empowering fear in the mind with many kinds of 'threats and punishments', then know that it's nothing to do with yoga and/or buddhism, but it's something created by the minds under the influence of ignorance and egoism, impurities and restlessness, possessiveness and desire, where those 'teachings' and 'practices' are under the influence of certain worldly passionate egoistic beliefs, values, and practices.

That's why it is highly important not to be blind-believing, blind-following, and blind-practicing, but be open-minded to be performing self-inquiry towards the truth of everything, including all kinds of teachings of yoga and/or buddhism coming from everyone and everywhere, including what is here.

If taking up and practicing certain teachings or disciplines makes life existence becoming more simple and less complicated, and renders the mind becoming more peaceful and has less fear, even if there are some inevitable struggles and challenges due the process of mind purification and changing the mind behavior pattern, but not due to fear towards the existence of certain 'authoritarian threats and punishments', then one is on the right path. And vice versa.

For the sake of looking after the well-being of oneself and/or others, to be free from ignorance and the by-products and consequences of ignorance, the mind is performing all kinds of practices or disciplines out of it's own freewill and desire, without judgment or expectation towards oneself and others, and not out of fear towards many different kinds of threats and punishments.

Inquire the truth of everything.

The yoga practice of non-identification

In the beginning of the practice of non-identification, when the worldly passionate egoistic mind is still very much under the influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, then it's more about the mind under going the purification process of letting go all the identification with the different qualities of selfless impermanent names and forms as 'I' and 'mine'.

"I am not the body, the body is not I or mine. I am not the mind, the mind is not I or mine. I am not the modification/state of the mind, the modification/state of the mind is not I or mine. I am not the thoughts, the thoughts are not I or mine. I am not the memories, the memories are not I or mine. I am not the belief and values, the belief and values are not I or mine. I am not all kinds of pleasant and unpleasant experiences, all kinds of pleasant and unpleasant experiences are not I or mine. I am not the feelings and emotions, the feelings and emotions are not I or mine. I am not the sensations, the sensations are not I or mine. I am not the senses, the senses are not I or mine. I am not the elements and the energy, the elements and the energy are not I or mine. I am not all kinds of identities, ties and connections, all kinds of identities, ties and connections are not I or mine. I am not the intellect, the intellect is not I or mine. I am not the knowledge, the knowledge is not I or mine. I am not the duties and responsibilities, the duties and responsibilities are not I or mine. I am not the actions and the consequences of actions, the actions and the consequences of actions are not I or mine. I am not the selfless impermanent qualities of names and forms, the selfless impermanent qualities of names and forms are not I or mine. I am not the selfless impermanent changes, the selfless impermanent changes are not I or mine. I am not the perceived names and forms, the perceived names and forms are not I or mine. I am not the world and the universe, the world and the universe are not I or mine. I am not the selfless impermanent life existence, the selfless impermanent life existence is not I or mine."

If it is I or mine, that belongs to I, I should have complete control towards I and whatever is mine to be exactly the way that I want and desire. If it's not in my complete control to be exactly the way that I want and desire, it is not I or mine.

It doesn't mean that all kinds of selfless impermanent names and forms, or the actions and consequences of actions don't exist. It's just that there is no 'I' existing in all kinds of impermanent names and forms, as well as there is no 'I' existing to be the performer of actions and the receiver of the consequences/fruits of actions. Even though there's is no 'I' in all and everything, this selfless body and mind, and all kinds of names and forms, are still under going selfless impermanent changes influenced by the nature's law of cause and effect, and being affected by the actions and consequences of actions deriving from this selfless body and mind. Selflessness in all and everything doesn't change the nature's law of cause and effect (actions and consequences of actions, that is not about 'good or bad karma'), or the truth of impermanence in all and everything.

The duration of this purification process is varied for the different minds under different degrees of ignorance and egoism. Some minds can let go easily and effortlessly in this instant moment, while some minds still couldn't let go even after a prolonged period of performing many different kinds of yoga and meditation practice regularly. There's neither right nor wrong, neither good nor bad.

At this stage, the mind is still having an idea of 'I' that is not identifying with all those selfless impermanent names and forms, where the mind still needs to inquire towards what is the 'I' that is existing in the mind. If I am not all those selfless impermanent names and forms, then who/what am 'I'?

As the mind starts to develop certain degrees of correct understanding, dispassion and right discrimination, when there is a strong foundation of the practice of non-identification and non-attachment towards all kinds of names and forms as 'I' and 'mine', then it's about the selfless thinking mind inquires or reflects upon itself, or the selfless impermanent existence and function of a perceptive cognitive intellectual emotional thinking and acting mind, to know Thyself, where there is no 'I' existing, but merely a selfless impermanent function of the selfless impermanent physical body.

When there is ignorance, when there is all kinds of attachment and identification, then there is the practice of non-identification, or letting go the identification with all kinds of selfless impermanent names and forms as 'I' or 'mine'. And vice versa.

When there is ignorance, when there is suffering, then there are all kinds of practices to annihilate ignorance, or the path of attaining liberation from suffering. And vice versa.

There is no 'I' existing to be identifying or non-identifying with any names and forms.

There is no 'I' to be free or not free from ignorance and suffering.

The one that is under the influence of ignorance, the one that is not free from suffering, the one that needs to be performing certain practices to annihilate ignorance, and the one that needs to be free from suffering, is just the selfless impermanent perceptive cognitive intellectual emotional thinking and acting impure egoistic mind of the selfless impermanent limited conditional mortal physical body, functioning under the influence of ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Renunciation and the world of passionate egoism and desire

The liberated selfless mind that has renounced all kinds of worldly passionate egoistic ideas, identities, ties and connections, beliefs, desires, values, and practices, that is devoid of attachment or identification, craving or aversion towards all kinds of names and forms, identities, ties and connections, ideas, beliefs, values, practices, activities, desires, accomplishments, and achievements, it doesn't need to be performing, engaging, or participating in any kind of daily/weekly/monthly/yearly practices/activities/events/celebrations/rituals based on certain cultural/family/social/spiritual/religious/national/commercial belief, values, and practices, where all kinds of regular practices/activities/events/celebrations/rituals are existing for developing, maintaining, and empowering the attachment and identification of the minds towards such belief, values, and practices, in order for such belief, values, and practices to be continuously sustaining and expanding in this world. There is no sense of wrongfulness, badness, negativeness, inauspiciousness, guilt, regret, left-out, aloneness, disrespectfulness, unfaithfulness, joylessness, failure, purposelessness, or meaninglessness, arising or existing in such mind for non-engaging in such practices or activities.

The passionate egoistic minds that are not free from attachment and identification, craving and aversion, and passion towards certain names and forms, identities, ties and connections, ideas, beliefs, values, practices, activities, desires, accomplishments and achievements, would be disturbed by the sense of wrongfulness, badness, negativeness, inauspiciousness, guilt, regret, left-out, aloneness, disrespectfulness, unfaithfulness, joylessness, failure, purposelessness, or meaninglessness, for non-engaging in such practices or activities, as the minds have been being influenced and conditioned and limited to think in certain way, to believe in certain belief, to have certain identities, qualities, and desires (aspirations), to have pride or shame towards certain identities, qualities, and desires (aspirations), and to carryout and empower certain values and practices.

It's not that the different kinds of practices/activities/events/celebrations/rituals based on certain cultural/family/social/spiritual/religious/national/commercial belief and values are anything wrong, or bad, or negative, where most minds that are functioning under the veil of ignorance and egoism, that are not free from the perception of suffering/disturbed/hurt/painful sorrow/unhappiness/meaninglessness and etc, would think and believe that they need all that in order to be existing and living, that they need to be developing, possessing, and empowering the sense of belonging, self-esteem, self-worth, pride, loyalty, righteousness, goodness, positiveness, auspiciousness, togetherness, respectfulness, joyfulness, accomplishment, purposefulness, or meaningfulness, as well as the personal/family/community identity, the existence of the culture/the belief/the values/the spirituality/the religion/the country, the financial status, the social status, or the economy of the individual/the family/the community/the country/the region/the world, are purely surviving on the existence of such regular practices/activities/events/celebrations/rituals based on certain cultural/family/social/spiritual/religious/national/commercial belief and values, however, upon the annihilation of ignorance and egoism, the mind is no longer being conditioned by such thinking, belief, ideas, desires, values, and practices, where the mind realizes and understands that the selfless impermanent life existence, or the world, doesn't need any of that, but only need to be free from ignorance and the by-products and consequences of ignorance.

That is liberation.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Yoga is the union of the soul, the body, and the mind?

"What is yoga?" is very often being expounded as, "Yoga is the union of the soul, the body, and the mind," for the minds that believe in the existence of an individual soul/spirit, or "Yoga is the union of the body and the mind," for the minds that don't believe in the existence of an individual soul/spirit, as well as, "Yoga is the union of the individual consciousness and the universal consciousness", or "Yoga is the union of 'this' and 'that'."

Due to these words, many minds interpret and understand as "The mind attains union with the body where the passionate egoistic wishful mind can have complete control or influence over the body to be the way that it desires, defying selfless impermanent changes of decay, aging, illness, injury, pain, weakness, and death/disintegration/mortality," or "The individual consciousness attains union with the universal consciousness where the passionate egoistic wishful mind thinks that it will attain immortality and can have the superpower to control or desire everything to be the way that it desires, untouched by the nature's law of cause and effect, being the master of the selfless elements and energy, to be existing infinitely and unconditionally in a limitless 'pleasant desirable space', or 'perfect world', or 'infinite absolute existence', that is all desirable, pleasant, and enjoyable, where there is still the existence of an idea of 'I' in the form of thinking or a continuous stream of countless thoughts in the modification of the mind, that has such wishful desire waiting to be gratified, that doesn't desire to be here that is being perceived as imperfect and undesirable, while desire to be somewhere else that is perfect and desirable, by trying to be reuniting and be identifying with a higher and purer super powerful absolute entity or infinite existence for achieving all that."

The selfless thinking mind is merely part of the selfless function of the selfless body. There is no 'union', as the body and mind were never two separated 'thing', and it's merely a selfless and impermanent limited adjunct supported and powered by selfless elements and energy. Without the existence and function of the body, there's no existence and function of the mind. And, if without the selfless support of the supportive elements and energy for being what they are, the body and mind cannot and doesn't exist, not to say, to be functioning.

The presence of ignorance and the idea of 'I' in the modification of the thinking mind generates the sense of separateness or distinction between 'I' and what is not 'I'. While in many different kinds of belief, the minds believe that there's an immortal infinite individual 'soul/spirit' that is pure and perfect, of who all and everyone really are, residing in the mortal physical body that is impure and imperfect, and via the function of the perceptive cognitive intellectual emotional thinking and acting mind to be experiencing a worldly life existence perceiving names and forms of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations through the organs of the senses, and performing actions through the organs of actions, where the 'soul/spirit' (pure and immortal, and that is who I really am), body and mind (impure and mortal, and that is not who I am), are distinctive from one another. Under this belief, yoga is being interpreted as "The union of the 'soul/spirit', the body, and the mind," so that I am the one in control of the body and mind to be the way that I desire it to be, and not under the influence of the elements and energy, defying selfless impermanent changes and the nature's law of cause and effect.

Instead of expounding yoga as "Yoga is the union of this and that," but expounding yoga as it is, "Yoga Citta Vriti Nirodhah."

It is about the annihilation of the restless modification (thought activities) of the selfless mind, or Silence, devoid of thought activities/names and forms/desires/actions, or devoid of the idea of 'I', or devoid of the ignorant non-existing individual identification of a permanent independent individual identity/being/existence, where the selfless thinking mind attains self-realization towards non-separateness or oneness (which is nothing to do with "the union of this and that") upon the realization of selflessness and impermanence, where there is no 'I' existing, or there is not an infinite existence of a permanent independent unchanging immortal individual identity of anything, where all and everyone and everything are the same selfless and impermanent.

The only momentary existence, is in NOW, and it's constantly changing, where there is a beginning and an end of this selfless impermanent momentary limited conditional existence, where there's no infinite immortal 'I' existing to be under going selfless impermanent changes in any particular selfless impermanent names and forms, under the influence of the many different selfless elements and energy that are supporting and influencing all kinds of names and forms arising, changing, and passing away (forming, decaying, and disintegration), selflessly.

There is no 'I'. Who, or what is there to be attaining union with this or that? Who, or what is there to be desiring or not desiring this or that? All and everything are merely selfless and impermanent names and forms that exist momentarily in this space that doesn't belong to anyone or anything under the selfless and intentionless support and influence of the selfless elements and selfless energy.

Even though the thinking and acting mind is only existing and functioning momentarily in this world through the selfless body of the selfless senses, the selfless organs of the senses, and the selfless organs of functions and actions, but it can create so much actions and consequences of actions out of ignorance, egoism, impurities, and restlessness, either intentionally or unintentionally, during its momentary existence, that give rise to so much unnecessary impactful damages and suffering unto oneself and others and the surrounding environment, that would be affecting all and everything in certain way.

That's why it is upmost important to free the mind from ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism, impurities, and restlessness, even if the mind won't be able to create any ignorant actions and consequences of actions upon ceased existing, but the pleasant or unpleasant impact that it had been creating while momentarily existing and functioning will still be impacting the world that doesn't belong to anyone, in certain way, for certain extended period, after the selfless body and mind ceased existing.

"Mind conquest/Self-realization is the greatest duty of mankind." - Saints and Sages, Gurus and Buddhas, all the practitioners and teachers of Dhamma.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Guiding the minds to perform inquiry towards the truth of everything

There are two parts in self-inquiry.

One is to be inquiring towards what is the 'I' that the mind thinks and acknowledges and identifies as 'I', to attain self-realization towards the truth of the selfless impermanent existence and function of the limited conditional physical body with the perceptive cognitive intellectual emotional thinking and acting mind, of knowing Thyself - Selflessness and Impermanence.

One is to be inquiring towards the truth of everything to attain self-realization towards the truth of everything that come under different qualities of different names and forms - Selflessness and Impermanence.

This is not about finding out what is right or wrong, good or bad, true or untrue.

It's about seeing all and everything as it is, where all and everything are neither right nor wrong, neither good nor bad, upon the realization towards non-separateness/non-duality/oneness, upon the mind attain self-realization towards selflessness and impermanence in all and everything, including what was/is true or untrue, that gives rise to the right discrimination towards what is 'real' (permanent/unconditional) and 'unreal' (impermanent/conditional), while letting go and stop chasing after whatever that is 'unreal'.

Before self-realization, or the annihilation of the idea of 'I', the mind perceives the inquiry towards what is 'I' and the inquiry towards all kinds of names and forms as separated distinctive subjects, as the existence of the idea of 'I' in the mind generates the separateness/distinction between 'I' and everything that is not 'I'. Upon self-realization or the vanish of the idea of 'I', the selfless mind realized that these two subjects are not distinctive/separated from one another. There's neither right nor wrong. It's merely part of the process.

The subjects of inquiry might be different, but the truth of all kinds of existence regardless of sentient living beings or non-sentient living beings and non-living objects, as well as all kinds of diverse ideas, beliefs, values, and practices, regardless of whether they are something true (factual) or untrue (non-factual), is the same.

One might come in contact with the teachings or the dhamma about selflessness and impermanence through various books, medias, and teachers, but just by reading, hearing, studying, or possessing the knowledge/information about selflessness and impermanence without attaining direct experience or self-realization towards selflessness and impermanence doesn't liberate the mind from ignorance and the by-products of ignorance, as well as the suffering/unrest/disturbance/painful sorrow driving from all that.

The liberated minds cannot take away the ignorance of the others by telling others what they themselves have realized through their own effort, practice, self-inquiry, direct experience, and/or self-realization, but they can provide guidelines for the others that would lead them towards performing self-inquiry towards all kind of doubts, or questions, or ignorance that they have, via their own effort, practice, and self-inquiry, to attain direct experience or self-realization, and be free.

Inquire the truth of everything.