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.

Inquire towards everything under wisdom

If something is limited and conditional, under specific qualities of specific names and forms, that is the by-product of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, that is the creation of the minds under the influence of all that, as well as empowering all that, then it is not real, it is not the truth.

If something is unlimited and unconditional, regardless of the different qualities of different names and forms, that doesn't empower ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, but it is eradicating ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, or the root cause of suffering, then it is real, it is the truth.

Any belief, values and practice that are limited and conditional, because they are the creation of the minds under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, that doesn't eradicate all that, but it is encouraging and empowering all that, then it is not real, it is not the truth.

The idea of 'I', is limited and conditional, as it cannot and doesn't exist permanently and independently, because it is the by-product of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, as well as empowering all that at the same time, and hence, it is not real, it is not the truth.

All and everything are inevitably constantly changing impermanently and selflessly under the law of cause and effect, as they are, and hence, all and everything are selfless and impermanent, as well as, selflessness and impermanence and the law of cause and effect are real, it is the truth. While the names and forms of all and everything that are changing impermanently and selflessly, that cannot and don't exist permanently and independently, are not real, even though it's the truth of everything.

Anything that is trying to be interfering with or go against selflessness and impermanence and the law of cause and effect, to be attaining momentary relief from certain suffering, but doesn't eradicate the root cause of suffering, is deriving from ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, as well as empowering all that, and hence, it is not real, it is not the truth.

All kinds of superstitious beliefs and practices are limited and conditional, because they are the products of the minds that are under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, while they don't eradicate ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, but empowering all that, and hence, it is not real, it is not the truth.

The minds that perform black magic, hypnotism, ritual or trance medium to be gratifying certain desires, as well as to be providing service to the minds that desire to be using the service of black magic, hypnotism, ritual or trance medium for gratifying certain desires, as well as the minds that desire to be using the service of black magic, hypnotism, ritual and trance medium for gratifying certain desires, it is very obvious that all these minds are not free from ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, as there are suffering or desire or discontentment deriving from all that, that is why there's a need of all those practices. Since all these practices are the creations or products of the minds under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, and under the presence of suffering, desire and discontentment deriving from all that, where not only that all these practices don't eradicate ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, but instead, they are empowering all that, and hence, all these are not real, they are not the truth.

It's understandable that, under the influence of ignorance and under the presence of intense suffering, desires and discontentment deriving from ignorance, the minds would create many beliefs, values and practices deriving from hopeful wild imaginations and anticipations that seemed to be so real to the minds, that would give momentary console or relief from the presence of intense suffering, desire and discontentment, that not only don't eradicate the root cause of suffering, but instead, are empowering the root cause of suffering.

If under the existence of such beliefs, values and practices, or just by performing such beliefs, values and practices that is so 'powerful', that claimed it can be eradicating or 'healing' all kinds of problems or physical, mental and emotional suffering in oneself and in others, magically and miraculously, then the world should already be free from all kinds of ignorance and the consequences of ignorance, where there is no suffering, selfishness, possessiveness, greed, hatred, jealousy, vengeance, violence, discrimination, corruption, exploitation, separateness, oppression, bully, abuse, conflict, war, or killing among human beings, or even selfless impermanent changes of decay, illness, old age, and death, then it is the truth. But, it is not.

The teachings of yoga and buddhism doesn't claim to be 'healing' any kind of painful suffering, or removing all kinds of selfless impermanent changes or all kinds of consequences of actions in oneself, or in others, or in the world, governed by the law of cause and effect. It's not about changing the undesirable reality to be the way that the mind desires it to be. But it's about removing the root cause of suffering in oneself by oneself, and attaining self-realization to be free from all kinds of doubt, desire, discontentment and suffering deriving from the idea of 'I', ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness.

Similarly, just by eating certain type of food, regardless of pure vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, or by performing certain 'good' action and not performing certain 'bad' action, or by thinking positively and not thinking negatively, if without self-inquiry, it doesn't free the mind from the idea of 'I', ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, and the suffering deriving from all that.

It is the freedom of all and everyone towards what they want and don't want to think, believe and practice.

Something that is unlimited and unconditional, such as the self-realization upon the annihilation of the idea of 'I', ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, as well as the minds that had attained self-realization, they are void of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, not to say, to be encouraging or empowering ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness. Neither will they be associating with or performing any practices that are deriving from ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, that not only don't eradicate all that, but are encouraging and empowering all that.

The minds that are free from the idea of 'I', ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, and hence, are free from the suffering, desire or discontentment deriving from all that, they don't need such limited and conditional beliefs, values and practices to be gratifying certain desires, or to be attaining certain momentary console or relief from suffering, not to say, to be associating with and performing such beliefs, values and practices, to be encouraging and empowering ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness.

Perform the similar inquiry towards everything, where anything that is deriving from and empowering the idea of 'I', ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, it is not the truth. While anything that is thinning out and eradicating the idea of 'I', ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness, is the truth of suffering, the cause of suffering, the path towards the end of suffering, and the end of suffering, that leads to neither suffering nor the end of suffering, because the root cause of suffering is eradicated or absent. It's not about this is the only truth, not to say, everyone must believe that this is the truth. It's also nothing magical or mystical.

Do not blind-believing, blind-following, or blind-practicing anything, including all the teachings of yoga and buddhism that the mind comes in contact with, including all that is here, but inquire the truth of everything, to attain direct realization.

If the selfless silent witness is not selfless but having an immortal individual infinite existence

It would be the most or highest terrible painful suffering of the total amount of not only the accumulation of all kinds of countless painful suffering that all and everyone are having in this present selfless impermanent life existence now, but also the accumulation of all kinds of countless painful suffering that all life forms had had in the countless life existence in the past, ever since the beginning of selfless impermanent mortal existence of countless life forms or names and forms in this world of ignorance and consequences of ignorance, if the selfless silent witness is not selfless, but is having an immortal individual existence that is ever existing in here and everywhere since infinite ancient time even long before the beginning of the universe, that is limitless beyond time, space and causation, while witnessing all those suffering infinitely under an immortal individual existence, of 'I' am existing and witnessing all these painful suffering of many others, without an end.

Similarly, why would anyone, or more precisely, any thinking mind, if under certain degrees of clarity of thinking and correct understanding, would desire to be 'something' immortal that exists forever, either to attain immortality, or to regain immortality, if that is what all and everyone originally is, according to the many existing cultural, spiritual or religious beliefs in the world of limited and conditional selfless impermanent names and forms, where all are existing impermanently here, while waiting to regain their immortality of an 'immortal individual infinite existence' that has been existing infinitely, where all 'immortal individual infinite existence' have been infinitely witnessing all kinds of selfless impermanent names and forms arising, changing, and passing away, of all kinds of countless physical, mental and emotional suffering of ignorance and the consequences of ignorance in the world, due to countless 'immortal individual infinite existence' have been being born and reborn ceaselessly into the world of impermanence and mortality to be suffering all kinds of limited conditional selfless impermanent changes due to an 'ignorant downfall' or 'sin'?

If there will be 'ignorant downfall' in all these countless 'immortal individual infinite existence' to be born into 'impermanent mortal existence' to be suffering from ceaseless impermanent births and deaths governed by the inexhaustible 'karma' from then on, that means, they are not unconditional, and there are still limitation, in such 'immortal individual infinite existence'.

And if, all and everyone and everything exist infinitely in the world, where there's no selfless impermanent changes of decay, aging and disintegration in all and everything, while many more 'immortal individual infinite existence' that is unborn, but merely appearing in the world from no where, and then would just keep existing infinitely, just like all the other 'immortal individual infinite existence' that were unborn, but somehow they just appear in the universe coming from no where, if so, imagine what a 'chaos' and 'congested' world and universe it can be, where there are countless immortal individual infinite existence that keep appearing as they are coming from no where, without a cause and unborn, where all and everyone manifest all and everything under their boundless desire limitlessly.

That's why the truth of selflessness and impermanence in all kinds of names and forms, where all and everything is subject to be arising, changing, and passing away under the nature's law of cause and effect, that is limited and conditional, that has a beginning and an ending, is no doubt a form of inevitable suffering for many selfless minds under the veil of ignorance and egoism, but at the same time it is absolutely liberating.

That is also why the teachings of yoga and buddhism is about attaining silence and desirelessness, and not about attaining or regaining immortality of having an 'infinite individual existence' without impermanent changes, without an end, to be having unlimited superpower of manifesting all and everything exactly the way that how all the different countless 'I' or 'infinite individual existence' would like it to be, to be accomplishing all their boundless individual desires limitlessly, to be enjoying unlimited pleasurable desirable enjoyments. If that is possible, if that is happening, imagine what the universe will be like, complete madness.

And the selfless impure restless modification of the many selfless minds that are lost in ignorance and egoism in this world, in this present moment, are not any different from this madness, occupying by boundless desires and wild imaginations, on top of materializing all their thoughts, desires, actions and reactions into the surrounding environment through the selfless organs of actions and speech of the selfless physical body, generating all kinds of damaging effects and disturbance unto oneself and all and everything to the maximum.

Inquire towards the truth of everything.

Inquire towards most advocacy or empowerment in the world of modernization and higher technology

There are many different types of advocacy or empowerment in the world of modernization and higher technology, such as women empowerment, youth empowerment, educational and creativity empowerment, career empowerment, entrepreneurship or business empowerment, health and fitness and beauty empowerment, organic living and eating empowerment, lifestyles empowerment, cultural and ethical empowerment, mental health empowerment, positive thinking empowerment, success and wealth empowerment, patriotism and nationalism empowerment, spiritual and religious empowerment, personal and group identity empowerment, professional image empowerment, self-esteem and confidence empowerment, and so on.

One can also say that the selfless work of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, Swami Sivananda and Ajahn Chah is sort of similar to the many existing advocacy or empowerment in the world of modernization and higher technology to be promoting certain cause and motivating the minds to be making an effort to be achieving certain goal, however, their selfless work are indeed the contrary of all those advocacy and empowerment.

Most of the advocacy and empowerment nowadays are mainly to be supporting and empowering the world of greed, possessiveness and selfishness, attachment and identification, desire of craving and aversion, birth origin/citizenship/nationality/the sense of belonging, separateness and discrimination, commercialism/capitalism/industrialization/business investment and exploitation, success and wealth accumulation/hoarding, social status and title, personal and group identity, physical appearance and body image, physical and mental ability and achievement, name/fame/glory/pride, acknowledgement and recognition, superiority and inferiority, passionate desires and pleasurable enjoyment of the senses, and so on, being empowered by ignorance and egoism and restlessness, that might give rise to certain degrees of momentary sense of pride, confidence, satisfaction, success, goodness, happiness and meaningfulness that doesn't remove ignorance and egoism, and the suffering deriving from ignorance and egoism, but then are harming the surrounding living environment to the maximum, and eventually damaging the overall well-being of all and everyone in many ways, physically and mentally, that promotes and contributes to unrest and disharmony in the world of diversity.

While the work of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, Swami Sivananda and Ajahn Chah is all about to be reversing, or renouncing, or moving away from all that.

It's about realizing the unlimited unconditional peace deriving from the effort towards the annihilation of such ignorance, egoism, impurities and restless modification of the selfless mind, powered by intense yearning towards liberation from all kinds of madness and suffering deriving from the world of ignorance and egoism.

The higher technology itself is neither good nor bad. It can be utilized for promoting wholesomeness or unwholesomeness, however, what is wholesomeness and unwholesomeness can be very different for most of the minds functioning under the influence of ignorance, egoism and restlessness. Similarly, there's neither good nor bad about education, where right education that would lead the mind to be free from ignorance and egoism, would be benefiting all and everyone in the world in many ways, however, most education in the world are under the influence of ignorance and egoism that are empowering ignorance and egoism in the minds.

There's nothing wrong and it's very good about the advocacy for looking after the physical and mental health of individual and/or the entire community, especially if without attachment and identification towards the impermanent physical conditions and the impermanent states of the mind, as well as towards the physical and mental ability/disability/limitation/achievement/non-achievement, however, most of the advocacy for looking after the physical and mental health is unwittingly empowering the ignorance and egoism in the minds, empowering passionate egoistic attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, comparison, judgment and expectation, attaching towards the actions and the fruit of actions in the process of looking after the physical and mental well-being, in order to attain the momentary sense of well-being, satisfaction, confidence, goodness, healthiness, positiveness, happiness and meaningfulness.

Most of the mental health treatment is more about controlling the symptoms via certain medical treatment with drugs, and through empowering the momentary sense of well-being, goodness, happiness and meaningfulness being determined by the presence and absence of certain qualities of names and forms, which doesn't really help to lessen the increasing and yet avoidable mental health problems in the world, that are very much related to the over-all physical and mental well-being in all and everyone, the general welfare of the living condition and the surrounding living environment, and the peace and harmony in the society, that are being impacted largely by the existence of many kinds of selfishness, ignorance, incorrect understanding, corrupted thinking and behavior, petite mindedness, self-righteousness, discrimination, prejudice, violence, hurtful behavior, bully, exploitation, abuse, oppression, invasion, control, anger, hatred, fear, anxiety, stress, conflict, unrest and disharmony deriving from the minds that are functioning under the influence of ignorance and egoism, in all levels, at home, in family, in personal relationship, in social interaction, in the community, at school, at work place, in the public space, in the world, and so on.

Inquire the truth of everything.

None need more than sufficient basic needs to live a simple happy peaceful life

A simple happy peaceful life doesn't mean living under insufficiency of lacking the basic needs for life maintenance.

A simple clean and tidy living and resting space or shelter as well as enough basic clothing that protect the physical body from the impact of harsh weather, injuries, insects and wild animals in a healthy natural non-polluted surrounding environment, clean air, adequate simple nutritious food consumption that generates enough energy and nutrition for maintaining the basic function of the physical body and the thinking faculty, clean safe drinking water, basic hygiene and sanitation, certain indoor or outdoor physical and mental activities that don't require any additional equipment or gadget, basic living skills, basic correct understanding or universal conscience with basic common sense, openness, self-control, self-reliance, self-effort, self-inquiry, self-realization, contentment, and certain degrees of mental and emotional independence, are all the basic needs for maintaining a wholesome selfless impermanent life existence of the selfless physical body and the selfless thinking faculty.

There are boundless different kinds of unnecessary commercial ideas, products and activities, food productions, dining options, entertainments, fashions, accessories, gadgets, lifestyles, beliefs, values, practices, physical and mental leisure activities that require certain space, equipment or gadget, varieties of furniture, luxury accommodations, home decorations, pets decorations, toys, commercialized sports activities related commercial products, theme parks related commercial products, tourism related commercial products, celebration days, cultural, spiritual and religious events with their respective rituals or objects for different occasions, health and fitness products, beauty cosmetics products, skin care/body care/facial care/hair care products, spiritual healing related products, health food products, health care products, slimming products, anti-aging products, luxurious pleasurable material and sensual enjoyment of the senses for the body and mind, tourism holiday activities, and etc, where all these ideas, products and activities beyond basic needs for life maintenance are deriving from the intention of empowering wealth generation and accumulation through business investments, property investments, productions, tourism, commercialism and capitalism, under the creativity of the creative minds utilizing the many different technologies and higher technologies designing for catering the 'inspired' and 'empowered' desires and ambitions beyond basic needs for life maintenance of the ever restless discontented ambitious passionate minds under the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness.

The existence of all these unnecessary ideas, products and activities are exploiting the nature and natural resources to the maximum to the point of destruction, while generating lots of unnecessary inevitable rubbish or pollution into the world, and give rise to so much exploitation and corruption that lead to many unnecessary damages and suffering in the world under such greedy ambitious inspirational aspirations and desires of the restless passionate egoistic minds functioning under the influence of ignorance and egoism.

The buddhas and gurus foreseen all kinds of alarming damaging effects in the world deriving from such ignorance, egoism, restlessness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, greed, desires, aspirations, ambitions, success, wealth, status, indulgence, possessiveness and pride, that give rise to so much unnecessary damages to the natural environment, unrest, separateness, discrimination, selfishness, exploitation, corruption, unequal basic needs availability and distribution, unbalanced between abundance and insufficiency, desperation, suffering, hunger, violence and war in the world, and hence, the existence of the basic and yet essential teachings and advice of living a life of simplicity and contentment, dispassion and renunciation.

None need more than sufficient basic needs for life maintenance to be living a simple happy peaceful life in this world.

None need the additional ongoing stimulation of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, imaginations, visualizations, feelings, and etc, to be pleasing the ever discontented boundless passionate desires, to live a healthy happy life, physically, mentally and emotionally.

There will be minds that disagree with this and don't like to hear this, while thinking and believing that "There's nothing wrong or damaging to be enjoying whatever that is available to us, as long as it's not hurting oneself. Life is too dull and boring without some pleasurable entertainments and enjoyments. The global and local economy depends solely on the boundless desires and aspirations of consumerism inspired and empowered by all these business capital investments, property investments, productions, tourism, commercialism and capitalism, or else, the economy will collapse, there will be no jobs, and everyone will be suffering. But, at least those who have the opportunity and motivation and are capable of making a success out of all these to be generating and accumulating wealth won't be suffering so much. Life still goes on for those who achieved such success and wealth regardless of many others who are being exploited and living in poverty because they don't have the credibility or motivation to achieve success to get out of such desperate situation that exists under exploitation by those who are smart and credible, and those who are smart and successful deserved all kinds of abundance, enjoyments and comforts because it's their own ability, effort and aspiration. There's nothing wrong with smart people who work smart accumulating wealth and enjoying life to the maximum by exploiting the nature and the non-smart people who have to work hard and still not making enough for living. Be smart. Be inspired, and be empowered to be smart and achieve limitless success and wealth."

That's right. Keep inquiring towards what's wrong with this thinking or understanding, for the minds that think and believe that there's nothing bad or damaging with a little bit of extra desires, ambitions, success and enjoyments in life. Unfortunately, very few minds would see what is the 'problem' with this 'system' of a new modern society of 'empowerment towards achieving success and wealth and pleasurable enjoyment' as well as no limit of 'higher success, higher wealth and higher pleasurable enjoyment'.

That's why by being inspired and empowered to be having higher education, higher intelligence, motivation, ambition and the accumulation of knowledge, achievement, success and wealth, doesn't guarantee that the mind will have correct understanding, or is free from the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness.

It's the freedom of all and everyone for their understanding and desire and don't desire, as well as dealing with the consequences of the understanding and the desire and don't desire.

When the climate eventually collapsed, followed by the food production collapsed, where there's very little livable condition left on earth, when hunger, desperation, violence and wars are everywhere, then we will see if the minds still think and believe that they and their next generations won't be affected by the consequences of their 'nothing wrong' greedy boundless desires and aspirations.

Inquire towards the truth of everything.

Love without attachment and possessiveness

"How can a person being engaged in any kind of relationship with someone, and appreciates and loves that person sincerely, but then at the same time, one is not being determined by the absence and presence of agreeable and disagreeable, desirable and undesirable, pleasant and unpleasant interactions and events that occur in any form of human relationship, regardless of whether it's relationship with family, friends and lover or spouse?"

The passionate minds that are being conditioned by worldly egoistic thinking, belief, values and practice, would have great difficulty in understanding towards "One can love and appreciate some others in different type of relationship in life very much, but won't be feeling "losing/missing someone or something that oneself loves and appreciates very much" upon the absence of that person and/or the relationship."

The passionate minds think and believe that, all kinds of love, can only exist along with attachment and possessiveness/the sense of belonging, where the amount of love is being determined or measured by the degrees of attachment and possessiveness in any kind of relationship.

The minds that truly understand towards the truth of selflessness and impermanence in all and everything, would understand that there's nothing or none belonged to anything or anyone.

One knows how to love all and everyone without attachment and possessiveness, where one doesn't own any kind of existing relationship as well as the person(s) in the relationship with oneself.

Without attachment and possessiveness towards the relationship and the person(s) in the relationship with oneself, it doesn't mean that one doesn't care about or doesn't take the relationship and the person(s) in the relationship with oneself seriously.

One appreciates all the different kind of human relationships existing in the present moment now, as they are, not necessarily all desirable and agreeable, as well as loves the person(s) in the relationship with oneself unconditionally as it is, without the idea of "You are my family," or "You are my friend,", or "You are my lover/spouse," or "You belonged to me," or "You are mine," or "This is my family/my friend/my lover/my spouse/my relationship." And hence, one doesn't loose anything and/or anyone, upon the absence of the relationship and/or the person(s) in the different type of relationship with oneself, upon impermanent changes that are not necessarily being the way that how everyone would like it to be. Upon the realization of selflessness, there's no 'I' being there to be claiming, "I am losing something or someone," or "I don't want to loose something or someone that is upmost important to me," as well as, there's nothing or none to loose, as nothing/none belonged to anyone.

"Loving others unconditionally, as they are" doesn't mean that one should be blindly agreeing with everything and saying "yes" to everything, or one wouldn't be having any dislike or disagreement towards any kind of ignorant thinking and behavior, or shouldn't be saying "no" to any kind of demands, or allowing oneself to be mistreated or abused by other people's ignorant hurtful behavior repeatedly, encouraging and empowering such ignorance. However, one is not being determined by the likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements, and pleasant or unpleasant affairs and events that occur in any kind of relationship. One can choose to move away from such ignorance, if necessarily, if possible, not to be encouraging and empowering such ignorance.

The passionate minds would react and feel disappointed and dissatisfied, upon one's desires/demands/cravings are not being gratified, as well as would react and feel disappointed, confused and hurt, if someone in any kind of relationship with oneself telling oneself about, "There's nothing to loose in any kind of relationship with anything and anyone," or "You are free to love me, or not, and you are free to stay or leave as you wish," or "I love you as you are, even if you don't love me and/or are not in a relationship with me," as they would interpret that as "You don't love me. You don't appreciate me or our relationship. I mean nothing to you. I am not important to you. Our relationship doesn't mean anything to you," not understanding that, that is unconditional non-possessive type of love.

The minds that feel disappointed and hurt by someone in any kind of relationship because one's desires/demands/cravings are not being gratified by those in any form of relationship with oneself, would react in the way that would hurt oneself and those in certain type of relationship with oneself, out of disappointment, resentment, or rebelliousness. Such minds don't even love themselves, not to say, they don't really love those whom they think they love very much, as they would do things that would hurt anyone, including themselves, upon not getting what they like and want, and/or are getting what they don't like and don't want. They only love their desires of what they like and want.

The minds that know how to love themselves and others unconditionally won't do anything that would hurt oneself and/or others deliberately, out of disappointment, resentment, or rebelliousness, upon the non-gratification of their desires or demands. Such as when the parents reject their children's demands for something, the children might react and behave in the way that would hurt themselves and their parents deliberately, out of disappointment, resentment and rebelliousness. Or, one would react and behave in the way that hurt oneself and the partner/spouse intentionally, out of disappointment, resentment and rebelliousness, upon one's demands towards the partner/spouse and the relationship are not being gratified.

Most minds don't appreciate such unconditional non-possessive type of love, instead, they would rather be chasing after passionate possessive type of love, where there is intense attachment, identification, possessiveness, clinging and craving towards one another, to receive attention, love, care, support, comfort, encouragement, companionship, interaction, acknowledgement, agreement, appreciation, praise and compliment from one another, to boost the sense of self-esteem, goodness, happiness, accomplishment, positiveness and meaningfulness.

The minds that realized selflessness and impermanence transcend all these names and forms, not being determined by all these names and forms to be 'I', transcending the sense of self-esteem, goodness, happiness, accomplishment, positiveness and meaningfulness, where they don't need to feel confident, good, happy, accomplished, positive or meaningful at all, not to say, to be building and boosting the sense of self-esteem, goodness, happiness, accomplishment, positiveness and meaningfulness out of all kinds of selfless impermanent names and forms, being determined and empowered by passionate egoistic attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, comparison, judgment and expectation.

Many minds would think and believe that, "Good friends, or friends, are those who regularly meet up with one another, visit each other, spend lots of time together and doing something together, or keeping in touch, talking to and sharing with each other all the time. Otherwise, they are not good friends, or they are not my friends at all." These minds cannot understand that, "True friends are not necessarily have to be regularly meeting up with one another, visiting each other, spending lots of time together and doing something together, or keeping in touch, talking to and sharing with each other." They cannot comprehend that, "friends" are those who will always be a friend even after many years not meeting up with one another, not visiting each other, not spending lots of time together and not doing something together, or not keeping in touch, not talking to and not sharing with each other, either with or without any reasons.

Most passionate egoistic minds have no such understanding, and they would feel disappointed, unhappy or lonely, if they think they don't have any friends to interact, socialize, share and play with, then know that it's due to the attachment and possessiveness towards 'friends' and 'friendship', as well as the craving towards the presence of friends with the interactions and activities, and the aversion towards the absence of friends and the interactions and activities, are not being gratified.

To truly understand this dispassionate unconditional non-possessive type of love, one must perform self-inquiry towards what are "selflessness in all and everything" and "attachment and possessiveness", as well as what is "love without attachment and possessiveness" or "dispassionate unconditional love," to attain direct realization towards all these terms.

"Love without attachment and possessiveness" is nothing to do with the passionate engagement in multiple intimate love affairs or relationships with many different people/lovers/partners on different timing or at the same time, while thinking and believing that that's what unconditional love and care towards all and everyone is about.

Non-attachment and non-possessiveness is nothing to do with non-commitment, or non-seriousness, or non-appreciative, or irresponsibility towards any kind of human relationship. One can be seriously and genuinely engaging in as well as being responsible and appreciative towards all kind of human relationship, as well as being contented with having one single committed intimate love affair or relationship with someone, but without any attachment or the sense of possessiveness, respecting all kind of impermanent changes as they are.

However, unconditional love that is void of attachment and possessiveness is highly being misused by the passionate minds, including some yoga practitioners or yoga teachers, as the 'spiritual' excuse to justify one's irresponsibility towards one's existing relationship with family, friends or lover/spouse/partner, or to justify one's greedy discontented lustful desire to be enjoying or engaging in "many different intimate love affair/relationship with different people at different timing," or "multiple committed/uncommitted intimate love affairs/relationships with different lovers/partners at the same time," or "any kind of sexual misconduct," using the excuse of 'love sharing' or 'spiritual healing' to be engaging in intimate love/sexual affair/relationship with the disturbed minds that are longing to be comforted, loved or healed by some others, while thinking and believing and propagating that, "unconditional love without attachment and possessiveness" means "I have so much love and care (lust) that needed to share with as many people as possible, without being limited by any commitment or responsibility," as well as, using the excuse of "unconditional love without attachment and commitment" to be expecting one's lover/spouse shouldn't be disturbed or hurt by one's greedy lustful desire that needed to be shared with many other different lovers/partners, thinking and believing that it's what unconditional love is about, but not really. That's their freedom of thinking and behavior, however, it's completely nothing to do with yoga.

One can be loving one's lover/spouse unconditionally, but it doesn't mean that one should be encouraging or empowering such ignorant thinking and behavior of the lover/spouse that is over-powered by greedy lustful desires, where one can let go such "relationship" without any disappointment or resentment, loving the lover/spouse as he/she is, being ignorant and behaving ignorantly, thinking and believing that he/she loves his/her lover/partner/spouse very much, but he/she would do things that hurt those whom they think they love very much out of greed, discontentment and lustful desires, or out of disappointment, dissatisfaction, resentment or rebelliousness, due to ungratified desires. One doesn't need to stay in such relationship, but more importantly, one is not being determined or bothered by such ignorance and ignorant behavior of the lover/partner/spouse that is being ignorant towards his/her own ignorance and ignorant behavior. It's only due to the presence of attachment and possessiveness as well as the desire of craving and aversion, most people can't let go and would feel disappointed, hurt and disturbed for being in any relationship with anyone that is under the influence of ignorance with the presence of ignorant behavior, but then oneself also reacting and behaving in the way that would be hurting oneself and those in the relationship with oneself, intentionally, out of resentment and rebelliousness.

"You hurt me, I'll hurt you back" is not love at all.

Some people might not be doing anything hurtful directly to the lover/partner/spouse, refuse to communicate and have better understanding among one another, but then would go behind their back saying and doing many things that would hurt them. That is more evil and hurtful than those who express their disagreement directly to their lover/partner/spouse to communicate about any issues or misunderstanding. However, it seems to be part of certain cultural practice to not express any disagreement directly with the person involved, but to go behind people's back to complain, bitching and hurt the person, to seek support and agreement from other people towards one's disagreement towards the lover/partner/spouse, to relieve one's dissatisfaction and unhappiness. By complaining and bitching about one's lover/partner/spouse whom oneself dislikes and hates so much, with or without the intention of getting other people's support and agreement towards oneself, so that other people will also dislike and hating one's lover/partner/spouse for something that oneself dislikes and disagrees with, while thinking that oneself is a 'victim' of the bad behavior of one's lover/partner/spouse, it only shows that oneself doesn't love the lover/partner/spouse at all.

Yoga practitioners need to stay away from such ignorant thinking, belief, values and practice, while not encouraging or empowering such ignorance.

Many yoga teachers might think and believe that they are doing the right thing or the compassionate action to be 'helping' and 'comforting' other people's unhappy mind by being a sympathetic/empathetic listener and supporter to other people who need to be complaining about what they think and believe is their relationship problem and unhappiness, not being aware of that is actually empowering the ignorance in such minds. These minds themselves don't really love themselves, not to say, they don't love their lover/partner/spouse at all, but they only love their selfish desire and expectation towards their lover/partner/spouse and their love relationship to be in certain way, and out of one's dissatisfaction and disappointment, when they don't get what they like and want, and are getting what they don't like and don't want, upon the lover/partner/spouse and the relationship is not being the way that they expect and desire it to be, they felt 'disappointed', 'unhappy' and 'hurt', and need to be complaining to other people about all kinds of bad and terrible things about their lover/partner/spouse, while thinking and believing that they love their lover/partner/spouse very much, but they are being 'disappointed', 'disturbed' and 'hurt' by their lover/partner/spouse who is bad and terrible, "Oh, I love him/her so much, but he/she is so bad and terrible. I am a victim of his/her bad and terrible behavior, but I can't, and I don't want to let go this relationship because I love him/her so much. I feel so hurt and unhappy because of this bad relationship, and I need sympathy, empathy, comfort and support from other people, acknowledging that my hurt and my unhappiness is due to my lover/partner/spouse is so bad and terrible."

The minds that understand, if one truly loves someone, there's no hurt or disappointment arising in oneself regardless of all kinds of undesirable and disagreeable interactions and happenings in the relationship, and there won't be such 'need' to be complaining to other people, to be seeking sympathy, empathy, comfort and support from some others to justify about "I am loving, good and right, while he/she is unloving, bad and wrong." One can choose to remain in the relationship that is not all desirable and agreeable, or let go any relationship that involved ignorant and hurtful behavior that keep hurting oneself and those in any kind of relationship with oneself out of ignorance, without disappointment or resentment.

If yoga teachers truly want to help the disturbed suffering minds that are under the influence of ignorance to be free from all kinds of disappointment, disturb, hurt and unhappiness due to ignorance, it's not by comforting and supporting their ignorant thinking or incorrect understanding, to be encouraging and empowering their ignorance, but it's guiding and allowing them to see the ignorance in themselves that give rise to such disappointment, disturb, hurt and unhappiness. Even though it's an unpleasant process, and most minds don't like such confrontation to be seeing and acknowledging the ignorance in themselves as well as all kinds of incorrect thinking and understanding that hurt themselves and those whom they think they love very much, but that's liberation for oneself and those in any kind of relationship with oneself.

Sincere yoga practitioners who really want to practice yoga and realize yoga, need to have the basic wisdom to inquire towards the truth of everything, and not being conditioned by any kind of passionate egoistic thinking, belief, values and practice in the world of ignorance and egoism, as well as not being 'deluded' by any kind of impure understanding and intention that exist in the world of yoga.

The power of thoughts?

Yoga is indeed all about the mind, and there are quite many yoga enthusiasts strongly believing in the power of thoughts for their own particular reasons.

There are people believing in, "Things will manifest as you think and desire. If you gather the power of thoughts to be focusing on something that you desire, and strongly believing that all your desires will come true, and it will come true as you desire." That's their freedom of thinking and desire. However, it's not part of the yoga practice.

The essence of yoga is about the annihilation of the modification of the mind. It's about silencing the thought activities. It's about the annihilation of desire, or the state of desirelessness. It's about realizing selflessness through the annihilation of ignorance and egoism, of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, comparison, judgment and expectation. It's about realizing non-separateness or oneness, transcending duality, of good and bad, positive and negative, meaningfulness and meaninglessness, success and failure, happiness and unhappiness, pleasurable enjoyment and suffering. It's about respecting the law of cause and effect, and the truth of selflessness and impermanence, which also leads to respecting the perceived reality as it is, not necessarily pleasant, desirable or agreeable, and it's changing at its own cause and pace. Free from the egoistic desire and intention to be controlling or changing the perceived reality to be or not to be in certain way.

Somehow, yoga practice has been being manipulated into a tool for developing mind power to be gratifying all kinds of desires.

Here is a simple inquiry towards the power of thoughts.

By focusing and thinking very hard and strongly believing in the earth is square, doesn't make the earth become square.

By focusing and thinking very hard and strongly believing in those who had passed away will come back alive, doesn't bring back the dead to be alive.

By focusing and thinking very hard and strongly believing in the world will be free from all kinds of ignorance and suffering, doesn't make all kinds of ignorance and suffering disappear from the world.

By focusing and thinking very hard and strongly believing in "(I) am the champion of any competition who will win all competitions even without the need of any effort of training and preparation," doesn't make (I) become the champion of all competitions.

By focusing and thinking very hard and strongly believing in "This apple will become an orange," doesn't make the apple turn into an orange.

Regardless of how positive and optimistic is the thinking mind, it doesn't change the truth of selflessness and impermanence in all kinds of names and forms being what they are, as they are, and constantly changing, arising and passing away, governed by the law of cause and effect.

What everyone want to think and believe is their freedom, however, for the sincere yoga practitioners, they must free the mind from ignorance by inquiring towards the truth of everything.

One can be appreciating good condition or good health when it's available, but without attachment towards good condition or good health. One can do one's best to maintain good condition or good health and avoid sickness or injury, but there's neither craving towards sickness/injury-free nor aversion towards sickness and injury. If there is sickness or injury arise in this body, then either it can do its best to take rest, allowing the system to heal itself, or it can receive certain medical treatment if necessary, if available, and allowing the medical treatment to do whatever it needs to do, while respecting the body will be recovering at its own cause and pace, or not. There's no fear or aversion towards selfless impermanent changes of decay, old age, weakness, sickness, injury and death, or separation from the world of family and friends and things that one loves and appreciates. There's no need the power of thoughts to be desiring this or that, and to be controlling or changing the perceived reality to be or not to be in certain way.

The power of thoughts is more about from the rise of thoughts/intentions/desires that are whether under the influence of ignorance, egoism and impurities, or not, that influencing the minds generating actions/reactions/expressions that could be beneficial or harmful to oneself and/or others and the surrounding environment.

The most dangerous place is in the minds functioning under the veil of ignorance and egoism

The most dangerous thing or place, is existing and happening in the minds that are functioning under the veil of ignorance and egoism, where the minds would be harming itself and/or others and the surrounding environment, either intentionally or unintentionally, via the arising or the presence of impure thoughts, ideas, intentions and desires, and externalizing or materializing these impure thoughts, ideas, intentions and desires through the physical body of sense organs and the organs of action and speech.

The world, or the existence and function of the perceptive minds, is just what it is, neither dangerous nor not dangerous. It depends on whether the minds are being conditioned by and functioning under the veil of ignorance and egoism, or not, that is determining the presence or absence of all kinds of dangerous or destructive thoughts, desires, aspirations, intentions, expressions and actions, that makes certain things, areas or situations being dangerous/threatening/damaging/unsafe/hurtful towards anyone and anything, or not.

Most minds don't like to hear about dispassion and renunciation

It's understandable that most minds/people don't like to hear about or even react with anger and hatred towards the teaching and practice of dispassion and renunciation in yoga and Buddhism.

This doesn't exclude many of the highly intelligent, talented, educated, knowledgeable and so called successful/powerful people/influencers in the world, who might not be aware of the influence of ignorance and egoism in themselves, who are surviving in this world playing along with the game of capitalism and commercialism that exploits all and everything as much as possible utilizing the higher science and technology, in order to achieve higher and unlimited success and wealth for securing survival, pleasurable enjoyment and comfort for oneself.

People who believe in the meaning or goal of life existence is about equipping oneself from young with all kinds of education, qualification, skill, knowledge, connection, social networking and experiences, to be highly ambitious, with the intention and aspiration plus determination and perseverance for striving to be attaining and accumulating more and more success/wealth that are more than enough for basic survival, in order to be supporting and maintaining certain comfortable and pleasurable lifestyle, to fit into 'the successful and wealthy rich upper class' category, they are the fuel that feed capitalism and commercialism surviving from exploiting all kinds of natural resources, nature, animals and human beings in the world as much as possible.

Out of survival instinct and greed, the minds that are functioning under the influence of ignorance and egoism would want to defend and protect themselves, their life existence, their survival, their livelihood or source of wealth, their accumulated wealth and possessions, their career or business, their inherited or adopted belief, values and practice, and their pride, from the intimidation deriving from any teachings or practices that not only don't support capitalism and commercialism, but are unintentionally, existing as the biggest threat/obstacle towards the prosperity of capitalism and commercialism, or in another term, GREED, and POWER that supports and empowers GREED.

Most of the empowerment workshops in the world are about equipping oneself with the 'qualities' in order to attain higher and unlimited success and wealth, to be inspired and being aspired to become highly ambitious and successful, which turn into GREED and PRIDE unwittingly, with the main aspiration of to be achieving and supporting certain lifestyle of higher and unlimited comfort, new interests, new activities, new toys, new adventures, new excitements and pleasurable enjoyments, that gives rise to and empowers the sense of goodness, satisfaction, positiveness, joyfulness, accomplishment, pride and meaningfulness.

No any advertisements can tempt the minds that are dispassionate. No any salesmen can sell their products/creations/ideas/values to the minds that renounced the world. No any politicians can manipulate the minds that are free from ignorance and egoism. No any 'amazing inspirational quotes of passionate inspiration' can move or cheat the minds that are dispassionate. No any businesses that are surviving on the egoism, discontentment, greed and fear of human beings can survive, if all and everyone are dispassionate and renounce the world of ignorance and egoism, or are free from ignorance and egoism.

The huge business of 'medical health care', 'body, facial and hair care', 'beauty and cosmetic', 'fitness and fitness related products and services', 'dietary supplement', 'spiritual healing', 'fashions and accessories', 'home appliances and decor', 'luxurious holiday', 'recreational food and beverage', 'social media platforms', 'cars', 'gadgets', 'games', 'toys', 'sports', 'trendy lifestyle', 'leisure activities', 'real estate', 'insurance', and so on, are surviving on human beings' ignorance and egoism, passionate desires of craving and aversion, fear and discontentment/greed. Almost everyone are trying to 'sell' something, to gain certain profits or rewards that they desire, either in the form of money or something else. Young children are being brought up to admire and be inspired by 'successful, powerful and wealthy rich' human beings, to become like them, whom are being identified as 'inspirational most successful people in the world being determined by their wealth and power status', who are not necessarily being free from selfishness and corruption, who are not necessarily using their power, knowledge, position and wealth, or advance science and technology, to be looking after the general welfare of all and everyone and the environment, but only to fulfill their personal or community selfish ambitions, of GREED, POWER and PRIDE.

Even Swami Sivananda renounced his job as medical doctor, after realizing the corruptions in the world of ignorance and egoism cannot be eliminated through medical health care of advance science and technology, as even the physically strong and healthy human beings who are free from illness and disability, who are highly educated and knowledgeable, might not necessarily be free from ignorance and the by-products of ignorance, and hence, he immersed into serious Sadhana to realize the path that leads towards liberation from all these corruptions.

Inquire towards the truth of everything, freeing one's mind from the influence of ignorance and egoism, particularly those who are angry and disgusted towards the many human made destruction in the world of human beings, who have great aspiration to help to make the world a better place for all and everyone without discrimination, or to reduce unnecessary human made suffering in the world, or to advocate awareness for world peace, non-violence, non-discrimination, equal rights and mental health, or to protect the over-all welfare of all and everything and the environment.

Many minds might think and believe that hardships, poverty, difficult life condition, sickness or low education are the cause of misery and suffering, but it's not necessary so. Those who are free from hardships, poverty, difficult life condition, sickness or low education, but might not necessarily be free from unrest and suffering due to ignorance and egoism. Those who are free from ignorance and egoism, they are free from unrest and suffering, regardless of whether being free from hardships, poverty, difficult life condition, sickness or low education, or not.

In the beginning, the world of business/trading is neither good nor bad, where most businesses are just purely about exchanging different kinds of goods and harvests for diversity, however, due to ignorance and egoism in human beings, there are many kinds of corruption, exploitation and destruction arising from the world of business, out of never ending GREED.

GREED doesn't just manifest in the world of capitalism and commercialism, where the businessmen are greedy for higher profits and the consumers are greedy for higher possession, convenience, comfort and pleasurable enjoyment. But, it also manifests in the world of spirituality.

The teachings from ancient until the present, never change. Where ignorance and egoism is indeed the root cause of all kinds of suffering or bondage, while the greatest obstacles towards liberation from ignorance and egoism, is endless PASSION, DESIRE, GREED, and PRIDE. The subside of passion, desire, greed and pride, is the annihilation of egoism, that removes the veil of ignorance, that uncovers unconditional peace and selfless compassion.

Want to learn and practice yoga? (25)

The teachings and practice of yoga, is about looking after the state of the mind, or, the mental health, to free the mind from the diseases of mind, which is ignorance, egoism and impurities.

Mental health plays upmost important role towards determining what type of condition and situation in the impermanent and selfless world of diversities. It's because even though there is inevitable basic suffering of restlessness due to the selfless impermanent nature of everything, but the condition and situation in the world is impacted hugely by the consequences of ceaseless actions and reactions of the minds in this world.

All minds ceaselessly act and react in the world, that bring along the consequences of actions and reactions into the world, which determining or conditioning the world being in certain way, either intentionally or unintentionally. The world is having more or less unnecessary man made suffering, on top of the inevitable suffering of restlessness due to the impermanent selfless changes in all beings, is all the outcome of ceaseless actions and reactions of the minds.

The more minds that are acting and reacting under the influence of ignorance, egoism and impurities either wittingly or unwittingly, the more unnecessary man made suffering deriving from ignorance, egoism and impurities are there in the world, and vice versa.

Behavior problems (ignorant egoistic impure actions and reactions) that inflict disturbance and pain in oneself and others, either intentionally or unintentionally, are the reflections of ill mental health. In yoga, it's the reflection of the disturbed, restless and impure modifications of the perceptive cognitive thinking mind functioning under the influence of ignorance, egoism and impurities.

Even though most minds are under the influence of ignorance and egoism, and are experiencing disturbance, restlessness and impurities, but if the mind has certain degrees of awareness and self-control, not being over-powered by the impurities in the mind, then one might not be generating too many unnecessary ignorant egoistic impure behaviors (actions and reactions) that would bring consequences that hurt oneself and/or others, and the surrounding environment. This can be referred as 'rather healthy' mental health, even if it's not completely be free from ignorance and egoism.

On the other hand, one might be constantly and ignorantly generating ignorant behaviors and the consequences of ignorant behaviors that would hurt oneself and/or others, either intentionally or unintentionally, if without awareness or self-control, being over-powered by ignorance, egoism, disturbance, restlessness and impurities to act and react, either wittingly or unwittingly. This can be referred as 'ill' mental health.

It's normal that when the condition of the world is good, or when life is good and easy for many people, there might be less behavior problems, as there are less disturbed restless minds under desperation for basic survival, even though behavior problems will still always be existing in the world of human beings arising from ignorance, egoism and impurities (ill mental health), even when the world or life is under good condition, or there's no urgency or desperation for basic survival.

Under the presence of desperation in the mind deriving from survival instinct due to the suffering of hunger and thirst and life threatening situation, some people might steal or hurt some others in order to survive, or to relieve their hunger and thirst and to get out from life threatening situation, however, there are minds that are not under such desperation, as they are living under good and comfortable condition, free from the suffering of hunger and thirst and life threatening situation, but out of ignorance, egoism and impurities, there is boundless greed, or endless desire and aspiration, towards possessing and hoarding resources not only for survival, but more so for gratifying the boundless desires of craving and aversion, to be indulging in continuous unlimited higher and higher pleasurable enjoyment of the senses, and hence, one would steal/rob, exploit and hurt others, in order to seize and possess more and more resources (possessing higher and higher wealth and power that enabling them to hoard more and more resources which provide them with higher and higher pleasurable enjoyment and satisfaction), even when one has more than enough basic survival needs for oneself, and is free from the suffering of hunger and thirst and life threatening situation in the present as well as until the end of this life.

These mind are nothing but the slave of the ego, the intellect and the senses, even though they amassed huge amount of knowledge, wealth and power.

That is the reflection of seriously ill mental health, where the mind would sabotage or hurt anyone and anything, intentionally, in order to gratify the endless greed/dissatisfaction or the desire of craving and aversion.

Greed is a form of serious and yet very common mental illness in the world.

Greed towards hoarding resources for survival and enjoyment, love, support, family ties, friendship, relationship, connection, companionship, agreement, acceptance, acknowledgement, appreciation, recognition, praise, achievement, success, fame, wealth, power, status, knowledge, superiority, pride, enhanced physical and mental abilities, actions and the fruit of actions, desirable experiences, pleasurable physical/mental/material/emotional enjoyments and comforts, agreeable and comfortable condition and situation, the sense of satisfaction, goodness, happiness and meaningfulness, and so on.

Anger, hatred, offensiveness, defensiveness, violence, jealousy, dissatisfaction, possessiveness, irritation, annoyance, discrimination, racism, oppression, authorization, punishment, and so on, are the reflections of ill mental health. The mind is sicked.

That's why the existence of the teachings and practice of yoga and buddhism, and/or certain religions, which the main teachings and practice is about the subjugation of greed and desire, however, either in the world of yoga and buddhism, or in many religions, there are many minds are being ignorant towards ignorance, (even when they are preaching about the liberation from ignorance and suffering arising from ignorance,) where there is greed or desire and aspiration towards 'achieving' or 'creating' a world that the ignorant egoistic impure minds think, believe and desire how it should be, by converting, interfering, oppressing, controlling, disciplining, influencing, manipulating and conditioning all and everyone, to think, believe, behave and live life in certain way, that they think is 'the right way', where different minds have different understanding and belief towards what is 'the right way'. And hence, there are disagreements, arguments, offensiveness, defensiveness, possessiveness, protectiveness, conflicts, fighting, wars and violence, in the name of upholding everyone's own version of 'the right way' and to be creating a world the way that they desire.

There's nothing to be ashamed of for being suffering from ill mental health. Many people are suffering from certain degrees of mental illness but might not be aware of it. While those who are aware of it, might be seeking certain ways that give momentary relief from the suffering of mental disturbance/unrest/hurt/fear/worry/stress/depression/unhappiness/dissatisfaction/disappointment/low self-esteem/shame/guilt/regret, which might not necessarily be something 'healthy' in the long run. There's neither right nor wrong, as it's everyone's freedom for what they want to do with their body and mind. While many people are not interested in and don't want to go through 'the prolong yet not so easy and unpleasant way' but could be thoroughly freeing the mind from the suffering arising from ignorance, egoism and impurities.

There's not much can be done if the brain (the hardware of the thinking faculty) is damaged by certain injury, virus or disease, causing permanent damage to the power of awareness, understanding, reasoning and self-control, being unable to be aware, to understand, to reason, or to have self-control over one's behavior. That's why it's highly important to be doing something for looking after the mental health before it's too late.

It will be worst, if some, or all of the world leaders who have so much authorized power to impact the world in certain way are suffering from ill mental health, there will be more and more unnecessary man made long lasting damages, difficulties and suffering in this world. Even if there's only one leader that is suffering from ill mental health but already can be creating certain short term and long term damages to the world using the authorized power within a few moments, to make certain decisions and perform certain actions out of selfish greedy desires and aspirations, not to say, if there are more than one mentally ill leader in the world that has more than a few moments of authorized power to be creating different types of damages to the world that would last a long time, even after their departure from this world. All kinds of damages cannot be undone, but everyone's life existence in this world are being impacted by the consequences of ignorant and egoistic actions and reactions deriving from the many world leaders that are suffering from ill mental health.

In yoga, having ignorant companionship (Kutsanga) is worst than having no wise companionship (Satsanga). One should embrace solitude (Asanga) if without any wise companionship. Similarly, most people in this world of civilization emphasized on the importance of having a leader to lead the people, to make things happen, however, having one or some mentally ill leaders in the world is worst than having no leader at all.

Many people would think and believe that being a listener and companion to be comforting the disturbed unhappy minds, by giving them what they want and expect to experience, what they like to see and hear, that makes the minds feel better and happier, is looking after the mental health of the disturbed unhappy minds. That might give momentary relief to the suffering minds, but it doesn't remove the root cause of suffering or all kinds of disturbance and unhappiness. It doesn't stop the minds from continuing perceiving the suffering of all kinds of disturbance, unrest, hurt, loneliness, unhappiness, painful sorrow, fear, worry, dissatisfaction, disappointment, craving, aversion, greed, anger, low self-esteem, and so on. In fact, it empowers the egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, and expectation in the disturbed unhappy minds, which only leads to deeper suffering upon coming in contact with undesirable experiences and not coming in contact with desirable experiences (the suffering of restlessness to keep gratifying endless desires of craving and aversion, in order to feel good, right, happy, satisfied, deserving, successful, strong, positive and meaningful.)

Yoga practice is indeed rooting out the cause of suffering. It might not be something agreeable for the worldly passionate sympathetic minds that act and react under the influence of passionate egoistic worldly thinking, belief, values and practice, that empowers ignorance and egoism. That's their freedom of thinking, action and reaction.

The passionate egoistic disturbed and unhappy minds think and say, "I was hurt, and I am still feeling hurt (even after 10, or 50, or 100 years later). I am disturbed and unhappy. I deserve to be receiving sympathetic reactions and treatments from others. If not, I feel disappointed, unattended, unnoticed, unacknowledged, unloved, unsupported, sad, lonely and meaningless."

The passionate sympathetic minds think and say, "These disturbed unhappy minds will hurt themselves, and maybe others as well, if we are not being there for them, to comfort them, to relief their suffering." That's exactly the problem. Why do disturbed unhappy minds have such tendency to hurt itself and/or others out of suffering and unhappiness, that they 'need' some others to be there for them, to comfort them, so that they won't do anything to hurt themselves and/or others? Ignorance and egoism. A healthy matured independent mind that is free from ignorance and egoism won't hurt itself and/or others under any unpleasant/undesirable/disagreeable experiences, conditions and situations, even if without anyone being there to be listening or comforting this mind for anything. It doesn't need any kind of sympathetic reactions or treatments from anyone to feel better and happier about itself and life existence.

Inquire towards the truth of everything.

Freedom of expression, disagreement, protest, anger and destructive behavior

Freedom of expression is highly important.

All minds should be free to express their opinion and desire towards what they like and dislike, agree and disagree with, desire and don't desire, but then, of course there will be responsibility towards one's action and the consequences of action.

Freedom to protest against certain issues or things that certain minds dislike, disagree with and don't desire being performed in a reasonable constructive way with the intention for achieving better improvement and constructive development in everyone and in the world, is highly important for looking after the overall welfare of everyone and the surrounding environment.

However, under the influence of ignorance and egoism, protest of any kind, or in another term, reaction towards something that the minds dislike, disagree with and don't desire out of dissatisfaction and anger, either intentionally or unintentionally generating disturbing behaviors and destructive actions that are causing disturbing and destructive consequences into the world that affect everyone else in order to achieve one's desire, or to hurt something that is going against one's desire, is a destructive way of freedom of expression.

Freedom of expression doesn't mean that out of one's dissatisfaction and anger towards something that one dislikes, disagrees with and doesn't desire, anyone can do anything that would cause hurt or damaging impact onto some others or the surrounding environment.

There's neither right nor wrong in having disagreement. None should be blind-agreeing/disagreeing with everything. Unfortunately, most disagreements would lead towards dissatisfaction and anger under the influence of ignorance and egoism. And if without correct understanding and self-control, it leads further towards chain reactions of damaging behavior and destructive consequences onto oneself and/or others.

Just as how the annoyed, frustrated, dissatisfied and angry parents would react towards what they think and believe as 'disobedience' or 'mischievous' of their children who behave in the way that they don't like, don't agree with and don't desire, and out of those impurities arise in themselves, the parents would be verbally, physically, mentally and emotionally hurting their children in certain way, to release their frustration, dissatisfaction or anger, with the justification or excuse of disciplining and punishing their children for their behavior that they perceived as 'bad' and 'wrongful', which actually merely is about themselves are being unhappy and angry towards something that they dislike, disagree with and don't desire. It's not necessarily that there's anything bad or wrong with their children or their behavior.

Out of anger and dissatisfaction under the influence of ignorance and egoism towards something that "I don't like", "I don't agree with" and "I don't desire", people would be reacting and performing actions aggressively or violently that the minds think and believe as 'a form of righteousness, power, strength and in control' by causing intentional or unintentional disturbance and damages to other lives, things and the surrounding environment, while the minds would still think and believe that "I am doing this for the goodness of everyone and demanding positive improvement in the overall welfare of the world." How true is that?

Freedom of expression to express opinion and desire towards disagreement in a way under correct understanding and emotional maturity that would lead to possible constructive improvement in everyone and the surrounding environment, is in line with "Upholding goodness and demanding positive improvement in the overall welfare of the world".

Freedom of expression to express opinion and desire towards disagreement in a way under dissatisfaction and anger that would lead to possible disturbance and destruction in everyone and the surrounding environment in order to gratify one's desire or demand that "I like and agree with", is nothing to do with "Upholding goodness and demanding positive improvement in the overall welfare of the world".

Freedom of expression and action that bring more peace and harmony into the world, or freedom of expression and action that bring more unrest and destruction to oneself and others?

Freedom of expression and action is neither good nor bad, but depending on the different states of the minds, that generates what kind of actions/reactions and consequences.

All minds are free to express what they want to express, and to desire what they like and agree, however, how others react or don't react towards their expression, as well as whether their desire towards what they like and agree with demanding from others will be gratified, or not, is others' freedom on their reaction or non-reaction, as well as whether to give others what they desire, or not. Unfortunately, in most protests, the protesters have the expectation towards receiving certain 'reactions that they expect to be receiving from certain people or some other people', as well as there's expectation towards getting all their desires being gratified as how they expect it to be. And when their desire and expectation are not being gratified the way that they expect it to be, there's disappointment, dissatisfaction and anger. And if without self-control, these unhappy minds would behave violently and destructively out of disappointment, dissatisfaction and anger, reacting spontaneously towards what they don't like, don't agree with and don't desire. Even so, that's their freedom of action/reaction/behavior, even if the consequences of such reactions are not nice and are affecting other lives in the surrounding environment.

All minds must develop correct understanding and self-control in order to achieve peace and harmony in the world among the vast diversity of many different backgrounds, influences and desires towards achieving a world that different individuals and communities would like it to be. Unfortunately, even though it's not impossible, it's difficult to achieve that in this world of selflessness and impermanence as most minds are under the influence of ignorance and egoism.

Embracing and accommodation towards names and forms that are different from oneself/one's community is the only way for achieving peace and harmony in the world of diversities. Discrimination and rejection towards names and forms that are different from oneself/one's community will only lead to further unrest and suffering in all and everyone.

Separateness/discrimination/oppression/selfishness will only lead towards destruction of humanity and peace. And that's the world is heading to, even when there are some people trying very hard to save humanity and to achieve world peace, because there are more and more human beings in the world are leaning towards separateness/discrimination/oppression/selfishness due to survival instinct under the influence of ignorance and egoism, either intentionally or unintentionally, under the name of saving humanity and achieving world peace (the way that they desire based on their particular social/political/religious/cultural thinking, belief, values and practice).

Reflect and inquire towards everything. Inquire towards "Being angry while hurting people and damaging things out of anger doesn't change the world to be a better place." Realize what is "Constructive disagreement and protest without anger, violence, aggressiveness, destruction and hatred."

The bondage chain of thought, attachment, desire, action and consequence of action

A thought arise.

Followed by attachment.

Desire of craving or aversion arise towards the thought.

Gratification of the desire of craving or aversion gives rise to action and consequence of action.

Forming the bondage chain of cause and effect, birth and death.

A thought arise.

Stand as a witness.

Witnessing thought after thought, arising and passing away.

Without attachment or grasping/clinging onto the thought (modification of the mind).

Free from desire of craving or aversion.

Transcending the bondage chain of action and consequence of action, cause and effect, birth and death.

This is the open teaching of Yoga and Buddhism.

No shortcut.

No supernatural power.

No fairy tale.

No mystical story.

Just keep purifying, cleaning, clearing, silencing, annihilating the modification of the mind, the idea of 'I'.

Compassion is free from exploitation of sympathy and empathy

People might be aware of there are many kinds of exploitation existing in the world, but not everyone are aware of the existence of the exploitation of sympathy and empathy. Even when people hear that, people would be offended and deny such saying, thinking that the world need more sympathy and empathy. That's their freedom of thinking.

The world do need more compassion that is nothing to do with sympathy and empathy.

In the world of capitalism and consumerism, except for the tiny fraction of the super rich community who would just spend on anything for nothing just because they can, the majority of the low income people would need to be calculative and careful on spending where the cost of living will only get higher and higher. Many people who have low or very low income want to spend as little as possible on the things/products/labour/work/services/resources and etc that they want to get, other than getting the essential things for survival, as that is what they can afford with their underpaid income barely enough for short term survival. There are also some people who manage to make reasonable higher income but they want to spend as little as possible on certain things that they want but are less priority to them, so that they can spend more on some other things that are more priority to them, and they have some 'spending power' to buy things/property with the money that they don't really have but 'borrowed' from bank loan or credit, and hence, this 'normal' human spending behavior is indeed fueling/empowering the loop of exploitation. 

Out of desperation for survival and struggling to make a living, as well as there might be many desires/ambitions waiting to be fulfilled/gratified, everyone is being exploited while working for underpaid income whether wittingly or unwittingly, and everyone is also exploiting others when spending their underpaid income coming from being exploited, while some people exploiting others when spending their sufficient income in order to use 'the saved money from exploiting others' on some other priorities.

"I know you are desperate for income. I can help you by offering you a job. But I only want to pay you this little in return for your labour and service. If you don't want, many other people will want it."

"Oh! I'll take it. A little of income is better than no income at all. I will be grateful for this job. Thank you very much."

This is the beginning of exploitation and how exploitation is being empowered and supported, but out of desperation for getting income for survival or to fulfill their desire for something, many people would think and believe that is what gratefulness and thankfulness is about, and unwittingly supporting and encouraging exploitation to be happening.

Those who are free from ignorance, egoism and desires, who can withstand the worst condition, they do not 'support' or 'encourage' such exploitation to be happening under any circumstances.

In the beginning of the exploitation of underpaid work, labour and service, many people are unwittingly allowing themselves being exploited out of desperation for survival and making a living for themselves or to provide financial support for their family, and after some time, people started to get use to it, and don't see it as an exploitation anymore, but, they would think and believe that's the normal payment they should be getting in return for their commitment, time, energy, effort, attention, knowledge and skill that they put into those work, labour or service, and set it as a 'payment guideline' for doing some other work/labour/service, and would accept even lower payment for doing something that they think is requiring less commitment, time, effort, energy, attention, knowledge and skill by comparing with those work that they have been doing which is underpaid due to the exploitation in the very beginning.

Most people, especially those who are living under certain challenging condition and going through certain difficulty in life, would not like to be exploited of any kind, and some might even actively participating in protest and activism to go against exploitation of any kind in the world, and yet, whether wittingly or unwittingly, people are constantly exploiting each other.

One of the common exploitation that people aren't aware of, is the exploitation of sympathy and empathy, or taking advantage of other people's sympathy and empathy to achieve something that they want. Whether people are aware or unaware, they themselves are exploiting other people's sympathy and empathy, or their sympathy and empathy are being exploited by others.

Many people who would like to think and believe that they are compassionate beings and they want to be compassionate towards other people's suffering and difficulty, would misinterpret egoistic sympathy and empathy as compassion, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, they themselves are constantly 'encouraging' and 'supporting' the exploitation of sympathy and empathy to be happening/existing, which is not what compassion is about, but it's merely part of the by-products of ignorance.

Egoistic sympathy and empathy could easily be exploited, while compassion is void of exploitation of any kind.

For example, many people are being conditioned to think and believe that anyone who have been or is going through 'certain difficult condition, situation or experience', should be naturally 'deserved' to be receiving sympathy and empathy from other people. Whether it's oneself who has been or is going through certain challenging difficulty, and one believes oneself 'deserves' to be receiving sympathy and empathy from others, or it's other people who have been or are going through some challenging difficulty, and one expects oneself and some others should be showing sympathy and empathy towards those people who 'deserve' to be receiving sympathy and empathy from others. There's nothing wrong with that, as that is what most people think and believe that's how everyone should think and believe, act and react, or behave. Or else, it's so wrong, so terrible, so selfish, so harsh, and 'lack of compassion', if people don't think and believe, act and react, or behave like that.

For the minds that are free from ignorance, that isn't just not what compassion is about, but it's actually empowering ignorance and egoism. Being compassionate is free from such thinking, belief, actions and reactions that empower ignorance and egoism.

Those who practice yoga or Buddhism, who are truly wise and compassionate, who are aware of ignorance and the by-products of ignorance, would be free from exploiting other people's sympathy and empathy under any circumstances, as well as do not get involve with any actions or affairs that are directly or indirectly encouraging and supporting such exploitation, whether it's exploitation from others towards oneself, or from some others towards other people.

Compassion is nothing to do with the idea of who and what 'deserve' or 'doesn't deserve' sympathy and empathy.

One can be unconditionally kind towards others in different ways within one's ability and capacity without the idea of 'this (being or happening) deserves kindness' or 'this (being or happening) deserves special reaction/treatment differently than some others'.

One allows others whether to show or don't show sympathy and empathy towards oneself and/or others, without the idea/intention/expectation of 'I and/or others deserve sympathy and empathy from other people'.

One can receive (or reject) certain voluntary help/assistance from others without expecting 'deserving' help/assistance under any circumstances.

It's common that some people like to use the excuse of "I have a difficult life", "I am going through many hardships", "I am a single parent", or "I have to look after my old and sick parent(s)" and so on to receive sympathy and empathy from others with the intention/expectation to get certain 'special compassionate reaction/treatment', or to get something that they want but they can't afford, or to achieve something that they want to achieve but they don't have enough ability/capacity to achieve.

The minds that are free from ignorance, egoism and desires of craving and aversion don't have the idea/intention/expectation of "I and my difficult condition deserve to receive sympathy and empathy, and getting certain 'special compassionate reaction/treatment" from others, even under great difficulty. If they really need to get help, they would try to get it, but it's free from the idea of "I and my difficult condition deserve sympathy/empathy and help". They don't have the desire to get 'something that they want but they can't afford' under any circumstances, or to achieve something that they don't have the ability/capacity to achieve, while allowing others to be sympathetic/empathetic, or not, to show kindness and provide help out of their own freewill, or not.

Exploitation of sympathy and empathy exists when people starting to use what they think and believe as less fortunate/underprivileged condition or challenging difficult situation to gain sympathy and empathy from others, in order to gratify their desires of craving and aversion, to help them to make changes for better in life, to get out of the difficult condition that they don't like, or to do/achieve something that they want to do/achieve that they can't afford or don't have the ability/capacity for doing/achieving it. If people really want to get out from such condition and situation, and want to do/achieve something that they can't afford to do/achieve under those circumstances, they can work on expanding their ability/capacity until they acquire the ability/capacity to do/achieve what they want to do/achieve through their own effort/ability/capacity, without exploiting other people's sympathy and empathy.

To stop exploitation in the world, it's not just that one doesn't exploit anyone with any kind of exploitation, but one must also stay away from being exploited by anyone for any kind of exploitation, to stop 'encouraging' and 'supporting' exploitation of any kind to be happening/existing. Unfortunately, exploitation will continue to be existing as most people can't live without supporting and being supported by the corrupted system of the world of capitalism and consumerism.

It's not about people should be contented and grateful for the exploited underpaid income that provides enough food and shelter, and living a life of 'slavery' spending all energy and effort just to make enough income for survival, to eat, sleep, work and repeat, until they die, and thus, allowing and supporting exploitation to be happening.

It's neither about people are being arrogant and discontented for being too greedy/ambitious for getting higher rewards/payment/income to have a better quality of life, not just living a life of 'slavery', everyday eat, sleep, work and repeat, and hence, people don't want to work for underpaid work, or thinking oneself should 'deserve' a higher pay.

It's definitely not about people are being selfless, desireless and compassionate, and should just work and give even without receiving any payment, not to say, they should be grateful for the 'blessing' of a little bit of payment/income, and hence, 'supporting' and 'encouraging' exploitation to be happening.

Spouses or family members doing something for each other out of love without involving 'payment/income' or 'rewards', is a complete different situation from somebody or an organization/company doing a business making a lot of profits for the owner and/or the board of share holders, but exploiting other people to work for them with the cheapest wage as much as possible, so that they can have a higher margin for profits. Even in a relationship or family, exploitation shouldn't be happening, and yet, people are taking many things for granted, whether people are aware or unaware of it.

Allowing others to exploit or take advantage of oneself and/or others is nothing to do with compassion, and it doesn't remove ignorance and the consequences of ignorance from oneself and/or others. Just as performing many offering, charity, prayers and sacrifices also doesn't remove ignorance and the consequences of ignorance from oneself and/or others.

Just as compassion is nothing to do with giving people whatever they like and desire in order to make them feel happy and satisfied, or feel less unhappy or less suffering.

If people feel under great desperation for money to feed themselves and/or their family and don't mind being exploited working with underpaid income, thinking that having a little bit of income is better than having no income and go hungry or die, that's their freedom. Out of desperation or greed, some people would lie, steal, commit crimes or hurt other people to earn a living, or to get what they desire, that's their freedom. Just as people would give in to corruption out of desperation, by receiving bribe or giving bribe to achieve what they want to achieve, to make their life easier or less hard, that's their freedom.

It's neither right nor wrong. It's just different thinking, understanding, approach, choice and action, that leads to different consequences of action.

Yoga practitioners contemplate on this and free the mind from ignorance.