My daily asana practice 2020 (23)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (22)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (20)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (18)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (17)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (16)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (15)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (12)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (9)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

My daily asana practice 2020 (7)

This is part of my daily asana practice.

Wishing everyone peace during this time being.

Conflict between the practice of influencing the state of the mind and observing the mind perception as it is?

Some people get confused by the yoga asana, pranayama and concentration practice that is about influencing the state of the mind (intentionally changing the state of the mind to be something different by purifying and rendering the impure restless wandering mind to be pure and calm and focus) and the practice of observing the mind perception of names and forms/thought activities and allowing the mind perception of names and forms/thought activities to be there as it is, without attachment, identification, judgment, expectation, craving or aversion towards the function/modification/thought activities of the mind, and allowing all the impermanent changes of all the names and forms to be there, as they are.

It seems like a contradiction of practice, but it's not really.

The mind is like the lake and the state of the mind is like the surface of the lake. The reflections are being reflected as they are when the surface of the lake is still, and the reflections are contorted when the surface of the lake is moving. By rendering the state of the mind calm and still will allow the mind to see things as they are or allowing the perception of names and forms to be reflected as it is, but it doesn't change the truth of the names and forms being what they are.

The modification/thoughts activities/perception of an individual reality of the mind is like the image/reflection of the sky or the sun or the moon being reflected on the surface of the lake, and no matter the images reflected on the lake is as they are or are contorted, (and if the lake has an egoistic thinking mind of likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, craving and aversion towards the reflection of the sky, the sun or the moon on itself, and desires to change the sky, the sun or the moon to be the way that it likes it to be,) the lake doesn't change the sky or the sun or the moon. And if the lake doesn't exist, there's no reflection of the sky, the sun or the moon, it still doesn't affect the sky, the sun or the moon being there as they are.

The reflection on the surface of the lake doesn't belong to the lake. The modification of the mind or the mind perception of pleasant/unpleasant/agreeable/disagreeable names and forms doesn't belong to the mind.

Just like all the contents of good and bad qualities of names and forms existing in this space cannot affect the space and they don't belong to the space. Neither will the space has desire to interfere with all the contents in it.

The space and the mind is still what it is, whether the mind perceives something as good or not good existing in the space. The space and the mind is still what it is, whether the mind perceives pleasant smells or unpleasant smells in the air. The space and the mind is still what it is, whether the mind perceives beautiful happening or disgusting/horrible happening in this space.

Different minds perceive its personal/individual reality differently under the same condition and situation. Such like, different minds feel differently while being in a place full of 'good' happenings or being in a place full of 'bad' happenings. Death is neither good nor bad. Some people are sad and mourn for the death of the leader of the country/party/ideal/vision that they supported, while some other people are glad and celebrating it. Positive minds perceive names and forms positively, while negative minds perceive names and forms negatively, but it's not the truth, as all the names and forms are just what they are, they are neither positive nor negative. The reality is just what it is, but qualities are being projected onto the perceived reality of the mind perception of names and forms out of the different states of the mind.

The modification/thought activities/perception of an individual pleasant or unpleasant reality, is like the reflections on the surface of the lake. The state of the mind (pure or impure, peaceful or peaceless, with good/bad attributes or attributeless) influences how the mind understands/reacts towards the perception of names and forms perceived through the senses, or life experiences, but all the perception of names and forms, or life experiences, or the understanding/reactions/modifications/activities cannot affect/hurt/disturb/change the mind, except due to ignorance and egoism, there's a false identity in the mind (the ego) is being disturbed and determined by all the perception of names and forms, and has the desire/idea of changing the perceived reality to be the way that it likes it to be.

The practice of yoga asana, pranayama, concentration and self-inquiry serves as the tool to maintain and render the mind pure and calm to be fit for higher realization of freedom from ignorance and suffering. The yoga asana and pranayama practice is to prepare the mind to be fit/ready for self-inquiry and meditation by balancing the restless/agitated/dulled state of the mind via body positions/movements (yoga asana practice) and control of the breath (pranayama practice), to render the mind calm and quiet.

The concentration practice/exercises/training is to restrain the mind to focus at one point for a prolonged period of time, and to keep the mind in the present refraining the mind from wandering into the past or the future, or getting lost in random ceaseless thinking and imaginations. Meanwhile the practice of renunciation/solitude/seclusion is to free the mind from getting entangled in the mind perception of a worldly life existence.

These practice/training are developing the awareness to be aware of or to observe the modifications of the mind, rendering the mind to be calm and quiet, to be free from restlessness and to be open to inquire the truth/nature of everything, preparing the mind for meditation - seeing the truth as it is.

The inquiry into the truth/nature of names and forms will help to strengthen dispassion, right discrimination, non-attachment, non-identification, free from craving and aversion, judgment and expectation, and this will lead the mind to be less disturbed or completely undisturbed by all the perception of names and forms of a worldly life existence, and generate less impurities or completely be free from impurities, which eventually lead to the annihilation of ignorance and suffering of the mind perception of a worldly life existence of impermanence and selflessness.

The pure egoless mind stands as a witness witnessing/observing the mind perception of a reality as it is, or observing the mind perception of names and forms/the states of the mind/the activities in the mind/the thoughts/the feelings/the physical sensations, condition, ability and limitation/all the selfless impermanent changes, as they are, without interfering with all these modifications of the mind.

Whatever the mind perceives through the senses or whatever the mind comes in contact with, all the perceptions of names and forms/thoughts activities/images/individual reality, and all states of the mind are just what they are. They are impermanent and selfless. They don't belong to the mind or the perceiver. The worldly life existence perceived by the mind is impermanent and selfless. It doesn't belong to the mind. It's neither 'I' nor 'mine'. Suffering and all kinds of corrupted thinking and behavior arise when there is ignorance, egoism and impurities in the mind, where there's an idea of 'I' generate attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment and expectation towards the modification of the mind, thinking and believing that there's an existence of 'I', and that all the perceived objects/experiences/relationships are 'mine'.

Without a calm and quiet mind, when the mind is in a state of impurity and restlessness due to egoism and impurities, it's impossible for the mind to inquire towards the truth of things to be free from ignorance, as whatever is being perceived/understood through the senses are under the influence of or being contaminated by the impurities and restlessness.

 

Just like a dirty, dusty and moving mirror cannot reflect the image of an object placed in front of it as it is. The mirror also cannot/doesn't see itself without the help of another 'mirror' or 'reflector'. And all the dirt, dust and movements don't belong to the mirror. All the yoga, pranayama and concentration practice act as the tool to render the mind to be free from impurities and restlessness (cleaning up and stilling the 'mirror' to reflect the images as they are), and meditation is the 'mirror'/'reflector' that allows the pure and calm mind to see itself, as it is, beyond all the modifications of the mind.

That's why it is very important to render the state of the mind pure and calm, in order to allow the mind to inquire the truth of names and forms, to be free from ignorance. Upon seeing the truth of names and forms, or the truth of itself, it enable the mind to stand as a silent selfless witness, allowing all the names and forms to be what they are. Or else, the ignorant egoistic minds has desire to interfere with the names and forms that it doesn't like by trying to change/control it to be the way that it likes it to be, as well as interfere with the names and forms that it likes by trying to stop it from changing into something else or damaging/disappearing, and there arise all sorts of suffering of dissatisfaction, anger, hurt, discrimination, intolerance, interference, offensiveness, defensiveness, hostility, hatred, fear, violence, and etc, if the desires are not being gratified.

It's up to everyone to work on their own liberation through their own effort and pace.

Feedback for yoga teachers?

There's nothing abnormal or wrong for the 'yoga students' to provide feedback to the 'yoga teachers' who conduct the 'yoga classes' for them to learn and practice yoga, and it's normal for the 'yoga teachers' who conduct the 'yoga classes' would appreciate feedback from the 'yoga students' as part of the worldly thinking or ideas about ways to improve or evolve.

Just that it's moving away from the teachings and practice of yoga about eliminating the egoism. This is part of the plays of egoism. It actually 'holds back' the mind from going beyond the perception of duality. It empowers attachment and identification with qualities of names and forms, as well as attachment and identification with the actions and the result of the actions.

A 'yoga teacher' who 'teaches' yoga to other beings should be able to be aware of the modification of one's mind and the actions and reactions, without attachment and identification with all these names and forms. There's no attachment or expectation towards one's action of teaching yoga to other beings and the results or consequences of the action of teaching. The 'yoga teacher' allows the 'yoga students' to develop awareness towards the modification of their own minds, and to act and react in their own way, or to express their thoughts/ideas/suggestions/advice out of their own perspective, or not, towards the process of transmitting or receiving the teachings of yoga to or from other beings.

It's not about - "I know I am a good yoga teacher and I can teach good yoga classes, and so, I don't need any feedback, suggestions or advice on how to be a better yoga teacher to give better yoga classes." or "I don't know whether I am a good yoga teacher, or not. Or whether I teach good yoga classes, or not. I need feedback/suggestion/advice from the students or other people to tell me whether I am good or not good, or how I can improve myself to be better yoga teacher to teach better yoga classes." As yoga really is nothing to do with all these names and forms. One can be identified or acknowledged as a 'very good' yoga teacher who can teach 'very good' yoga classes, but that doesn't mean that this yoga teacher is free from ignorance and egoism, or, vice versa.

This is nothing to do with 'pride' and 'arrogance' or 'humility', 'improvement', 'constant learning', or 'the way how it should be'. Feedback/suggestion/advice coming from minds that are not free from ignorance, egoism, duality and qualities of names and forms, is irrelevant towards one's mind evolution towards selflessness. The minds that are free from ignorance, egoism, duality and qualities of names and forms, don't 'require' or 'provide' feedback/suggestion/advice. As peace and compassion is nothing to do with whether the teacher is a 'good' yoga teacher who teaches 'good' yoga classes, or whether the yoga students are 'good' yoga students who perform their 'yoga practice' or 'yoga poses' 'correctly' and 'perfectly', or not. Just like to be able to let go of attachment, it's just 'let go'. There's no thinking about "how to let go", "how fast or slow to let go", or "one should let go in this way or that way which is the 'good' or 'right' way".

In a 'yoga asana class', whether it's a group class or a private individual class, there are countless mind reactions arise from different states of minds and different physical conditions. At one moment, the mind and the body is at ease with the practice, and in another moment, the mind and the body is not at ease with the practice. And this changes from moment to moment. For the same practice, different minds and different bodies react differently. One might suggest that the practice is too rush or too intense, another might suggest the practice is too slow or too gentle, while another might suggest that the practice is just nice, it's not too rush and not too slow or it's not too intense and not too gentle.

Teaching 'yoga classes' is not about trying to gratify everyone's craving and aversion towards their personal likes and dislikes towards the style, or type, or way of practice, and to adapt to the familiarity or habit of each individual. It's not about trying to be a 'good' yoga teacher to teach 'good' yoga classes to create 'good' yoga students to achieve 'good performances' or 'good results'. It's about doing one's best making use of one's opportunity, ability and knowledge, without attachment and identification towards one's action and the results or consequences of action. It doesn't matter if one's mind or other minds think or judge that 'this action' or 'the result of this action' is 'good' or 'not good'. It's about guiding the students towards the annihilation of ignorance and egoism.

A 'yoga teacher' or 'yoga student' will never be free from ignorance and egoism, if this 'yoga teacher' or 'yoga student' is still 'teaching' and 'learning' yoga according to the 'ways' of the worldly modification/thinking/ideas of the egoistic mind.

There is no egoistic intention or identification of "I am here to teach or share yoga with other beings", not to say, "I am, or I want to be a 'good' yoga teacher who can teach or share 'good' yoga classes to other beings."

Realize the essence of the teachings of yoga about selflessness, non-attachment, non-identification, non-duality, non-separateness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, and be free.

Video - Daily Yoga Asana Practice

Many retreat guests asked about how often and how long is my personal yoga asana practice, what I do in the asana practice, and whether I perform the yoga asana practice when we are running yoga retreats.

The personal yoga asana practice is being performed everyday, even when we are running yoga retreats, except on the days when we run intensive yoga retreat, I would take rest. The daily yoga asana practice would take about one and a half hours to two hours. These are some of the yoga asana in the daily yoga asana practice.

Yoga asana practice?

When we perform the yoga asana practice:-

• Take full responsibility for our own well-being. No one can force us to be doing something that we don't want to do. No one can stop us from doing something that we want to do. We don't have to agree nor disagree with anyone or anything. No one but our own self knows what is going on in our body and in our mind. It is our own responsibility to entrust "somebody", or "teachers", or "philosophy", or "teachings", or "practice", and bring ourselves to be performing some "practice".

• Let go of the past experiences. Be open-minded for what our body can do and cannot do in the present moment now. Let go of the future anticipation, speculation or expectation. Be open-minded for whatever possibilities that may or may not occur during and after the yoga asana practice, no matter it is something that we desire or don't desire. Be in the present moment now. Be aware of the reality in the present moment now, and allow the reality to be what it is.

• Let go of the ego. Let go of try to control or interfere with the reality that our ego doesn't like and doesn't agree with, to change it to be the way that the ego likes it to be. As what our ego likes and dislikes, agrees and disagrees with, is not necessary the truth of what things really are, or how things should be.

• Let go of craving and aversion. Do not generate craving or clinging onto the pleasant sensations that arise from certain positions or movements. Do not generate aversion towards unpleasant sensations that arise from certain positions or movements.

• Let go of attachment and identification with the physical body and the mind. The body is not me, I am not the body. The mind is not me, I am not the mind.

• Let go of judgment towards the yoga asana practice or the exercises, as the yoga asana exercises or poses are just being what they are, they are neither easy nor difficult, neither beginner nor advance, neither safe nor unsafe. They have no intention nor quality to be something easy or difficult, beginner or advance, safe or unsafe. It is how our body and our mind approach and react towards all these exercises or poses. If an exercise is being labeled as "difficult", or "advance", or "unsafe", it is not the truth. If it is the truth, then everyone who is doing this same exercise will be encountering difficulty and injury, as well as only "advance" yoga practitioner will be able to do it. But it's not. Some people may find this exercise is not difficult at all and they are not suffering any injuries from doing it, as well as a complete "beginner" yoga practitioner can be performing this exercise comfortably or effortlessly.

• Let go of judgment towards the physical performance or the ability of the physical body to perform the exercises. As selflessness, unconditional peace and compassion has nothing to do with how fit, or strong and flexible is the physical body to be performing the yoga asana exercises "nicely" and "perfectly", or not.

• Let go of comparison with other people or with oneself. We cannot expect ourselves to be having exactly the same physical condition and ability, and the state of the mind as somebody else whom we admire or look up to. As yoga teacher, we don't say to the yoga students, "If I can do this, you can do this as well." as everyone has different physical limitation that cannot be denied or ignored. And yoga, peace and compassion is not being attained by imitating the teacher physically or mentally. It's coming from self-realization of the truth when the egoism and ignorance is eradicated. We can't compare ourselves in the present moment now with ourselves in the past experiences, as every moment the conditions and abilities of the physical body and the states of the mind are constantly changing. They are different from moment to moment. What our body can do and cannot do is constantly changing. How we feel and the reactions from the body and the mind towards the exercises while performing the same exercises in different practice also will change. It is not about what our body could do or couldn't do in the past, nor it is about what our body can do or cannot do in the future. It is about what our body can do or cannot do in the present moment now, according to the condition and abilities of the physical body in the present moment now. We learn about impermanence and allow all the impermanent changes to be what they are from moment to moment.

• Let go of expectation towards the physical performance and the expectation towards the result, or the benefits, or the effects of the yoga asana practice or the exercises. Allow the result, or the benefits, or the effects of the yoga asana practice or the exercises to be what it is. The objective of performing the yoga asana poses is not determined by how strong and flexible is our physical body. We don't have to be super strong and super flexible to balance the mind, to calm down the mind, and to purify the mind. Even though we don't know what are the names of the yoga poses, or we don't know about the history and scientific facts about the yoga asana practice, or we don't know what is the anatomy and physiology of the physical body, or we don't know what are the benefits of the exercises, or we don't expect any of the benefits, the benefits or the fruit will still be there as they are, as we practice. They won't increase nor decrease, or change into something else, or disappear.

• Let go of anticipation or speculation about possibility of injuries. Be free from fear and worry. Fear and worry won't stop injury from happening, but it will increase the risk of injury. We perform the exercises with care and attention, but without fear and worry.

• Learn to relax while performing the exercises, while coming into yoga poses and while holding the yoga poses. Let go of timing ourselves about how long we need to perform the yoga asana practice, or how many yoga asana poses we need to perform, or how long we need to hold the yoga poses. Allow the yoga asana practice to be natural being performed according to the condition and abilities of the physical body in the present moment now, not according to what we would like it to be.

• Allow the breathing to be natural. The body will know when to inhale and when to exhale, if we allow the breathing to be natural.

• Learn to be patient, be persevere, be determine to gradually develop the skill, stamina, strength and flexibility for coming into and holding the yoga asana poses. Forbear or withstand any discomforts or difficulties that may arise during and after the yoga asana practice. Be able to adjust, adapt and accommodate the yoga asana practice that the body and mind is not familiar with.

• Do our best. Do what the body can do in the present moment now and not pushing the body to go beyond its limitation. Let go of pre-judgment about what the body can do or cannot do. Be open-minded towards what the body can do and cannot do in the present moment now, as the condition and abilities of the physical body is subject to impermanence.

• Be ourselves. No need to imitate anyone else, nor try to be like someone else, not even our yoga teachers. What other people can do with their body is their capability. What talents and knowledge other people have, is their capability. We don't have to be able to do everything that other people can do with their body or their mind. How other people think, believe, behave, act and react is their freedom and responsibility. We don't have to think, believe, behave, act and react like how other people think, believe, behave, act and react, not even the yoga teachers whether they are perfect or not perfect.

• Accept ourselves as we are. Let go of dissatisfaction towards ourselves nor expect ourselves to be somebody else that we are not. Perform actions that we think will bring improvement, and allow changes or improvement to be happening as it is. Accept all the changes in us or in other people as they are, not necessary the way that we like it to be.

• Perform the yoga asana practice out of compassion, renounce the fruit of action or the result of the practice. Allow the result or the effect of the yoga asana practice to be there as it is, not expecting it to be the way that we like it to be, or the way that we think it should be.

• The practice of relaxation is to relax the body and the mind, to release tension physically, mentally, emotionally. If somebody believes in the existence of the soul, then the soul also will be benefited from the practice of relaxation. As anything that is subject to existence, and has a name and a form, they will be affected or influenced by ignorance, egoism, and the qualities of names and forms, and thus it needs to be purified, or to be healed. If the body, the mind, or the soul has some "damages" or "pain" that need to be healed, then naturally they will be healed eventually, even without any awareness nor intention coming from the ego. As all the "damages" and "pain" are caused by ignorance and the ego itself, and nothing else. If we truly want to heal the body, the mind, and the soul effectively, all we need to do is stop hurting ourselves, or stop causing damages and pain onto the body, the mind, and the soul, by eradicate egoism and ignorance, be free from impurities like craving, aversion, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, feelings of hurts, pride, arrogance, animosity, fear and worry.

• We don't need to have any intention to balance the both sides of the body, the body will be balanced by itself as we perform our practice. We don't need to have intention to be healing anything, everything will be healed by itself as we perform our practice. All these intentions whether good or bad, they are coming from the ego. If we let go of the ego, there is no intention. Allow everything to be what it is. We just do our best. Perform actions, give and let go.

• Our true nature is beyond existence and qualities of names and forms, beyond name and form, beyond birth and death. It doesn't need to be purified nor be healed, nor be benefited from the practice of relaxation. It is untouched by good or bad Karma. It is not important whether the physical body can perform the yoga asana poses perfectly or not. Realize our true nature and be free.

Our true nature is not affected, nor disturbed, nor influenced, nor determined, nor contaminated by the condition and ability of the physical body and the states of the mind, and the actions and inactions derived from the egoism. Our true nature is not affected nor influenced by ignorance, egoism, and qualities of names and forms. It doesn't need to be benefited from the yoga asana practice. It's the body and the mind that experience suffering, that needs to be purified through the yoga asana practice, to prepare the mind for meditation to know the truth of suffering, and be liberated from suffering that derived from ignorance and egoism.

Yoga asana practice is meant to be releasing tension and not generating more tension into the system. It is meant to be weakening the egoism and not strengthening the egoism.

Relaxed, and not stressed out physically and mentally by trying to perform the exercises perfectly, or try to perform the exercises just like everyone else. We can be doing the same exercises but we might not look the same due to the different physical conditions and limitations that we have individually. Not everyone can do what other people can do with their body. It's okay, because we don't have to be able to do what other people can do, to be free from ignorance and egoism. Being able to do what other people can do with their body, doesn't guarantee us to be free from ignorance and egoism, nor will give us liberation, peace and compassion.

Yoga asana practice is a tool for the mind to attain liberation, be free from suffering that derived from ignorance and egoism. It is about elimination of the egoism and ignorance. It is not so much about being a fitness training or physical exercise to achieve physical and mental benefits, and the body and the mind will feel good after the practice, although there is nothing wrong with all these by products or side effects coming from the yoga asana practice.

It doesn't mean anything if our body can perform all the yoga asana poses perfectly, but our mind is still influenced and determined by ignorance and egoism, being attached to the qualities of names and forms possessed by the body and the mind to be who we are, being attached to the worldly image, egoistic desires, thinking and beliefs, likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements in the mind, being restless and disturbed by impurities like craving, aversion, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, feelings of hurts, pride, arrogance, agitation, depression, fear and worry.

Om shanti.

Patience

Impatience is the 'obstacle' itself as well as it generates other unnecessary 'difficulties' and 'obstacles' in what we are doing. If there is patience, there is no difficulty nor obstacle.

Be happy.

Headstand (Sirshasan) - Compassion and fearlessness

There was a woman in her fifties and another good friend of her joining an 8 days Intensive yoga retreat with us recently.

In the intensive yoga retreat, we have strength and flexibility workshops.

The objective of this strength and flexibility workshop is not about achieving physical fitness on stamina, strength and flexibility through the yoga asana practice, although as we perform yoga asana practice on a regular basis, physical stamina, strength and flexibility will be improving naturally.

It's about through the yoga asana practice, we learn to let go of egoism and attachments towards the qualities of names and forms, letting go of the identification with the body and mind, letting go of judgment, comparison, expectation, craving and aversion, while developing patience, perseverance, will-power, determination, forbearance, tolerance, acceptance, adjustment, adaptation, and accommodation, to realize the greatest strength and flexibility that is beyond the physical conditions and abilities, which is unconditional peace and love, or selflessness and compassion, which also manifest as fearlessness. We also learn to be aware of the impermanence of the qualities of names and forms, and allow the reality of everything in the present moment now to be what it is.

She never came up into headstand before, even though she has been attending yoga classes regularly, and practicing meditation for quite a long time. She said she would like to be able to learn how to perform headstand in this yoga retreat.

In the beginning, like many others, she was anxious and had fear towards coming up into headstand. There is fear of falling, fear of injuries and pain, or fear of the unknown possibilities. We will certainly gain some physical benefits from coming into headstand against a wall, but it doesn't allow us to deal with the fear in us that is related to egoism and attachment. Yoga practice is not so much about gaining the physical benefits. The physical benefits are just a side effect or by-product of the yoga asana practice, it is not the main objective of our yoga practice.

It is not important whether we can physically perform headstand or not, as to realize unconditional peace and love is nothing to do with whether we can perform headstand or not. But, it is about confronting the fear that stops us from coming into headstand, and to let go of that fear, that matter most in our yoga practice. If we are able to let go of fear, and be free from judgment, comparison and expectation, letting go of any imaginations, anticipations and speculations, just do our best while trying to come into the headstand, then it really doesn’t matter whether we can come into headstand or not, or can stay in the headstand for a long time or not. It’s really not important.

If fear exists, we cannot be truly compassionate even if we want to be compassionate. As fear generates discrimination and self-protection that limits us to love all as they are, without discrimination. If we are truly compassionate, there is no fear, no discrimination, no gain, no loss, no success, no failure, no praise, no condemn.

Then after I explained and demonstrated on how to come into headstand, she did her second attempt to come into the headstand (The first attempt was the day before, where she couldn't come into headstand due to incorrect position that derived from tension and tightness manifested from fear and anxiety). Broken her previous thinking and belief that she might not be able to come into headstand, she came up into headstand calmly and was able to hold the position steadily for a few moments.

After she came down from headstand and rested, she told us that Mother Teresa & Martin Luther King came into her mind when she was coming up into the headstand. As these two great beings were the embodiment of peace and unconditional love, or selflessness and compassion, or fearlessness. Peace and compassion manifested in her as she was thinking about these two people, and the fear that stops her from performing headstand vanished within those few moments of peace and love, which enabled her to come into the headstand calmly and steadily.

Physical strength and flexibility doesn't guarantee us peace and compassion, but the real strength and flexibility, that allows us to be able to adapt, adjust and accommodate any difficult or unpleasant conditions or situations in life, that connect us with the unconditional love and peace, that allows us to be free from fear, worry, anger, hatred, jealousy, disappointment, dissatisfaction, feelings of hurts, discrimination, judgment, and expectation, and thus allows us to be able to love and accept all and everyone as they are, to be able to perform all our actions, duties and responsibilities, and to give without discrimination and expectation, without attachment towards the actions and the fruit of actions, but allowing the fruit of actions to be what it is.

It really doesn't matter if we cannot come into certain yoga poses due to physical limitations. It's about letting go of the ego and the attachment and identification with the qualities of names and forms while performing the yoga asana practice.

Om shanti.

My daily yoga asana practice (11)

This is part of my daily yoga asana practice.

My daily yoga asana practice - Adho Mukha Vrksasana

This is part of my daily yoga asana practice.

My daily yoga asana practice (10)

This is part of my daily yoga asana practice.



This is speed up version.

My daily yoga asana practice (9)

This is part of my daily yoga asana practice.



This is a speed up version.