Decay and death don't discriminate anyone of any qualities

Regardless of who and what and where everyone think they are

Regardless of all kinds of different qualities and experiences that everyone have or don't have

What kind of condition and situation in the world

Pleasant or unpleasant

Desirable or undesirable

Agreeable or disagreeable

For the mind, the body, the senses

What the minds think and don't think

What the minds believe and don't believe

What the minds appreciate and don't appreciate

What the minds do and don't do

What the minds achieve and don't achieve

What the minds feel and don't feel

Wise or ignorant

Peaceful or peaceless

Healthy or unhealthy

Fit or unfit

Easiness or difficulty

No matter how successful, powerful and prideful one can be

No matter how advance is science and technology

There is one same inevitable truth in all and everyone and everything

Decay and death don't discriminate anyone of any qualities

The selfless impermanent changes under the influence of the law of nature

However

Above all that

'I' less

Who is there to feel or don't feel successful, prideful and powerful?

Who is there enjoying and suffering?

Who is there coming and going?

Who is there changing?

Who is there decaying and dying?

Annihilating pride and arrogance vs encouraging pride and arrogance

Most teachings from the many different social/cultural/religious belief and practice talk mainly about the propagation and attainment of 'peace' and 'harmony'.

If the practitioners or followers of any particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice is being educated and encouraged to have pride and arrogance, to be proud and arrogant towards their particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice, then naturally, there will be more conflict, unrest, anger, hatred and violence, and less peace and harmony in the world, due to the prideful and arrogant minds are easily being offended by many things that they don't like and disagree with, deriving from the pride and arrogance in themselves, and not because there are many things are being offensive towards any particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice. It doesn't really serve the main purpose of any particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice about propagating and attaining 'peace' and 'harmony' in oneself and in the world, when the practitioners or followers constantly and easily feel being offended by many things that are being different from or contradicting with their particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice that they take pride in, but instead, it's promoting conflict, unrest, anger, hatred and violence in oneself and in the world.

If the practitioners or followers of any particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice is free from pride and arrogance towards their particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice, then naturally, there will be less beings in the world who would feel offended, disrespected and insulted easily by many things that are different from and contradicted with their particular social/cultural/religious teaching, belief and practice, and hence, the world will have less conflict, unrest, anger, hatred and violence, and will have more peace and harmony.

Unfortunately, regardless of the many different types of educational/social/cultural/religious background, many people are being brought up in the way of developing pride and arrogance, to be proud of themselves, or their family, or their ethnicity and community, or their culture and religion, or their nationality and country. And hence, it's common that people are easily being offended by many things that they don't like and disagree with.

"I'm so proud of you!"

"You should be proud of yourself!"

"Be proud of being part of this family, culture, ethnicity, community, religion, nationality and country."

"Defend your pride. Defend your family, culture, ethnicity, community, religion, nationality and country."

"You need to be someone and do something that would make yourself and your family, community and country be proud of!"

This is the common belief and practice among many different ethnicities, cultures, religions and nations, in different families, communities and countries, at home, at school, at work place and in all kinds of social/cultural/religious/community centre, where people aren't aware of it's the main reason why there are many people easily feel offended and would behave violently towards other beings and things that they feel being offended by, out of their own pride and arrogance, deriving from ignorance and egoism. Even many yoga teachers also teaching their yoga students in the yoga class in such way to encourage the development of pride and arrogance in the students, thinking of it's the right and effective way to boost or enhance self-esteem, self-worth and the sense of confidence and meaningfulness, in order to counter low self-esteem, low self-worth, low confidence and the sense of meaninglessness. But instead, it's ruin the minds and empowering ignorance and egoism in the world.

If all the kind human beings who have a little bit of awareness and truly want to promote peace and harmony in the world, then all the parents or caretakers, and different kinds of leader, influencer, educator and teacher in the world must let go of taking pride in themselves for being part of a particular family, culture, ethnicity, community, religion, spirituality, nationality, country, or even achievement and contribution, and stop educating or encouraging everyone to also take pride in certain names and forms.

The world doesn't need pride and arrogance, and would be a much better place without unnecessary offensiveness/defensiveness deriving from pride and arrogance towards certain names and forms that the mind identifying with. It would be best if all minds are free from any identification with any names and forms that generates all kinds of separateness and discrimination among human beings. But that's unlikely to happen unless all the parents, caretakers, leaders, influencers, educators and teachers start to really propagate peace and harmony in the world, by stop taking pride in anything. Don't tell the people that they need to love and take pride in their respective family, culture, ethnicity, community, religion, nationality and country, but tell the people to love all and everything unconditionally, non-discriminatively, as they are, without the need of pride and arrogance towards their particular identification with certain names and forms.

That's why the importance of non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-judgment and non-expectation to free the mind from ignorance and egoism for anyone who truly want to realize unconditional peace, and to promote unconditional non-discriminative loving kindness and peace in the world, regardless of the many different social/cultural/ethnic/educational/religious/nationality/country background.

If a country of diversity wants to curb unrest and conflict under the terms of 'offensiveness', 'disrespectfulness' and 'insult', it's not about trying to 'pamper' and 'protect' those prideful minds that are closed minded, highly defensive and super sensitive towards everything and easily be offended by many things that they perceive, think and believe as offensiveness/disrespectfulness/insult towards all the names and forms of different identities that they identifying with as themselves, or who they are, by telling other people to not doing or saying anything that these prideful defensive sensitive closed minds perceive, think and believe as something 'offensive', 'disrespectful' and 'insult', but, it's to educate these prideful defensive sensitive closed minds that live in anger, hatred and violence all the time, to let go of petite-mindedness, pride, arrogance, defensiveness, sensitivity, anger, hatred and violence, and train them to be more open, tolerant, wise and compassionate. Then only the country will improve and move forward in all aspects, not just within the country, but also internationally. Or else, the stability and welfare of the country will be impacted greatly by the majority of the population being easily 'offended' by many things that aren't really 'offensive' but are being perceived by them as something 'offensive' due to petite-mindedness, pride, arrogance, defensiveness and sensitivity.

By 'legally' oppressing and prosecuting those who are somehow being 'seen' as the ones who do or say something that those closed minded prideful defensive sensitive minds perceive, think and believe as something 'offensive', 'disrespectful' and 'insult' to them or their identity of a particular society/ethnicity/religion/spirituality/community, won't help the country to become more peaceful and harmony, but only planting a 'timed bomb' that will explode anytime and destroy the country in many ways.

Those who are open minded, tolerant, wise and compassionate, being free from pride and arrogance, they won't be 'offended', 'disrespected' or 'insulted' by any names and forms. Without being disturbed or determined by it, but just being aware of all those 'unpleasant' names and forms are nothing but ignorant egoistic actions and reactions of the minds out of ignorance and egoism. These wise and compassionate minds are the ones who can help the country to improve and move forward in all aspects, without discrimination, racism and prejudice.

A country that has achieved 'the state of independence' but the majority of the population are not free from ignorance and egoism, is not independent at all. It's worst when a country is run by corrupted minds that only interested in gaining power that help them to achieve their personal agenda and desire by keeping the majority of the population to be ignorant and egoistic, so that they can keep in power by manipulating the easy manipulated ignorant egoistic minds. The stability and welfare of the country in the long run is not in their priority at all, but instead, they 'encourage' separateness, disharmony, instability, fear, anger and hatred among the people which can 'help' them to keep in power and gain personal benefit as much as possible with the power. This is what so called democracy is about. Meanwhile those who want to do something right to achieve peace and harmony in the society that benefit all and everyone would be oppressed and prosecuted legally by the so called 'law and order'.

All the Gurus and Buddhas in the past had given great advice about inquiring the truth of everything, and stay away from politics, politicians, and politically influenced advertisements and newspaper reading.

Those who don't want peace and aren't interested to promote peace in the world, but only want to promote the sense of pride and meaningfulness the way that they like it to be, can continue to be proud and arrogant, as well as educating/encouraging their next generation to also be proud and arrogant about themselves and everything that they want to be identifying with, so that they and their next generation will constantly feel offended by many things that they perceive, think and believe as offensive towards themselves, their family, their ethnicity, their culture, their community, their religion, their nationality, their country, and their achievement and contribution that they take pride in.

Inquire the truth of everything.

胜不骄 败不馁

胜不骄 败不馁 parenting method vs "Good job, well done, we are so proud of you and you should be so proud of yourself" kind of parenting method.

If more people understand 胜不骄 败不馁 rather than "I need to achieve something and be somebody that will make myself and other people feel proud of", then the psychologists in the world will be out of job.

Never tell people who live in difficult life condition about what they should and shouldn't eat

The realization of unconditional peace is not determined by what people eat or don't eat, or whether one is eating 'pure non-animal products vegetarian food' or 'animal products non-vegetarian food'.

By consuming 'pure and clean food' or 'non-animal products vegetarian diet' doesn't guarantee that one is or will be free from ignorance, egoism, impurities, restlessness and suffering. Just like by performing many years of 'yoga practice' also doesn't guarantee that one is free from ignorance and the by-products of ignorance. One might still be overpowered by the sense of self-righteousness, pride and superiority, and hence, be disturbed very much by what the mind perceives/recognizes as bad, wrong, negativity, inferiority, hurtful, offensive, insulting, disrespectful, undeserving, disappointing, painful sorrow, or suffering. People can be observing vegetarian diet due to cultural/religious practice for many years, and feel proud for being 'compassionate vegetarian' or being one of the member of a culture/religion, but still the mind might be not free from ignorance, egoism, impurities, restlessness and suffering.

People who consume 'particular type of non-animal products vegetarian food' with the sense of self-righteousness, pride and superiority, might be over-powered by self-righteousness and would criticize/condemn others who consume 'animal products non-vegetarian food', or vice versa. This is not part of the yoga practice.

Whether it's part of the spiritual/cultural/religious/environmental/ethical practice, or due to some other reasons that people choose to adopt a particular type of food choice based on one's thinking/belief/thoughtfulness/conscience, but we cannot tell or interfere with people what they should or shouldn't eat, or 'criticizing' or 'condemning' those whom we think they don't adopt 'that particular type of food choice' for some reasons, as we think that we are somehow more superior than others because of our superior food choice.

Just like we ourselves want to practice yoga, but we can't go into people's life and tell people what they should and shouldn't practice, or how people should and shouldn't think/believe/behave/act and react, and we can't criticize/condemn anyone who don't like yoga, or who don't practice yoga, or who aren't interested in yoga, or who don't practice yoga as it is, even though we see yoga as something good and beneficial for many people, provided if people allow their minds to be open, unattached towards any particular thinking and belief that has been conditioning/influencing how they think, judge, feel, expect, act and react towards all the names and forms, as those who attached strongly onto their particular thinking and belief cannot be open to inquire the truth of other teachings/practice that are different from their own thinking and belief, as they would instantly reject and object what is different from and contradicted with their existing social/cultural/religious/spiritual thinking and belief, of what they think they know, and do not want to learn/inquire/know any further about other teachings/practice that they disagree with based on their own thinking and belief, as well as there's fear towards knowing the truth of what if their own thinking and belief from young until now is not necessarily true, but people just blind-believing and blind-following those thinking and beliefs, and fear of 'sin' and 'punishment' due to 'losing faith in their thinking and belief', if they start questioning the truth of their thinking and belief. We can only share our knowledge and experience in yoga with those who are interested in yoga and they want to learn from our knowledge and experience, and they are ready to allow their minds to be open to inquire the truth of everything. Even so, we can't expect anyone of them to practice yoga diligently as it is. It's their own freedom and responsibility whether they want to practice yoga diligently as it is, or not, after we share the knowledge and experience with them.

People have the rights or freedom to choose what they want to eat or don't eat, even if our minds feel disagree with and disturbed by other people's choice of food consumption.

Although it's everyone's freedom if they want to interfere with other people's life, but those who truly practice yoga will not be interested in interfering with other people's life. Never tell people who live in difficult life condition, who are or have been going through many difficulties and hardship in life about what they should eat or shouldn't eat. People might be suffering and dying from hunger and malnutrition or diseases, due to poverty and lack of educational background being bullied, discriminated and exploited by the commercial world, and most probably don't make enough 'money' to buy/get enough food not to say 'clean' and 'nutritious' food even after working very hard for many hours a day. Imagine people who have a rather easy comfortable life, who don't need to suffer much hardship and difficult condition in life, go around and tell other people who have no choice but have to be doing hard labour work with very low income for survival while struggling to provide food and shelter for oneself and/or the family about what they should eat and shouldn't eat.

Keep one's thinking/belief/practice/food choice/way of life to oneself, and respect other people's different thinking/beliefs/practices/food choices/ways of life, even if they are contradicted with our thinking/belief/practice/food choice/way of life. If people want to follow our way of life/practice/food choice, that's their freedom, but not because we expect and believe that everyone should be like us.

There's nothing wrong if out of our own conscience/ethical reason that we want to adopt a particular type of food choice, but we also respect others for their different type of food choice, without criticizing/condemning other people's choices of food consumption that we don't like or don't agree with, that we think is bad and wrong, unethical or unhealthy.

Go beyond the name and form of 'vegetarian' and 'non-vegetarian'. It's not who you are/what you are, as many people, including yoga enthusiasts like to say, "You are what you eat." No doubt that food intake directly influences the energy field, the physical condition and the state of the mind, but the minds that have realized selflessness/namelessness/formlessness/attributelessness/non-separateness, it goes beyond all the identifications, names, forms, attributes, dualities, separateness, energy field, the physical condition, the state of the mind, good and bad karma, easy and difficult life condition, desirable and undesirable life experiences. It's part of the teaching of yoga of 'Transcending all the Gunas, energy field, names and forms, attributes/qualities, dualities, the physical condition and the states of the mind'. Whatever the mind thinks and identifies as 'I', is merely ignorance.

Root out pride and arrogance

For some reasons people are aspired to attain or possess certain qualities in order to be eligible or qualified to feel proud and arrogant towards themselves and/or others.

People are being encouraged to cultivate pride and arrogance as well, as somehow they think it's very good/important to be able to be proud and arrogant about something that they think it deserves to be proud of, that would make them feel somehow more stand out, unique and better than some others.

"Do something and be someone that make yourself and other people feel proud of."

People like to encourage and support other people to stay motivated and to be better by telling people, "I'm so proud of you!" People grew up with the thinking/belief/values/aspiration of need to be attaining or possessing certain qualities to feel proud of themselves and also make other people feel proud of them.

"I want to be proud of myself. I want other people to be proud of me."

People would feel inferior, bad, depressed and disappointed towards themselves when they think they haven't or couldn't attain or possess certain qualities that allow themselves and others to feel proud of.

Those who want to attain liberation must contemplate on all these worldly social cultural thinking/belief/expectation, to see the truth of it. All these are nothing but the play of egoism - It's merely the ego that needs to feel proud and needs others to feel proud of 'I' in order to feel satisfied, loved, motivated, appreciated, acknowledged, good, happy, confident and meaningful.

Meanwhile, some people think and believe that they are not at all proud and arrogant, as they are aware of the downside of pride and arrogance, and they don't want to be associated with pride and arrogance, but they aren't aware of themselves are already being over-powered by pride and arrogance. Without awareness, people can be proud of the thinking of 'I am not a proud and arrogant person. I practice humility. I am very humble.'

In Yoga, pride and arrogance is the by-product of egoism born out of ignorance. It's one of the great obstacles that hinders the mind to be opened to learn and practice yoga and meditation, to inquire the truth.

If we sincerely want to learn and practice yoga and meditation, we need to first learn how to identify pride and arrogance and free the mind from it. But, it's really not easy for people to let go pride and arrogance, as it is a part of their strong identity of themselves.

Even many 'graduated/certified/qualified/experienced yoga teachers' are being proud and arrogant towards themselves for having attended one or many 'yoga teachers training courses' attaining one or many certifications or qualifications in this or that, that they had studied and practiced yoga under one or many 'famous' or 'popular' yoga teachers/Gurus/schools, as well as their years of experience in practicing and teaching yoga, or they have recruited certain numbers of yoga students, or they had taught in certain yoga schools or yoga centres or yoga festivals or yoga conventions, or they had participated in some 'yoga competitions' and won certain awards, or they have done such and such charity works, or they have been contributing articles of yoga or being 'interviewed' in such and such magazine or social media, and so on. Most people would justify that their intention of getting all the attention, admiration and publicity is for promoting yoga to more people in the world. But, how pure and true is that?

Two of the common characteristics of pride and arrogance that exist in many yoga practitioners who already have been practicing certain style(s) of yoga for some time, or 'graduated/certified/qualified/experienced yoga teachers' who have attained many certifications/qualifications/experiences from attending different yoga courses and have been teaching 'yoga classes' or 'yoga courses' for some time :-

"I am experienced/qualified/knowledgeable/advanced yoga practitioner/yoga teacher. I know enough and I have long time experience in practicing/teaching yoga. I don't need someone to lecture me about yoga/yoga practice/teaching yoga, or tell/teach me the many things that I already knew."

"This is different from the yoga that I have been learning/practicing/teaching for many years. I don't agree with this, I don't like this. I don't want this."

When there is such pride and arrogance, the mind is closed, being unable to be opened to inquire/investigate the truth of something that is beyond what the mind thinks it knows, or something that is different from or contradicted with the existing familiar practice, thinking and belief in the mind, that the mind doesn't know or doesn't familiar with. We won't/can't learn anything that we actually didn't know but we think and believe that we already knew very well, even if there's a great teacher or great teaching in front of us.

Be free.

Be free from feeling being intimidated, offended, disrespected, belittled, insulted, unloved, and etc

If the mind feels being intimidated, offended, disrespected, belittled, insulted, unloved, and etc, by what it experiences/perceives, it's coming from the mind itself reacting in such way towards the perceived names and forms that the mind recognized/categorized as intimidation, offensiveness, disrespectfulness, belittling, insulting, unloving, and so on. It's not coming from the names and forms that the mind perceives/experiences through the senses.

This conditioned reaction is due to the egoistic impure mind is functioning under the influence of pride and arrogance and expectation. The ego doesn't like or doesn't want to come in contact with the unpleasant/undesirable/'hurtful' experiences of what the mind recognizes/categorizes as intimidation, offensiveness, disrespectfulness, belittling, insulting, unloving, and so on.

The ego thinks and believes and expects that it deserves certain kinds of treatment/interaction and doesn't deserves certain kinds of treatment/interaction.

"I don't like this. I don't agree with this. I don't want this." and "I think/believe/expect/want all beings/humans/people should think/believe/react/behave like this and shouldn't think/believe/react/behave like that."

It's the prideful/self-assured/self-glorified ego that feels being intimidated/encouraged, offended/pleased, disrespected/respected, belittled/flattered, insulted/praised, unloved/loved, and etc. When the ego is annihilated, all these qualities of names and forms vanished.

The mind doesn't need to feel/react in such way and just allows all the perceived experiences/names and forms to be there as they are. There's no intimidation, offensiveness, disrespectfulness, belittling, insult, unloving, and etc, if the mind is free from egoistic pride, arrogance and expectation. Other beings/humans/people are just behaving in the way that they want to behave, and their behavior is their own responsibility and freedom of actions.

Why allowing other people's thinking/belief/reactions/behavior to determine one's state of the mind or reactions? Especially if one thinks and strongly believes that oneself is all good and righteous and didn't do anything bad or wrong, but one is suffering/unhappy/disturbed by other people's thinking/belief/behavior that one thinks/believes/perceives/recognizes as bad/wrong/negative/hurtful.

If the mind still couldn't understand this and feels annoyed/offended by this teaching, then this mind doesn't need to practice this teaching. It's the freedom of this mind of how it wants/doesn't want to think/believe/react/behave.

The minds that are not free from ignorance and egoism, that are not free from pride/arrogance/superiority/self-assurance/self-glorification/expectation will always easily be disturbed/offended/intimidated/belittled/hurt/insulted by anything, at anywhere and anytime.

Those who have realized the magnificent of oneness/non-separateness beyond all the different qualities of names and forms, will not spend even a tiny drop of attention/interest/effort/energy onto all these worldly names and forms of thinking/belief/behavior/reaction generated/sprung from ignorance and egoism. There's no difference between intimidation and encouragement, offensive and pleasing, disrespectfulness and respectfulness, belittling and flattering, insult and praise, unloving and loving, and so on. There's neither craving nor aversion towards all these qualities of names and forms.

If the mind tries to ignore or deny the names and forms that the mind perceives as bad/wrong/negative/unpleasant/meaningless, but it doesn't stop chasing after or clinging onto the names and forms that the mind perceives as good/right/positive/pleasant/meaningful, then this mind is not free yet. Though that is the freedom of this mind to be what it is.

One doesn't need to stand there to allow/receive treatments/behavior/interactions that are abusive coming from ignorant impure minds. One can move away or stay away from ignorant minds and ignorant behavior, to conserve energy, to not waste energy into dealing/affliction/conflict with ignorant minds and ignorant behavior. Just like standing under hot sun for more than certain time will burn the skin badly, one moves away from the hot sun and takes shelter under the shade. It's ignorance to think, "I am practicing non-attachment and non-reaction, I should stand here under the hot sun even if it will burn my skin."

Be free.

Pride and arrogance

One of the significant characteristics of the ego is pride and arrogance.

The ego is being proud and arrogant about one's worldly identity, personal thinking and belief, cultural practice, spiritual practice, religion, family background, origin, nationality, race, standard of living, lifestyle, conducts, way of doing things, social circle, social status, profession, career, special talent or skill, position held in a community or company or organization, intelligence, accumulated knowledge and experience, qualifications and achievements, social image, physical appearance and condition, physical and mental ability, relationships, contributions, self-righteousness, and etc, thinking that 'I' am better and more superior than other people, as well as this ego has the urge to interfere with other people's thinking and belief, way of doing things, lifestyle, conducts and everything thing else that are different from oneself, that the ego thinks they are less good and more inferior than all the qualities that it possessed and identified with.

The ego thinks that it is better, more intelligent and experienced, and more successful than other people, that it has a 'duty' or 'responsibility' to interfere with other people's choice of way of living and conduct that is different from its own. It thinks that it is instilled with some kind of 'authority' or 'aspiration' from 'something higher above all human beings' to 'guide' or 'inspire' other people's life by 'helping' them to 'change' everything about them that the ego thinks is less good and inferior than itself.

If other people don't agree with, or follow, or show interest in the 'kind' advice or suggestion from this ego, it will feel disturbed, offended, disappointed, disrespected, or humiliated. "I am giving you 'something very good', how come you don't appreciate?"

Meanwhile, this prideful and arrogant ego doesn't like it when other people try to interfere with it's thinking and belief, way of life and conduct, or giving advice, suggestion or opinion to this ego that they think is 'better' or 'more superior'.

Those who are free from pride and arrogance will allow other people to be prideful and arrogant, to give their advice, suggestion or opinion, but one is undetermined by it. One will consider the advice that is useful, but ignore the advice that is irrelevant.

'Yoga practitioners' and those who identifies themselves as 'yoga teachers' who are sincere in the path of yoga, are not being here to 'interfere' or 'change' or 'influence' or 'advise' everyone to also practice yoga and follow the way of life of yoga, it doesn't matter it's out of loving kindness or goodwill or good intention. 'Yoga teachers' or 'yoga practitioners' are just being here to sincerely perform their own practice to be free from ignorance and egoism and realize selflessness and unconditional peace. At the same time, 'yoga practitioners' or 'yoga teachers' who have the opportunity to 'share' their own practice and realization or insights with other people can disseminate the teachings of yoga without the sense of 'duty', attachment, identification and expectation, and selflessly guide those who are interested in yoga onto the path of yoga, without pride and arrogance of oneself being a 'yoga practitioner' or 'yoga teacher', and towards one's actions and the fruit of one's actions.

It's everyone's freedom whether one performs actions out of egoism, pride and arrogance, or being free from egoism, pride and arrogance.

Beware of the characteristics of the ego. Such like, "I am doing something good and meaningful.", "I am contributing to the society or the world.", "I am a good being and I 'want' other people also to be good beings.", "Yoga is so good, everyone should also practice yoga.", and so on.

Be free.

Pride and arrogance is a great obstacle for self-realization

Pride and arrogance is part of the plays of the egoism. The ego takes prides in certain qualities that it possessed and what it can achieve whether it is worldly achievement or spiritual achievement. Arrogance co-exist with pride as the ego thinks and believes that by having the qualities and achievements that it has, it is somehow more superior, greater and better than others.

This is like the 'header' wind that is pulling the aspirants further away from self-realization. It's like the aspirant is looking at the destination (self-realization) with a binocular (pride and arrogance about certain good qualities and spiritual achievement), thinking it is already very close to the destination, but actually it is still a very long long way to go and require greater effort, especially with the wind pulling it back from moving forward towards the destination.

Pride and arrogance will dissolve naturally when the mind is able to let go of worldly and spiritual identifications and letting go of attachment towards qualities of names and forms to be existing, to be somebody, to be acknowledged, to gain liking, support and approval, or to attract attention.

The termination of pride and arrogance is the dawn of right conduct, right view and correct understanding. This is like the 'lift' wind that helps to push the aspirants closer towards self-realization with less effort.

Om shanti.

Worldly knowledge?

There's nothing wrong with accumulating worldly knowledge about this or that. Although worldly knowledge doesn't guarantee us peace and compassion, or be free from ignorance, egoism, impurities, unhappiness or suffering.

We can make good use of the knowledge that we have, to be doing something great and meaningful for ourselves and other beings in this life.

Worldly knowledge allows us to be able to create something, or to be doing something, which will give us certain degrees of satisfaction and meaningfulness, but it doesn't guarantee us that we will be free from being disturbed or determined by qualities of names and forms, and be free from anger, hatred, jealousy, pride, arrogance, disappointment, dissatisfaction, feelings of hurt, ill-will, ill-thinking, fear and worry.

For example, it is very good and useful, if we have the knowledge and skill to design and build a house. After building a functional house for ourselves or for somebody else, we will feel there's some happiness, joy, achievement, success, satisfaction and meaningfulness. The house can provide shelter for those who live in it, but, it doesn't guarantee us peace and happiness, nor will make all our doubts, craving, aversion, fear and worry disappear. No matter we have a big house or small house, luxury house or simple house, or we have no house at all, we will be peaceful as we are, if we are free from ignorance, egoism and attachment. But, if we are not free from ignorance, egoism and attachment, then no matter we have a big house or small house, luxury house or simple house, or we have no house at all, we will not have peace.

Knowledge is neither good nor bad. It depends on how we use it and the purity of our mind. We can be using knowledge to be doing something beneficial, creative and constructive for ourselves and others, but sometimes we can be using knowledge to be doing something that will generate disharmony or hurt to ourselves and other beings.

Make good use of the knowledge, but not being determined by the knowledge to be who we are. Be free from egoism, attachment, pride and arrogance.

Om shanti.

A story of egoism, possessiveness, pride, authority, sacredness, language

Language is originally existing as a convenient tool for communication. We should have just leave it as simple as that.

But our ego is always greedy for authority. It takes up a particular language that it hears, learns it, speaks it, becomes familiar with it and calls it "my language", and takes pride in that language.

And then the ego has this idea and belief that no one should insult "my language" as "my language" is something sacred, and it's only entitled for sacred people like me to speak it. "My language" cannot be polluted or contaminated by some other languages that are not as sacred as "my language".

The ego identifies with this language as who "I" am. If anyone insults "my language" is insulting "I". And thus "I" get very upset and angry if anyone tries to insult or pollute "my language". Those who are not sacred beings like me, they cannot speak in "my language" as this will be polluting "my language"...

And then this ego has this idea that other languages are not as sacred as "my language". "My language" is the one and only sacred language in the world. "I" should only speak "my language" and no other languages, as by speaking those languages will contaminate my sacredness...

In the end, the ego believes itself is the most sacred being in the world and allows no one but itself to speak this language. The ego also doesn't want to speak other languages that it believes as not sacred. And thus verbal communication comes to an end for this proud ego with other people. This language has lost its simple purpose to serve as a convenient tool for communication.

In the beginning, nothing belongs to anyone. Everything exists for the convenience of everyone to be existing in this form, until the moment we start to take possession of any names and forms that we experience in this life existence and possess it as ours, such like "my body", "my mind", "my thinking", "my feelings", "my ideas", "my creations", "my achievements", "my belongings", "my family", "my parents", "my children", "my friends", "my partner", "my lover", "my pets", "my country", "my health", "my strength", "my religion", "my culture", "my race", "my ancestor", "my language", "my pride", "my contribution", "my Guru", "my school", "my yoga", "my teachers", "my students", "my reputation", or anything that we think it's coming from "I" and it's "mine", we create inconvenience, restlessness, afflictions, offensiveness, defensiveness, unhappiness, disharmony, anger, hatred, fear and worry for ourselves and others.

End of story.

Om shanti.

The ego, pride, arrogance, dissatisfaction, greed, restlessness...

The untrained mind is never contented, or is ever dissatisfied and greedy. Out of pride and arrogance, the ego keeps telling itself "I deserve something better and more than this..." And what is that 'something'? The ego has no answer for that, as it also doesn't know what it is... It keeps looking for 'something' that doesn't exist in the present moment now, and it will never find it as that 'something' is beyond the present moment now and its own knowledge. So as dissatisfaction and greed. Forever restless.

Letting go of the ego - Letting go of pride and arrogance...

This is not as easy as it says...

At least if we want, we can try our best...

To let go of the ego...

Letting go of pride and arrogance...

We don't really need pride and arrogance to be "somebody"...

We don't even need to be "somebody" with certain pride to be living in this world...

This life existence does not exist without the sun, the air, the water, the earth and the space providing and supporting all beings to be existing in this world...

Life can be without pride and arrogance...

It will be less tensions and more peaceful...

If anyone is being happy and peaceful by possessing pride and arrogance, and wants to continue to be proud and arrogant, there is nothing wrong with that... Be happy being proud and arrogant...

Deep inside us, we know that actually we are not really confident and are not happy about ourselves, that's why we need to possess pride and arrogance to feel good about ourselves, and to feel we are stronger and better than anyone else...

The ego is neither good nor bad. If we identify with the ego, we will be over-powered by the idea of "I" and "mine", desires, cravings and aversions, and being restless, busy with building up a worldly self-image or social status, and getting what we desire, and busy protecting the self-image that we built up for ourselves and protecting all the attachments, possessions and belongings, and be in fear and worry towards losing what we think is "I" (that "built" on pride, self-image, self-esteem, self-worth, accumulation of knowledge, wealth, health, relationships, achievements and etc...) If we know how to not identify with it, and just let the physical body with the thinking faculty to be performing its necessary function for maintaining this life existence, we will be free and happy being "what we are", as we are, and not trying to become somebody with certain prideful or proud deserving self-image and qualities...

If we want to be truly confident and happy, we really need to let go of the identification with the ego, or the idea of 'I', letting go of pride and arrogance that comes along with the ego...

We need to be able to accept ourselves as we are, and not looking forward trying to be somebody else that we are not, even if we "think" that we are not perfect... And when we realize the true nature of what we think we are, which is perfect, selfless, attributeless, nameless and formless, there is no need of attaining "good qualities" to be proud and arrogant, to support us or to determine us to be "what we are"...

Before we can "let go of the ego", we need to know who or what is this ego...

Whenever there is cognition about "I", "my", "mine", "I am", "I am not", "I feel", "I don't feel", "I like", "I don't like", "I want", "I don't want", "I agree", "I don't agree", "I am peaceful", "I am not peaceful", "I am good", "I am not good", "I am positive", "I am negative", "I am happy", "I am not happy", "I am wise", "I am not wise", "I am compassionate", "I am not compassionate", "I am superior", I am inferior", "I am special", "I am not special", "I am a yogi", "I am a yoga teacher", "I am strong", "I am not strong", "I am so and so", "I am this or that", "I practice yoga", "I don't practice yoga", "I am a vegetarian", "I am not a vegetarian", "I meditate", "I don't meditate", "I did, I do, I will do", "I didn't do, I don't do, I will not do", "I have to", "I need to", "I wish to", "I don't wish to", "I have", "I don't have", "I am loved", "I am not loved", "I am accepted", "I am rejected", "I've succeeded", "I've failed", and in any other forms of identifications, qualities and perceptions about "I" or "me" or "my" or "mine"... Know that all these are the plays of the ego...

By surrendering the ego, we are letting go of the identification with all these "names and forms", "qualities", "self-judgment", "self-evaluation", "self-image", "self-esteem", "selfish desires", "expectation", and so on... This looks like it's going against the worldly thinking of "Everyone needs to have certain self-image, self-evaluation and self-esteem to be somebody..." or "Everyone needs to have certain expectations to set as a goal to strive to be better and to be successful in life..."

In the path of yoga and meditation, we are going to let go of all these worldly thinking and concepts about "who we should be" and "how we should be"...

We don't just expect ourselves to have certain self-image, but we also project qualities onto other people and give them certain image... And usually we will project an image with certain qualities that comes from our own mind perception onto other people, judging this person as "this" and that person as "that", judging everyone "you are good" and "you are not good" based on what our mind believes what things are... But, how true is our belief, perception and judgment?

For example, we will expect a "yoga teacher" should have certain "yoga teacher" image, and he or she should behave or present himself or herself as what a "yoga teacher" should be behaving... We will expect a "yogi" should have certain "yogi" image, and he or she should behave or present himself or herself as what a "yogi" should be behaving...

And it's not just that, we also think that a "yoga teacher" or a "yogi" should behave as what a "yoga teacher" or "yogi" should behave appropriately, so that other people can follow and imitate that appropriate "image", and learn to become a "proper" yoga teacher or "proper" yogi...

And we get so disappointed by our own expectation towards how other people should behave, when other people didn't "behave" in the way that what we think they should be behaving...

We also get so annoyed and unhappy when other people project different images or judgments onto us, which are contradicted or different from what we think we are... Such like, when we think we are "a nice and good person", but other people didn't think so, and they think that we are "not nice and not good"... And if we identify with the ego, we will be so unhappy and upset when we are being projected by other people as "somebody who is not what we think we are"...

We expect other people to see us or judge us exactly as what we think we are or "what we want" them to think what we are, "a nice and good person"... We want to have a "good" image in other people's mind... We want other people to think that we are "nice and good people"... And we have been doing lots of good, and have been nice and good to other people, how could they possibly think that "I am not nice and not good"...? They are wrong and misunderstood about "me"... And then we will want to justify ourselves or try to convince other people that we are what we think we are, "a nice and good person", and not what they thought what we are not... And if other people still "judge" us differently from what we think we are, we'll be more disappointed, unhappy and upset...

Those who have gone beyond the ego, they will not be bothered by how other people think about them, or judge them, or misunderstood them... Criticism, slandering or condemn won't affect them, nor damage their confidence, nor change who they are and how they are... Neither praise and compliments will affect them, nor increase their confidence, nor change who they are and how they are... They are not being determined, or defined, or conditioned by praise and condemn...

The one who is getting upset and feels insulted is the ego... The one who is getting delighted and feels appreciated is the ego... This is one of the characteristics of the ego...

The ego also likes to compare with others, having jealousy towards other people who are somehow "better", or "happier", or "smarter", or "luckier", or "stronger", "fitter", "wealthier", "more successful", "more popular", or "more superior" than us...

The ego will look down on other people who are somehow "less good", "less happy", "less smart", "less lucky", "less strong", "less fit", "less wealthy", "less successful", "less popular", or "more inferior" than us...

The ego will feel so happy and delighted when things turn out to be the way that it wants it to be...

The ego will feel so unhappy and disappointed if things didn't turn out to be the way that it wants it to be...

The ego also will be so proud and arrogant about the knowledge that it has and the achievements that it attained, and it wants to be noticed and acknowledged by the world about what it knows and what it had achieved... It needs approval, agreement, attention, acknowledgment, support, appreciation and compliment from the world to be "somebody", to feel proud, to feel good, to feel meaningful, to be confident, to be happy, to be special, to be important...

These are the most significant characteristics of the ego, accompanied by pride and arrogance, as well as attachment towards success and failure, praise and condemn, being conditioned and determined by success and failure, praise and condemn to be happy or not happy, to be confident or not confident, to feel meaningful, or not...

When we are full of anger, we project anger onto other people, seeing and hearing everything that we see and hear as an object of anger or the reason to be angry... When our mind is negative, we project everyone and everything as negative... Whatever we see and hear is negative... When our mind is positive, we project everyone and everything as positive... Whatever we see and hear is positive... But, the Truth is, everyone and everything is neither negative nor positive. Everyone and everything is just being what it is... They have no qualities nor intention to be negative or positive... They have no qualities to make us happy or unhappy...

Whenever "we" see, or hear, or experience something that "we" like and agree with, "we" feel good, excited, happy, satisfied, encouraged, motivated and so on... Actually that is the ego comes in contact with what it likes and agrees with... It is the ego feeling good, excited, happy, satisfied, encouraged, motivated and so on...

Whenever "we" see, or hear, or experience something that "we" don't like and don't agree with, "we" feel upset, unhappy, frustrated, irritated, agitated, discouraged, demotivated, disappointed, angry and so on... Actually that is the ego comes in contact with what it doesn't like and disagrees with... It is the ego feeling upset, unhappy, frustrated, irritated, agitated, discouraged, demotivated, disappointed, angry and so on...

To let go of the ego, is to not identify with the ego, and not associate with its reactions towards all the names and forms that the mind perceives or experiences through the senses... And remain unattached towards all these perceptions of names and forms, being the observer or the witness of the thinking mind and its activities...

When "we" feel hurt or feel insulted by somebody or something, that is the ego reacting when it is being challenged for its "power", "knowledge", "authority", "confidence", or "self-image"...

The ego will try its best to "make" other people to like it, to love it, to agree with it, to support it, to respect it, to trust it, to appreciate it, to compliment it, and so on...

The ego wants to be, and needs to be "somebody" with certain image and qualities that is being recognized, approved and acknowledged by family and friends, the leaders, the authority, the society, or the community of the world...

The ego identified and attached to certain self-image, identity, qualities, conditions, abilities, thinking, concepts, beliefs, ideas, traditions, lifestyles, ways of doing things, judgments, possessions, achievements, and so on, to be "somebody"...

The one who wants to express thoughts, ideas, creativity, feelings, emotions, likes and dislikes, wants and don't wants, agreements and disagreements, and so on, under certain intention, motivation and expectation, is the ego...

Justification and arguing is one of the characteristics of the ego... It doesn't like to see or hear something that it doesn't agree with...

The ego depends or relies on "personal" or "professional" image and worldly identifications and achievements, such like, personality, uniqueness, academic and sports achievements, sensual and material enjoyments, personal characteristic and physical appearance, physical and mental conditions and abilities, financial status, social status, religious status, spiritual status, work and social activities and achievements, family and love relationships, friendships, fellowships, material possessions, wealth accumulations, lifestyles, worldly point of views, judgments, expectations and so on, to be "somebody", to be "special", to be "important", to feel good, to feel being needed, to feel meaningful, to feel confident, to feel worthy, to feel deserving, and so on...

The ego is being conditioned and determined by other people's judgments, evaluations, comments, supports, attention, liking, agreement, acknowledgment, acceptance, appreciation, and so on, to be "who we are" in this worldly existence...

The ego is being conditioned and determined by "qualifications", "certifications", "social status", "financial status", "academic status", "lifestyle status", "leisure status", "relationship status", "family status", "spiritual status", "fitness status", "health status", "mental status", "achievements", "personalities", "personal image", "professional image", and so on, to be "somebody" who is well-worth living as a "person" or "human being"...

"We" think that "we" need all these "things" to be "who we are"... But it is just the ego clinging onto, or depending on all these "things" or "qualities" to be "alive", to be "strong" and to be "in control"...

When we identify with the ego, our confidence and sense of self-worth are swaying up and down, according to the identifications, self-image, impermanent qualities and achievements that we create for ourselves... We are restlessly trying to be "somebody" with such and such qualities, making ourselves so busy trying to build up a "lovable", "perfect", "healthy" and "pride deserving" self-image... We are also being busy trying to protect or upkeep this "self-image" that we have created for ourselves... We don't want this "good" self-image to be damaged or contaminated by "bad" reviews or "bad" qualities...

We are full of fear and worry, craving, clinging and aversion...

We are in a constant state of restlessness being dissatisfied for being "who we are" and "how we are" in the present moment now, rejecting and not accepting ourselves as we are...

If we can just let go of this ego, we will be so free being who we are and how we are, in this present moment now, as we are... Not looking forward to try to become "somebody" that we are not...

We can continue to perform actions in the world, to constantly improve, and do our best in our life to pursue all our dreams and goals, but we are no longer being determined, or defined, or conditioned by all these names and forms, and the results of our actions, what we can do and cannot do, what we can achieve and cannot achieve... We are free while at the same time performing necessary actions improving ourselves in life physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually...

We are always confident, it's because we are free from being conditioned and determined by the ego, and not because we are "somebody" with such and such qualities and achievements...

We are always happy, it's because we are free from tensions and discontentment that come from being dissatisfied towards "who we are" and "how we are", and not because we are "somebody", or we are "this" and "that", or we have "this" and "that"...

We can fully enjoy what we do in life for ourselves or for other people, but we are not being determined or defined by all these things (our actions, the fruit of our actions, and the reactions of other people towards our actions)...

Yoga and meditation practice is nothing but to eliminate this ego... And be free.

This is truly liberation, being free from the ego, be free from the "worldly standardized" self-image, social status, pride and arrogance...

Om shanti.

Neither "vegetarian" nor "non-vegetarian"...

I came across many times hearing some “yoga practitioners” who have became vegetarian after taking up yoga practice, criticizing other people who are not vegetarian. They think that they are better human beings and they are good yogi after they have changed from meat eating “non-vegetarians” to become “vegetarians”, and boast about being "vegetarian"…

In yoga practice, the observation of not eating any meat or fish and eat fresh fruit and vegetables is to help us to calm down the mind and to practice love, peace and compassion…

The point is, if we are still being affected very much by what we eat and drink, we need to choose what we want to eat and drink to feed this body and mind. For example, if eating meat and fish and drinking coffee will increase the impurities in our mind, and we don't have self-control over our own thoughts, actions and speech, and are identified with the impurities in our mind, then by not eating meat and fish and not drinking coffee will help us in the path of yoga and meditation for self-inquiry and attaining real peace... But, it loses its meaning for not eating meat when we are being "vegetarian" but we are still being over-powered by lots of impurities in the mind, which do not just derive from meat eating but also derive from some other elements. There's no meanings when we are over-powered by egoism, attachment, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, pride, arrogance, dissatisfaction, disappointment, fear, worry, passionate desires, craving and aversion, even though we don't eat meat products at all... (Such like wanting everything to be the way that we want it to be, and having fear of losing the "good" thing or separation from things and people that we love, and fear of getting the "bad" thing, old age, decay, sickness, injury, pain, discomfort, and death...)

There are some “vegetarian yogis” are getting frustrated by what they want to eat, and being disturbed by what other people eat and don’t eat, and getting so frustrated when they couldn’t get the so called “healthy”, “loving”, “pure”, “environmental friendly”, “organic” types of vegetarian food to feed their body…

I didn’t eat meat products for quite a few years before, during my first few years of yoga practice to help me in my practice, but I never called myself a “vegetarian”, and I never criticized other people who eat meat products. Merely being a "vegetarian" doesn't make me a better person than those who are not "vegetarian". And now, I don’t just eat fruit and vegetables, I also eat some meat and fish. I don’t mind eating meat and fish as I never categorize “meat and fish products” as “bad” and "disgusting" food, nor do I judge anyone by “eating meat” will make someone a “bad” person.

I do not complain when “meat and fish” are not available or when “vegetarian food” are not available. I don’t complain if fresh fruit and vegetables are not available when I want to eat some fresh fruit and meat-less meal. I don’t complain if only meat are available for maintaining this body. I appreciate and be grateful for everything that I eat even though some of the food that I eat might be categorized as “unhealthy” and “inappropriate” by many “health conscious people", “yoga practitioners”, “rich people who can afford imported organic food” or “environmental friendly people".

Merely by eating vegetarian doesn’t give me liberation nor true happiness. Some people might be naming themselves as “vegetarian” and being “vegetarian” for many years, but it is not necessarily that they are peaceful and happy, and be free from ignorance, greed, anger and hatred. It is by controlling my own mind and eliminate the anger, hatred, jealousy, pride, lustful desire, fear, worry, craving and aversion that gave me the true freedom for being who I am, and be truly content, peaceful and happy… It is the practice of non-attachment that free myself from unhappiness and “suffering”.

Slandering, vandalism, gossiping, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, lustful desire, attachments, pride, arrogance, craving and aversion are worst than meat eating.

It is not only non-meat eaters are good and kind human beings, nor do people who are not vegetarian are bad people. There are many good and kind people who eat meat and non-meat products, who don't call themselves “vegetarian” for certain days when they don't eat meat, nor call themselves "non-vegetarian" for certain days when they do eat meat.

It is not that only vegetarian will be peaceful, being loving and compassionate, and it's not necessary that there is no loving kindness and compassion in those people who are not vegetarian. It is not by eating fruit and vegetables without meat products that will guarantee us enlightenment and be free from suffering. It is not by eating vegetarian food, we’ll become happy and peaceful...

It’s because there are people who named themselves as “vegetarians” are being so angry, unhappy and frustrated by other people who eat meat products… I don’t see any calmness, peace and happiness in these people who don’t eat meat and only like to eat fruit and vegetables, and being so “proud” of what they eat and don’t eat.

Do the people who are “vegetarian” do not kill any insects, like mosquitoes, cockroaches, spiders, ants, worms, bugs and etc? Aren’t all these little lives also living beings who need to breathe and eat, just like us?

Some people even said that "Cows are so cute, I don't eat them..." But, they love to eat fish... (Well, maybe fish is not as cute as cow to them...)

Do all the vegetarians are completely be free from greed, anger, hatred, jealousy, fear and worry, craving and aversion? Not necessarily as what we can see around us...

I know some people who don’t like to eat meat or fish, and love to eat fruit and vegetables only, but they will be so angry and frustrated when somebody in the kitchen accidentally put some meat or fish products into their food. Where is peace, calmness, tolerance, patience, forgiveness and compassion in these people who are “vegetarian” shouting at the waiter, “I’m a vegetarian! I want my vegetarian meal to be served without fish or meat! You are stupid idiot!”

Some “vegetarians” are full of hatred towards meat products and towards people who eat meat… “Vegetarians” are “supposed” to be very calm, peaceful and cheerful according to the yoga practice. Even Buddha never told people that to practice Buddhism, we have to be “vegetarian” and to hate eating meat… There are many Buddhist wandering monks are not “vegetarian” nor “non-vegetarian”. Whether it is non-vegetarian food or vegetarian food that is being given to them when they go out to beg for food for the day in the village, they eat with gratefulness and thankfulness. And they do not choose what they want or like to eat. They eat without the craving and aversion towards the taste of the food, or the choices of food.

When we eat without craving and aversion, then food is just food, it is not something "vegetarian" nor "non-vegetarian". It is beyond names and forms, beyond "vegetarian" and "non-vegetarian", beyond "tasty" and "not tasty", beyond "healthy" and "not healthy".

I am grateful and thankful for all the meals that are being served on the table whether it is vegetarian or not... As there are so many people out there who are starving and dying from hunger every day. There are homeless people who just eat whatever they found in the rubbish bin. There are many people who don't have a choice for what they will eat everyday, and struggling to survive day by day...

Being a “vegetarian” or being a "non-vegetarian" does not guarantee a person to be humble, to be enlightened, and to be peaceful, compassionate and happy, and be free from pride and arrogance, anger and hatred, craving and aversion…

Of course we have the freedom of choice to eat "healthily" or not... That is up to us. Sometimes the so called "healthy food" are not necessarily good for our body... And at the same time we also respect other people for what they want to eat... Be happy.

There was a famous human race mass murderer in the history who liked to eat vegetarian food, and he loved animals especially dogs… Even so, I don’t need to “hate” this person either… Whatever he did was nothing to do with whether he was a vegetarian or not, or whether he liked animals or not…

I never condemned those who eat meat when I didn’t eat meat. I respect those who don’t eat meat when I eat food that is being categorized as “non-vegetarian”. I respect everyone has their choices and freedom to choose what they prefer to eat and to put into their body.

I enjoy eating fruit and vegetables, and I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables but I’m not a “vegetarian”...

I don’t need to name myself as “vegetarian” when I don’t eat meat, and I don’t need to name myself as “non-vegetarian” when I eat meat products. I am neither a “vegetarian” nor a “non-vegetarian”. I am who I am.

I’m happy and contented with what I eat no matter it is being categorized as “healthy” or “unhealthy” food. And I respect those who don’t like or “hate” to eat meat and fish or so called “unhealthy” food. Be happy.

It loses the meaning of being a vegetarian to attain peace and to be compassionate, when we want to be “vegetarian” and eat only “vegetarian” food but, we are not really peaceful and happy, constantly being affected and disturbed by the craving and aversion towards what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think, and we don’t have self-control over our own mind and being over-powered by impurities like anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, pride, arrogance, fear, worry, passionate desires and attachments in the mind.

Where is peace and compassion when we eat only vegetarian food but, we do things and say things that are hurting other people feelings, and have anger and hatred toward things that we don't like and don't agree with?

Where is peace and calmness that supposed to be the result of eating "healthy" vegetarian food and not eating "unhealthy" meat products, when we are so frustrated and unhappy about what we want to eat and don't eat, and what other people eat?

When we practice namelessness and formlessness, what is “vegetarian” and what is “non-vegetarian”? What is “healthy food” and what is “unhealthy food”?

When we practice non-identification with the body and the mind, what is good condition and bad condition of this physical body?

Even Buddha taught us about the Dharma of impermanence by showing us that this body is impermanent. He taught us about namelessness and formlessness by showing us that our true nature is beyond the condition of this impermanent body. He taught us about there is no "I", there's nobody there to experience good or bad experiences, it is just the body and mind experiencing some conditions that are impermanent. Even after his enlightenment, his body still had to go through impermanence, changes, discomforts, old age, weakness, sickness, and death... But, he was not affected nor determined by the changing condition of this body... He was fearless and worry-less. He was beyond "good" and "bad", "birth" and "death"... There's no fear of old age, sickness and death...

There's no meanings in our yoga practice if we are constantly being disturbed by the object of the senses...

It doesn't matter for how many years we have been doing yoga practice, or sitting for meditation everyday, there's no meanings in all these practice if we are constantly being disturbed or affected or influenced or determined by all the names and forms that our mind perceives through the senses of what it sees, hears, smells, taste, touches, and thinks...

We may go for yoga classes regularly, or go for some yoga retreats or yoga courses for many times, or do our own self-practice at home everyday, or teaching yoga classes to many other people for years, but if we didn't practice non-attachment towards all the names and forms that our body and mind is experiencing from moment to moment, and are constantly being unhappy and complain about things that we don't like or don't agree with, and constantly criticize other people who think, speak and act differently from us, then we are not practicing yoga at all...

Pride and arrogance is one of the characteristics of the ego...

To practice yoga is to annihilate the ego. And to annihilate the ego is to eliminate the pride and arrogance in us...

Guarding our own eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind is our every moment yoga practice and meditation...

Not generate craving and aversion towards the names and forms that the mind likes and doesn't like, agree and disagree with...

This is our yoga practice.

When there is no more pride and arrogance, we will find that there's nothing to be complained about in our life.

Humility manifests in those who are truly self-confident... Pride & arrogance manifests in those who are not sure what is true confidence...

The greatest obstacle for us to obtain the highest knowledge (realizing the wisdom in us) is pride and arrogance.

A truly confident person will not have any pride and arrogance but is being humble, and yet being very confident about himself or herself and is not looking down on any other beings nor is admiring any other beings. He or she doesn’t depend on any of the qualities that come from all the names and forms to feel confident about himself or herself. This true confidence manifests in him or her when he or she knows Thyself, or knowing the truth of himself or herself about the false identification of a limited life existence that we think and believe is who we are, or what is this perceptive cognitive assertive intellectual thinking mind that enjoys and suffers, or who/what am 'I', and knows the truth of what is real and unreal.

A truly confident person doesn't need to justify or to prove to himself or herself or to anybody else about anything.

There is no superiority. There is no inferiority. There is no good beings. There is no bad beings. There is no fear, no worry. When attachment or dependency towards all the qualities of names and forms disappears from those who have true confidence, then all kind of judgments, comparisons, competitions and expectations towards other people and towards our own self will also disappear naturally.

All are equal under the presence of wisdom and compassion. All are selfless and impermanent, regardless of good or bad, positive or negative, right or wrong, meaningfulness or meaninglessness, kind or unkind, pleasant or unpleasant, desirable or undesirable, agreeable or disagreeable, healthy or unhealthy, knowledgeable or non-knowledgeable, success or failure, living beings or non-living objects, and so on.

Success and failure have no meanings at all for those who are truly confident. Success and failure only exist in those who are lack of self-confidence and are being determined by success or failure to give them "confidence" or to take away their "confidence".

True confidence is always here in us. We will realize it when we know who we really are or who/what am 'I'. That it's not something that can be determined by "this" or "that". It is not about what we can do or cannot do. It is not about what we can achieve and cannot achieve...

Trying to gain recognition, or acknowledgment, or approval, or agreement from other people or from our own self is a sign that we are lack of true confidence. Longing for appreciation, praise and compliments, dislike and reject non-appreciation, criticism and condemnation is another sign of lack of true confidence. When we get recognition, acknowledgment, approval or agreement from other people and are getting appreciation, praise and compliments, we will feel good and "confident" about ourselves, and feel superior or proud and arrogant, but when we don't get any recognition, acknowledgment, approval or agreement from other people and are not getting any appreciation, praise and compliments, we will feel bad and "not confident" about ourselves, and feel inferior or low self-esteem. This conditional "confidence" is not the real confidence.

Learn to let go of craving towards appreciation, praise and compliments. Learn to let go of aversion towards non-appreciation, criticism and condemnations. This will develop equanimity in us.

Equanimity brings out true confidence and humility, which allows us to continue to evolve and improve without feeling bad, or low, or guilty about our own self for being imperfect, or are not perfected in our practice yet.

Om shanti.