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.

Yoga teacher certification and teaching yoga

If one knows yoga, one doesn't need to attend any 'yoga teachers training course' to attain any 'yoga teacher certification' to 'qualify' or 'authorize' one to share the wisdom/knowledge of yoga with anyone and guide others onto the path of yoga to realize yoga of oneness/non-separateness/selflessness/namelessness/formlessness/attributelessness/unconditional peace.

Those who think and believe that one must attend 'Internationally recognized yoga teachers training course' and attain 'Internationally recognized yoga teacher certification' and be affiliated to or be sanctioned/authorized by such and such 'yoga alliance', 'yoga association', or 'sports council' to be allowed or qualified to 'teach yoga', it shows that the 'yoga' that they know/practice/teach is not about 'Yoga of self-inquiry, self-realization, oneness, non-separateness, selflessness, namelessness, formlessness, attributelessness, birthlessness, deathlessness, beginninglessness, endlessness, silence, liberation from ignorance and suffering, the conquest of mind, or the annihilation of the modification of the mind'.

Attending many 'yoga teachers training course' and attaining many 'yoga teacher certification' and studying/practicing/teaching 'yoga' for such and such period of time also doesn't determine/guarantee that the mind is free or will be free from ignorance, egoism and impurities, or one knows yoga.

One who knows yoga, there's no such idea/identification of "I want to be a yoga teacher. I want to teach yoga. Teaching yoga is so meaningful." or "I am a certified and qualified and experienced yoga teacher. I have attended such and such 'yoga teachers training course' under such and such 'teachers' or 'Gurus', and attained such and such 'yoga teacher certification'. I have been practicing and teaching yoga for such and such years."

One who knows yoga, is not necessarily a 'yoga teacher' who 'teach yoga', or what most people understand as 'conducting or teaching yoga classes/courses', but one might be 'teaching yoga', selflessly, intentionlessly and spontaneously.

One doesn't need any 'yoga teacher certification' to be in the present, to be unattached towards all the mind perception of names and forms, to be free from the desire of craving and aversion.

One doesn't need any 'yoga teacher certification' to be undetermined and undisturbed by all the qualities and dualities of pleasantness and unpleasantness, good and bad, right and wrong, positive and negative, success and failure, praise and condemn, enjoyment and suffering, births and deaths.

One doesn't need any 'yoga teacher certification' to forgive and let go what the mind perceives as 'unpleasantness', 'bad', 'wrong', or 'hurtful'.

One doesn't need any 'yoga teacher certification' to be dispassionate and renounce worldly attachment and identification/ideas/thinking/belief/objects/relationships, to free the mind from ignorance, egoism, impurities and restlessness.

One doesn't need any 'yoga teacher certification' to realize peace, selflessness and compassion, as well as guiding others to also realize peace, selflessness and compassion.

One doesn't need any 'yoga teacher certification' to be kind and compassionate towards all without discrimination of good and bad, likes and dislikes, or deserving and undeserving.

One doesn't need any 'yoga teacher certification' to breathe, to eat, to live, to see/hear/smell/taste/touch/think, to be aware, to be in the present, to be peaceful, to let go, or to be confronting death/disintegration in peace.

After all, none need any 'certification of ignorance/unhappiness/misery/suffering' to be ignorant, unhappy, miserable and suffering.

Be free.

Yoga is not determined by any qualities of names and forms

Inquire towards why yoga is unlimited by any thinking and belief, or it's nothing to do with any particular personal/family/cultural/racial/social/religious/national/political identity, or it's not determined by any qualities of names and forms.

Yoga is the realization of unconditional peace, compassion and wisdom, when the mind is free from ignorance, egoism and impurities.

Whether the mind is free from ignorance, egoism and impurities, or not, it's not determined by practicing any particular type/style of yoga practice, how many hours/years or amount of yoga practice have been done, how many yoga certificates attained, who are the yoga teachers and how many yoga teachers one has, which yoga schools that one went to, how healthy, strong and flexible is the physical body, how many yoga asana poses the body can perform and whether the body can perform the yoga asana poses perfectly and beautifully, or not, or whether one knows about the names and the benefits/effects of the yoga asana poses, or not, and etc.

Similarly, yoga is not determined/limited by any particular type of personal identity, personality, gender, sexual orientation, profession, physical health condition, physical appearance, physical ability and disability, physical strength and flexibility, physical life span, physical achievement, food option, state of the mind, cultural/social/religious/political thinking and belief, nationality, location, direction, position, speed, temperature, action and inaction, believing or disbelieving in God, educated or uneducated, knowledgeable or non-knowledgeable, intelligent or unintelligent, talented or untalented, skillful or unskillful, rich or poor, good or bad, right or wrong, positive or negative, happiness or unhappiness, day or night, east or west, young or old, and so on.

Regardless of all the different qualities of names and forms, or thinking and beliefs, the mind can be free and peaceful, when the mind is free from the influence of ignorance, egoism and impurities.

Regardless of all the different qualities of names and forms, or thinking and beliefs, the mind is not free and is restless, when the mind is under the influence of ignorance, egoism and impurities.

Even when some people identify themselves as 'good people' who think they do a lot of 'good actions' and are enjoying many 'consequences of good action' in return, and those who are highly knowledgeable about many things in this world, it's not necessarily that the mind is free from ignorance, egoism and impurities, or is free from disturbed, restlessness and suffering, or is peaceful, compassionate and wise.

Inquire the truth of everything by asking these questions -

Is everyone who have a particular religion and believe in their particular version of 'God' are all peaceful, compassionate and wise, and free from suffering? Not necessarily.
Is everyone who don't have a particular religion and don't believe in a particular version of 'God' are all not peaceful, compassionate and wise, and are not free from suffering? Not necessarily.

Is everyone who eat vegetarian food are all peaceful, compassionate and wise, and free from suffering? Not necessarily.
Is everyone who eat non-vegetarian food are all not peaceful, compassionate and wise, and are not free from suffering? Not necessarily.

Is everyone who practice particular type/style of yoga and possessed certain type/amount of yoga certifications are all peaceful, compassionate and wise, and free from suffering? Not necessarily.
Is everyone who don't practice particular type/style of yoga and don't possessed certain type/amount of yoga certifications are all not peaceful, compassionate and wise, and are not free from suffering? Not necessarily.

Regardless of all the different qualities of names and forms, all minds can be under the influence of ignorance, egoism and impurities, or can be free from ignorance, egoism and impurities.

Whether one is peaceful, compassionate, wise and free from suffering, or not, or, whether one is free from ignorance, egoism and impurities, or not, is nothing to do with any particular quality of name and form.

By understanding this, one will know that yoga is not determined or limited by any quality of names and forms, and doesn't belong/limit to any particular being, race, gender, sexual orientation, personality, physical condition/ability/disability, culture, society, religion, politic, country, action and inaction, state of the mind, time, space, direction, position, location, and etc.

The accumulation of 'yoga certifications' by attending the 200 hours/500 hours yoga teachers training courses and registration with such and such yoga association/alliance, and how many yoga classes/courses one has attended/completed/taught and the ability of holding certain yoga poses for certain length of time, or how much charity/rituals/sacrifices one has performed, it all doesn't determined whether the mind is free from ignorance, egoism and impurities, and is peaceful, compassionate and wise, or not.

Some people might mistake the positive/happy/calmed/contented state of the mind as the unconditional peace of being free from ignorance, egoism and impurities.

The different states of mind (regardless of happy or unhappy, positive or negative, calmed or disturbed, contented or discontented) are also part of the impermanent and selfless modification of the mind being conditioned/determined by different qualities of names and forms, and are subject to change. The positive/happy/calmed/contented state of the mind is not the unconditional peace of being free from ignorance, egoism and impurities, undetermined by qualities of names and forms.

Some people take substances to induce momentary calmness/happiness state of the mind, and that state of calmness/happiness disappears when the effect of the substances is gone. Similarly, performing the yoga asana poses will induce certain degree of calmness/happiness state of the mind, and this calmness/happiness state of the mind is also impermanent and will change and disappear. That is not yoga, or the realization of unconditional peace of being free from ignorance, egoism and impurities.

Yoga, or unconditional peace of oneness, non-separateness, changelessness, namelessness, formlessness, attributelessness, timelessness, beginlessness, endlessness, birthlessness and deathlessness is beyond all the modification of the mind or the different states of the mind.

The world of yoga

People asked us how come we don't run/teach yoga classes and teachers training courses?

Yoga practice is about taming/quieting the restless mind to free the mind from suffering of restlessness and impurities derived from ignorance and egoism by realizing selflessness (birthlessness, deathlessness, attributelessness, namelessness, formlessness) through the practice of dispassion, renunciation, silence, self-inquiry, concentration, meditation, non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-judgment, non-comparison and non-expectation that require a high degree of open-mindedness, right discrimination, intense yearning for liberation, will-power, perseverance, independence, self-control and discipline.

After one learned about the teachings and practice from someone who has direct experience of the teachings and practice, one implements these teachings and practice in everyday life, to free the mind from ignorance and egoism, which is nothing to do with attending regular 'yoga classes' or attending 'yoga teachers training course' to become 'certified professional yoga teacher' to teach/conduct 'yoga classes'.

Most people don't really interested to learn and practice yoga when they are interested in joining 'yoga classes', as they wouldn't/couldn't let go the thinking and belief which they think and believe is who they are (the main hindrance towards the realization of selflessness.) They just want to do some physical exercises to keep fit and be healthy, to feel good and look good. And it's nothing wrong. Everyone has the freedom for what they want and don't want, and what they think and believe.

Most 'yoga classes' are existing mostly as one of the healthy leisure activities for health and fitness enhancement by doing some yoga asana, relaxation and breathing exercises, just like any other personal/group fitness training exercise classes, which is a very healthy activity. It's very good that people would love to do some form of physical exercise regularly for maintaining good health and vitality to enjoy a higher quality of life. And some highly talented people even transformed yoga asana practice into amazing acrobatic performance, it's very inspiring for people to take up some physical fitness training to look good and feel good, and not spending time and energy in unhealthy/unwholesome activities.

The initial objective of 'teachers training courses' is about oneself learning and practicing the teachings of yoga to purify one's mind, to awaken/realize the teacher within to become one's own teacher, to discipline one's mind to be free from ignorance and egoism. It's not about training people who are interested in 'teaching yoga classes' or 'running yoga courses' to become 'certified professional yoga teachers' and issue/authorize them with 'recognized certification' to conduct yoga courses/teach yoga classes according to the different types of teaching style from different types of yoga school. It's training one's own mind to be it's own teacher. Upon self-realization of yoga/oneness/selflessness, one might or might not share the direct experience with others.

'Yoga retreats' are also being 'transformed' into self-pampering/indulgence of the senses getaway that empowers the egoistic desires of carving and aversion, or being 'transformed' into 'mystical healing' camp. Even so, it's neither right nor wrong. That is what most minds like and desire. It really doesn't matter. In the end, yoga is still what it is, whether people are learning and practicing and teaching yoga as it is, or not. The truth won't be affected/contaminated by any add-on/take-out elements, although the creative worldly minded can transform the teachings and practice of yoga into something that they prefer.

Most of the serious yoga practitioners don't really run/teach 'yoga classes', or 'yoga courses', or 'yoga teachers training courses' although they might be teaching yoga to many others. Sharing the teachings and practice of yoga with others doesn't necessarily has to be in the form of conducting yoga classes/courses/retreats. Some might have been teaching 'yoga classes' in the beginning, but after some time, they renounced the worldly social life and activities to concentrate on their own practice, upon realization that renunciation from worldly affair/interaction/activities/relationships is the greatest compassion towards oneself and all beings. Everyone is responsible for their own practice to look after their own mind, to discipline/quiet/purify their own mind, to deal with the consequences of their own ignorance, to become their own teacher, to free their own mind from ignorance, egoism and impurities via their own effort.

Meanwhile, 'yoga teachers training courses' are no longer about learning and practicing yoga to become one's own teacher to be self-independent, to perform self-inquiry, to silent/annihilate the mind to attain self-realization, but the identity and qualification of a 'yoga teacher'/recognition/authorization/certifications/association/commercial value/career value are the drive for conducting/participating yoga teachers training courses.

This is the world of yoga, and there's nothing wrong or bad with it.

Many people think that they like and love yoga, but not really. When come to serious yoga practice, most people would turn away or justify that it is not yoga (the way that they think it should be.) And there's nothing wrong, as all minds take their own pace and own path to evolve and realize.

In the silent meditation retreat that doesn't charge any fees (donate as you like, or even nothing), quite many people would want to runaway or quit after a few days observing silence, for not being able to talk to other people, can't have physical/eye contact with other people, not able to express as they like, can't do what they usually like to do, can't eat what they usually like to eat, no stimulating entertainment for the mind, sleeping on hard bed in basic accommodation, and they have to sit for meditation for more than 10 hours a day, while lots of physical/mental/emotional discomforts arise and random thoughts bubbling up to the surface of the mind. Some people would stay until the retreat finishes, but they don't really observe silence throughout the entire retreat, such like they are still talking/whispering/making signs/interacting with their friends and keeping their phones with them, even though it's not allowed. But, there's nothing wrong with that either, as it's how most worldly minds would behave, out of loneliness, boredom and meaninglessness derived from being refrained from their usual worldly stimulation/activities.

Most minds would 'cheat' to be comfortable and not to be uncomfortable. It's not about what's right and what's wrong. And it's not about how good is one's yoga practice and meditation experience, but it's the ability to confront/deal with all the things that the mind doesn't familiar with, doesn't like and doesn't agree with, while not coming in contact with the things that the mind familiars with, likes and agrees with, being free from craving and aversion, be able to forbear difficulties and unpleasantness equanimously, and free the mind from restlessness/impurities out of ignorance and egoism, that matters most.

The mind won't evolve/progress and keeps running round and round in the loop of worldly ideas/thinking/belief, if it keeps swaying in between craving and aversion, running away from difficulties and unpleasantness and what it doesn't like (the mind perception of the qualities of bad, negative, wrong, meaninglessness and unhappiness,) and chasing after what it likes and desires (the mind perception of the qualities of good, positive, right, meaningfulness and happiness,) even after many years of attending 'yoga classes' and 'yoga retreats' or doing yoga asana and breathing exercises regularly, or possessed many 'yoga certifications' and given 'yoga classes' to many people.

Be free.

Self-practice

Developing awareness and correct understanding along with self-discipline and determination, one doesn't need to be continuously attending yoga classes to be looking at and following the instructions of a yoga teacher/instructor to be performing the yoga practice, but out of own freewill and intense yearning for liberation, one retreats into seclusion and solitude to perform self-practice. One takes one's natural pace to perform the practice at ease, without rushing or struggling, or straining the body and mind beyond its limitation, and allowing the fruit of the practice to be there as it is.

Many people who attend yoga classes and those who provide yoga classes or other kind of yoga services, will look at, or take consideration towards, or give importance onto these factors -
- The qualifications/certifications/experience/background of the yoga teachers
- The professionalism and the 'yogi' look/appearance/image of the yoga teachers
- The atmosphere of the yoga practice space, such like the 'spiritual/zen feel', the decorations, the colour theme, the furniture, the fittings, the lighting, the plants, the sub-yoga products of 'yoga attires', 'yoga mats', 'yoga accessories' or 'yoga health supplements', the convenient facilities and other supplementary services, and/or other yoga family members of animals and pets.
- The surrounding environment of the yoga school or yoga studio, such like the scenery and the 'quality' of the neighbourhood.
- The degree of pleasantness of the enjoyment of the senses of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations and imagination/visualization/stimulation, and so on.
- The money-worth element of the fees in comparison with the services or enjoyments provided, and the rewards/benefits/effectiveness/recognition/qualification that one would be getting from attending the yoga classes/courses or performing the yoga practice.

Meanwhile, yoga and the yoga practice has nothing to do with all these names and forms. If the yoga teachers or the yoga classes providers don't get this or don't understand this, then they don't know what yoga is. In the process of the yoga practice of silencing the mind or meditation, the eyes are either closed or the mind is focusing/restraining within, and all the other senses are restrained/withdraw from the objects of the senses. What kind of scenery, or environment, or atmosphere, is irrelevant to one's practice. So as all the other factors.

Yoga of unconditional love and peace and the yoga practice of eliminating ignorance, egoism and impurities, is in the present moment regardless of the mind perception of different qualities of names and forms, environment, experience, time and space. It is not confined in a particular quality of name and form, environment, experience, time and space. If one can only find oneself, or peace, or the truth, in a particular yoga practice environment, experience, time and space, such like being in the nature of forest/mountain/seaside, and doing a particular style of yoga asana practice or physical/mental activity, then one doesn't know what yoga is even though one might feel good, peaceful and meaningful being in that particular environment, experience, time and space, and doing that particular style of yoga asana practice or physical/mental activity. The truth/yoga is always there as it is, regardless of whether one is experiencing a particular kind of yoga asana practice or physical/mental activity, or not, and being in what kind of environment, experience, time and space. Peace, compassion and the ability to forgive and let go what that the mind perceives as 'wrong', 'bad', 'hurtful', 'undeserving', 'painful', or 'sorrowful', is nothing to do with the mind perception of different qualities of names and forms or experiences.

There's nothing wrong and it's very common that most people who attend yoga classes will expect the yoga teacher/instructor to be looking at them and supervising their practice, to tell them to do this and don't do that, to correct their postures, to help them to push/challenge themselves beyond the limitation of their body and mind to make the body become more fit/strong/flexible and be able to do more 'challenging' yoga asana poses, to give positive feedback about their practice, to give encouragements of praise and compliment to motivate them to be continuing their practice, to be interacting in some kind of social conversation, to be involving in some form of social community activities together. Just that they haven't learned/realized what yoga really is about, even after many years of attending many hours of yoga classes regularly, be able to perform the yoga asana practice in perfect alignment, and attaining better health condition, developing fitter, stronger and more flexible physical body, being able to perform many complicated yoga asana poses, and generating momentary good, positive and meaningful feelings in their minds due to the effect of the yoga practice.

All these names and forms are nothing but part of the modification of the worldly egoistic impure minds under the influence of the conditional worldly egoistic thinking and belief and behavior. Yoga practice is mainly to free the mind from the influence of the conditional worldly egoistic thinking, belief and behavior.

One only needs a simple clean space, free from dust or insects/animals, to be practicing external yoga practice of yoga asana and pranayama practice. If there's no clean space available to be practicing yoga asana and pranayama practice, or if the physical health and fitness condition is restricting certain yoga asana or pranayama practices, or if the weather doesn't permit such practice (extreme weather condition), or the environment is not suitable for such external practice (causing inconvenience or disturbance to other beings), then one doesn't have to be practicing any kind of external yoga practice that is limited by certain physical/environmental/weather condition, but it doesn't stop one from performing the unconditional unlimited internal yoga practice of maintaining a calm and quiet mind, allowing the impermanent perceived reality/experience/qualities of names and forms to be what it is, that is not necessarily the way that the mind would like it to be, while be able to forgive and let go something that the mind perceives/recognizes as 'wrong', 'bad', 'hurtful', 'undeserving', 'painful' or 'sorrowful', without craving or clinging towards 'good' condition or pleasantness, and without aversion towards 'bad' condition or unpleasantness.

Contemplate on this and be free.

Certificates for running and attending yoga courses?

Issuing and acquiring 'Certificates' for running and attending yoga courses are not yoga practice.

Yoga is nothing to do with 'certification', 'certificate', 'yoga alliance', 'yoga association', and so on.

All these names and forms are the products of ignorance, egoism, worldly ideas of identity, values, recognition, acknowledgment, fruit of actions, self/professional image, authorization and commercialism.

One doesn't need certificates to have peace and compassion, or to forbear and forgive, or to love all beings unconditionally, or to show or guide other beings towards peace and compassion.

Having many 'internationally recognized certifications' from attending yoga courses affiliated with 'yoga alliance', or having all the knowledge/information about different types of yoga practice and knowing how to perform all the different types of yoga practice, doesn't mean that we are, or will be free from ignorance and egoism and suffering. It doesn't guarantee that one is peaceful and compassionate, or be able to show or guide other beings towards peace and compassion.

We won't find certificates in self-realization of the truth.

We won't find certificates in silence of the mind.

We won't find certificates in selflessness and liberation from suffering.

Be free.

How yoga is being perceived in the world as one type of physical health and fitness exercise

Some people asked us if we teach TTC (Yoga Teachers Training Course). No, we don't.

Anyone who has realized selflessness and unconditional love and peace through self-realization, who knows the path to free the mind from suffering that derived from ignorance and egoism (attachment, identification, worldly desires, craving and aversion), it's not necessarily that one has to be a yoga practitioner and regardless of how long one has been practicing yoga, one can share the knowledge of selflessness and unconditional love and peace with anyone, without the necessity of becoming a 'yoga teacher' to 'teach yoga classes'. One doesn't need to attend TTC to be trained to become 'qualified yoga teacher' to 'teach yoga classes' to share the realization of selflessness and unconditional love and peace with other beings. One doesn't need 'approval', or 'authorization', or 'qualification', or 'certification', or 'affiliation', or 'graduation from TTC with excellent results' to share the knowledge of unconditional love, peace and fearlessness through self-realization with other beings who are in search for liberation from ignorance and suffering.

Attending TTC and graduating with excellent results from TTC doesn't determine that one is, or will be free from ignorance and egoism. Teaching yoga is nothing to do with 'professionalism', or 'teacher training', or 'certification', which is part of the worldly ideas born out of egoism.

TTC are a platform or medium for anyone, including those who have never done any yoga practice before but who have the interest to know about yoga, to be open-minded and be humble to learn about the teachings of yoga, and begin their self-practice with self-discipline to purify the mind to free the mind from egoism and ignorance. Once the mind is purified and has realized selflessness and unconditional love and peace, one can share the knowledge of selflessness and unconditional love and peace with other beings without intention, without identification, without attachment.

Meanwhile many of the 'professional TTC allied with yoga alliance' are about being a platform or medium for people who think they know a lot about yoga and that they are good enough or ready to become 'yoga teachers', and they think they need to attend 'internationally recognized TTC allied with yoga alliance' to be trained 'how to teach/conduct professional, safe, effective, creative, fun and motivative yoga asana exercise classes' to acquire some kind of 'internationally recognized certification allied with yoga alliance' so that they can find a job called 'yoga teacher/instructor' to teach/conduct 'yoga asana exercise classes' in yoga centre or fitness centre or community centre, and lots of these TTC exist to cater to their 'needs' by providing the appropriate 'training' and 'certification' and 'authorization' that they are looking for.

These 'professional' TTC also teach about the teachings or philosophy of yoga but emphasize mainly on training the people about how to teach/conduct 'yoga asana exercise classes under different brands, styles, or levels', about how to give instructions, how to perform the yoga poses, what to do or what not to do, what are the benefits of the different yoga poses, the breathing exercises, the relaxation and some other practices, how to make 'hands-on' physical adjustments, what are the 'correct alignment', general knowledge to share in the class (about diet, lifestyle, positive thinking, anatomy, physiology, health and fitness, stories telling, philosophy, and etc), how to interact 'appropriately' or 'positively', what is a 'good teaching technique', or a 'good practice', or a 'good class', how to make the students or clients happy and satisfied, how to 'touch' people's heart, and etc. It is a great contradiction because during the philosophy class they teach/talk about "perform all your actions without attachment and identification, renounce the fruit of actions and allowing the fruit of actions to be there as it is" but then in the 'yoga asana classes' is mostly about feeding the egoism of both the teachers and the students - empowering the identification and attachment towards the action and the result of the action. Such like, "I am a good yoga teacher who teach/conduct good yoga classes that give good results/improvement," and "I am a good yoga student/practitioner who performs the yoga poses nicely and achieves good results/improvement from the practice."

Love and peace has nothing to do with how a person look or feel while being in particular yoga poses, or what is the physical condition, ability and limitation, or what type and how much benefits coming from the yoga practice. People don't have to put their bodies in any particular yoga poses to be kind and compassionate, or to be peaceful. The impermanent physical condition, ability and limitation doesn't determine a being would be free from ignorance, egoism, impurities and suffering, and be compassionate and peaceful, or not.

If one truly knows what is yoga or has realized selflessness and unconditional love and peace, one doesn't need to attend TTC to learn how to conduct 'yoga classes' to attain 'certification' to be 'authorized' to become 'professional internationally certified yoga teacher' to be teaching or passing the knowledge of yoga to other beings, or to be compassionate towards oneself and all beings.

No doubt that there are 'TTC graduates' who realize yoga through the practice of silence, self-inquiry, dispassion and right discrimination, and they may or may not be teaching 'yoga classes'.

The attachment towards the performance/results/effects/benefits of the yoga practice, and the emphasis on the technical/professional teaching instructions about "the correct body alignment of each yoga pose", or "how a yoga pose/position should look like", and the 'positive' encouraging words, cheering and hand clapping to congratulate or give encouragement, such like 'Well done!', 'You can do it!', 'You did it!', 'That's very good!', 'You're amazing!', 'Awesome!', 'Feel strong!', 'Be strong!', 'Let's boost your confidence and self-esteem!', 'Yoga strengthens your body and mind', 'Yoga elevates your mind!', 'Yoga makes you feel great!', 'You should be proud of yourself!', 'I am so proud of you!', and etc, as the core structure or important qualities of the 'yoga exercise classes' are indeed feeding the egoism (attachment, identification, craving, aversion, judgment, comparison and expectation).

But there is nothing wrong with all these TTC producing 'internationally certified yoga teachers' teaching 'yoga asana exercise classes' because most people who want to attend yoga classes are only interested in doing something that will make them feel good and look good, or give them the benefits/effects/results that they want. Being conditioned by worldly ideas, people evaluate a 'yoga teacher' based on their 'qualification' and 'certification', their 'professionalism', their 'charisma', their 'past accumulated teaching experience', or their 'ability' to give a 'good yoga exercise class' that can make them look good and feel good physically and mentally, or their up-to-date tips/general knowledge on about health and fitness, and updated on the latest yoga brands, styles and techniques. Many people are not interested in the practice of silence, quieting the mind, self-inquiry, dispassion and self-discipline to be free from ignorance and egoism, mainly it's because people don't think their minds are influenced by ignorance, they don't think they need to free the mind from egoism, as they love their ego of who they think they are. They don't see what's wrong with egoism. They enjoy being passionate about worldly life and social activities, and spend most of their effort on gratifying all their desires, and do what will make them feel good and happy as the meanings of life.

All these TTC graduates are 'good people' who have 'good intention' and hope to 'be qualified' to share yoga with other people, and it makes them feel meaningful and happy when their students look good and feel good about themselves after taking yoga exercise class with them. There's nothing 'wrong' with that.

It's like many children don't like to eat healthy food, the parents or care-taker might give them something that they like in return, such like desserts, to persuade them to eat the healthy food that they don't like to eat. And the parents feel happy seeing their children eating the healthy food and enjoying the desserts afterwards. So everyone is happy. That sounds very 'good'. Eventually, some of the children might start to realize why it is important to eat the healthy food, and even without any desserts in return, they will eat the healthy food out of their own choice. But very few children will have the self-realization, and in the end, they are addicted to the desserts, and they won't be happy unless they have their desserts. Just like people won't do something that is good for them or other people unless they will get something that they like and want in return. This is not yoga.

Imagine when a great 'yogi' who has attained self-realization and is compassionate comes to the yoga centre and offer himself to share the knowledge of yoga to whoever are interested in learning and practice yoga, and the yoga centre staff ask him, "Do you have internationally recognized either 200 hours or 500 hours yoga teacher certification allied with yoga alliance?" The yogi tells them, "No." And they tell him, "Sorry, we only employ 'qualified' professional yoga teacher with internationally recognized yoga teacher certification allied with yoga alliance to conduct yoga classes here."

Everyone has the freedom to choose what they want to do with their life, their bodies and minds. If people are contented with living a restless passionate worldly life full of attachments and identifications, and are okay with being the slave of their desires of cravings and aversions, and enjoying doing some yoga exercise regularly that will make them look good and feel good, that's their freedom.

Be free.

Yoga teachers and teaching yoga?

"Who can teach yoga?"

"Anybody, who knows what is yoga, who is peaceful and compassionate, who knows about impermanence and selflessness, who knows what is the cause of suffering and how to be free from suffering. It's not necessarily someone who has been practicing yoga for a long time, who is strong and flexible to do many of the yoga asana poses, or who had attended 'yoga teachers training course', and obtained or possessed 'internationally recognized' yoga teacher certifications."

"But, isn't that all yoga teachers must have recognized yoga teachers certification to be allowed to teach yoga legally?"

"Do you think someone who is free from ignorance and suffering, who is peaceful and compassionate, has to attend some 'yoga teachers training courses' to be trained to be a 'yoga teacher', to be authorized by some 'authorities' and obtains 'internationally recognized certifications' sanctioned and approved by some 'yoga associations', and be allied to some 'yoga alliances', in order to radiate peace and be compassionate, to share the knowledge of yoga and guiding other beings to be free from ignorance and suffering? Is a person not allowed to be kind to other beings because this person hasn't attended 'kindness training' and doesn't have a recognized 'certification of kindness' sanctioned by a 'kindness association or kindness alliance'?"

"I will not learn yoga from someone who hasn't been through professional yoga teachers training, who doesn't have 'internationally recognized yoga teachers certification'. 'Yoga teachers' who don't have a recognized certification are not allowed to teach yoga classes in many countries. Yoga centres in many countries only employ 'internationally certified' yoga teachers."

"Isn't that true... It's your freedom of thinking and freedom of choice then."

Whether people are well-educated and highly intelligent, or not, many would think that those who teach yoga must go through some forms of professional yoga teachers training to be qualified and certified as 'yoga teachers' before they are allowed to teach yoga, and they also think that only those who have been practicing yoga for quite a long time, who are physically strong and flexible to execute many of the yoga asana poses 'beautifully', or who have the 'qualifications of a yoga teacher', are qualified to attend yoga teachers training courses and be certified as 'yoga teachers' to conduct 'yoga classes' to teach yoga to other people.

These are the worldly ideas and values derived from conditioned thinking and belief under the influence of ignorance.

There are many 'internationally certified and affiliated' yoga teachers or instructors conduct many different types of 'yoga classes' everywhere in the world. Most of them teach yoga (asana) classes with different brand names according to the modules, styles and techniques that they learned from one or different types of 'yoga schools'. Some might even invent their own brands, styles, sequences and techniques of 'yoga'. Most of them even trademarked or copyrighted their new invention of 'yoga' that is adopted, modified and transformed from the traditional yoga practice. It's normal that many people are confused and uncleared about the tradition of yoga of its practice and purpose.

"People tell me that I could do all the yoga poses easily and beautifully, that I am strong and flexible, and they say I should become a yoga teacher. Should I?"
"What do I need to do in order to become a yoga teacher?"
"Is there a minimum years of yoga practice in order to become a yoga teacher?"
"How many and which yoga asana poses that I need to be able to perform in order to become a yoga teacher and teach yoga?"
"Do I need an internationally recognized yoga teachers certification to teach yoga in this country?"
"Do these yoga schools and yoga teachers affiliated with internationally recognized yoga association and yoga alliance?"
"Do these yoga courses issue internationally recognized certifications approved and sanctioned by internationally recognized yoga association and yoga alliance?"

In the commercial world of 'education systems', 'qualifications' and 'certifications', a person is obliged to obtain and possess some sorts of qualifications and certifications issued and recognized by 'internationally recognized' yoga association and yoga alliance to work as a 'yoga teacher' or 'yoga instructor' to conduct yoga (asana) classes to be teaching safe and result orientated 'yoga exercise' to other people. No doubt that those who teach yoga exercise fitness classes are better off being conformed and regulated under certain 'rules and regulations' regulated by 'those who know what they are doing', so that they have the basic knowledge to provide safe and effective physical training for other people by teaching varieties of 'yoga (asana) classes' with different brands, styles, techniques and routines, that have been adopted and modified from the traditional yoga asana practice. But, yoga is not about teaching or participating in yoga asana exercise classes. Yoga poses, or asana practice is just one part of the many yoga practice to help to influence the mind, to render the mind calm and quiet for meditation. It's not necessarily that people have to perform yoga asana practice to be practicing yoga, or to be peaceful and compassionate.

If people think teaching yoga to other people is about becoming a certified 'yoga teacher' by attending internationally recognized 'yoga teachers training courses' to attain 'internationally recognized certification' issued and sanctioned by internationally recognized 'yoga association' and 'yoga alliance', or one needs to go through some sorts of professional yoga teachers training to learn how to teach yoga in order to teach yoga, or how many years of yoga practice will qualify someone to be a yoga teacher, or a yoga teacher needs to have certain level of strength and flexibility to perform and demonstrate the yoga asana poses when teaching yoga classes, or teaching yoga is about training the students to push the body beyond its limitations to achieve maximum strength and flexibility, to be able to perform as many yoga asana poses as possible, and to execute the yoga poses in perfect alignment, or a person needs to have recognized certificate(s) to teach yoga, or teaching yoga means teaching different types of yoga asana classes labeled with different levels, brands and styles, then very obviously they don't know what is yoga, and so, how can they teach yoga, even though they possess 'internationally recognized' yoga teachers certifications?

Teaching yoga is not about teaching yoga asana (fitness exercise) classes. It's nothing to do with becoming a 'yoga teacher' by attending yoga teacher training courses to attain internationally recognized certifications or qualifications issued and sanctioned by 'internationally recognized' yoga association and yoga alliance, so that one can teach yoga exercise classes adopted from traditional yoga asana practice. It's dealing with the mind and its modification, the function of the mind, the perception of names and forms (the worldly life existence), the states of the mind, the habits and behavior of the mind, the actions and reactions of the mind, the impurities of the mind, the ignorance and suffering of the mind, and the liberation of the mind.

Yoga practice is about the elimination of ignorance, egoism and impurities, to free the mind from being conditioned by worldly thinking and beliefs, to realize selflessness and unconditional peace beyond all the impermanent qualities of names and forms.

Unconditional peace and compassion is not determined by how good a person can execute the yoga poses, or how long a person has been performing the yoga asana practice, or what type of qualification or certification a person has obtained and possessed from attending yoga classes or courses from yoga schools.

Whether a being is liberated from ignorance and suffering, and is peaceful and compassionate, or not, it has nothing to do with 'yoga associations', 'yoga alliance', 'yoga schools', 'yoga classes', 'yoga courses', 'yoga teachers training', and 'yoga teachers qualifications and certifications'.

There are some qualities which can determine a yoga aspirant - Viveka, Vairagya, Shat-sampat and Mumukshutva. And all these qualities has nothing to do with being in yoga class, attending yoga class, teaching yoga class, being strong and flexible, performing some yoga poses, yoga schools, yoga association, yoga alliance, yoga teachers training courses, and certifications. Yoga practice is about Vichara, to perform self-inquiry to know the truth of names and forms. One can learn and practice yoga anywhere, anytime. One can teach yoga anywhere, anytime. All the names and forms are teaching us yoga, it's not limited to a human being who identifies himself/herself as 'yoga teacher'. Anything and anyone and all our experiences that can teach us about impermanence and selflessness, that allow us to realize compassion and be compassionate, is our yoga teachers. In the end, both the teacher and the student is the mind itself.

The one who is free from ignorance and suffering, who is peaceful, wise and compassionate, doesn't need to attend any 'yoga teachers training courses' to be trained to become a 'yoga teacher' to teach yoga. This being doesn't need to be certified, authorized and approved by 'yoga schools', 'yoga associations', or 'yoga alliance' for being peaceful and compassionate, to radiate peace and compassion, and to guide other suffering beings onto the path of selflessness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, to also realize unconditional peace and compassion. This being doesn't need the title of 'yoga teacher', or naming the act of sharing the knowledge of unconditional peace and compassion as 'teaching yoga'. It's free from egoistic attachments and identifications of 'I want to teach yoga', 'I teach yoga or yoga classes', 'I am a yoga teacher', 'I am an internationally qualified and certified yoga teacher', 'I am qualified and certified to teach yoga', 'I am a good and experienced yoga teacher', or 'I have been practicing and teaching yoga for xx years.'

The realization of 'Selflessness' which leads to unconditional peace and compassion is undetermined by all the worldly impermanent qualities of names and forms. It doesn't belong to a particular being, species, gender, sexual orientation, age, social status, intellect, personality, behavior, impermanent states of the mind, physical appearance, physical condition, limitation and ability, worldly education and knowledge, worldly commercial ideas, thinking and beliefs, worldly achievements and contributions, personal belief, cultural belief, religious belief, spiritual practice, yoga class, yoga school, yoga association, yoga alliance, or how many years of yoga practice.

If people want to think and believe that they will only learn and practice 'yoga' under the guidance of a 'yoga teacher' who possesses and advertises 'internationally recognized' qualifications and certifications, and those who want to teach 'yoga' think that they need to possess 'internationally recognized' qualifications and certifications, and be authorized by 'internationally recognized yoga associations and yoga alliance' to teach 'yoga' to other people, then the 'yoga' that they practice and teach will be what they think what it is. There's nothing wrong with that.

Yoga is not about achieving peace and happiness by having the life or the world to be the way that we like it to be, but, it's realizing the unconditional peace being undetermined by all the impermanent good and bad qualities of names and forms, pleasant and unpleasant or desirable and undesirable experiences.

Whether a person is practicing yoga, or not, it's not determined by being content and happy when everything is the way that we desire it to be, but, it is seen whether the mind is able to be peaceful and compassionate under any challenging, difficult, undesirable and discomfortable conditions and situations, being free from all sorts of impurities, ill-will and ill-thinking when everything is not the way that we like it to be.

Be free.

Want to teach yoga? (5)

One must be free from ignorance and suffering, and has peace, before one can help or guide others to be free from ignorance and suffering, and have peace.

Teaching yoga is without attachment or identification, guiding other beings onto the path of self-inquiry and self-realization to be free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification, craving, aversion, and all sorts of impurities, and this leads to the liberation of transcending suffering.

Liberation is nothing to do with freedom of thinking, actions and speech, or gratifying all our desires of what we want and don't want (craving and aversion), but it's being free from ignorance and the consequences of ignorance, which is suffering. Suffering exists when ignorance exists. Suffering doesn't exist when ignorance is absent. One can attain liberation even when one's thinking, actions and speech are limited or restricted.

Teaching yoga has nothing to do with righteousness, or changing the world to be the way that we think is good and right, or saving other beings from suffering, or freeing the world from the bad and evil, but it's allowing everyone to go through mind purification or self-evolution in their own pace, and be free from ignorance and egoism, transcending the impermanent worldly life existence through realizing selflessness, and thus, there's no egoistic attachment towards the impermanent world of names and forms.

It's not about expecting the world to be free from what we believe as negative, bad and wrong, or changing everything and everyone to become what we believe as positive, good and right, to give us peace.

It's not about "This is my world. I love my world. I don't want anything negative, bad and wrong to be in my world. I want my world to be what I believe as positive, good and right. I don't want objects and beings that I don't like and don't agree with to exist in my world."

Though the world doesn't belong to anyone or anything, but everyone and everything, whether our minds believe as good or bad, right or wrong, has the right to be existing and sharing this space of the universe.

Peace is there when one's mind is free from ignorance, egoism and impurities. It has nothing to do with whether everything and everyone in the world that we are living in is the way that how we like it to be, or not. Unconditional peace has nothing to do with whether everything and everyone in the world is positive, good and right, or not.

Upon realization of selflessness, there is no identification with the limited impermanent life existence of the body and mind as 'I'. The body is not me, I am not the body. The mind is not me, I am not the mind. There is no 'I' exist to be selfish or unselfish. There's no 'I' to be good or bad. There's no 'I' to do good or bad. There's no 'I' performing action or inaction. There's no 'I' to be giving and receiving the fruit of actions. There's no 'I' to be experiencing happiness or unhappiness. There's no 'I' to enjoy or suffer.

The unconditional peace is always there, undetermined and uncontaminated by any impermanent qualities of names and forms. There's no egoistic attachment towards the qualities of names and forms. There is no attachment towards the physical condition and the function of the mind. There is no clinging or craving towards what the mind believes as positive, good and right. There is no aversion towards what the mind believes as negative, bad and wrong.

Once one is free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification, craving and aversion, one will know how to guide others to be free, without the need of acquiring qualification or certification from yoga teachers training courses to be a 'recognized' or 'certified' yoga teacher to teach yoga. Teaching yoga is beyond the worldly thinking and commercial values that are created by the worldly minded for the worldly minded, which is not about eliminating ignorance and egoism, but it's empowering ignorance and egoism.

Om shanti.

Yoga, the teachings, the practice and teaching yoga...

There were some people suggested to us that we should be teaching 'yoga teachers training course'.

There were some people asked us whether our yoga studio issues any 'Internationally recognized certification', if they participated in our yoga retreats and workshops.

There was 'Yoga Alliance' wrote to us whether we want to pay them some member fees so that we can put some 'logos' on our website and be affiliated and registered with their organization.

I don't disagree nor criticize anyone or any organization to think and do what they want to think and do.  Everyone has the rights and freedom to think and act the way that they want to think and act.

There's nothing wrong with all these worldly qualities of names and forms.

Most people are conditioned to think in certain ways, to believe in certain 'commercial' or 'worldly' values and qualities of names and forms. There's nothing wrong with that. And it's okay if some people cannot go beyond those conditioned thinking and beliefs, no matter how hard they try to understand what is beyond their thinking and beliefs.

Just that, Yoga and teaching yoga, or self-inquiry and self-realization, or to develop mindfulness, insight, self-awareness and self-control, or the practice of non-attachment and non-identification, or the truth of names and forms, or transcending qualities of names and forms, or the elimination of the egoism, or selflessness, or be free from ignorance and suffering, or the realization of unconditional peace and compassion, or sharing wisdom, love and peace with other beings, or be compassionate towards other beings, or be free from anger and hatred, greed and jealousy, dissatisfaction and disappointment, craving and aversion, fear and worry, really has nothing to do with all these organization, certification and qualification.

It means nothing if a 'wandering yogi' hangs a few certificates issued by some yoga schools around his neck, going around with a statement of his personal profile about how many years, months and days he has been practicing yoga, where he has been learning and practicing yoga, who are his Gurus and teachers, what he has achieved from his practice and self-inquiry, since when he has started sharing his wisdom and unconditional love and peace with other beings, how many people have been learning and practicing yoga under his guidance, or what sorts of certifications he will issue to those who practice yoga under his guidance, and etc.

We don't even display our 'Internationally recognized yoga teachers training certifications' anywhere in the yoga studio or at home. We respect everyone for their personal freedom of thinking, speech and actions, and we are really grateful and thankful for all the teachers and the Ashrams to provide us with the opportunity to learn and practice yoga, as well as the 'Internationally recognized' certifications. But whether by attaining and displaying these certifications, or not, really doesn't determine anything about 'who we are' and 'what we do', and it has nothing to do with the teachings of yoga about transcending the body and mind, the modifications of the mind, the worldly existence, all the qualities of names and forms, be free from egoism, ignorance and suffering, realize unconditional love and peace, and rest in ones nature as it is.

We don't mention about what type of certification or qualification that we have in our website, as it doesn't determine anything.

If some people are looking for all these qualities of names and forms to find a teacher or a school to learn and practice yoga, then let them be.

If people didn't find what they are looking for in our website or in our classes, retreats or workshops, and are not interested in what we share, let them be.

May all find their own way, their own path, their own realization.

May all be free, be peaceful, be happy.

Yoga Teachers Training Course and Certification?

After attending the yoga class, the student told the teacher, "I will not come back for classes tomorrow. I know all the things that you said and taught in the class is true and good. I read from many yoga books about all these yoga philosophy. Your teaching is not different from the books. I know the word "non-attachment"... But my yoga master said that we have to start with perfecting the physical body with asana practice. And only when the physical body is perfected, then only we start practice pranayama, then we practice concentration, then we practice meditation, then the yoga philosophy will come to us. We should not listen to, nor study and practice yoga philosophy, nor perform pranayama, nor concentration or meditation, before our physical body attained perfection... Your yoga class teach about yoga philosophy. Your yoga class consists of pranayama, meditation, inverted pose, balancing pose, forward bends, backward bends, twists and side bends. Our "x" yoga only do one type of practice in one day. If we practice backward bends in that class we don't do forward bends. Your sun salutation is very different from ours. I don't want to do your type of sun salutation. I don't want to disappoint my yoga master. The "x" yoga is the only yoga I want to practice. I don't want to learn any other kind of yoga practice. I don't want to get confused with other yoga practice. I really need to practice my "x" yoga asana. It is very important to me because I need the certificate from my yoga master. I need this certificate because I need it to work. I want to work as a yoga teacher... You can see from the facebook about the yoga teachers training course certification from my yoga master..."

The teacher said, "Do you think all the yogis in the world have certificates? Do you think Buddha had a certificate for him to share and teach Dharma to the world?"

The student replied, "They don't need certificates. But I need a certificate. I am not like them... I need the yoga teacher training's certificate from my yoga master for me to work as a yoga teacher to teach yoga..."

"What do you think yoga is?"

"I show you what we do in our yoga class... We bring the feet apart about 4 feet wide with the four points of the sole of the feet touching the floor firmly. Then we inhale lengthen the spine upward with arms stretch out to the side and this foot turn to the side, and then as we exhale we bring the body to one side with this hand supporting on the shin, or put our hand on this block while the other arm extending over the head. And we stay in this position for 8 to 10 breaths...."

"Good... Most important is that you are happy with yourself and what you want... Sorry we don't teach this "x" yoga. I wish you good luck in your yoga practice and best wishes to you and your family..."

Om shanti.

Yoga teachers training course, certifications, yoga teacher and teaching yoga?

If somebody is hungry, do we need to have a "recognized" certificate of "generosity" to share some of our food with this being?

If somebody is in painful sorrow, do we need a "recognized" certificate of "compassion" to share joy and happiness with this being?

If somebody needs a friend, do we need a "recognized" certificate of "friendliness" to be his or her friend?

If somebody wants to learn about yoga from a peaceful, self-controlled, wise and compassionate being, does this compassionate being needs a certificate of "qualified yoga teacher" to share yoga with anyone? Does he or she needs a certificate for him or her to show someone how to bring the mind to be in the present moment, to live in the present moment, and be free from fear and worry?

Do we need a certificate to show other people how to be kind, happy and peaceful? And of course, we have to be kind, happy and peaceful in ourselves if we want to show other people how to be kind, happy and peaceful...

Does a certificate of "qualified peaceful being" coming from attending a "peaceful being training course" will make a person peaceful being? Like wise, will a certificate of "qualified yoga teacher" coming from attending a "yoga teacher training course" make a person yoga teacher?

Some real yogis might not went to a yoga school before nor attended any "yoga classes" before... They don't even call themselves as "yogi". Calling themselves as "yogi" is generating separateness between those who are yogis and those who are not yogis... And Yoga is about oneness or non-separateness beyond names and forms... We see 'God', or the one same nature, in everyone and everything including ourselves... These yogis perform Sadhana or intense yoga practice and meditation day in day out. And where did they learn to perform these Sadhana from? Most probably it was from some other experienced yogis who don't possess a certificate nor do they issue any certificates to those who learn from them... They observe their mind every moment, and have self-control over their thoughts, actions and speech. They observe silence of mind, physical body and the speech organ... There's no identification with the body and mind, not to say, the actions and the fruit of actions. They are working on eliminating the ego, desires, attachments, craving and aversion, to be free from ignorance, which is not something what we see in "yoga classes" nowadays, doing one hour of yoga poses or exercises or sun salutation, and claiming that "I am a yogi and I am practicing yoga..." While the person who is leading the "yoga classes" claiming that "I am a yoga teacher and I am teaching yoga..."

Did the selfless or egoless saints and sages in the past possessed and carried at least one or many "certificate(s)" issued and recognized by such and such organizations to certified that they were selfless and for them to be qualified to teach other people towards selflessness?

Obviously those who are free from the ego do not need certificates nor have a certificate at all. And these are the real yogis who will be sharing the path of "yoga" with those who are looking for "yoga"...

The term and purpose of "yoga teachers training course" is more about learning how to become our own teacher, and it's not about teaching other people... Teaching other people will come naturally when we realize the inner teacher within us and became our own teacher... Of course there's nothing wrong also if we haven't realized what is yoga, but we teach "yoga" to other people according to the books and what we have been trained on how to teach a yoga class, from attending yoga teachers training courses. But this doesn't make us yoga teachers...

Yoga schools or yoga courses allow people to practice yoga to become their own teacher. And when they realized the greatest teacher within themselves, and realized oneness or non-separateness through the realization towards selflessness or egolessness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, free from ignorance and impurities, free from craving and aversion, free from duality, then naturally they can share their direct experience with other beings on how to find this inner teacher, or they'll know how to guide other beings on how to be free as well... They don't need to be "trained" to be "yoga teachers". They don't need the name or title of "yoga teachers". Certainly they don't need to possess any "certifications"... Then what is this certificate of "qualified yoga teacher" issued and recognized by such and such organization and affiliation all about?

What is yoga or compassion, if yoga is being restricted and conditioned by names and forms, terms and regulations, and separateness that comes from "you are qualified" and "you are not qualified"?

What happen to those who are not physically fit enough to perform any asana exercises or meditation postures, or unable to attend yoga teachers training courses due to certain reasons, but they have pure and tranquil mind? They are free from craving and aversion. They are wise and compassionate. They are free from suffering. Are they not allowed to share the wisdom of transcending suffering with other people just because they didn't attend any yoga teachers training courses to attain a "recognized" certificate? Or they can teach, but not with the name of "yoga", as it is being restricted and conditioned about one must have a "recognized" certificate to teach "yoga"... What a pity...

Buddha, who was the enlightened one, did he carry a certificate issued by such and such organizations affiliated to such and such affiliations with him to qualified him to propagate the teachings of how to transcend suffering?

If somebody says, "Hey! You don't have a recognized qualification or certificate issued by such and such organizations, you are not qualified nor allowed to teach yoga..." Sorry, this doesn't mean anything... Maybe for those who teach yoga asana exercises as fitness classes, then they might be restricted by the fitness industries regulations. But yoga is not a physical fitness exercises. Maybe some people only see "yoga" as a form of physical exercises for fitness, but that is what they perceive and what they want to believe, it is not what yoga is about...

If somebody who are not sure about what is yoga and try to teach "yoga" to other people, it's okay, because one day this being might realize what is yoga from his/her sincere enthusiasm to teach yoga... Everyone is "liberated being" when ignorance vanished... Everyone is "liberation teacher" when they share the path of liberation with those who want to be free from ignorance... It doesn't matter if it is in the form of "Yoga" or "Buddhism" or "Taoism" or "Hinduism" or "Christianity" and so on, or it's nameless and formless... It doesn't matter if they call themselves "yoga teachers" or some other names, or not...

Anyone or anything is our yoga teacher when it allows us to see ourselves, to know ourselves, to know our own mind and the ego, to see the ignorance in us, and helping us to be free from ignorance...

Yoga teachers are not limited to those who have attended yoga teachers training courses and have "recognized" certificates, and are teaching some yoga practices to other people...

Om shanti.

A Message To A Student Who Wants To Be Certified As Yoga Teacher

I have received a message from a yoga student who is already teaching yoga classes but is now looking forward to be a certified yoga teacher. She asked for my advice. We wanted to meet up at some stage but it didn’t happen. This is what I wrote to her.


Hello there,

I received your mail. I thought of talking to you face to face when we meet up, but never mind, I can still talk to you here.

First, you need to know why are you teaching yoga. If it’s just teaching for living-hood as a career to make money, then go ahead, sign up a course anywhere that will “provide” some “recognized certificates”. There’s nothing wrong with teaching yoga for the money.

But, if you want to share yoga with many others out of compassion because you have been benefited from yoga, then that piece of paper means nothing at all.

If you really know yoga, then there is no need to have a piece of paper to prove that you are a “yoga teacher” and are “qualified to teach yoga”.

If you still need a piece of paper to give you the confidence to teach yoga, then very obvious that you still haven’t really get the true meanings and true confidence that come from knowing yoga personally…

If you want to teach exercise class with yoga poses in those places that provide “yoga classes” for fitness, then you should have a “certificate” to go for the “interview” as a “yoga teacher/instructor”.

Real yoga doesn’t have “certification”.

Giving the knowledge of yoga or giving the teachings of yoga to other beings is not a “job” or a “business”. It is not about “teaching” other people to do yoga exercises. It is about sharing the wisdom of knowing what is true happiness and how to transcend suffering with anyone that has the need of listening to yoga philosophy and who has the need to know what is yoga and how yoga can help them to be free from unhappiness. It is purely sharing the joy, wisdom and compassion that come from the heart when our own heart has realized yoga, has realized the love, peace, compassion and wisdom within ourselves.

The money that comes from giving yoga classes are intentionless and without any expectation. The money is just to enable us to survive, for ourselves to evolve further and to share yoga with more other beings. The money from giving yoga classes is a blessing, not a reward or earning.

There is nothing wrong to teach yoga for money or to make a living.

There is nothing wrong about teaching yoga as a fitness exercise that can help many people to relax and feel good about themselves. But the real teachings of yoga can help us to be free from generating tension and negativity into our system. Teaching people to relax is not as effective as teaching people how to not generate tension and negativity at the first place. If there is no tension, there is no need of relaxation. What is the point, when people keep generating tension and go for relaxation to relieve tension, and continue to generate more tension into the system?

Real yoga practice and realization of the Truth allow us to be fearless and worry-less towards the law of nature - changes, old age, sickness, weakness, separation from our loved ones, not getting the things that we like, losing the things that we like, contact with the things that we don't like, and death... There is nothing wrong with all these natural life transformations or experiences. There is no need to resist all these natural transformations of life or changes of the physical body, but we are not identifying nor associating with all these experiences through the body and mind... It is just the body and mind experiencing all these impermanent changes of the qualities of names and forms... We allow each transformation of life or changes of this physical body to happen, in peace... It allows us to be peaceful and compassionate being in any challenging difficult conditions or situations... It allows us to be able to make any decisions without doubt or fear or regret... It allows us to be firmed in all our decisions made and in all pursues. We don't need answers or guidance from the outside, but within ourselves is the source of everything that we need to know.

Here are a few articles I wrote about being a yoga teacher.

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.com/2010/04/about-ashrams.html

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.com/2009/11/about-yoga-teachers.html

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.com/2009/05/yoga-and-certification.html

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.com/2009/08/i-noticed-that-many-yoga-students-are.html

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.fr/2011/05/how-to-become-confident-yoga-teacher.html 

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.in/2011/10/advice-to-yoga-teacher.html 

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.ie/2012/06/about-yoga-teachers-and-teaching-yoga.html 

http://mengfoonglai.blogspot.in/2011/11/yoga-is-unconditioned-and-unlimited-by.html 

Follow whatever your heart wants to do.

Be happy in whatever you want to do.

No need to be afraid if you really want to share yoga with others, the path is there for you already.

Meng Foong

About Yoga Teachers

There are many yoga teacher training schools and yoga teachers in the world nowadays. It is a good thing to encourage more people to be involving in yoga practice and sharing yoga with many others.

Basically anyone also can walk the path of Yoga as well as sharing the journey, the joy and wisdom, and the benefits of Yoga with other people. It's not necessarily that everyone who wish to share their very own personal experiences and insights that they acquired from their sincere practice of Yoga have to go through a so called recognized yoga school or ashram, to attain some paper certificates or recognition to qualify or allow them to share Yoga with others. Because self-realization or enlightenment is not to be found in any school or ashram, but it is within us, our inner Self, and it cannot be issued or guaranteed by anyone or any organizations, but it depends on our very own sincere practice and self-inquiry. A person who doesn’t know how to read and write or speak any languages, or hasn’t gone to any formal educational or training school, may still attain self-realization from within.

The real school, real ashram, real teacher and real 'God' is all these that the mind is perceiving now. There is no need any paper certifications, or recognition, or qualifications for an enlightened mind to share Yoga or Dharma with any living beings within the world or out of the world. We don’t learn compassion and wisdom from a school or ashram, but it is in our life and in our own practice and realization. No one taught us about happiness and suffering, no one can give us happiness and suffering, it is all within our own mind. Attachment and non-attachment, likes and dislikes, happen every moment in our mind. It has nothing to do with our teachers, the schools or the ashrams.

But yoga schools and ashrams are a place for anybody who wish to learn about yoga and to build a firm foundation for our own practice, not so much about the skill of teaching yoga to others. Because as we advanced in our own practice and attained insights or direct realization, naturally we will know how to guide others into yoga practice and sharing the wisdom of yoga with others. We all are naturally a “yoga teacher” if we want to call ourselves with such a name, if we have loving kindness, compassion and wisdom, and are sincerely and selflessly helping others to come out from miseries and to walk the path towards self-realization. In the journey of Yoga, we will learn how to go beyond all the qualities of names and forms, and realize selflessness.

Most important is that, anybody who wants to become a yoga teacher need to have correct understanding, purity and compassion for sharing the knowledge of yoga and the practice with other living beings. It doesn’t matter if we are not perfect yet.

But before we are able to share this knowledge with others, we should have had a deep understanding of the yoga philosophy and have had direct personal experiences in the yoga practice before we can actually guide others onto the path of yoga. We should be teaching and not preaching.

Teaching yoga is definitely not a worldly profession or a job like being a fitness instructor in a fitness club teaching exercise classes for passion, money and fame (though there is nothing wrong with this), but it is to be able to share the wisdom of yoga with other people who are in search for true happiness and to guide them how to transcend suffering – as a selfless service to all the living beings even though we may be receiving some fees/payment from teaching classes to maintain our living and for ourselves to continue learning.

Yoga classes are part of the practice for self-evolution, self-purification and self-transformation regardless of whether we are having different spirituality and religious belief and practice from one another, or not having any spiritual or religious belief and practice at all, and not just stopping at the surface of physical trainings or fitness activities.

The main practice is self-control, discipline, self-reliance, self-inquiry, dispassion, renunciation, silence, purification, concentration and meditation. All these will lead us to attain wisdom and self-realization.

Purification is about eliminating ignorance and egoism, restlessness and impurities from the mind, such like selfishness, anger, hatred, lust, greed, jealousy, dissatisfaction, disappointment, hurt, resentment, pride, arrogance, attachment, identification, craving, aversion, expectation, evil thinking, actions and speech, grief, regret, guilt, fears and worries, and etc.

The main teaching of Yoga is truthfulness, self-realization, selflessness, non-separateness, non-duality, non-attachment, non-identification, and control of the mind, which also leads to control of the actions and speech.

Selflessness is the nature of everything. The mind will realize selflessness through eliminating the ego and egoism, non-attachment and non-identification with the body and mind, desire of craving and aversion, as well as renouncing from the fruit of actions.

Non-duality is about non-attachment towards the impermanent good and bad qualities of names and forms, the likes and dislikes or craving and aversion of the body and mind upon coming in contact with comfortable and dis-comfortable/agreeable and disagreeable names and forms perceived through the senses. It is going beyond what the mind perceives as good and bad, positive and negative, pure and impure, success and failure, praise and censure, happiness and suffering, meaningfulness and meaninglessness.

As yoga teachers, we should possess the qualities of truthfulness, cheerfulness, patience, loving kindness, compassion, wisdom, open-mindedness, self-independence, equanimity, courage, humility, gratitude, adaptation, tolerance, correct understanding, right effort, respect, acceptance, forgiveness, non-judging, non-comparing, non-competing, non-criticizing, non-expecting, calmness, peacefulness, selflessness, purity of thoughts, actions and speech, non-attachment, non-identification, desirelessness, dispassion, fearlessness and worry-lessness.

It is not so much about achieving perfection of the strength and flexibility of the physical body (because no matter how strong and flexible we are and can we perform highly skillful and complicated Asana poses, this physical body will still have to go through old age, decay, illness and death (impermanence) – there should be void of identification with the physical body and the mind as 'I'), while appreciating the good health and the strong and flexible body to be performing selfless service and for our own self-inquiry to be attaining self-realization.

It doesn’t matter about what type of qualifications or certifications that a yoga teacher had acquired from which school or ashram, it doesn’t really indicate that we are good and genuine yoga teacher or not. It doesn’t guarantee us self-realization or enlightenment (it depends mainly on our own effort, understanding, practice and direct experience). It is not that someone who has been giving yoga classes for a long time will be more experienced or is better than someone who had just started practicing and teaching. It depends very much on his or her own practice and correct understanding towards the teachings of Yoga, and also his or her pure intention to share yoga with all. There’s no such thing as “good yoga teacher” or “bad yoga teacher”. There should be no comparison, no competition, and no criticism among yoga teachers. Yoga schools and yoga centers are not supposed to be a money making business and having competition and jealousy among themselves. Everyone are sincerely sharing the wisdom of yoga with different people who have different conditions, personalities, needs and wants.

 

We all are merely the instrument to help spreading the teachings of yoga to other living beings who are interested in the path of Yoga. We all are learning from each other and whatever we do, it should be ego-less, renounce from the fruit of actions and to go beyond all the qualities of names and forms. There is no superiority as a yoga teacher or advanced practitioner, and there is no inferiority as a yoga student or beginner practitioner. Beyond all the different qualities of names and forms, beyond the veil of ignorance and egoism, we all are the same, selfless and impermanent, attributeless, beginning-less and endless.

May we bring peace and happiness to all living beings and move towards self-realization together. Our duty is to promote unconditional love, peace and harmony into the world of ignorance and suffering deriving from ignorance.

Yoga and "certification"?

Nowadays, the system of the education and work-field is depending very much on the term ''certification''.

Of course, in most of the works that require specific knowledge and skill to perform the work, it needs people who are being trained in that particular knowledge and skill to perform that specific type of work.

There's nothing wrong at all for the requirement to have some sort of certifications to show that the person who will be doing the job knows about the work, and is being trained to do the work.

But when come to yoga practice, are we going to be given a certificate by 'God' or from an enlightened being, to certify us and for us to show it to other people telling everybody that ''we are enlightened beings'', or ''we are compassionate human beings'', or ''we are real yogis'', or ''we are yoga teachers'', or ''we are dharma teacher'', if we are free from ignorance and realize the unconditional peace and compassion, being kind to others, and share this wisdom with others?

Does an enlightened being need a piece of paper stating ''certificate of enlightenment'', and carrying it to wherever he goes and show it to other people telling them that he is enlightened?

There's nothing wrong with having a piece of paper to show that we have gone through certain training in such and such practice, but certainly it is not a statement of qualification for us to be recognized or acknowledged as a real practitioner or a genuine teacher.

Does having a certification from a famous school of yoga is a guarantee of a perfect yogi or a good and genuine yoga teacher?

Does a real yogi who had perfected in his practice and has profound knowledge of the Truth is not allowed and not qualified to teach yoga and dharma to anyone who desire to learn from him because he did not go through a recognized school or Ashram, and not having any ''yoga teachers training certifications''?

Did Buddha attain or receive a certificate from somewhere or somebody to acknowledge or enable him to teach dharma to all beings?

Did all the saints and sages, and yogis in the past before the existence of ''certification'', attain any so called ''Internationally recognized'' and ''Certified by an association of spiritual practice'' kind of certificate to prove that they were graduated from a school or Ashram and had attained ''such and such'' level of spiritual enlightenment?

Did they sit for an exam, get the passing marks and the certificate, and thus they were qualified to disseminate the teachings to other people, and the people who learned from them will be guaranteed for achieving excellent results as well? And if they did not sit for an exam, and did not have a certificate, does this mean they are not allowed to teach yoga and disseminate dharma?

Are we going to be guaranteed enlightenment after we have attended 200/500/1000 hours of courses, passed the final exam, and attained a piece of paper? It solely depends on our own practice and direct realization, but certainly it is nothing to do with passing examination, attaining certification, or how many hours of practice, study, participation and attendance in yoga courses.

Do we need a special place or classroom and a special timing to disseminate dharma or be kind to others? Not really.

Are we a ''yoga teacher'' if we are teaching a group of people doing some or all of the poses in the asana practice in a "yoga class"? Not really, unless it allows the mind to see the ignorance in itself, to remove ignorance to know the truth of names and forms, to develop non-attachment, or to realize unconditional peace and compassion, or selflessness.

Does spiritual practice, spiritual evolution or self realization has got anything to do with the knowledge of the anatomy of the physical body or sports science? What does knowledge of the bones and muscles has to do with meditation and insight? Does it mean that if people don't know anything about the anatomy and physiology or sports science, they will never be free from ignorance and suffering, or won't be peaceful, kind and compassionate? When we cut open our body, can we find where the mind is, and know how the mind looks like?

Maybe by understanding that after removing our skin, what left is some ugly smelly disgusting flesh and blood underneath the beautiful skin. And after we died, all the muscles and organs will decompose and what left is some bony structure, and this might help us to realize the truth of the physical body is nothing but bones, flesh, blood, nerves, glands, internal organs, urine and shit. And this will help us to develop strong detachment towards the physical body and detachment towards youthful, healthy, strong, beautiful, attractive, fashionable or presentable physical appearances.

A real yogi, or a dharma teacher, or an enlightened being, doesn't need this egoistic product of the worldly minded business of so called ''certification'' to acknowledge him, or to qualify him, or to allow him to share this beautiful knowledge with anyone who is sincere to realize about the Truth of selflessness and impermanence in all and everything, to practice in life what they have learned from some other peaceful and compassionate beings, to be developing right understanding, and heading towards Self-realization.

It is not the qualification or certification that allows us to be enlightened, to attain wisdom, to share unconditional love and peace with others, to know the Truth, to be peaceful, to be compassionate, to be kind, to be sincere and honest, to disseminate dharma in the world, and etc.

It is the real practice of detachment and self-control in us, in every moment in everyday life experiences, which is invisible or unknown to other people at all, that enable us to keep improving in our own practice, to realize the Truth, and thus being able to share the knowledge attained from our own practice and direct realization with other people without the notion of ''I am a teacher'', ''I am teaching yoga'', ''I am qualified and certified'', ''I am compassionate'', ''I am helping those who are in despair'', or ''I am earning money from teaching yoga''.

There is nothing wrong to receive money from the students as a form of appreciation from them and to be able to support our living and enable us to continue our own practice without worrying or struggling for living. But certainly not to greed for money making in order to attain worldly enjoyments and to satisfy our worldly desires. And the appreciation towards the teacher and the opportunity to be learning and practicing yoga, doesn't necessarily is in the form of money, but anything that is coming from the sincerity of the student to express his gratitude, that is within his ability.

Certainly we can not refuse to teach or not to share the knowledge of yoga with anybody who has no money or has nothing to give us, or even anyone who is being non-appreciative and non-thankful. Unless under certain condition and situation where we can not teach yoga to someone is due to something unavoidable, such as we need to be at somewhere else, or we need to do something else, or we are not able to teach due to sickness or injuries, or we need to focus in our own practice. It shouldn't be because of the person cannot give us some money or something in return.

It doesn't matter if there is only one student learning from a yoga teacher. A real yoga teacher is not determined by how many students he has, or whether he is famous or not, or whether he is getting high pay or not.

All beings, whether wise or ignorant, are their own dharma teacher doesn't matter if they go to a school or not, learning from a teacher or not, realized and understood dharma or not.

We don't need this piece of paper to prove that we are good or not good, qualified or not qualified. It's because dharma is already in all and everyone, whether we are aware of it, or not, whether we have a teacher, or not, and regardless of the degrees of ignorance.

If there is a real ''certificate'' approved by 'God' or the enlightened being, it will be something unconditional without names and forms coming from within. No one else can see this ''certificate'' with their eyes, but they will know what it is.

No one else but our own self, always know that whether we are sincere in our own practice, whether we are compassionate in sharing the knowledge of yoga practice with other beings (not out of the ego wants to teach other people for gaining respect and reputation, name and fame, or for getting money to fulfill our selfish worldly desires), whether we can share the wisdom of peace and compassion with those who are in painful sorrow and suffering.

A real yoga practitioner who is detached from names and forms doesn't need to tell everyone that ''I am a real yogi'', ''I am perfected in yoga practice'', ''I am a good yoga teacher or dharma teacher'', or ''I am a qualified and certified yoga teacher or practitioner, certified by such and such yoga schools'', or "I have been practicing and teaching yoga for how many years", and etc.

He is what he is. He does what he need to do. He doesn't need any worldly recognition, acknowledgement and approval from any organizations to disseminate dharma.

What is yoga and dharma if it is limited by this small piece of paper produced by the worldly minded people in the world of egoism/business/commercialism?

What is enlightenment and wisdom if it is limited by the perception of dualism about qualified or non-qualified, certified or non-certified?

Everyone is a qualified yoga practitioner from the beginning of existence and is a qualified yoga teacher when they share the knowledge of unconditional peace and compassion with others out of compassion, regardless of whether they had went to a formal school or Ashram, or not, whether they had attained a so called ''recognized certificate'', or not, but they had realized the Truth through their own realization. They know the path. They are selfless and peaceful, wise and compassionate.

Without peace, wisdom and compassion, "yoga classes" are just a product of the world of business, physical fitness, physical challenging exercises, competition and empowerment for the egoism and ignorance.

May we all develop right understanding, attain unconditional peace and happiness, and true freedom, in this precious life existence.