Long Residential Yoga Holiday in Langkawi at Yoga Now Malaysia

 The view in front Yoga Now Malaysia during rainy season

Long Residential Yoga Holiday at Yoga Now Malaysia

If you are looking for a calm and peaceful environment to practice and learn yoga and meditation Yoga Now offers exactly that. We are a very small-scale operation and will run retreats even just for one person. Better still, you don't need to choose from a list of fixed dates - you can start your yoga retreat whenever you choose, any day of the week, any time of the year (subject to availability). We keep our retreats and workshops deliberately small to ensure you receive individual attention. All retreats are suitable for all including complete beginners.

Yoga Now Malaysia in Langkawi has been running ongoing flexible dates retreats for the past ten years for those who only have a few days of short holiday to be participating in a short concentrated retreat to be learning and practicing yoga and meditation as much as possible within a few days that enable them to develop the basic understanding towards the teachings and practice of yoga, which also allows many of them to develop self-discipline and self-reliance that is very important in developing self-practice wherever they are.

From time to time, we also get some requests for longer retreat with moderate daily yoga and meditation practice over a few weeks time.

Some people would like to have some quiet solitude time for themselves over a period of time to be kind to themselves, to look after their mind, to be quiet, to have some space for oneself, to be contemplating, or to be able to see things in different perspective.

Some people might want to learn and practice yoga under a teacher's guidance, but at the same time, they would also like to have the free time and energy to perform their own self-practice making use of the time and space staying at the accommodation at Yoga Now for a few weeks.

Some people might have some physical health/fitness limitation that doesn't allow them to be attending the standard full day retreat practice sessions, but they are very keen to join a yoga retreat to be learning and practicing yoga at Yoga Now Malaysia.

Some people would like to participate in a yoga retreat to learn and practice yoga with us, but they would prefer just joining one yoga/meditation/pranayama practice session everyday over a few weeks time, such as a few weeks long 'free and easy' yoga holiday where they can do some yoga and meditation practice everyday while be able to have more resting/personal time, or have some free time and energy to enjoy some other activities that they would like to do, or to enjoy and explore all that Langkawi has to offer.

Some people would like to take a few weeks time off from the hustle-bustle in everyday life to have some quiet solitude time for themselves away from social affairs, interactions and activities, to stay at the one and only accommodation at Yoga Now Malaysia, to do some guided yoga and meditation practice under the teachers everyday, but without the need of joining the standard full day retreat sessions.

Some people would like to spend a few weeks in a quiet secluded environment with as little distraction as possible, to be doing things that require certain degrees of focus and solitude, such as to do some writing, while also be able to do some guided yoga and meditation practice everyday that could help in terms of being attentive towards what they want to do under a calmed and focused mind.

And hence, a free and easy yoga retreat program - Long Residential Yoga Holiday is now being introduced by Yoga Now Malaysia to meet such requests, where the duration of the retreat can be ranging from 11 days/10 nights up to 21 days/20 nights.

For more details please visit our website -  http://www.yoganowmalaysia.com/yogaholiday.html

A short video of Yoga Now Malaysia in Langkawi -



*Most people join our yoga retreats for calm and quiet introspection. Please note that despite the relaxed and friendly atmosphere at Yoga Now our retreats are not suitable for people expecting lots of social interaction and activity.

Yoga retreat?

'Retreat' is a period of special time and space of solitude and seclusion for the mind to be with itself, to retreat from worldly social interactive activities, to allow the mind to have the opportunity to move away from restlessness and its usual habits, to turn the outgoing tendency of the mind inwards for introspection, for self-inquiry, to know its-Self, even if there are other people being in the same retreat.

Real (yoga and meditation) retreats are not designed for socializing or mingling. It's an opportunity for us to practice solitude. As solitude is an important element in conquest of mind or fear. Some minds are fear of being with people, they want to be alone to feel safe. While some minds are fear of being alone, they want to be surrounded by or interacting with some other minds all the time. But both of them also is about fear. Fear derives from ignorance and attachment. There's no peace in the mind, always thinking that something bad is going to happen, or somebody is going to hurt us, either when we are alone, or when we are being with some other people. There is so much tension in the mind and vibrating into the surrounding environment.

If we are afraid of being with ourselves even just for a few days, and 'have to' cling onto other people in the retreat all the time, please be considerate that we need to learn how to respect other people in the retreat centre who purposely coming here to have their own solitude time and space for themselves for some personal practice in seclusion, as what the retreat is all about. We could be disturbing other people's precious time and space to be with themselves and focusing on their own practice in the retreat centre.

We cannot expect everyone to be understanding towards this simple and basic principle about 'retreat'. As there are many other yoga retreats in the world that are not really about silencing the mind for self-inquiry, but it's more like commercialized luxury pleasurable enjoyment and socializing kind of yoga holidays.

In the end, it's about compassion. Being compassionate towards those who are influenced by ignorance and whose mind is out of their own control, and being over-powered by fear towards many things. Yoga and meditation practice are here for beings who have fear, to learn to deal with fear, and to let go of fear. But, most of us refuse to confront with the fear in us, and choose to avoid what we are fear of. Actually, there are many spiritual/religious/cultural/social/educational/political teachings, thinking, belief and values emphasize on planting 'fear' in the mind in order to control human beings to behave or not behaving in certain way complying with those teachings, thinking, belief and values in order to empowering and sustaining their particular spirituality/religion/culture/society/educational system/politics.

 

Inquire towards the truth of everything. Do not blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing and blind-propagating anything.

Most importantly, it is being compassionate towards ourselves if our minds are still under the influence of certain fear and still couldn't let go of fear, but with awareness, and without attachment, identification or aversion towards the presence of fear. All is impermanent. The one who perceives fear and the fear itself, are both impermanent.

Om shanti.

Yoga retreat and guided tour in Tamilnadu South India with Marc and Meng Foong, December 1 - 9, 2012

We will be running an intensive yoga retreat in Tamilnadu South India by the end of the year from December 1 - 9, 2012. 

Limited to maximum 12 participants only.

Om shanti,

Marc and Meng Foong 

欢迎你们参加马克和明凤在印度南部塔米尔纳杜12月1-9日所举办的南印度瑜珈之旅。
只限制最多12人。

Malaysia Yoga Retreats in Langkawi 2012

Here are some upcoming Yoga Now Malaysia yoga retreats in Langkawi, Malaysia in 2012.

Please be informed that all retreats request is subject to availability.

Jan 1 – 7
Jan 9 – 13
Jan 16 – 20
Jan 21 – 24
Jan 25 – 31

Feb 6 – 9
Feb 11 – 16
Feb 20 – 24 (Beginners Yoga Retreat)
Feb 26 – 29

Apr 11 – 18
Apr 23 – 26

May 3 – 10
May 13 – 20
May 21 – 24

June 2 – 9 (Yoga retreat in the French Alps)

Aug 13 – 16
Aug 23 – 30
Sept 3 – 10
Sept 12 – 15
Sept 17 – 24
Sept 27 – 30

Oct 3 – 6
Oct 26 – 31

Nov 14 – 17
Nov 19 – 22

* Any dates other than these dates can be arranged to suit your holiday best. Please contact us for further details and booking.

You may start your retreat on the date that suit you best (subject to availability) and for minimum 4 days 3 nights up to 14 days 13 nights.

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

Many people keep asking this same question.

“What type of yoga are you practicing?”

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

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

Then our practice is heading to some other directions.

But there is nothing wrong about going towards different directions.

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

Be happy.

无私和无我 - 慈悲与智慧 - 超越痛苦的道路

慈悲让我们能够执行无我的行为或无私的行动，以造福利益所有众生，包括我们自己也是众生之一，没有歧视，没有分别。 智慧使我们不执着于所有慈悲无私的行为或行动，没有目的，没有条件，没有要求，没有期待或期望。 因无所住而生其心。 因为慈悲与智慧的存在，我们将完全没有喜爱或渴望，没有厌恶或排斥，没有失望，没有不满，没有愤怒，没有仇恨，没有嫉妒，没有贪欲，没有自私的欲望，没有恐惧，没有烦恼，没有悲伤，没有忧郁或其他任何的杂质。 这是无形像，无名和无色的境界 - 不二法门，没有品质，无因果，无生死，无好坏，无分别，无条件，无限制。 无眼睛，无耳朵，无鼻子，无舌头，无身体，无意识。 这是真正的自由。 这是解放和超越痛苦的道路 - 慈悲与智慧 - 无私和无我。 领悟到这一点 - 当下去觉悟我们真正的自性，获取真正的自由。  

Selflessness - The path of real freedom, liberation

Compassion allows us to perform selfless actions to benefit all beings including our own self is also one of the beings, without discrimination.

Wisdom allows us to stay detached from the compassionate actions and the fruit of actions, without attachment, without expectation.

All selfless actions are intention-less.

Under the presence of compassion and wisdom, there is no craving, no aversion, no likes, no dislikes, no disappointment, no dissatisfaction, no anger, no hatred, no jealousy, no greed, no selfish desire, no fear, no worry, no sadness, no depression, no hurt, or any other impurities.

This is the state of namelessness and formlessness – non-duality, without qualities, causeless, birth-less, death-less, beyond good and bad, unconditioned, unlimited.

No eyes (sight), no ears (sound), no nose (smell), no tongue (taste), no body (touch), no mind (thoughts current).

This is real freedom.

This is the path of liberation – the path of compassion and wisdom – the path of selflessness.

Realize this – the nature of impermanent names and forms of living or non-living objects, and be free. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Om shanti.

Upcoming Yoga Retreats In Langkawi Malaysia 2011

Welcome to Langkawi Malaysia and join us for a relaxed or an intensive yoga retreat.

We are having on going yoga retreats in Langkawi Malaysia. All the yoga retreats are suitable for both complete beginners and advanced yoga practitioners.

You can choose your own dates and start anytime, and for as many days as you want (minimum 4 days 3 nights).

Alternatively, you can also join us for the existing yoga retreats with the dates mentioned as below.

Langkawi Yoga Retreats Dates 2011

July 22 - 30

Aug 1 - 4
Aug 4 - 11
Aug 15 - 18
Aug 22 - 29
Aug 29 - Sept 1

Oct 3 - 13
Oct 23 - 26
Oct 28 - 31

Nov 3 - 6
Nov 10 - 17

Dec 17 - 24
Dec 26 - 31

Jan 2 - 7, 2012

Please booked in advance as places are limited to maximum 6 participants only.

You may visit our website at www.yoganowmalaysia.com

Thank you.

Om shanti,

Meng Foong

Why is it so hard to let go?

A student asked me this question after the class with tears in the eyes.

"Why is it so hard to let go?"

I replied, "Ignorance..."

"Why are we ignorant?"

I replied, "Not knowing the truth of things due to the absence of wisdom..."

"Why???"

I replied, "It's because we are being over-powered by the modifications of the mind which is full of impurities, attachment, identification, craving and aversion..."

"Why???"

I replied, "It's because there's strong attachment from the thinking mind identifying with the ego as 'I'..."

"Why???"

I replied, "Being ignorant...not knowing who we really are (what is 'I') and not knowing what is real and unreal."

* * * * * * * * * * *

For somebody who had never tasted what is saltiness, sweetness, bitterness, sourness or spiciness, none can describe to them how are these tastes taste like. They have to taste them by themselves, only then they will know what the tastes really are.
 

Under the absence of wisdom, we are ignorant about the truth of things and we will be attached strongly to everything that we come in contact with under the perception of the mind. And thus it is very difficult for us to let go of all the names and forms with different good and bad qualities that the mind perceives through the senses of what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think.

We attached strongly to the good and bad feelings, positive and negative thoughts, pleasant and unpleasant sensations, and all the impurities (ignorance) in the mind such like ill-will, anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, frustration, irritation, anxiety, depression, fear, worry, excitement, agitation, aggressiveness, passion, and etc.

We also attached strongly to the likes and dislikes, craving and aversion that come from the egoistic impure self. We are constantly being affected or influenced by all these impurities in the mind and couldn't help ourselves due to strong identification with the mind under the function of the intellect and the ego. We feel so difficult to let go of any so called "negative" and "bad" emotions and feelings. But we didn't think that attachment towards "positive" and "good" qualities, conditions, emotions and feelings will also give us frustration and suffering.

If we want to be truly free from suffering or unhappiness, not only that we don't attach to "negative" and "bad" feelings and let them go without generate aversion and reaction, but we also cannot attach onto "positive" and "good" feelings and let them go as well, without generate craving and reaction.

It's because by attaching onto "positive" and "good" feelings will make us want to retain these good feelings and we will crave for more of these similar type of feelings, when these feelings had changed, passed away or disappeared. This will create dissatisfaction, frustration, unhappiness, fear and worry in us. We don't want these good feelings to change or fade away (which is impossible because everything are subject to impermanence), and we want to continue to possess those good feelings, don't want to lose them.

True happiness is beyond these impermanent "positive" and "good" feelings. Go beyond these momentary pleasant feelings. Stop craving for these "positive" and "good" feelings. Enjoy and appreciate these "positive" and "good" feelings while they appear in the mind, but without attachment, without clinging and craving, and let them go when they change and fade away from the mind.

Such like, good and calm feelings that come from doing yoga practice (asana practice, pranayama, chanting and meditation), are still subject to impermanence. We cannot attached to them. If we attached to them, we will be craving for these momentary pleasant feelings and sensations in the body and mind from doing yoga practice. And if we don't get the same pleasant feelings and sensations after the yoga practice, or if we don't get to do some yoga practice due to we are busy doing some other things in life, or if we couldn't perform yoga practice due to certain physical illness, injuries or limitation, we will be so frustrated and will crave for these pleasant feelings and sensations that derive from doing yoga practice.

All these craving for pleasant feelings and sensations are nothing wrong. As well as aversion towards unpleasant feelings and sensations is nothing wrong either. It is something very normal that is happening in all minds under the influence of the ego. The only disadvantage is, we will fall into unhappiness, frustration, disappointment, dissatisfaction, anxiety, fear and worry continuously as long as we are still being influenced and determined by the likes and dislikes, wants and don't wants, craving and aversion from the ego.

Yoga asana practice, pranayama, chanting and meditation are there to render the mind calm and clear from impurities, so that wisdom will arise within us. And with the presence of wisdom, ignorance will disappear and we will know the truth of ourselves, life existence and everything else. By knowing the truth, we are able to accept the reality as it is without craving and aversion, and are able to let go of all the qualities of good and bad from different names and forms. Remain undisturbed, and at peace.

The purpose or meanings of all our yoga practice doesn't stop at attaining pleasant and peaceful feelings and sensations, and state of calmness that come from doing yoga practice. These pleasant feelings and sensations, and state of calmness are just the by products of the yoga practice. Go beyond these by products without attachment, clinging and craving towards these by products, and attain true and lasting happiness by realizing the wisdom in us, by realizing who we really are and the truth of everything.

The intellect is there to analyze the qualities of all the names and forms. The ego is there to assert like and dislike, want and don't want.

When the mind comes in contact with the objects that the ego doesn't like and doesn't want, the mind and the body will experience negative thoughts, bad feelings and unpleasant sensations. And the mind will generate aversion towards this unpleasant state of mind.

When the mind comes in contact with the objects that the ego likes and wants, the mind and the body will experience positive thoughts, good feelings and pleasant sensations. And the mind will generate craving towards this pleasant state of mind. All these reactions of craving and aversion in the mind are happening unceasingly.

If we attached to the mind and identified with the ego, we will be constantly being in a state of disturbance, not at peace. Sometimes we feel good and some other time we feel bad. Sometimes we feel happy and some other time we feel unhappy. We are lost in the craving and aversion in our own mind.

This is something very normal happens to everybody. Just like we cannot control the mind only to have positive thoughts, good feelings, or to control the body only to have pleasant sensations, and not having negative thoughts, bad feelings in the mind and unpleasant sensations in the body.

When the mind or the ego feels good and happy, it will naturally crave for more of the similar pleasant thoughts, feelings and sensations, and it will want to retain that pleasant state of mind. When this craving is not being gratified, and when the pleasant state of mind is being disturbed or disappeared, the mind or the ego will be so frustrated and unhappy.

When the mind or the ego feels bad and unhappy, it will naturally having aversion or reject the similar unpleasant thoughts, feelings and sensations, and it will want to get rid of that unpleasant state of mind. When this desire of not want to have unpleasant state of mind is not being gratified, and when the unpleasant state of mind is still there, the mind or the ego will be so frustrated and unhappy. Aversion is the desire of not want to have. It is one form of craving.

Either the pleasant state of mind or the unpleasant state of mind, both will generate craving and aversion that will cause the frustration and dissatisfaction to arise in the mind. We will fall into excitement and depression back and forth unceasingly.

We will be feeling restlessness, helplessness and meaninglessness. We think we have gone crazy or are having mood swing from good to bad and from bad to good, unceasingly. It is so tiring and depressing.

Both excitement and depression are not something bad. It is something very normal that is happening in every being who has a mind and the ego. It's just that when we don't know what is really happening, and are identified with the mind or the ego, we will being influenced by the states of the mind to react constantly, through thoughts, actions and speech, which will create other consequences that will bring continuous chain reaction of good and bad karma deriving from all our thoughts, actions and speech that are causing the cycle of birth and death (life existence to reap the existing accumulated karma) to take place, never ending.

If there's no attachment arise in the mind and there's no identification with the ego, the mind will be free from being controlled by the impermanent states of the mind, the egoistic likes and dislikes, the wants and don't wants, the craving and aversion, the good and bad feelings. The mind will be free from generating unnecessary egoistic reactions. All our actions are out of selflessness and compassion, not being influenced by the selfish egoistic wants and doesn't want. The selfless actions are free from the binding good and bad karma.

This is the way out from the cycle of emotional turbulence or suffering. Yoga and meditation can help us to know or understand the mind and learn how to not being attached to the modifications of the mind, or not being disturbed, affected and influenced by the activities in the mind.

Yoga and meditation are not separated. They are not different things. Yoga is meditation. Meditation is yoga. Without meditation, there is no yoga. Without yoga, there is no meditation.

Yoga and meditation is a purification process to thin out the ego and to eliminate impurities or ignorance. They are there to render the mind calm and still, and free from impurities, so that wisdom will arise. Wisdom will remove all the doubts and ignorance in us.

It is transcending the chain reaction of karma through purifying the impurities in the mind (thinning out the veil of ignorance) so that we can have a glimpse of the wisdom within us which will allow us to develop further essential qualities that will help to eventually be free from any attachment or identification towards the body and the mind, and towards the different qualities of all the different names and forms.
 

Essential qualities such like thoughtfulness, chastity, faith, self-control, self-independence, self-discipline, concentration, humility, simplicity, gratitude, thankfulness, appreciation, generosity, openness, truthfulness, straightforwardness, patience, perseverance, determination, will-power, courage, positive thinking, cheerfulness, forgiveness, tolerance, forbearance, adjustment, acceptance, adaptation, accommodation, equanimity, loving kindness, non-discrimination, non-judging, non-comparing, non-competing, non-expecting, intention-less, and etc. Eventually all these divine qualities will lead us to non-attachment, fearlessness, worry-less, selflessness, oneness, non-separateness, purity, compassion and wisdom. This will eventually lead us to attain self-realization towards SELFLESSNESS, or NON-SEPARATENESS, or ONENESS, and be free from the suffering due to ignorance.

While purifying the impurities or ignorance in the mind through developing essential qualities, we also practice letting go of the craving and aversion of likes and dislikes. At the beginning, we might be over-powered by the strong desires in the mind of having craving and aversion towards the things that the ego likes and doesn't like. But as we develop stronger will-power, we can over-power the craving and aversion, and eventually be free from craving and aversion.

When the mind is free from craving and aversion, when we are able to observe the modifications of the mind as it is, being at the present moment from moment to moment, it will come to a state of calmness and stillness, neither elevated nor depressed. With this calmness and stillness of the mind, with the pure mind, we will see the truth of things and are able to accept the truth as it is, and let go, not attach onto any names and forms that the mind perceives through the senses of what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think (past memories, future imaginations and anticipations which create fear and worry, craving and aversion in us).

When the mind is clear, calm and still, it acts as a mirror for us to reflect on the selfless nature of the mind and to know Thyself.

The nature of the mind is beyond all the pleasant and unpleasant experiences, beyond all the happy and unhappy perceptions, beyond all the positive and negative energy, and beyond all the craving and aversion. It is beyond all states of the mind (agitation, depression and calmness), and are free from all the good and bad qualities of different names and forms.

When we say, "It is so difficult to let go of feelings and not attach to the mind." This is because there's strong identification identifying with the modifications of the mind.

When the mind is in happy state, we will think that we are happy and say, "I am happy."

When the mind is in unhappy state, we will think that we are unhappy and say, "I am unhappy."

But the truth is we are not the mind and the mind is not us, and it doesn't belong to us. It is not in our control towards how the mind wants to feel and wants to think. We can be observing or witnessing what the mind is experiencing at the present moment now. We know or are aware of how the mind feels and thinks, but we are not whatever that are happening/manifesting in the mind, and we don't have to be disturbed by whatever the mind feels and thinks (good or bad, positive or negative, pleasant or unpleasant, likes and dislikes, wants and don't wants).

Stop identifying with the modifications of the mind and rise above the ego. We will be free from all the happy and unhappy feelings, craving and aversion, and be at peace all the time.

 

The mind is not 'I'. There's no 'I'. All and everything are selfless/'I'less.

Be patient. Be persistent. Be persevere. Be kind to ourselves and others. Be forgiving and accommodating. Be cheerful and uplifting. Accept ourselves as we are at the present moment now. Keep practicing non-attachment and letting go until we attain self-realization. Never give up.

Be happy and be free.

About Gossip And Criticism...

The path of yoga is love, peace, compassion and wisdom.

If we have love and peace in our heart, if we have compassion and wisdom, we will not indulge in meaningless chatting involving gossips and criticism.

It is when there is anger, hatred, frustration, dissatisfaction and disappointment, the ego wants to express its disagreement and frustration through speech and action. If there's an identification towards the ego and attachment toward the mind's activities, we will want to express all these disagreement and frustration through gossiping and criticizing. This might give a momentary satisfaction to the ego to feel better and to feel good about itself by criticizing other people's imperfection and weakness, which might "show" that we are somehow smarter, stronger and better than the people that we are criticizing.

A person who is humble, confident and content will not criticize other people even though in truth, this person is much wiser and better than the other people. Nobody should criticize anybody because we all are imperfect, and we all are subject to impermanence and changes.

By gossiping and criticizing about this and that will not help the world to become better, but it will generate more negative energy into ourselves and into the surrounding people and environment, creating more tensions and hatred among people.

The path of yoga teaches us to move away from egoistic gossiping and criticism and not indulging in these activities which will generate more unrest, tension and hatred in ourselves and other people.

The mind will get agitated and stimulated by gossiping and criticism and this will make the path of mind control much harder.

That's why for people who want to get serious in the path of yoga and meditation, they will go into seclusion, refrain from any contact or communication with the worldly people, and observe complete silence to restrict the activities and stimulation of the mind, and to reduce the excessive unnecessary inputs from the senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and think. This will help to quiet the mind and stilling the thought waves for meditation and self-inquiry.

When the mind is free from agitation and stimulation; free from impurities of anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, lustful desire, craving, aversion, fear, worry, frustration, irritation, anxiety, disappointment, dissatisfaction and depression; and the mind is free from intention, judgment, comparison and expectation; free from debate, conflicts, criticism and argument, and with the calm mind, it will see the truth of things and know what we really are, of what the mind thinks and believes is 'I'.

Wisdom will arise when the mind is calm and still. When there is presence of wisdom, we will not be disturbed or affected by the worldly activities and surrounding people and environment anymore. It doesn't matter if we are in the world or out of the world, it won't change what we think we are, which is selfless, and the wisdom and compassion is still the same wisdom and compassion.

Gossiping and criticizing about other people bad behaviors or ignorance will not stop these people from behave what they are behaving and do what they are doing. This will only put us in the same ignorance level as these people that we want to criticize. When we criticize other people who we think they are bad, then we ourselves are not any different from them at all.

The path of yoga is being aware of what is right and wrong, what is good and bad, but without attachment, without craving and aversion. And not being disturbed or affected by all the wrong doings and bad happenings in the world. With this non-attachment, we are able to transform negativity into constructive energy to perform appropriate actions to help to improve the bad situation in the world and to help other beings to become wiser and happier, by disseminating Dhamma and ignite awareness or reflection in the minds under the influence of ignorance, and to help make everything better, without frustration, anger, hatred, disappointment, fear and worry.

 

Dissemination of Dhamma and igniting awareness into the world of ignorance and egoism, by pointing out certain corruptions and ignorance that are existing in the world without discrimination or selfish intention, is not the same as worldly social interactions and conversations and discussions that involved the element of gossips and criticism deriving from subjective agreement and disagreement based on particular passionate egoistic thinking, belief, values and practice about right and wrong, or good and bad.

Only through loving kindness, compassion, wisdom, non-attachment and forgiveness, we can perform all the actions that need to be done for the well-being for ourselves and for the world, without getting disturbed or affected by the happenings in the world.

Out of selfless compassion, we perform all actions for ourselves and for other beings without intention and expectation. And thus we will be free from tensions, stress, fear, worry, frustration and disappointment.

We cannot stop ignorance and hatred by provoking anger and hatred in ourselves and in other people's mind. What is our intention behind all these gossips and criticism about somebody in front of some other people? What benefits are we going to get from gossiping and criticizing? Are we helping the world to become better by gossiping and criticizing? Or is it just to satisfy our own big ego to feel more superior than other people?

Discussion about some other people's wrong doings and behavior is nothing wrong, if we can develop awareness and learn something from that discussion. But if we are caught up in the uncontrolled heated discussion about "this is bad" and "this is wrong", and generate negativity, anger and hatred in ourselves and in other people who are involving in the discussion, then this won't help ourselves to become better or to help the people who we are criticizing to become better.

Quiet and calm down our own mind, everything will take care by itself.

Don't be upset and worry so much for what we think and believe are other people's wrong doings and ignorance. The nature's law of cause and effect will take care of everything.

Om shanti.

"What type of yoga are you teaching?"

A woman called me yesterday.

I answered the phone and said, "Hello"

She said, "I want to ask about your yoga class."

I said, "Yes."

She said, "How much is one session?"

I said, "50 for 2 hours class."

She said, "2 hours...!? Are you teaching different types of yoga in the 2 hours class?"

I said, "Just yoga. Yoga is only one. There's no different types of yoga."

She said, "I know yoga is one type only... But what type of yoga are you teaching?"

I said, "Yoga..."

She said, "What I mean is, is it power yoga? hot yoga?...?"

I said, "Aah..., Hatha yoga. Traditional Hatha yoga..."

End of conversation.


Well, nowadays not many people can understand or accept the word "yoga" as it is, unless there is something in front of it to clarify what "type" of "yoga". Such like "power" yoga, "hot" yoga, "ashtanga" yoga, "iyengar" yoga, "sivananda" yoga, "acro" yoga, "flow" yoga, "vinyasa" yoga, "dance" yoga, "restorative" yoga, "yin" yoga, "hatha" yoga, "Adidas" yoga, "Nike" yoga, and so on...

People can only grasp the word in front of yoga but not just the word yoga...

I told her we are teaching "yoga", she couldn't understand what is "yoga" and couldn't accept that the class is about "yoga", just yoga. In her perception, there are many different types of yoga classes... but not "yoga".

There's nothing wrong about people to think like that. It's because they were being told and being given so many different choices of "xxxxx yoga" in the yoga "industry", or yoga "market", or yoga "business" nowadays.

There's nothing wrong with many different types of yoga class to cater different types of individual's needs, desires and personality. But then not many people can understand what is a "yoga" class, unless there is another word or name in front of the word yoga...

It's just like, people are looking for the features or characteristics of yoga, but don't know about the meanings or the essence of yoga. It is like we are longing to see the face, the eyes, the nose, the mouth, the hands, the feet, or the 'appearance' of God, but we don't know who or what 'God' is...

Om shanti.

Initial understanding of yoga philosophy before performing yoga practices - part 4

There is no past, no future. The only existence and reality is now, from moment to moment. The past and the future doesn’t exist at the present moment now. Once we understand this, time disappears, it doesn’t exist.

Keep the mind concentrate at the present moment now, not wanders to the past memories or to the future imaginations. There is no fear and worry at this present moment now. Fear and worry only exist when the mind wanders to the past or to the future.

* * * * * * * *

Yoga is not about the ability of the physical body to perform such and such actions. It is about able to observe everything as it is and accept the reality of things as it is. It is not about challenging the body to go beyond its physical limitation.

Physical ability, strength and flexibility cannot give us true and lasting happiness or peace but only momentary fleeting satisfaction about our own egoistic worldly image that we built for ourselves.

If our happiness and confidence is based on physical appearance, good health, ability, strength and flexibility, we will be so tensed trying to maintain the appearance, good health, ability, strength and flexibility in order to keep our ego satisfied and feel good, and to upkeep our false confidence about ourselves through all these impermanent names and forms. And when impermanence strikes, all these things will change and be gone no matter how much we want to retain them. We will be so disappointed, frustrated and unhappy.

* * * * * * * *

Yoga is being aware of everything without attachment, clinging, craving and aversion… Free from tensions, anxiety, fear, worry, ignorance, ill-will…

And thus, peacefulness is right here, at this present moment now, where we are beyond the mind and the perception of the mind…

Beyond all the good and bad qualities.

Beyond duality.

That is yoga.

Peace to all.

Initial understanding of yoga philosophy before performing yoga practices - part 3

The states of the mind is subject to impermanence. They will change and disappear. But true happiness and peacefulness which is within ourselves all the time, they never disappear or change. They are always here in us. But when we are being disturbed by all the impurities in the mind, we are disconnected with this happiness and peacefulness which is our true nature. It is our true Self. It is not something that we attain from the outside, nor something that is given to us by somebody.

Our true Self is nothing but love, peace, compassion and wisdom. All these nature are not a quality. They are always here from before life existence, during and after life existence. They are always here unaffected by impermanence, qualities of good and bad, positive and negative, pleasant and unpleasant. They are always here uninfluenced by elements and energy. They are always here undisturbed by whatever the mind perceives through the senses, undisturbed by the thoughts, feelings and sensations, undisturbed by all the names and forms.

It is beginningless and endless. It is beyond birth and death. It is beyond name and form. It is beyond happiness and unhappiness.

It is pure existence, pure consciousness, pure knowledge, pure bliss.

If we know our true Self, we will be free from all the impurities that arise in the mind.

* * * * * * * *

Nothing in the world can guarantee us true and lasting happiness. Not the knowledge, wealth, health, beauty, youthfulness, strength, mobility, relationship, success and achievement that we can attain in the world with this body and mind. It’s because the happiness that comes from all these things are subject to impermanence, it will change and disappear. They are dissatisfaction in nature from the beginning and until the end of life existence.

We can never be satisfied with the present knowledge, wealth, health, beauty, youthfulness, strength, mobility, relationship, success and achievement, because they will change and these changes are not in our control whether they will be the way that we want them to be. The more we try to resist or avoid impermanence, or try to stop impermanence to happen, the more disappointed, dissatisfied and unhappy we are.

When we understand the truth of impermanence, we will stop looking for momentary satisfaction or happiness that comes from things that are subject to impermanence. If we do, we will be disappointed and frustrated all the time.

Be grateful and thankful for the existing good things that we have now and appreciate every little good things and opportunity for us to evolve and to perform selfless service to serve all.

* * * * * * * *

And what is the one thing that is not changing, not subject to impermanence?

Our true Self. Eternal, full, whole and content. Nameless and formless. Beginningless and endless. No good, no bad. No positive, no negative. No happiness, no unhappiness. No craving, no aversion. No suffering, no cause of suffering, no path of remove suffering, no end of suffering. No ignorance, no end of ignorance. No birth, no growth, no decaying, no illness, no pain, no old age, no death. No body, no mind. No eyes, no ears, no nose, no tongue, no skin, no thinking. No thoughts, no feelings, no sensations. No pleasant, no unpleasant. No success, no failure. No gain, no loss. No superiority, no inferiority. No existence, no non-existence. No creation, no destruction.

Realize our true Self. Go back to our true Self. Take refuge and rest in peace eternally in our Self.

* * * * * * * *

How to go back to our true Self? Stop identifying with the body and the mind. Stop identifying with the ego. Rise above the ego. Be stronger than the ego. Not let the ego controlling us. Practice real non-attachment every moment in ourselves, at sleep, at awake, at lying, at standing, at sitting, at walking, at moving, at non-moving… This is real meditation.

Contemplating on the nameless and formless Self without attachment, craving, aversion, intention and expectation. Not attach to the mind. Constantly being aware of what is happening in the mind. Observing or witnessing the mind as it is. Go beyond the mind and not lost within the mind.

Without the mind, there is no perception of names and forms. There is no sights, no sounds, no smells, no taste, to touch, no thinking. What is happiness and unhappiness? What is good and bad? What is positive and negative? What is ignorance and the end of ignorance?

Only pure love, peace, compassion and wisdom present in the present moment now.

Realize our true Self of who we really are. We are not this, we are not that. We are who we are. Beyond all the qualities. Beyond all the names and forms. Beyond the body and the mind. Beyond the perception of the mind. Beyond all states of the mind.

We are not good, we are not bad. We are just who we are.

Initial understanding of yoga philosophy before performing yoga practices - part 2

We need to be able to take care of ourselves, know how to love and be kind and compassionate towards ourselves unselfishly, then only we can take care of others and will know how to love, be kind and compassionate towards all other beings. If we ourselves are not peaceful, not happy, full of selfishness, anger and hatred, don’t even like or love our own self, then how are we going to help others and share love, happiness and peace with others?

Without the expectation for the result of all our actions. Renounce the fruit of action. We perform all the actions that need to be done, but let the nature or the universal consciousness to take care of the result.

Just like shooting the arrow from the bow in our hand. We aim the arrow to the target with full attention, full sincerity, full effort. And then we let go of the arrow. Once we let go of the arrow, it is not in our control anymore whether the arrow will hit the target or not. There might be strong wind blew the arrow to the side. Maybe the target fall onto the ground due to certain reason. Maybe a bird just came in between the arrow and the target unexpectedly and got hit by the arrow…

* * * * * * * *

And this is what we say, do our duty and carry out our responsibility sincerely with full attention and effort but without the identification as the doer of the action (merely performing action in serving the universal consciousness selflessly) and without attaching to the fruit of the action. Let the universal consciousness to take care of the result.

Without the identification as the doer of all these actions, this is action-less or more precise, inaction in action. This will stop the wheel of karma, the wheel of cause and effect, the wheel of birth and death.

Intention-less, non-expectation of the result, renounce the fruit of action, non-identification as the doer of the action. This is non-attachment that we are practicing all the time unceasingly in our heart, in our life, from moment to moment.

* * * * * * * *

Observing everything at the present moment now as it is. Accept everything in the present moment now as it is. But at the same time allow changes or impermanence to happen, without resistance. Allow the opportunity for ourselves and everything to evolve, to improve and to become better, but without attachment, clinging, craving and aversion.

Without the intention to make things better, we are making things better. Without expectation for the result, we bring love, peace and happiness into people’s hearts. Without fear, worry, dissatisfaction and disappointment, we perform all our duty and responsibility. Free from tensions and unhappiness.

This will free us from the condition of the body and the mind, the condition of our life existence and the condition of the world that we are living in. The body and the mind is still being what it is, the life is still being what it is, the world is still being what it is, but we are not being disturbed, or affected, or influenced by all these things. There is no more fear, worry, doubt, irritation, frustration, dissatisfaction, disappointment, craving, aversion, unhappiness and ill-will etc…

* * * * * * * *

When we are free from all tensions, the mind is calm and at peace. Wisdom will arise within us. With the presence of wisdom, ignorance disappears. We will know the truth of everything and able to accept the reality of everything as it is. We will become fearless and worry-less.

Without fear and worry, true happiness is here. Long and lasting peacefulness that is not subject to impermanence, is here. This true happiness and peacefulness is beyond the three states of the mind (action-less and dullness, action and passionate, calmness and lightness).

Initial understanding of yoga philosophy before performing yoga practices - part 1

Before we start to learn any physical movements in performing any yoga practices, we must know what is yoga all about. All the yoga practices like asana, pranayama, concentration, meditation, yama, niyama, selfless service, chanting and etc, are there to help us to develop self-awareness, mind purification, non-attachment, non-identification, non-craving, non-aversion, non-comparison, non-judgment, non-expectation, mental and emotional independence, self-reliance, self-discipline, right discrimination and right effort, to annihilate ignorance, the idea of 'I' or the ego, egoism, impurities, and restlessness, to perform self-inquiry to attain self-realization towards selflessness.

The purpose of the asana practice is not about trying to achieve a perfect body, perfect strength and flexibility, or trying to go beyond the physical limitations.

The asana practice and pranayama, the breathing exercises are there to influence the energy, balance the energy, purify the energy, conserve the energy, stimulate the energy centers, restore the energy, and unblock any energy blockages in our system. This will directly influence the state of the mind and make the mind free from tensions, being calm and balanced.

When the mind is calm and balanced, wisdom will arise. We will know the truth of ourselves and everything else. When we know the truth, all kinds of disturb, hurt, ill-will, ignorance, and suffering will disappear. The world is still being what it is, but we will not be influenced by the world anymore whether to be happy or unhappy.

* * * * * * * *

The very basic practice is to learn how to be at the present moment, observe the present moment, accept the present moment, and let go of the past instantly without attachment. Not project into the future. Not being disturbed or affected or influenced by the past experiences or the future imaginations.

Not being disturbed, or affected, or influenced by what the mind perceives through the senses of what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and think. Remain equanimous, calm and at peace not being disturbed by all the happenings and experiences in the body, in the mind, in our life, in the surrounding, and in the world.

We are not the body, the body is not us and it doesn’t belong to us. We are not the mind, the mind is not us and it doesn’t belong to us either. The body and the mind is subject to impermanence. It is not in our control to want it to be the way that we like it to be. By understand this, we stop attaching to the body and the mind. We truly appreciate and be grateful of having this body and the mind for us to be here to experience so many things, to learn, to share, and to realize our true nature is not different from the universal consciousness. We take good care of this body and the mind without attachment, so that we can fully make good use of this life existence to be in the world to do so many things and to perform selfless service for ourselves and for all other beings.

This body and this mind doesn’t belong to us and what to say about relationships and all other things in the world that we can attain? We cannot control all these things to be the way that we want it to be. All these things are subject to impermanence. They will change and sooner or later they will be apart from us. we can only appreciate and enjoy while we are still being with all these things, temporarily. Once they have changed or gone, we have to let them go. If we couldn’t let go, that will create so much suffering and unhappiness in us.

Not attach to the body and the mind. Not attach to the thoughts, feelings and sensations that come from the body and the mind. Not attach to the likes and dislikes that come from the ego. Not attach to whatever the mind perceives through the senses. Not attach to what is happening in our life and in the world.

That is real non-attachment. There is no judgment, no comparison, no competition, no expectation towards ourselves or other people and things. All these judgment, comparison, competition and expectation come from the ego.

It doesn’t mean that we become selfish and doesn’t care for the world, and runaway from our duty and responsibility just like there are many people misunderstanding about the terms of non-attachment. It doesn’t mean that we ignore or deny the world, or don’t care for ourselves and other beings in the world.

* * * * * * * *

We care a lot for ourselves and for all other beings, out of great compassion without selfish intention. We can perform so many beneficial actions for the well-being of ourselves and other beings. We can do whatever is possible to help the world to evolve and to become a better place. But without attachment. Without the intention to help ourselves, to help other beings or to help the world. Intention-less. Without the expectation that we or other beings or the world be will benefited from our compassionate actions. Non-expectation.

Just like the sun, the air, the water, the earth and the space. They just give, provide and support all living and non-living beings unlimitedly, unconditionally, unceasingly, tirelessly, inexhaustibly without discrimination of good or bad beings, ignorant or wise beings, pure or impure beings, happy or unhappy beings, ancient or modern beings… They embrace all and everything.

Without intention, they give. Without expectation, they give. Without attachment, they give…

No fear. No worry. No dissatisfaction. No disappointment. No frustration. No like. No dislike. No Good. No bad. No craving. No aversion. No "I". No "beings". No giver. No receiver. No success. No failure. No superiority. No inferiority...

That is selflessness, compassion, non-attachment…

There's not a single moment that we are not practicing yoga, if we know what is yoga...

Many people like to say, "I didn't practice yoga today" or "For many months or years I haven't been practicing yoga"

There is nothing wrong to say like that. This is because they think yoga practice means doing a session of yoga asana, pranayama and meditation practice.

But real yoga practice (observation, awareness, non-attachment, letting go) is happening unceasingly every moment in our heart, in our life.

There is not a single moment that we are not practicing yoga. It is like the breath. Each inhalation and exhalation is yoga. If we say that we didn't practice yoga, it is like we have stopped breathing.

Even when some people think that they didn't know what is yoga practice, or had never heard of yoga in their life before, or they refuse to practice "yoga", they don't practice asana, pranayama and meditation, it doesn't mean that they are not practicing yoga.

Anyone who knows how to be happy in life without hurting themselves or other beings, and are not being disturbed or affected by the condition of impermanence, have love, peace and compassion in their heart, has no discrimination towards all the different types of nationality, religion, believe, race, sect, caste, sex, language, skin colour, educational level, family background, social status, past experiences, behaviors, personality, and etc. And they respect and embrace all including the lowest of all, then they are practicing yoga whether they are aware of it or not.

Anyone who knows what is selflessness, compassion, wisdom and non-attachment, they naturally are practicing yoga. In fact they already have attained yoga in them. Yoga is not separated from them.

The difference of practicing yoga and not practicing yoga is, whether we are aware of ourselves being selfish or not.

When we are practicing yoga (observation, awareness, non-attachment, letting go) from moment to moment, naturally we will be in a state of equilibrium, balanced, peacefulness and calmness. Being happy and free from tensions. Full of confidence about our own self. Not being disturbed by whatever the mind perceives through the senses and not being affected by the condition of the world, the life, the body and the mind.

And when we didn't practice yoga (observation, awareness, non-attachment, letting go), very naturally, we will be in a state of imbalanced, instability, either under agitation or depression. Being unhappy and full of tensions. Lack of self-confidence. Being disturbed by whatever the mind perceives through the senses and being affected by the condition of the world, the life, the body and the mind.

And so, whether we are practicing yoga or not, it is not determined by whether we did a session of asana, pranayama and meditation practice or not.

It is whether we are attached to all the names and forms and being disturbed or affected by all the conditions of names and forms or not.

It is whether we are being influenced by the positive and negative energy or not.

It is whether we are attached to the body, the mind, the intellect and the ego or not.

It is whether we are free from impurities or not.

It is whether we have self-control or not.

It is whether we are developing awareness, selflessness, compassion, wisdom and non-attachment or not.

It is whether we are being controlled by the craving and aversion in us or not.

It is whether we are free from the duality of good and bad, praise and censure, happiness and unhappiness, success and failure, superiority and inferiority, like and dislike, want and don't want or not.

It is whether we are being influenced by the thoughts, feelings and sensations or not.

It is whether we are being at the present moment now, letting go of the past and the future, not being disturbed by the past memories or the future imaginations or not.

It is whether we are able to be free from fear and worry or not.

It is whether we are able to observe everything as it is and able to accept the truth as it is or not.

It is whether we know how to love ourselves and others, be kind and compassionate towards ourselves and others or not.

It is whether we have love and peace in ourselves or not.

It is whether we are able to perform all our duties and responsibilities without intention, without expectation and renounce from the fruit of our actions or not.

It is whether we are surrendering our selfish ego or not.

It is whether we know who we really are or not.

It is whether we can accept the present moment now as it is and accept ourselves as we are or not.

At the end, nothing is not yoga. Everything is yoga.

 

It's about whether those yoga practice and non-yoga practice of all kinds of action, practice, duty and responsibility are being performed without egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment and expectation, that will lead the mind towards realization of Selflessness and Compassion.

Be happy.