Video - The teachings and practice of yoga (1) Audio

This is part of the audio recordings from the yoga classes in one of the yoga retreats in March 2014 at Yoga Now Langkawi Malaysia.

Teaching yoga?

Teaching yoga is not just about leading a group of people doing some yogic cleansing practice, breathing exercises, concentration exercises, chantings, meditation practice, yoga exercises and yoga poses, and teach about the essence of the teachings of yoga. But all these actions are being performed without egoism of identification, attachment, judgment, comparison, expectation, personal likes and dislikes, and with compassion coming from the realization of unconditional peace from within.

As there are many people interested in learning and practicing yoga from all over the world, but not many are interested in letting go of the ego and worldly attachment or identification. Many people who are interested in joining yoga classes and doing certain style of yoga exercises are only interested in attaining some sort of pleasurable sensations and good feelings to satisfy the desire of craving and aversion of the ego.

There’s nothing wrong with people only interested in performing the yoga (asana) practice to attain physical good health and fitness, and mental good feelings, to enjoy a better quality of life. But there will be strong resistance coming from the ego towards the unpleasant experience of the mind purification and the process of depriving the ego when come to serious yoga and meditation practice.

Even some people who came with great expectation hoping that yoga and meditation will "get rid of" or "solve" all their personal "problems", they are reluctant/unwilling to let go of the ego, to go beyond the body and the mind, to remove the root cause of all "problems". This resistance is coming from the ego. They expect just by doing the yoga (asana) practice an hour a day for a few times a week, or being blessed by the so called 'Guru', can make all their "problems" disappear. But after many years attending daily yoga (asana) classes regularly, or coming in contact with certain 'Gurus' here and there, they are still troubled by "worldly problems", "life problems", "financial problems", "relationship problems", "health problems", "unhappiness", "disappointment", "dissatisfaction", "hurts", "fear", "worry", "anger", "hatred", "pride", "arrogance", "doubts", and etc…

By allowing everyone to take their time to work on eliminating the ego, through their own freewill and self-discipline, without judgment, comparison and expectation, but at the same time, the yoga teachers have to practice and propagate the essential teachings of yoga when they conduct yoga asana exercise classes, without swaying away from the fundamental teachings of yoga (the annihilation of the egoism and ignorance), is also allowing the yoga teachers themselves to purify their minds, to realize unconditional peace, compassion and wisdom.

There’s no attachment towards success and failure, praise and criticism in the action of "teaching yoga". There’s no looking forward for some sort of satisfaction, meaningfulness, achievement, good feelings, acknowledgment, praise and compliment, self-confidence, self-image, and so on, where all these names and forms are actually empowering the egoism, instead of eliminating the egoism.

Om shanti.

The lineage of yoga is being contaminated or manipulated by some impure beings?

Out of love and protection towards the lineage of yoga and meditation, some good beings are being angry and worried about the lineage of yoga might be destroyed, or contaminated, or manipulated by some people in the world who are involving in practicing and teaching yoga and meditation without correct understanding or pure intention.

It is normal and nothing wrong to be worried and upset about this. Anyone also will feel sad when seeing something "good" is being contaminated or destroyed.

The point is, we don't have to be angry or worried about whether the lineage of yoga will be destroyed, or contaminated, or manipulated by some impure beings, as there is no one, or nothing can destroy, contaminate or manipulate the essence of the teachings of yoga or the lineage of yoga. When we think like that (even though it is out of our love towards the lineage of yoga), it shows that we don't really have faith in Dharma/Dhamma, or in God, or in the universal consciousness, or in the Self... As all these names and terms are not separated nor different from each other.

The true Self is identical with the universal consciousness. And the true Self will not and cannot be contaminated, nor affected, nor destroyed, nor hurt, nor wounded by anyone, or anything, or qualities, or elements... This teaching is indicated in the Bhagavad Gita.

Ashochyaan anvaschochastwam prajnaavaadaamshcha bhaashase;
Gataasoon agataasoomshcha naanushochanti panditah.
(commentary by Swami Sivananda - Thou hast grieved for those that should not be grieved for, yet thou speakest words of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the death.)

Acchedyo'yam addaahyo'yam akledyo'shoshya eva cha;
Nityah sarvagatah sthaanur achalo'yam sanaatanah.
(commentary by Swami Sivananda - This Self cannot be cut, burnt, wetted or dried up. It is eternal, all-pervading, stable, ancient and immovable.)

When we say Dharma/Dhamma is not affected, nor contaminated, nor hurt by anything or anyone, but it's existence with name and form (the appearance and qualities) in this world is still conditioned by impermanence. It can be destroyed, be contaminated, be manipulated. But the essence or the true nature of Dharma/Dhamma, or the Truth, cannot be destroyed, nor contaminated, nor manipulated. We need to be able to accept the qualities of names and forms (the appearance of Dharma/Dhamma in the world) is subject to changes and impermanence.

Buddha had mentioned about everything that is existing with certain qualities of names and forms, is impermanent, even Dhamma also will be disappearing from the world, but the essence of Dhamma or the Truth can never be contaminated, nor manipulated, nor destructed by anyone or anything...

So what if the authentic lineage of yoga is gradually disappearing from the world? There must be a cause for that to happen, and the truth about everything is, all the names and forms are subject to impermanence.

If everyone is free from ignorance, if everyone is wise and compassionate, if everyone is pure and enlightened, then there is no need of this practice or that practice, including yoga, meditation, Buddhism or any other forms of practice...

It is because people are not free and are not pure, that's why everyone should take up some forms of practice that can help them to be free, to be pure, to be wise, to be compassionate...

Yoga, meditation, Buddhism and other types of practice, are not specially prescribed for the wise, compassionate, peaceful and selfless beings, as all these beings are already free. They don't need yoga, meditation, Buddhism or any other forms of practice to help them to be free, as they are free...

And so, it is not abnormal, nor strange, nor bad, when we see so many people are practicing and teaching yoga in the world now without "correct understanding" or "pure intentions", as these beings are the one who needed yoga, meditation, Buddhism, or any other forms of practice mostly and urgently, to attain correct understanding and be puried through all these practice.

Out of compassion, anyone are welcome to practice yoga, meditation, Buddhism, or any other forms of practice, as that is what all these practices are here for...

And thus, why be angry and upset towards all these "impure happenings" that are going on in the world of yoga, meditation, Buddhism, or any other forms of practice?

If the door of yoga and meditation is only accepting and be opened to those who are pure and wise, so that the lineage of yoga is not being contaminated nor manipulated by all these beings that are not free yet, who are not enlightened yet, then there are only few people in the world are qualified to practice yoga and meditation...

Indeed, we should try our best to protect Dharma/Dhamma as much as we can, as long as we can, so that more beings (who are not free, who need Dharma/Dhamma) will be benefited from the lineage of yoga to be free. But out of compassion, we need to allow and accept all these impure beings into the world of yoga and let them mess around a bit, allow everyone to take their own time to purify, to transform, and be wise and pure. Just like bringing up children. We have to accept them as they are, allow them to make mistakes and learn to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions, allow them to learn and transform in their own ways and pace, allow them to be who they are, and love them as they are.

We don't have to be worried and angry about all these things that are going on in the world of yoga and meditation that seem to be "corrupted", or "not so pure", or "not so authentic", if we truly love yoga, love God, love Dharma/Dhamma, love our Self and love all beings.

I don't even identify myself as pure being, that's why I am still performing my practice regularly as much as I can...

Who am I to judge or criticize other beings for being not pure?

It is okay if in the beginning there are many people who are not pure, who try to do yoga, but are not doing the yoga practice the right way, nor with correct understanding, nor with pure intentions. Everyone starts with being impure and ignorant, and then transformation happens as we practice and when the time is right.

In the beginning when I first started teaching yoga (exercise) class in the dance studio, I had no idea what yoga is or is not. I had no intention to be a yoga teacher to teach yoga classes. I didn't like yoga asana exercises, as I thought they were boring and too slow for me. I didn't even think that I will be giving yoga classes and share yoga with so many people in the present now. My main motivation to teach yoga (exercise) classes beside my full time job as aerobics instructor in the past, was to earn a living to support myself, my parents and to help out my poor family.

The income that came from teaching yoga classes before I went to India, allowed me to be able to pay for my course fees, flight ticket and other expenses, as well as some monthly financial support for my parents when I was not around.

You may read the more detailed story about what brought me to India and how I managed to have the money to go to India to learn yoga, from this link http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.com/2011/11/my-life-stories-part-6.html

As I went deeper into the practice while at the same time giving yoga classes, I allowed myself to transform from within, and I owed this to the opportunity given to me by the universe. The universe was and still is so kind to me. It accepted me when I was ignorant, and be compassionate towards me and my family for my family's poor living condition, and gave me the opportunity to teach "yoga classes" to improve my earning to support myself and my family, but most importantly, it gave me the opportunity to learn about yoga, and to practice yoga, and to transform myself into a more peaceful being. And I serve the universe by sharing these learning and transformation with other beings, where the universe bring us to meet each other.

Protect and preserve the Dharma/Dhamma in us by destroying the ego, impurities and ignorance in us. Trust and have faith in the universal consciousness, allow the universal consciousness to take care of everything else. We are underestimating the power of the universal consciousness (the power of nature) if we think Dharma/Dhamma is going to be contaminated or manipulated by some impure beings. As even if that is happening, there is something for everyone to learn from. A fake guru, or an impure yogi, or a bad yoga teacher can teach us a lot about many things that we need to learn.

Om shanti.

Who is practicing yoga and meditation?

The one who needs to perform yoga practice and meditation is the impure restless mind... If the mind is free from impurities and restlessness, there is no need of any yoga practice or meditation to act as purification "tools" to "purify" any impurities or to "calm down" any restlessness in the mind, as there is none...

The one who has no self-control needs to develop "self-control" to control itself... But the one who is already self-controlled doesn't need any act of "self-control" to control itself...

The mind is not peaceful and is not pure, and thus it needs yoga practices and meditation to be peaceful and to remove impurities.

The mind is affected and influenced by impurities and ignorance, and thus the mind needs to be free from impurities and ignorance.

The mind is affected and influenced by energy and elements, and thus it needs to be purified and be controlled through choosing what types of inputs or influences that have certain types of energy and elements...

The mind is experiencing restlessness, dissatisfaction, low confidence, unhappiness, fear, worry and is suffering, and thus the mind needs to attain peace, contentment, confidence, happiness, to be free from fear and worry, and to be liberated from suffering...

The mind needs spiritual practice such like yoga practice and meditation to be peaceful, to be pure, to feel good and be good, to be positive, to be happy and to be liberated...

The mind is affected or disturbed or determined by whatever it perceives through the senses. It is affected or disturbed or determined by what it sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches and thinks... But the selfless consciousness is not affected nor disturbed nor determined by all the names and forms that the mind is experiencing or perceiving from moment to moment...

If there is no mind, there is no perception of names and forms, there is no world, there is no happiness and suffering, there is no good and evil, there is no positive and negative, there is no liberation and non-liberation...

The selfless consciousness is unconditional, unchanging, and is beyond qualities of dualities (it is neither pure nor impure, neither good nor bad, neither positive nor negative), it doesn't need any spiritual practice like yoga practice or meditation to make it pure and good, or to make it peaceful, or to make it positive, or to make it happy, or to give it liberation...

The selfless consciousness is unaffected nor influenced by energy and elements, and thus energy and elements have no influence power to influence or contaminate or change what it is...

The sentence about "We" need to practice yoga and meditation to attain purity, wisdom, compassion, peace, and to be liberated from unhappiness and suffering, is just the mind (As "we" are the idea of 'I' identified with the modification of the mind, and so, "we" need to practice yoga and meditation to attain liberation or peace...).

The minds that realized the Truth of selflessness, and know the selfless consciousness, and have gone beyond the modification of the mind, they don't need to perform any yoga practice or meditation to attain "anything", as the selfless consciousness is all peace, and it is beyond all the qualities of pure and impure, good and evil, positive and negative, happiness and unhappiness... It is not tainted and not contaminated by any qualities of dualities in the mind, which is not "us", and thus it doesn't matter the mind is pure or impure, positive or negative, good or evil, happy or unhappy, it has nothing to do with the selfless consciousness...

The selfless consciousness doesn't need to be purified... It doesn't need to be good or do good or feel good... It doesn't need to be peaceful and happy... It doesn't need to be positive or strong... It doesn't need to develop wisdom and compassion...

The selfless consciousness is not bound by the presence of ceaseless births and deaths, of selfless impermanent changes, which is the nature of all kinds of selfless impermanent names and forms, where inevitable suffering of restlessness arise in the restless mind under the veil of ignorance, and so, the mind needs to attain liberation, but there is no suffering of restlessness in the selfless consciousness, and so, it doesn't need to attain any "liberation"...

The selfless consciousness is not being affected, nor influenced, nor disturbed, nor determined, nor tainted by good and evil, positive and negative energy, actions and inactions that come from the body and the mind... And thus it is not bound by all these things, or objects, or experiences, or relationships, or names and forms that are related to this selfless impermanent life existence under the functions of the limited and conditional body and mind...

Realize the selfless consciousness of what all and everything are, and the mind will realize that there is no need to perform any spiritual practice to be liberated... And there is no "I" in all and everything... There is no "I" am experiencing "this and that"... There is no "I" am good or evil... There is no "I" am positive or negative... There is no "I" am pure or impure... There is no "I" am happy or suffering... There is no "I" am peaceful or not peaceful... There is no "I" am performing actions or inactions... There is no "I" am enjoying the fruit of "my" actions or inactions... There is no "I" am liberated or need to be liberated...

This "I" is the non-existing idea of 'I' or the ego, occupying the selfless modification of the selfless mind... And the mind is conditional and limited, selfless and impermanent...

As long as there is still an idea of 'I' identifying with the body and the modification of the mind, and attached to this life existence as "I" and "All that "I" am experiencing, who is performing actions and inactions, and who is enjoying the fruit of "my" actions and inactions...", then this mind needs all kinds of spiritual practice such like yoga and meditation to be liberated from ignorance, impurities, restlessness and suffering...

The body and the mind will be benefited from the yoga practice and meditation, to be healthy and peaceful... But, the selfless consciousness doesn't need any benefits from the yoga practice and meditation. It is all peace, without birth, changes, growth, decay, old age, illness and death...

By bringing the body and the mind to perform yoga practice and meditation, is being kind and compassionate towards this body and mind... When the body and mind is in harmony and peace due to the effect of the yoga practice and meditation, naturally it will be benefiting the world, as there is less a being in the world to generate disharmony and unrest into the world due to the mind is in a suffering state of unrest and disharmony...

Om shanti.

Letting go of all the worldly identifications, attachments, qualities and dualities... and be free...

If we are sincere in learning and practicing yoga, and want to attain yoga or unconditional real peace, we need to let go of any worldly identifications about what we think we are...

If we still have identification with worldly qualities and conditions of names and forms, and still think that we are somehow more superior or inferior than anyone due to our family background, race, religion, belief, values, spiritual achievement, social status, financial status, job title, political influences, educational background, personal image, professional image, intelligence, talents, creativity, physical and mental health and fitness conditions, physical and mental abilities, lifestyle, popularity, worldly achievements, social contributions or any forms of identity, then know that no matter how long we have been "practicing yoga", or how much "yoga poses" that we can perform perfectly and beautifully, or how much we have heard, read and know about what is yoga and its practice, it shows that we are not really practicing yoga at all...

If we still have this idea or thought about "I am somehow better than somebody" or "I am somehow less good than somebody", or "Somebody is better than me" or "Somebody is less good than me", know that we are not practicing yoga at all...

If we still have this identification about "I am or am not good or bad", "I do or don't do good or bad", "I did or didn't do good or bad", "I deserve or don't deserve goodness or badness", "I receive or don't receive something good or bad" or "I give or don't give something good or bad", know that we are not practicing yoga at all...

If we still have this idea or thought about "Somebody (who is not I) is or isn't good or bad", "Somebody does or doesn't do good or bad", "Somebody did or didn't do good or bad", "Somebody deserves or doesn't deserve good or bad", "Somebody receives or doesn't receive something good or bad" or "Somebody gives or doesn't give something good or bad", know that we are not practicing yoga at all...

Even though everyday we devote a few hours into "yoga and meditation practice"...

Letting go of the identification as the doer of actions and inactions, and letting go of the identification as the enjoyer of the fruit of the actions and inactions, is practicing yoga...

Letting go of attachment and judgment towards all the qualities and conditions of names and forms, is practicing yoga...

Once we truly let go of all these identifications, attachments, qualities and dualities, we will know the truth of ourselves, of who we really are, about what we think is 'I'... And be free...

Just by reading, hearing, knowing and talking about the word "detachment" and "non-identification" doesn't mean anything, doesn't bring us liberation, unless we really practice detachment and non-identification, by letting go of attachments and identifications...

Most of the time, "we" are afraid of letting go of all these worldly identifications because our ego depends or feeds on all these identifications to be "somebody", to be existing... That's why "we" keep attached strongly onto all these identifications and reluctant to let them go, even though we know that the yoga teachings and the practice is there "asking" us to "please let go of all these worldly identifications..."

Om shanti.

Why Malays cannot do yoga?

One day this search word "Why Malays cannot do yoga?" came to Be Happy's blog. I cannot give an answer to this question "Why Malays cannot do yoga?", you'll have to find out from the one who imposed this idea, because it is not us or the teachings of yoga that saying anything about this, or don't want any Malays to be practicing yoga, but I would like to share my own opinion with whoever interested in this issue... Because our yoga centre (maybe it's the only one) is being legally bound by the conditions of forbidding us from receiving or accepting any Muslims of any origins for all the yoga activities in our yoga centre...

* * * * * * * * * * *

Everyone and anyone also can do yoga, practice yoga, realize yoga, teach yoga, share yoga...

We don't even need any internationally "recognized" or "approved" bodies, organizations, schools, qualifications or certifications to qualify, or to certify, or to allow us to do yoga, practice yoga, realize yoga, teach yoga, share yoga...

Even when we heard something about who and who should not or cannot practice yoga, it won't stop and cannot stop anybody or any beings from doing, or practicing, or realizing, or sharing yoga...

Even Malays or Muslims can practice yoga in Malaysia or in anywhere openly...

There are a lot of Malay yoga practitioners, or yoga teachers, or yoga instructors in Malaysia doing yoga, teaching yoga, practicing yoga, sharing yoga, and realizing yoga, everywhere in Malaysia including Langkawi... Peace and light to all these yoga practitioners who are sincere in their yoga practice and realize the meanings of yoga...

Our yoga centre in Langkawi is being legally bound by the conditions or terms or rules and regulations in our business license stating that "This yoga centre is not allowed to receive or accept any Muslims of any origins, or else the business license will be revoked" - That's all.

We never say, or think, or believe, or propagate that "Muslims cannot practice yoga".

If I'm not wrong, all Malays in Malaysia are born to be Muslims - There's no freedom of choice or opportunity to choose their own beliefs or religion... Please correct me if that is incorrect...

In Malaysia, Muslims or Malays can practice yoga, there is no law binding that they cannot practice yoga, neither there is any legal punishment will be enforced on them if they practice yoga. Muslims and Malays are free to practice yoga, but there was an "advice" from the Malaysian Islamic religion department or the head of the mosque about the yoga practice or the yoga teachings might be contradicting with their religion's teachings, or beliefs, or practice...

I'm not a Muslim, so I cannot say much or comment what are the teachings of Islam. What I know about yoga and its practice, it's to promote mind purification, correct understanding, peace, harmony, compassion, wisdom, loving kindness, tolerance, accommodation, adjustment, adaptation, acceptance, respect, humility, morality, truthfulness, honesty, chastity, purity, calmness, self-introspection, self-observation, self-control, self-discipline, selflessness, egolessness and evolve towards the annihilation of the modification of the mind, to attain absolute freedom or liberation from suffering, to realize unconditional peace...

Just like the teachings of Buddhism is similar to the teachings of yoga, but maybe the ways of practice or approach are not exactly the same, but both are heading towards the same source, the same direction... They are not any contradicting with each other but actually complimenting each other, in my own opinion...

Buddhists won't be angry or object any Buddhists to practice yoga or any other beliefs or religion... Yogis won't be angry or object any yogis to practice Buddhism or any other beliefs or religion...

If Muslims come to our yoga centre and practice yoga, they won't get any troubles or punishments, but we might lose the business license to be legally conducting yoga classes or teaching yoga on Langkawi island... That's all. We still want to teach or share yoga to many other people from around the world who are not under this "ridiculous" restriction, and so, we respect this terms of "For non-Muslim only" on all our yoga classes, workshops and retreats... That doesn't mean that we think or believe or propagate that "Muslims or Malays cannot practice yoga"...

And maybe one day, we will leave Langkawi, or not teaching yoga here anymore... We'll follow wherever the universe want us to be...

There are other people teaching yoga on the island that are not bound by this legal condition, either they do not have a business license or their licenses are not restricted to this condition... Those who "cannot" come to our yoga centre can go to these yoga teachers on the island to practice yoga... Be happy.

Real yoga practice is in the heart, in our life, in every moment of awareness and existence, wherever we go, wherever we are, whatever we do and don't do... Yoga practice and the teachings is not limited in some yoga classes conducted by a yoga teacher, or yoga centre, or yoga school... Yoga practice is not limited in doing some form of physical movements or practices. Physical illness or limitation might limit the body from doing some form of physical movements or practices, but it doesn't stop the mind from practicing yoga as it is, undetermined by any impermanent qualities of names and forms.

Anyway, teaching yoga or sharing yoga is nothing to do with a business license... We don't need a "business license" to be able to share yoga with anyone in the world... But, due to the sensitive issue about yoga in Malaysia especially on this island where more than 90% of the population are Muslims, we decided to apply for a business license to legalize our activities on sharing or teaching yoga on this island... It is only the yoga activities in our yoga centre is being bound by legal terms... We are not restricted to share yoga only with certain people and not sharing yoga to certain people... Our Gurus never mentioned that we can only teach yoga to certain people and not to certain people... The teachings of yoga cannot be restricted by any so called "legal law"... The teachings of yoga and the yoga practice is for everybody and anyone...

Yoga is in everyone whether we know about it or not, whether we like it or not...

Whoever is interested in search for the Truth and want to attain liberation, want to be free from ignorance and suffering, want to realize unconditional peace, everyone can learn yoga, or practice yoga, or do yoga, or realize yoga, it doesn't matter what are the nationality, gender, race, culture, religion, spirituality, beliefs, language spoken, personality, characteristic, conditions and abilities/disabilities, duty, responsibility, behavior, level of consciousness, level of ignorance, and etc...

All can practice yoga and realize yoga...

Unconditional love and peace is yoga... Every beings are entitled with yoga in them since the beginning of existence... Even the most evil being also has unconditional love and peace within, also is entitled with yoga...

There are many other meditation centres in Malaysia are not allowed to receive Muslims too. There are many religious or philosophical books that are not Islamic are not allowed to be read or sold to Muslims. There is a stamp on the book stated "For non-Muslim only"... Please don't be angry with these yoga centres or meditation centres for putting up a sign stating "For non-Muslims only", because it is not their fault, or intention, or decision, to reject, or offend, or discriminate anyone...

 

The essence of yoga upon the realization of selflessness, is about attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, which leads to non-discrimination. Non-discrimination is the key to peace and harmony while living among the many diversities of different names and forms in this world. Unfortunately, out of survival instinct, greed and selfishness, out of self-interest and self-protectiveness, certain people in the world intentionally propagate separateness and discrimination, to divide and control, to gain power for achieving their desires or ambitions, financially and politically.

At least for the other people who are non-Muslims in Malaysia, they still have the freedom to read or buy any books that they want in Malaysia (except those books that are banned in Malaysia and you won't see them for sale on the book shelves in the book shops), or people can choose to live outside Malaysia, reside in somewhere else that doesn't restrict or oppress freedom of thinking and expression... They can have the freedom to have any religions or beliefs, or not having any religion or belief... They can have the freedom to inquire the truth of everything... They are free to practice yoga and meditation without being condemned, or criticized, or objected, or penalized, by anybody or authority, or any religion followers...

Sometimes in a family or in the society, our parents, or relatives, or friends, or neighbours, or communities, also will try to interfere with, or to control, or to advise us about we should this and shouldn't do that... But, the choice is in us...

Nobody can give us peace and happiness or take away the peace and happiness in us... Peace and happiness is in us all the time, nameless and formless... It is the nature of all.

Nobody can give us freedom or take away our freedom... Freedom is in us, nameless and formless...

May all be free from ignorance...

Om shanti.

Where does happy feeling or sensation comes from when we feel happy?

When the mind is being one-pointedness being in the present moment now, at that moment the mind is free from the past experiences/memories and free from the future projections/imaginations/anticipations. And thus, there is no judgments, comparisons and expectations, free from duality of good and bad, positive and negative, pleasantness and unpleasantness. And thus the mind is free from craving and aversion, doubts, fear and worry... At that moment, peace is there. Blissful feeling of happiness is there...

The truth is, it is not the objects or happenings out there that give us the state of mind of peace and happiness. It is not what we do or don't do that make our mind feel happy or unhappy.

All the objects, happenings, names and forms (sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch, thinking/thoughts) out there, they have no qualities or intentions to make us happy or not happy, peaceful or not peaceful. It is the one-pointedness state of the mind that is free from craving and aversion, free from greed and dissatisfaction when we do the things or get in contact with the things that we like and want, that generates the (momentary) peace and happiness in the mind. When the mind loses it one-pointedness due to impermanence or disturbance from other objects, names and forms, that momentary peace and happiness will be disturbed and fade away. Emptiness or dissatisfaction/greed/craving for some other satisfaction and happy feelings immediately take over the experience of momentary contentment, peace and happiness that comes from one-pointedness or concentration of the mind.

That's why different people find (momentary) peace and happiness in many different ways by doing the things and getting the objects that they like and want. Some people feel good from doing good actions and enjoy doing good actions. Some people feel good from doing evil actions and enjoy doing evil actions. It is not the good actions or the evil actions that give us the good and happy feelings. It is the one-pointedness state of mind while doing any actions that gives us the momentary state of satisfaction and happy sensation in the mind.

We often hear people say that there are many different ways or methods of how to be happy in life. There's nothing wrong with this saying. We do get (momentary) happy feelings or sensations when we are able to do the things that we like to do, when we can get the things that we like, when we can enjoy some precious moments with our family and friends, when we can do some charity works helping other beings, when we can contribute to the society and the world through many ways, when we can live a good quality and healthy lifestyle, when we can enjoy active social life and interactions with one another, when we can live our life meaningfully by doing the things that we like to do and want to do, achieve our goals and dreams, or attain some sort of power, material belongings, name and fame, and etc...

Definitely, there will be momentary happy feelings and satisfaction coming from doing or attaining all the things being mentioned in the above. In the teachings of yoga and meditation, this type of momentary happy feelings and satisfaction is called conditional happiness and satisfaction that is conditioned and determined by the qualities of the external objects, happenings, names and forms. It will be disturbed by some other objects, greed, dissatisfaction, craving and aversion, and it will fade away. This momentary satisfaction and happy feeling is conditioned and determined by what we like and dislike, want and don't want, and what we agree and disagree with. When our craving for certain things is being gratified, our mind experience contentment and feel good. And when the craving is not being gratified, the mind experience discontentment and doesn't feel good.

There is no doubt that there are many ways and methods to be happy in life, but what really generates the happy feelings or sensations in us is because of the mind is being in the present moment, free from the past or the future, free from craving and aversion for that time being when the momentary satisfaction arise due to we are able to do and getting the things that we like and want, or when we come in contact with the objects that we agree with.

This type of momentary conditional happiness is not the unchangeable real happiness that the teachings of yoga and meditation talk about. Those who really practice yoga and meditation will not waste energy in chasing after all these momentary happiness and satisfaction that are impermanent, changeable, dissatisfying, and are conditioned and limited by the different qualities of names and forms. The real peace and happiness is already there within us, never increase nor decrease, never disappear, undisturbed or unaffected or undetermined by impermanent conditional external objects, happenings, names and forms. We just need to purify our mind to remove impurities and ignorance, calming the restless agitated state of mind, and we will realize this true and eternal peace and happiness that is always there with us and never leave us.

Realize this Truth, we will stop looking out for momentary peace and happiness and we will rest in peace and happiness that is already there in us that is unconditional, unlimited and undisturbed by any external objects, happenings, names and forms.

It also means that, no matter what is the condition of our body and the mind, or the condition of our life, the environment and the entire worldly existence, we will always rest in peace in our true Self or true nature. That is the means of yoga and meditation practice...

All the names and forms are just being what they are. They are not something good or bad, positive or negative, happiness or suffering...

The pure and calm mind that is free from the influence of the ego and the intellect (being free from selfish intentions, judgment, comparison, expectation, craving, aversion, dissatisfaction, greed, pride, arrogance, anger, hatred, jealousy, fear and worry, and all sorts of impurities) will be able to perceive the reality of everything as it is, not necessary the way that we want it to be or the way that we think it should be...

There is no craving for something that is being categorized by the intellect as good, positive and happy. There is no aversion towards something that is being categorized by the intellect as bad, negative and suffering.

Suffering disappears. Unhappiness disappears. Fear and worry disappear.

When there is no suffering, unhappiness, fear and worry, there's no need to looking for peace and happiness, because peace and happiness is already there...

The moment when the craving for peace and happiness, as well as the aversion towards unpeacefulness and unhappiness stop, that moment is peaceful...

Peaceful feeling or sensation that comes from being with the people that we like and agree with, by getting or coming in contact with the objects that we like and want or desire, and being in a pleasant environment, it's conditional, it's limited, it's impermanent. It will change, be disturbed and disappear. It is dissatisfying in its nature.

When we stop attaching to this peace and happy feeling or sensation that are conditioned and limited by external objects, happenings, names and forms, we will rest in the unconditional and unlimited peace in our true nature.

If we depend on certain good conditions or objects to feel peace and happiness, then very soon we will be disappointed and being unhappy when impermanence strikes.

The essential teachings in yoga and meditation is to realize the Truth about we are not the body, we are not the mind. This body and this mind don't belong to us, and they are not us.

There is not a thing that is "I". There is no "I" am performing some actions or not performing any actions. There is no "I" there to go through birth, growth, decay, old age, sickness, and death. There is no "I" there being happy or unhappy.

It is just the body and mind being existing, changing and eventually will stop existing.

There is no "I" there to experience all the perceptions of sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch and thinking/thoughts. It is just the body and mind experiencing all these impermanent names and forms.

There's no "I" there to experience all sorts of emotions, feelings and sensations, pleasant and unpleasant experiences.

There is no "I" being good or not good.

There is no "I" there to have fear, worry, doubts, dissatisfaction, craving, aversion, pride, arrogance, to be happy or sad, to be praised or censured, to be positive or negative, to be healthy or sick, to be strong or weak, to experience success or failure, respectful or disrespectful, auspiciousness or inauspiciousness, completeness or incompleteness, and to be loved or to love...

All the qualities, dualities, names and forms disappear.

There is no arguments, criticisms or justifications.

The mind is resting in silence...

That is when we realize the Truth of ourselves and the entire worldly existence...

Om shanti.

No matter what we do or don't do to find peace and happiness in life, true and lasting happiness is there when we are free from being conditioned and determined by all the external objects of names and forms, and when we are free from being determined by judgment and expectation coming from our own self and other people, and when we are free from the attachment towards our actions and the fruit of our actions...

Swami Sivananda's words of wisdom - Concentration and Meditation (6)

Too much physical exertion, too much talking, too much eating, too much mixing with ladies and undesirable persons, too much walking, cause distraction of mind. Those who practise concentration must abandon these things. Whatever work you do, do it with perfect concentration. Never leave the work without finishing it completely.

过多体力活动消耗太多的体力，交谈太多，饮食过多，太多社交活动,和女士们以及不良好的人物混合一起，行走过多，都会导致意识分散集中力。那些练习专注的人必须放弃这些东西。无论你做任何工作，都要以完美的集中力去做。在工作还没有完成之前不要离开它。

Concentration and Meditation - Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda's words of wisdom - Concentration and Meditation (5)

The mind thinks of words and their meanings. While at other times it thinks of objects. When you attempt to have one-pointedness of mind, you must make the mind not to think of objects and the words and their meanings.

意识会想到文字词语，和它们的含义。而在其他时候，它会想到事物。当您尝试让意识集中在一个意念上，你必须让意识不去想念和思考事物，文字词语和它们的含义。

Concentration and Meditation - Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda's words of wisdom - Concentration and Meditation (4)

Worldly pleasures intensify the desire for enjoying greater pleasures. Hence the mind of worldlings is very restless. There is no satisfaction and mental peace. Mind can never be satisfied, whatever amount of pleasure you may store up for it. The more it enjoys the pleasures, the more it wants them. So people are exceedingly troubled and bothered by their own minds. Hence in order to remove these botherations and troubles the Rishis thought it best to deprive the mind of all sensual pleasures. When the mind has been concentrated or made extinct, it cannot pinch one to seek for further pleasure, and all botherations and troubles are removed for ever and the person attains real peace.

世俗享乐加强希望享有更大程度的享乐的欲望。因此，世俗人的心灵是非常的焦躁不安。没有满足和没有平静的心灵。无论您可能会储存起来多大数量的快感，但意识永远无法满足。越是享受享乐，越更希望得到它们。因此人们极度的困扰，烦恼自己的心灵。因此为了消除这些困扰与烦恼，圣人认为最好是剥夺意识所有的感官享乐。当意识得到了集中或绝迹，它将不能捏住心灵去寻求无穷无尽的享乐。所有的困扰与烦恼都将被永远的删除。此人的心灵将会达到真正的平静。

Concentration and Meditation - Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda's words of wisdom - Concentration and Meditation (3)

A man whose mind is filled with passion and all sorts of fantastic desires can hardly concentrate on any object even for a second. Celibacy, Pranayama, reduction of wants and activities, renunciation of sensual objects, solitude, silence, discipline of the senses, annihilation of lust, greed, anger, non-mixing with undesirable persons, giving up of newspaper-reading and visiting cinemas, all increase the power of concentration.

当一个人的心中充满了激情和各种梦幻般的欲望，他将是难以集中于任何事物，甚至是一秒钟。独身(限制性活动)，调息，减少欲望和活动，放弃感官的对象，独处，沉默，纪律所有的感官，毁灭欲望，贪婪，愤怒，不与不良的人混合在一起，放弃阅读报纸和到访电影院，这些所有都会增强集中力。

Concentration and Meditation - Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda's words of wisdom - Concentration and Meditation (2)

Practice concentration of the mind. Fix the mind on one object, on one idea. Withdraw the mind again and again when it runs away from Lakshya and fix it there. Do not allow the mind to create hundreds of thought-forms. Introspect and watch the mind carefully. Live alone. Avoid company. Do not mix. This is important.

训练集中意识。固定在一个物件，一种理念。当意识出离内心时，一次又一次地把它带回和维持在那里。不要让意识创造数以百计的思想形式。内省和小心看守意识。独居。避免同伴。不要混杂社交人群。这是很重要的。

Concentration and Meditation - Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda's words of wisdom - Concentration and Meditation (1)

Keeping the balance of mind in pleasure and in pain, in heat and in cold, in gain and in loss, in success and in failure, in praise and in censure, in respect and in disrespect, is real wisdom.

在喜悦与痛苦之中，在热与冷之中，在收获与损失之中，在成功与失败之中，在赞美与毁谤之中，在尊重与不尊重之中，得以保持平衡的心态，是真正的智慧。

Concentration and Meditation - Swami Sivananda

May all be free...

It is not after how many hours or years we have practice yoga and meditation that will guarantee us peace and freedom... We can sit there try to meditate for thousands of years, but if there is attachment, attaching to the intention, attaching to the experiences, attaching to the expectation, attaching to the actions and fruit of the actions, and that very moment we are not free. We are conditioned and limited by this attachment...

It is in this instant moment if we are not attach to this body, this mind, this ego, this intellect, this entire perception of names and forms, peace is here, freedom is here... We are not free it's because we have attachment towards the perception of names and forms through the function of the mind. We attach to this body, this mind, this ego and this intellect... In this present moment, if we let go of this attachment, in this very moment we are free!

Audio - the practice of yoga

This is a mp3 audio file of one of the talks about the practice of yoga at the beginning of the yoga class.

http://www.yogaretreatmalaysia.com/yogatalk.mp3

Please click on the link above to download the mp3 file.

Om shanti.

Paths are many, but Yoga is only one...

Many people keep asking this same question.

“What type of yoga are you practicing?”

It really doesn’t matter what type of yoga we are practicing, as long as we apply the essence of yoga teachings into our practice of many different paths, we are heading towards one same direction – Yoga.

Unless our practice doesn’t apply any of the essence of yoga teachings, such like, selflessness (egoless), compassion, wisdom, purification (of inner impurities in the mind), dispassion (towards worldly objects), discrimination (of what is real and unreal), non-attachment (undisturbed by the condition of the body and the mind, unaffected by whatever the mind perceives through the senses), non-reaction (do not generate craving or aversion), non-doership (of all actions and inactions), renunciation (from the fruit of action), non-judgment, non-comparison, non-expectation, fearlessness, acceptance, adjustment, adaptation, accommodation, forgiveness, patience, perseverance, determination, willpower, non-dualism, morality, self-control, contentment, calmness, equanimous, generosity, faith, surrendering (the ego and selfishness)…

Then our practice is heading to some other directions.

But there is nothing wrong about going towards different directions.

Everyone has the freedom and rights to decide what direction we want to head to. Right choice or wrong choice is still our own responsibility.

Be happy.