Yoga classes for self-inquiry and self-realization

"What type of yoga do you teach?"

This is the most common question.

Just by saying, "It's about yoga," it doesn't answer the minds, "I know it's about yoga, but what I want to know is what type of yoga classes?"

The yoga classes are for the minds that are genuinely interested in learning, studying and practicing the essential teachings of yoga and vedanta for self-inquiry and self-realization, and it doesn't necessarily has to be in a yoga school, or a yoga studio, or a yoga hall, in a yoga class. It's happening anywhere, at any time, in the selfless modification of the mind.

Even though yoga is for all minds indiscriminately to be free from ignorance and the suffering deriving from ignorance, to stop generating hurtful damaging actions/reactions and consequences of actions/reactions unto oneself and others and the surrounding environment ignorantly, however, not all minds would be interested in the yoga practice for self-inquiry and self-realization. It's also useless to the minds that are completely lost without certain degrees of sanity, that don't have any reasoning power. That's why it's never too late to help oneself when it's still possible, but also don't wait until it's too late when one couldn't help oneself at all.

It could be quite unpleasant, disagreeing, and even offensive, disturbing and annoying, especially for the minds that have intense attachment and identification and pride towards the idea of 'I' and egoism, as well as towards their particular worldly egoistic beliefs, ideas, values, desires, expectations and practices.

This is not a discrimination at all, but it's merely compassion, to be avoiding the suffering minds generate further unnecessary disturbance in themselves and unto the surrounding environment.

There are many yoga classes in the world catering for these minds to be developing the basic awareness and understanding, before the initiation onto the path of self-inquiry and self-realization. There are quite many 'certified yoga teachers' who have been practicing and teaching certain type and style of yoga for many years are also not ready for the path of self-inquiry and self-realization.

As those who are ready for the path of self-inquiry and self-realization, there's no such thing as 'yoga teacher training certification' or 'internationally recognition authorized by international yoga alliance'.

That's why many silent meditation retreat courses are very serious on the background check for any existing mental health issue and intoxication addiction, where those who have serious mental health issue or addiction towards certain kind of intoxication, are not allowed to be attending such courses, that involve deep mind purification process that are quite unpleasant, disturbing or painful to the minds.

And hence, it would be more suitable for the minds that have certain degrees of awareness towards the existence of ignorance in themselves, and have certain degrees of yearning towards attaining liberation from ignorance, that are willingly to open their mind to be receiving the teachings of yoga and vendanta.

It can be helpful, even though there's no guarantee, for the minds that are suffering from certain mental and emotional disturbance, but are being confused or don't really understand what is happening in the mind, while still have certain degrees of awareness being aware of all that, and have certain degrees of will power of wanting to be free from all kinds of suffering or disturbance, to take full responsibility towards looking after the over-all physical and mental well-being of oneself, to realize unconditional peace and happiness out of one's freewill and self-effort, in this precious momentary selfless impermanent life existence.

There's no guarantee that all minds that are interested in the path of yoga for self-inquiry and self-realization would be free from the veil of ignorance, as it depends solely on the causation and effort of the mind itself.

When the selfless mind is 'stuck' or 'lost' somewhere in the selfless restless modification of the mind, it has to depend on itself to find its way to come out from that.

That's why the minds that understand, "I want to try, and I will do my best, even if I don't achieve success, and that's okay," under certain degrees of mental and emotional maturity or independence, they can walk alone on the path of self-inquiry and self-realization.

The path is all alone, even if there are many others are walking on the same path. All kinds of guidance and teachers that are available for the mind in the present moment now, are all impermanent. The only teacher, teachings and practice that is with the mind throughout the entire path, is itself.

In this present moment, as the selfless mind is coming in contact with all these here, upon how the selfless mind perceives, reacts, reasons, understands and realizes, either with or without attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment and expectation, is indeed the yoga class, the teachings and the practice.

The minds that are free from ignorance and suffering, they don't need all these. They don't need the teachings and practice of yoga and vedanta for self-inquiry and self-realization.

Inquire the truth of everything.

Want to learn yoga?

A young man who is interested to start learning and practicing yoga has the intention to find a 'yoga teacher' to learn about yoga and/or the yoga practice has an opportunity to meet a person who could deliver the teachings and practice of yoga to those who are interested in learning and practicing yoga.

Instead of thinking, "Dear teacher, how can I serve you and what should I do, as I hope you would receive me as your student (to be a student of yoga) and teach me about the teachings and practice of yoga?" this young man asked, "I have been looking for a yoga teacher because I am interested in yoga and want to learn and practice yoga, but first, I need to know what is your level in yoga and what qualifications you have?"

Most probably, many 'yoga teachers' would respond with, "I am an advanced and experienced yoga practitioner cum yoga teacher with certain years experience in yoga practice and teaching yoga, and I am a qualified (x) level yoga teacher with many 'Internationally recognized yoga teacher certifications' affiliated with such and such 'yoga alliance' and 'yoga association'." And this is something in common among many 'yoga enthusiasts' in the world of yoga.

Does one needs to acquire and possess 'qualification and certification of peace, kindness, compassion and forgiveness' to be peaceful, kind and compassionate, to be able to forgive and let go, or to be recognized as a 'peaceful, kind, compassionate and forgiving being'?

Did any of the ancient buddhas, yogis and gurus had been 'certified' by (?) and be 'qualified' with one or a few 'certification' of Buddhism or Yoga that indicate such and such level in practicing, enlightening and teaching, for being what they are?

Contemplate, reflect, realize.

Be happy...

I have just found out that an old photo of me has been used as the front cover of a Malaysian yoga magazine in one of their issues in year 2013 without my knowledge.

I don't mind if any contents or photos that I shared online might be used by anyone for sharing yoga with others, but, just to be clear that I have no interest at all in being associated with any 'Yoga Alliance' or 'Yoga Teachers Association' whether they are from Malaysia or International organization.

Yoga is beyond qualities of name and form. It’s not about a great and beautiful yoga pose. It cannot be represented by some forms of image or photo. People are mislead about yoga by some images of ‘beautiful’ yoga poses, or images of ‘yogi’, or images of some forms of ritual, or images of doing some forms of yoga practice, or even images of someone in a meditation posture. Yoga poses is only a small part of the yoga practice to help to prepare the mind for meditation. Not being able to do any yoga poses doesn’t mean that one cannot or doesn’t practice yoga. Not being able to put the body in a particular meditation posture doesn’t determine that one is not meditating, or one is not peaceful and compassionate. We neither agree nor disagree with how other people want to promote ‘yoga’. That is their freedom. But we do not associate with what people want to do or don’t do.

Be happy.

"Professional profile" of a yoga teacher or a yoga school?

"How long have you been practicing yoga?"

"How long have you been teaching yoga?"

"Where and whom did you learn yoga from?"

"Who is your yoga teacher or Guru?"

"What type of recognitions, certifications and qualifications do you have?"

"What type of yoga do you practice or teach?"

"What is the level of this yoga course or yoga class?"

"What type of certifications I can get from attending these yoga courses or classes?"

"What type of results or benefits I can get from attending this yoga course or yoga class?"

All these are the common questions coming from most people who want to practice yoga or to teach yoga. But yoga is nothing to do with all these names and forms...

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

Normally, when people are looking for a yoga school or yoga teacher to learn about yoga, or to do some yoga exercises, most of us will want to know the "professional profile" of the yoga school or the yoga teacher, to know what are the qualifications, certifications, affiliations, past experiences, achievements, types of courses, classes or services of the yoga school or the yoga teacher.

Same as when a yoga school or a yoga teacher wants to "promote" their classes or services, naturally, they want to have a "professional image", and to give a "laudable", "highly recommended", "reliable", "professional", "expertise", "highly experienced", "outstanding", "competent", "recognized", "affiliated", "updated", "distinctive", or "beautiful" type of profile to show to the respective "clientele" or yoga enthusiasts who might be interested to take up yoga courses, yoga classes or yoga exercise classes at this yoga school or with this yoga teacher.

There is nothing wrong with this universal worldly idea and practice in the process of getting a "product" and promoting a "product". Just that, all these "identifications" that identify with certain qualities of names and forms has nothing to do with the practice of yoga and meditation, or the realization of the Truth, or the propagation of Dharma, which is about annihilation of ignorance and egoism, realization of selflessness, fearlessness, oneness, namelessness, formlessness, compassion and wisdom, and transcend suffering, birth and death.

As liberation, or selflessness, or compassion, or realization of the Truth, is undetermined by all these qualities of names and forms that consist of worldly minded business marketing standards, ideas and strategies, qualifications, certifications, affiliations, achievements, past experiences, excellent and extensive services.

All these identifications with qualities of names and forms are irrelevant to what yoga is, or the teachings and practice of yoga, or the realization of yoga, or the beings who learn, practice and realize yoga, or the liberated beings who share the wisdom of yoga with other beings.

Here are some examples of a common profile of most yoga schools and "professional" yoga teachers who provide yoga courses, yoga classes, or yoga exercise classes :-

"Want to teach yoga? Want to be certified as an internationally affiliated and recognized yoga teacher? Come to us, let our professional yoga teachers trainers to train you to be a qualified professional yoga teacher and be certified and recognized internationally"

"Our yoga school is a Yoga Alliance 200 Hour & 500 Hour Registered Yoga School."

"Our yoga school has been established for how long."

"I am a Yoga Alliance 200 Hour & 500 Hour Registered Yoga Teacher."

"I have been practicing and teaching yoga for how many years."

"I have been to such and such yoga schools."

"I had learned and graduated under such and such yoga teachers and gurus."

"I have attained such and such qualifications and certifications recognized and issued by such and such organizations, or alliances, or affiliations."

"I am a qualified and certified yoga teacher, I teach such and such types of yoga classes."

"The type of yoga classes and practice that I teach will give you such and such benefits and results."

"I am an advance yoga practitioner and yoga teacher, I practice and teach advance yoga."

"I am experienced, knowledgeable and well-trained yoga teacher. Come to my yoga class. I teach you yoga. I teach you yoga exercises."

"I have how many years of teaching experiences."

"I have taught yoga classes in such and such (creditable) yoga schools."

"I am a good, happy, healthy, experienced, knowledgeable, fit, strong and flexible yogi and yoga teacher."

And so on...

There is nothing wrong with all these worldly thinking, ideas, qualities and identifications, and most people want or need to see all these qualities to find what they believe is a "good" and "reliable" yoga school or yoga teacher, that will give them what they want after they have paid some fees to be getting something that they are looking for. As well as most yoga schools and yoga teachers also think and believe that they need to have such qualities to convince themselves and the world that they are experienced, qualified, knowledgeable and good enough to give or provide some forms of services, courses or classes to those who pay them some fees for some services or results in return.

But, yoga is nothing to do with all these worldly image or identifications, or worldly ideas of marketing strategies, business exchange of services and achieving results.

All these names and forms have no meanings or values for beings who truly practice yoga and meditation to transcend suffering, egoism, ignorance, names and forms.

Who is being there to identified with all these qualities of names and forms, to acknowledge ourselves and others that "this" is who I am, what I am, what I do, and what I can give you?

Those who had realized selflessness, who have gone beyond the qualities of names and forms, who are free from egoism, and who can guide anybody towards selflessness from their own direct experience and realization, out of compassion, undetermined nor limited by any worldly individuals or organizations to qualified or certified them to be sharing love, peace, compassion and wisdom with anybody, without intention, without identification, without discrimination, without attachment, they are not determined nor limited by any qualities of names and forms, nor will they strengthen the worldly ideas and attachment towards the qualities of names and forms, when the basic teaching and practice of yoga and meditation is to go beyond all these qualities of names and forms, and realize selflessness, namelessness and formlessness.

Those who are suffering, and are determined to be free from suffering, they will either meet the teacher, or the teacher will come to them naturally, when the time is right, to guide them, to show them the way. And the teacher is not necessary in a form of human beings who bear the title of "experienced, qualified and certified yoga teacher".

Everything else is just a play of some worldly ideas and egoistic desires.

The Truth or Dharma, is always here as it is. It doesn't belong to anyone or any organizations. It is not limited in yoga schools, yoga courses, yoga classes or yoga teachers. It's not tradable nor exchangeable. It can't be sold nor be bought. It is whether we realize it, or not.

Om shanti.