Langkawi Relaxed Yoga Retreat In October 2010

Yoga Now Malaysia in Pantai Cenang Langkawi is holding a few Relaxed Yoga Retreats in October 2010.

October 2nd - 5th (4 days 3 nights)

October 11th - 16th (6 days 5 nights)

October 16th - 19th (4 days 3 nights)


Yoga Now Malaysia

4 Day 3 Night Relaxed Yoga Retreat Outline

Day 1
* 14.30 Orientation – Juice & fresh fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 19.00 Dinner
* 20.00 Free time
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 2
* 7.45 Neti Kriya
* 8.00 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Brunch
* 12.30 Free time
* 15.00 Juice & fresh fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 19.00 Dinner
* 20.00 Free time
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 3
* 7.45 Neti Kriya
* 8.00 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Brunch
* 12.30 Trip to waterfall *subject to the weather
* 15.00 Juice & fresh fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 19.00 Dinner
* 20.00 Free time
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 4
* 7.45 Neti Kriya
* 8.00 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Brunch
* 12.30 Check out


All levels are welcome.

Retreat fee for 4 days 3 nights is Rm 1,470 per person for single room and Rm 1,320 per person for twin sharing.

Retreat fee for 6 days 5 nights is Rm 2,450 per person for single room and Rm 2,200 per person for twin sharing.


Food (vegetarian meals, fruit and snacks) and accommodation (air-conditioning, attached bathroom with hot & cold shower, fridge, tea making facility etc…) are included with a free Yoga Now T-shirt, neti pot and free airport or ferry port pick-up and drop-off.

Our yoga retreats are for anyone who wants to practice yoga and meditation while having some free time visiting to some nature attractions on the island.

Be happy,

Meng Foong

Langkawi Intensive Yoga Retreat September 20th - 24th 2010

Welcome to Langkawi, Malaysia.

Come and join us for a 5 Days / 4 Nights Intensive Yoga Retreat in the beautiful tropical island of Langkawi starts from September 20th 2:30 pm to September 24th 12:00 noon.

This retreat is suitable for anyone who has great interest in the traditional yoga practice at all levels and experiences.

5 days / 4 nights Intensive Yoga Retreat Outline

Day 1

* 14.30 Orientation
* 15.00 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 2

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Strength and flexibility workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 3

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Advanced practice workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 4

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Trip to waterfall *subject to the weather
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 5

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.00 Check out

The course fee is Rm 2,160 per person for single room and Rm 1,960 per person for twin sharing.

Fee includes teaching, meals, snacks, beverages, trips, simple accommodation (with air-conditioning, attached bathroom with hot & cold shower, fridge, tea-making facilities…), a Yoga Now T-shirt, neti pot and free airport or ferry port pick up. Meals and snacks will be simple nutritious vegetarian food.

A non-refundable deposit of Rm 300 is requested upon reservation.

Looking forward to seeing you in Langkawi.

Om Shanti,

Meng Foong

Join us for Intensive Yoga Retreat in Langkawi - September 10th - 19th 2010

Welcome to Langkawi, Malaysia.

Come and join us for an Intensive Yoga Retreat in the beautiful tropical island of Langkawi starts from September 10th 2:30 pm to September 19th 12:00 noon.

This retreat is suitable for anyone who has great interest in the traditional yoga practice at all levels and experiences.

Intensive Yoga Retreat Outline

Day 1

* 14.30 Orientation
* 15.00 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 2

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Strength and flexibility workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 3

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Advanced practice workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 4

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Trip to waterfall *subject to the weather
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 5

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Strength and flexibility workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 6

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Advanced practice workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 7

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Trip to waterfall *subject to the weather
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 8

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Strength and flexibility workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 9

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Advanced practice workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 10

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.00 Check out

Looking forward to seeing you in Langkawi.

Om Shanti,

Meng Foong

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

Join us for Intensive Yoga Retreat in Langkawi

Welcome to Langkawi, Malaysia.

Come and join us for a 5 Days / 4 Nights Intensive Yoga Retreat in the beautiful tropical island of Langkawi starts from August 31st 2:30 pm to September 4th 12:00 noon.

This retreat is suitable for anyone who has great interest in the traditional yoga practice at all levels and experiences.

5 days / 4 nights Intensive Yoga Retreat Outline

Day 1

* 14.30 Orientation
* 15.00 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 2

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Strength and flexibility workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 3

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Free time
* 13.30 Advanced practice workshop
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 4

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.30 Trip to waterfall *subject to the weather
* 15.15 Juice & fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 18.30 Free time
* 19.30 Dinner
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 5

* 7.30 Jala Neti
* 7.45 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Breakfast
* 12.00 Check out

The course fee is Rm 2,160 per person for single room and Rm 1,960 per person for twin sharing.

Fee includes teaching, meals, snacks, beverages, trips, simple accommodation (with air-conditioning, hot shower, fridge, tea-making facilities…), a Yoga Now T-shirt, neti pot and free airport or ferry port pick up. Meals and snacks will be simple nutritious vegetarian food.

A non-refundable deposit of Rm 300 is requested upon reservation.

Looking forward to seeing you in Langkawi.

Om Shanti,

Meng Foong

Yoga Now Malaysia

yoganow@hotmail.com

+6016 2715 082

+604 9559 082

A Frequent Question About Daily Yoga Practice

People frequently ask us about do we have a fixed "yoga practice routine" on certain time during the day to do our own yoga practice beside teaching yoga classes, to maintain our physical strength and flexibility as well as to upkeep our "skill" in performing the asana poses.

This is what I tell them.

Yoga is not about the physical strength and flexibility but it's about the inner strength and inner flexibility.

Someone who is not strong and is not flexible, and who cannot perform any physical activities like asana practice or cannot perform sitting postures for meditation due to physical limitation or injuries or illnesses are still able to be practicing yoga. While someone who is very fit physically, and can perform lots of complicated movements or skillfully required kind of yoga poses may not be practicing yoga at all.

Yoga is nothing to do with the condition or the ability of the physical body to perform such and such actions. It is nothing to do with what our bodies can do and cannot do.

No doubt that yoga practices are important sequences or steps for helping us to reach to the higher state of consciousness, but they are not the guarantee of true happiness if we didn't know what is the law of impermanence, non-attachment, acceptance, letting go and surrendering the ego.

But a person who is constantly practicing non-attachment, acceptance, letting go and surrendering the ego, is the guarantee of true happiness even if this person doesn't know or cannot perform any "yoga practices", such like asana practice, pranayama and meditation.

Non-attachment, acceptance, letting go and surrendering the ego are the real meditation in our heart from moment to moment in everyday lives.

Even if we practice a lot of asana poses and our bodies become very strong, flexible and healthy, this still won't change the truth of impermanence and the law of cause and effect. We will still be affected by our past accumulated karma and are affected by all the impermanent changes in our bodies and minds all the time, unless we are practicing non-attachment, acceptance, letting go and surrendering the ego. This body will still have to go through impermanence, changes, decaying, weakening, illnesses, pain and decomposition sooner or later, no matter how much we try to preserve it through the good and beneficial yoga practices. The mind is still going through impermanence, changes, experiencing happiness and unhappiness, having craving and aversion, and is continuing having tensions that derive from impurities like anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, arrogance, dissatisfaction, disappointment, irritation, frustration, expectation, fear and worry.

From moment to moment our bodies are going through changes. The condition of the physical body may vary from time to time. How can we have a fixed "routine" to meet the requirement of the different conditions of the physical body. Everyday we may be doing different practices at different timing to adapt to the needs of the present condition of the body and mind.

Of course all the asana poses, pranayama, concentration exercises and meditation practice are there to help us to balance up the energy in our bodies and minds, to help purifying the body and mind, so that the body and mind get relieved from physical and mental tensions and becoming calm and relax. But what is the meaning of making effort to relieve tensions, when we continue to generate tensions into the body and mind all the time if we don't know what is non-attachment, acceptance, letting go and surrendering the ego?

If we are practicing non-attachment, acceptance, letting go and surrendering the ego from moment to moment, and are at peace, free from tensions, undisturbed by all the changes that are happening in our bodies and minds, unaffected by whatever is happening in our lives and in the world, then what are the "fixed routines" that we need to "practice" everyday?

Non-attachment is not about running away from our lives, our families, our responsibilities and duties, but it is about not attaching to the body and mind, not attaching to our actions, not attaching to what the mind perceives through the senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch and thinking), remain equanimous and peaceful not generating craving towards the pleasant experiences or aversion towards the unpleasant experiences.

Acceptance and letting go are not about giving up ourselves and not improving ourselves, but it's about accepting the truth or reality as it is without any dissatisfaction and yet continue to strive for improvement to become better without any tensions that derive from expectation, fear and worry. When we cannot accept the truth as it is, and are dissatisfied with the present moment now of how we are, who we are and where we are, and we are looking for changes or try to runaway from what we don't like about, then we will be full of tensions that derive from judgment, comparison, expectation, dissatisfaction, fear and worry. And so, we again try to free ourselves from tensions by doing some yogic practices but at the same time, we are continuing generating more tensions into the body and mind endlessly. The bucket that has a big hole underneath can never fill up whatever we want to put in.

Surrendering the ego is not about negating or neglecting ourselves and put ourselves in a bad condition, but it is about letting go of selfishness, fear and worry, and allowing the universal consciousness to take care of everything. We just do our best in whatever we are doing for the benefits for ourselves and for other beings, but without the identification as the doer of the actions without any judgment and expectations. Just like the sun, the air, the water, the earth and the space. They give, provide and support all and everything to be exist in the world motivelessly, intentionlessly, selflessly, endlessly, unlimitedly, unconditionally, tirelessly, without any discrimination of good and bad beings, and without any expectation for the results or rewards.

All these are great compassion and wisdom. These are the essence of yoga practice. This is the goal of yoga practice.

So, does the sun or the air or the water or the earth or the space practice any so called "yoga routines" everyday? Or are they performing nameless and formless compassionate actions all the time unceasingly?

Doing adequate of yoga exercises for maintaining the good health and the fitness level of the physical body is certainly a very good thing to do, so that we can appreciate this body and its life existence for us to continue to perform selfless service to ourselves and to other beings. We follow whatever the needs of the body and mind are, when it is needed, and practice accordingly to the present condition of the body and mind. And when the time comes for us to let go of this body, we have no clinging towards this body and the relationships with others that spring from this body and its life existence.

Never see ourselves as separated or different from other beings. There is no superiority or inferiority. There is no giver and receiver. There is no "teacher" and "student". There is no "I'm helping somebody" and "somebody is benefited from my action". There is no motive and expectation. Every action is out of compassion and egoless. We wish all beings be free from ignorance and be happy including "this" being. Be compassionate towards all beings including "this" being also. "This" being is also one of all beings.

Be the witness witnessing whatever the body and the mind are experiencing from moment to moment. The mind feels good or bad, it's just the mind, not us. The mind feels comfortable or discomfortable, it's just the mind, not us. The mind gets agitated, it's just the mind, not us. The mind feels peaceful and happy, it's just the mind, not us. The body is in pain and is ill, it's just the body, not us. We are the witness of all these phenomena but we are not identifying nor associating nor affected by them.

Be the witness of the body and mind, and not being overpowered by the body and mind.

This is the yoga practice that we all are practicing unceasingly from moment to moment. There's no trace of "doing yoga practice" and no one knows nor needs to know but "myself".

Be happy.

Planning For The Future? Sure...

A student is confused when we talk about letting go of the past and the future.

She said it is understandable that the past is already gone and we should let the past go, but how could we let go of the future, not planning for the future?

This is what I said to her.

Surely, we can plan about what we want to do in the future, or else we don't have a direction to head to. And of course we need to plan for the future and have a goal to head to, or else we will be lost and don't know what is the meaning of our life existence. The difference is that we plan but without attachment, expectation, fear and worry. As well as to allow changes to happen anytime that we might need to change routes but without changing the goal and continue heading to our goal on a different route, and accepting every moment as it is from moment to moment until we reach our final goal.

Most important is, by taking care of the present moment now is actually planning for the future indeed. We don't need to think too much for the future, but by focusing onto the present moment now, making sure that at this present moment now we are fine and are at peace. Then our future will take care of itself because the future is really what we are now...

By putting lots of effort and energy into thinking about the future, worry for the future, or having great expectation for the future, but then we are neglecting the present moment now about how we are, being unhappy at the present moment now, wishing that things will change and we will be happy in the future, is of no use.

Wishing for the future to turn out the way that we like it to be, doesn't really determine the future will be exactly what we want it to be.

By taking care of the present moment now, making sure that we are happy and positive at the present moment now, will certainly give birth to a happy and positive future.

Look at us now, we can tell what was our past.

Look at us now, we can also tell what is our future going to be like.

Taking care of the present moment now is indeed looking after of the future, but without projecting into the future about how we want it to be.

Be happy.

About Dhyana - Meditation

Meditation happens naturally as it is during a deep concentration or one-pointedness that will lead us into a state of stillness or oneness. We cannot force meditation to happen. Just like we can't make the mind to go to sleep, but we can prepare the mind to allow it to fall asleep by itself naturally.

 

It is letting go the identification with the body and the modifications of the mind. It is the perceptive cognitive intellectual thinking faculty going beyond the modifications of the mind and standing as a witness towards the state of the mind itself. It is non-attachment and observing the perceived reality and/or the truth  of names and forms as it is. It is a process of slowing down the thought waves and stilling the modifications of the mind, to quiet the restless state of the mind. It is a purification process. It is direct experience of non-duality of namelessness, formlessness and attributelessness. When the modification of the mind is quiet and still, the thinking faculty sees the truth of names and forms as it is.

Meditation can be happening continuously through out every moment whether the mind is awake or asleep. The mind is being in the present moment, aware of the thought activities from moment to moment and without grasping onto the selfless modification of the mind or the random thoughts.

For some people who have a subtler mind awareness will also have a higher sensitivity in their senses reception, their minds might be able to perceive subtler sounds, colours, lights, smells, tastes, feelings and sensations while during meditation, in dreams, or even during the time when they are not intentionally meditating. Their minds are also more imaginative and creative. Some unusual thoughts will be arising and passing away on the surface of the conscious mind. This subtle state of mind is also impermanent.

If the mind is being disturbed by all these subtle names and forms and become peaceless in daily life then it's pointless for trying to go deeper into the mind. But if the mind is being unattached, being undisturbed by all these subtle names and forms and remains equanimous towards all the gross and subtle modifications of the mind, then going deeper into the mind can help the mind to purify itself realizing selflessness, namelessness, formlessness and attributelessness.

This ability of perceiving subtle names and forms is neither dangerous nor superhuman ability. It can be a problem or an obstacle in the path towards self-realization if the practitioner doesn’t know how to not attach towards all these subtler selfless impermanent phenomena, and is attaching and identifying towards whatever the mind perceives through the senses or whatever being released from the subconsciousness (the selfless storehouse of selfless thoughts, emotions, sensations, imaginations, dreams and distorted memories.)

Any names and forms (colours, lights, shapes, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, thoughts, sensations, feelings and sensations) that the mind perceives or experiences, are still selfless modifications within the mind under the selfless function of the selfless mind. Beyond the perceptive cognitive intellectual thinking mind, there are no names, no forms, no shapes, no colours, no sights, no sounds, no smells, no tastes, no touch, no feelings, no sensations, no thoughts. There are no differences between gross forms and subtle forms because they are just different layers of names and forms that the mind perceives within the modifications of the mind under the selfless function of itself.

And thus whatever the mind experiences or perceives during meditation, there shouldn't be attachment and just stands as a witness towards all these phenomena of subtle colours, lights, sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, feelings and thoughts. These subtle names and forms being released from the subconsciousness when the mind stops generating reactions at the gross level, or when the mind is calmed and concentrated. They are the past accumulated distorted memories, wild imaginations, dreams, desires, cravings, aversions, fear, worry, pleasant and unpleasant feelings/emotions, and all kinds of inputs that the mind received through the senses either wittingly and unwittingly every moment, whether the mind is awake, asleep (dreaming) or in deep sleep (dreamless).

There are lots of subtle names and forms that are always there arising and passing away, but the impure mind cannot perceive them on the gross level. After going through persistant regular sadhana of purifying the selfless function of the selfless mind, it will become more refine and subtle, where it begins to perceive certain subtle names and forms that it couldn’t perceive in the past before.

All these subtle selfless impermanent phenomena are always there within and without our body. It is nothing special. Just by being able to perceive all these subtle names and forms cannot give liberation from perceiving ceaseless births and deaths of the different states of mind, or be free from suffering or unhappiness. Just like being able to stand on the head, or being very good at physical performances do not determine whether we will be in peace and are happy in life, void of ignorance and egoism. That’s why no matter how incredible or extravagant are the subtle names and forms that the mind perceives or experiences while we practice intense yoga sadhana, or during deep concentration and meditation, we need to know that it is just another play of the selfless function of the selfless mind.

Simplicity, appreciation, gratitude, adjustment, adaptation, accommodation, acceptance, patience, forgiveness, courage, self-control, self-independence, self-discipline, cheerfulness, positive thinking, loving kindness, purity of thoughts, actions and speech, non-attachment, detachment and letting go, are the qualities that will bring us unconditional true happiness regardless of how is the situation and condition in our lives and in the world that we live in.

The truth of names and forms is there when the mind is quiet standing as a silent witness towards the perceived reality as it is without any egoistic attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion, judgment or expectation. When there is unpleasantness or pain in the body or in the mind, just being aware of it without generating aversion, and this unpleasantness or pain will pass away sooner or later. When there are good feelings or pleasant sensations in the body or in the mind, just being aware of it without generating craving, and these good feelings and pleasant sensations will pass away sooner or later. when the mind is not being affected or determined by all these selfless impermanent changes, it will be at peace. Pain, decaying, weakening, aging and death is there as it is. Suffering exists when the mind generates aversion towards the truth of selfless impermanence, and desires to runaway or to escape from the natural phenomena of selfless impermanent changes. If the mind respects the truth of selfless impermanence being what it is, there is no suffering arise in this mind.

There’s no meaning if we tell ourselves and others that we would spend many hours practicing asana, pranayama, concentration and meditation everyday, but in daily life, we have no sufficient awareness, correct understanding or self-control towards the modifications of our own mind, of countless random actions and reactions, and have no peace, being disturbed by the mind perception of names and forms through the senses.

The Wise Act Quietly And Perform Their Duties Silently

The animals move quietly and disguise themselves to avoid attracting attention from the predators...

Keeping quiet and acting silently doesn't mean being weak or being afraid of the enemy like a coward... But indeed it is being wise and brave, unaffected by any disturbance whether spiritual, emotional, mental or physical...

There is no use of alarming the enemies and provoking the enemies to aim their weapons towards us on exposed empty ground...

The wise warrior acts and moves quietly in the midst of the enemies without being recognised and remain firm and concentrated on his duty undisturbed by any distractions...

And thus, the wise warrior keeps meaningless troubles away, passes through the city of the enemy, performs his duty accordingly, and arrives soundlessly and victoriously at the destination without alarming anybody, without wasting any energy in dreadful and meaningless collisions...

Be wise...

Be happy...

Join Us For A Relaxed Yoga Retreat In Langkawi!

Yoga Now Malaysia in Pantai Cenang Langkawi is holding a few Relaxed Yoga Retreats in August 2010.

August 9th – 12th (4 days 3 nights)

August 13th – 16th (4 days 3 nights)

August 17th – 20th (4 days 3 nights)

August 21th – 28th (8 days 7 nights)


Yoga Now Malaysia

4 Day 3 Night Relaxed Yoga Retreat Outline

Day 1
* 14.30 Orientation – Juice & fresh fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 19.00 Dinner
* 20.00 Free time
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 2
* 7.45 Neti Kriya
* 8.00 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Brunch
* 12.30 Free time
* 15.00 Juice & fresh fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 19.00 Dinner
* 20.00 Free time
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 3
* 7.45 Neti Kriya
* 8.00 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Brunch
* 12.30 Trip to waterfall
* 15.00 Juice & fresh fruit
* 16.00 Yoga class
* 19.00 Dinner
* 20.00 Free time
* 21.00 Guided meditation

Day 4
* 7.45 Neti Kriya
* 8.00 Pranayama & Guided Meditation
* 8.45 Break
* 9.00 Yoga class
* 11.30 Brunch
* 12.30 Check out

* For the 8 days 7 nights retreat, there will be a trip on every second day.

All levels are welcome.

Retreat fee for 4 days 3 nights is Rm 1,470 per person for single room and Rm 1,320 per person for twin sharing.

Retreat fee for 8 days 7 nights is Rm 3,430 per person for single room and Rm 3,080 per person for twin sharing.

Food (vegetarian meals, fruit and snacks) and accommodation (air-conditioning, hot & cold shower, fridge, tea making facility etc…) are included with a free Yoga Now T-shirt, neti pot and free airport or ferry port pick-up and drop-off.

Our yoga retreats are for anyone who wants to practice yoga and meditation while having some free time visiting to some nature attractions on the island.

Be happy,

Meng Foong

Be Happy No Matter What

Money is not evil. Earning money will not make us suffer. It is the way of getting the money as well as the greed and discontentment that make us suffer.

Money doesn’t make us happy or unhappy. It is whether our minds are contented and accepting what we have and don’t have that will bring us happiness or suffering.

Healthy or not, can eat or not, can walk or not, can see or not, can hear or not, can move or not, does not determine our happiness. Some people have money and good health, but not necessary that they are happy with themselves or with their lives. Some people don’t have much money and are suffering illness, but not necessary that they are unhappy and in suffering. While some people are very rich and are happy, while some people are very poor and are not happy.

Whether we have money or don’t have money, but if we are free from fear and worry, not being controlled by the greed and desire that comes from the ego, then it doesn’t matter having a lot of money or having not enough money or have no money at all, is not a “problem” or issue that will make us happy or suffer.

If anyone wants to earn big money all the time, be happy. If anyone doesn’t like to earn too much money, be happy also.

Be happy with what we want and don’t want. Be happy with what we do and don't do.

Wisdom and true happiness is everywhere and in everything. Happiness does not lie on the object that we are dealing with, but it is determined by our own type of mentality and conception about what is good and not good.

Be happy no matter what. Life is always changing and will come to an end. So, enjoy whatever we have now whether it is abundance or insufficient.

What's the meaning of life if we are not happy?

To be happy also means to be free from unhappiness. Being a "good person" or a "bad person" cannot stop the law of impermanence nor does it gives us liberation from unhappiness. Take a look around us, there are many "good people" who don't hurt other beings are still having some unhappiness in life too. Unhappiness is derived from the impurities in our mind, not from the things out there. It is by letting go of all the impurities, being free from anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, arrogance, craving, aversion, irritation, frustration, disappointment, expectation, fear and worry, that will free us from unhappiness and being undisturbed by the ever changing phenomena of good and bad in life.

Be happy.

Great Real Yoga Training Ground In India

I have just came back from India for the fourth time. India is always a great place for people to learn to be grateful and content. It is a great yoga training ground for realizing the great compassion and wisdom in us, not in the classroom in the yoga school or doing lots of Asana, Pranayama and meditation practice, but it is in the daily lives of the Indian people that we are actually developing all the great qualities that a yogi should have.

If we want to learn what is non-attachment, then just by being in India for a few months will definitely train us up to develop non-attachment. Because if we have strong attachment, we will be so disappointed and unhappy. But the great thing is, the less attachment we have and allow ourselves to follow the flow of whatever comes up, then everything will turn out very nicely for us. This is the great experience of surrendering. Everything happens for a reason. Any obstacles, changes, delays, cancellation or disturbance will turn out to be a great adventure for us if we are not attached to our pre-fixed plans. Allow changes to happen. Life is fantastic being free not attaching to any plans!

If anyone is not satisfied with the present condition, may spend some time in India to experience gratefulness, simplicity and contentment... It will open up our minds and help to develop patience, compassion, gratitude, acceptance, adaptation, tolerance, accommodation, adjustment, forgive, courage, letting go, trust, fearlessness, worrilessness and selflessness. Above all, we have to be in the present moment, not worrying for the past or the future. In India, we can't really attach to any fixed ideas or plans. At any moment there can be changes happening. Everything doesn't really turn out the way as what you have planned. If we have great expectation towards anything, there will be some disappointment for sure. And thus we learn to let go of expectation and go with the flow. Anything is possible in India.

And this is a little note of why I always salute to the Indian people and their way of life.


Well, if we can have the courage to drive a vehicle on the roads in the big cities of India, for sure we can achieve whatever we want to do in life...

If we can survive crossing the extreme busy roads in India, for sure we can be fearless and worriless being in anywhere...

If we can survive the noise pollution, air pollution, human congestion and rubbish congestion in India, we can survive being anywhere in the world and be grateful of our present condition...

About the Indian traffic...

In most countries, we need to follow the traffic rules to avoid and minimize road accidents or traffic congestions.

But, in India, this doesn't work at all. If we drive the way that we usually drive in our own country, we will become an obstacle for other drivers just because we are driving according to the traffic rules. (Just like there is a "queue" sign everywhere in India, but no one is going to queue up. We can never get to buy a train ticket, or getting information from the information counter, or to buy a meal at the fast food restaurant if we are being polite and not trying to squeeze in into the crowds, because everyone will cut infront of everybody continuously.)

But this is India. Not following any rules works very well here... Life still goes on no matter how. Food is on the table (it doesn't matter if it is just a chapati, plain rice and dhal or a luxury meal), a place to sleep (it doesn't matter if it is on a bed or on the floor or on the street), a place to pee and shit (it doesn't matter if it is in the toilet or on the street), anything is possible...

In fact, although they do have traffic rules, I believe... But it won't work on the roads in India's big cities because there are too many people and too many vehicles on the road during anytime in the day, unless it is in the middle of the night when there are less people and less vehicles using the road.

Indian's traffic rules = No rules at all or Whatever rules as the drivers like it to be.

One common "rule" is, "HORN" as much as you can and as loud as possible all the way and use the break as less as possible...

Just horn and go...go...go...
And, just go and horn...horn...horn...

It doesn't matter if it is red light ahead, most of them will just keep going, or driving on the opposite lane overtaking the vehicles infront even though there are cars coming straight towards them, or there are at least 6 to 8 vehicles moving side by side about 4-5 inches away from each other on a four lane road with many pedestrains trying to cross the road at the same time, or when vehicles are coming out from a side street, or coming to a roundabout, or turning to a side street, or especially at the cross road, Indian drivers never need to have "rules". They just can't. If they try to abide to the rules, the traffic will be congested or might stop completely.

It is because there are no rules, and thus miraculously the traffic can continue to flow freely like the leaves floating on a river and reach the ocean sooner or later. Accidents seldom happen here as compared to some other countries' traffic. The Indians are excellent skillful drivers. Their vehicles won't touch each other even though they drive very near to each other and are going left and right, and turn as they like, and never "stop and look" at the junctions. Their successful technique is "PLEASE HORN!".

All the drivers on the road are trying to overtake each other. Imagine it is like a F1 race that involves thousands of vehicles at one time. Everyone is automatically being push into this "race". You have to move and keep moving at the speed that everyone has. If you are not interested in the race, please get out of the road, so that you won't cause any "problems" on the "race track".

This actually works very well in India although it might not work in many other countries, because everyone on the road in India (pedestrians or drivers) abides to this unique Indian traffic rule which is "no rules". If anyone try to carry out the "stop, look, wait and go" rule in India, no one would ever get the chance to cross over to the other side of the road at the cross road or this politeness may cause some obstacles to other drivers.

But of course, if an Indian driver tries to drive the Indian's way in other countries that actually have traffic rules and where most drivers are following the rules, then this is not the same situation anymore. This Indian driver might cause accidents on every junction, traffic light and roundabout for other road users.

Any mishaps could happen easily, when all the other drivers are expecting everyone else is also following the same rules on the road but unfortunately one of the drivers doesn't think so.

It's the same situation in India. Everyone is expecting everybody is not following any rules. It will cause havoc if someone is actually following the rules when everyone else doesn't think so. The one great rule that everyone follows which is, "no rules"...

And so, there is actually no right or wrong anyhow on how we should drive on the road, depending on each different culture and mentality.

India is a great country.

Indians are incredibly hardworking, humble, adaptable and adjustable people.

In India, anything also is possible.

I salute to most of the Indians who are so hard working and yet being contented by earning very little income just to survive. (The Olympic councils should go to the streets of India, especially at the building sides, and surely will find so many great potential weightlifters, runners and bodybuilders etc..., while they can find lots of sprinters and excellent F1 race car drivers on the road... If you know how an ants nest is built, then you can imagine how fast can a building be built by Indians just with their manpower and not by machines. They really work like an ants colony, cooperating and very efficiently) - We witnessed a restaurant in Kovalam, Kerala was being rebuilt within just a few days, where else in many other countries it might take at least a few weeks or a few months. These Indian construction workers are just using their manpower to perform all the work that need to be done, such like carrying extreme heavy loads on their heads and walking a great distance to deliver it to the construction sites where there is no road for any vehicles to drive into the construction sites. They were going back and forward repeatedly from early morning til late night until all the goods were delivered within that day.

Incredible Indian's manpower!!! They don't need to pay to workout at the gym but they all are so fit naturally. There were many old men and women as well who were above sixty years of age and are still strong and fit to carry out their work.

About the beggars in India... They are incredible as well. Their perseverance and technique to get money from the people are incredible. Usually they will come in a group of young children, teenagers, and women with babies. They won't stop following you or harrasing you until you give them what they want. Or else if you are a woman and you don't want to give them any money, the girls might touch you anywhere and grab your arms with their dirty hands and the boys might give you a slap on the bum or a squeeze on the breast and then run off into the crowds. What could you do? Be angry and upset about it, run after them and shout at them (you won't be able to catch them and nobody cares to help you), or we can be compassionate, forgive and let go. The best thing we can do is, try to avoid them if possible.

It is not advisable to give money to them no matter how "pitiful" they may look because this will encourage more beggars. And most beggars are working for some syndicates. To help people by teaching them how to catch fish is more efficient than to give them a fish. Sometimes if we give them a few rupees, they will demand more from us. They are not happy with just a few rupees. They want big "business", not small "business".

There are many great qualities that we can develop from being in India and observing Indian's way of life, such like how they surrender fear and worry, and allowing mother nature to take care of everything.

Life can be not so easy but it doesn't mean that it is not good.

May all beings be happy.

About Sharing Happiness

We can only share happiness with others when we ourselves know how to be happy and are happy. If we are not happy (it means we don't know how to be happy), then how can we share happiness with others and want others to be happy, when we don't have happiness in ourselves?

We can share our joy and happiness with all beings without any discrimination of human beings or non-human beings, good beings or bad beings, happy beings or unhappy beings, wise beings or ignorant beings, regardless of whether they will appreciate, or not, but we cannot give happiness to others nor can we make other beings to become happy.

If one can give happiness to others or can make another being to become happy, then there shouldn't be any beings being unhappy in the world, because we can just give happiness to everyone and make everyone happy. But it doesn't work like that. Not even Buddha or any enlightened beings can make another being to become happy or to become enlightened. If it is so simple and easy, we can just ask for happiness or enlightenment, and be happy forever and be enlightened. It is all come from within ourselves. Happiness or enlightenment (devoid of ignorance), it is up to our own initiative and efforts to realize it from within ourselves. It cannot be given by or be bought from someone else. All the teachers and teachings are there to guide us to attain true happiness and enlightenment by our own initiative and effort.

When beings are unhappy, have no peace in the heart/mind, it's because the mind is full of attachment, ignorance, anger, hatred, jealousy, envy, pride, arrogance, dissatisfaction, frustration, disappointment, offensiveness, defensiveness, bitterness, resentment, avenge, greed, doubt, fear and worry, where the mind is feeling restless, disturbed, depressed and unhappy, then no matter how sincere we want to share joy and happiness with them, they will still be unhappy. We can give them what they want and tell funny stories that might make them feel good and happy for a few moments, but we can't really give them happiness or remove their unhappiness. Everyone has to remove unhappiness in them all by themselves through their own initiative and effort.

If the mind is not satisfied or is not happy, then no matter how sincere other people try to make us happy and care for us, or how nice is the environment and how good are the things happening in our lives, we will still be dissatisfied and unhappy. Even though we have a good life and have many people to love us and care for us, we still can be unhappy when we are still having a lot of impurities of anger, hatred, jealousy, envy, lust, greed, arrogance, irritation, frustration, dissatisfaction, disappointment, doubt, fear and worry.

If our mind is satisfied and is happy, then everything appears to be good and beautiful, everyone appears to be okay and fine. It doesn't matter if the world is in chaos and everything happens against our wish/desire, but everything will be okay and there is no problem if the mind is satisfied and is happy.

The world is neither a happy place nor a suffering place. It is our own mind being at peace or not at peace that gives us the impression that the world is a happy place or a suffering place. The world itself has no intention or quality to be good or not good, to be full of suffering or be free from suffering.

No one can give us happiness nor can anyone takes away our happiness. It is our own mind.

No one can make us happy nor can anyone makes us unhappy. It is our own mind's responsibility towards how it reacts towards everything that it perceives.

It is our own mind that is feeling happy when it is pure, calm and at peace, while it will be feeling unhappy when it is not pure, not calm and not at peace. We think that it is the things/objects/affairs/happenings out there and whatever happens in our bodies and in our lives that make us happy or unhappy. In fact, it is nothing to do with anybody else or any happenings in our bodies or in our lives. We think that we are the one who is happy or unhappy, but it is not. It is the selfless mind perceives pleasantness/unpleasantness, and there's reaction of feelings/emotions of happiness or unhappiness. If there is no idea of 'I' to be identifying with the modification of the mind as 'I', we (the selfless thinking faculty/the perceptive mind) will be at peace all the time, not being affected or disturbed or influenced by the state of our mind. And the state of the mind whether it's happy or unhappy, it is all impermanent. True happiness comes when we have gone beyond the happy and unhappy feelings, or the state of peacefulness and calmness, when the mind is free from ignorance, the idea of 'I', egoism and impurities. Even the state of peacefulness and calmness is also impermanent. If we can unattach even towards this temporary state of peacefulness and calmness in the selfless modification of the mind, then the selfless restless modification of the mind is just what it is, and we can be truly at peace transcending all the different states of the mind.

To be happy or unhappy, it is all up to what we think is ourselves (the selfless perceptive mind itself). The momentary feelings of happy and unhappy is coming from the mind. If there is an idea of 'I' existing in the mind attaching onto the selfless impermanent modification of the mind, then we will think that we are happy or unhappy according to the impermanent state of the mind. The truth is, if the selfless mind knows how to not attach towards the impermanent states of the mind, there is only the selfless awareness that is being aware of and witnessing all the different states of the mind, then no matter the mind feels calm or disturbed, happy or unhappy, good or bad, we (the selfless perceptive thinking faculty) will know that it is not "I am happy or unhappy/good or bad", it is just the selfless impermanent modification of the mind. Go beyond the modification of the mind or the happy and unhappy feelings, we will be free from the impermanent sense of happiness and unhappiness, and be truly happy and at peace.

Happy feeling might arise from within a peaceful mind, upon the absence of fear and worry or other impurities. But true and lasting happiness is beyond this momentary happy feeling that comes from a peaceful mind. Before we can go beyond the peaceful state of mind, we need to be able to achieve the state of peacefulness in the mind. We need to transcend Tamas (darkness/idleness/negativeness) with Rajas (brightness/activeness/positiveness), and then transcend Rajas with Sattva (calmness). And then, we can transcend Sattva with non-attachment and non-identification. Everlasting peacefulness/happiness is there as it is,, when we are beyond all the three Gunas and not being determined or affected by these selfless impermanent Gunas (energy fields) anymore.

How to achieve the peaceful state of mind?

By understanding the truth of everything. When we understand the truth of everything and know what is going on in our mind (the selfless impermanent modification of the mind), then only we can accept the perceived reality as it is. When we can accept the perceived reality as it is, we can let go and not attach towards anything (both desirable and undesirable experiences). When there is no attachment at all, there is no fear, no worry, or any other forms of impurities. When there is no worry and no fear,  devoid of impurities, peacefulness is there, as it is. When we are at peace, true happiness that is beyond the impermanent happy feeling, will be there as it is.

How to understand the truth of everything?
 

Applying and materializing the yoga philosophy and its practice in our daily life, such like Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi, are one of the ways for anybody to realize the wisdom that is already there within us. By gaining control of the mind (self-control) and not attaching towards the modification of the mind (not being over-powered by the restless modification of the mind), wisdom will be uncovered or arise within us. Upon the presence of wisdom (the absence of ignorance), we will understand the truth of everything, accept the chaotic world as it is, accept everything (agreeable or disagreeable) as it is, accept everyone (pure or impure/good or bad) as they are, and accept ourselves as we are. We will be free from the past and the future, and be free from disturbance and unhappiness deriving from ignorance, the idea of 'I, egoism, restlessness and impurities.

When we care for somebody who is disturbed/unhappy and share our knowledge with others about how to attain true happiness, it is up to their own initiative and efforts whether they will be happy, or not. When the people are happy when we share happiness with them, it is not us that make them happy, but it is because their own mind is at peace and is satisfied in the present moment. If anyone is happy, it is because they are able to accept the reality as it is and able to let go, after they understand the truth of things. It is not us that make them happy. They can remain unhappy, if they still don't understand the truth of things, and are not able to accept the reality as it is, and not able to let go. That's all.

If we truly understand the truth of things, and are wise, we will not be attached to wards the action of giving and sharing, and will not be disturbed or be affected by the fruit of the action. We can give and share unlimitedly and unconditionally. We will be free from judgment, comparison, expectation, dissatisfaction and disappointment. We will never feel tired even though we give so much, if there is no idea of 'I' existing to be identifying as the doer of the action, and perform actions without the influence of egoism, but out of the selfless compassion. We are just the channel or the instrument for the selfless universal consciousness to act in the world intentionlessly that might or might not help the suffering beings to come out from miseries. We act without any selfish intentions. It is only when we have selfish intentions behind all our actions, there will be expectation, tensions, stress, attachment, tiredness, dissatisfaction, disappointment, frustration, anger, fear and worry in us.

If we act out of selfless compassion to serve others, to carry out our multiple duties and responsibilities as a human being, as a friend, as a child, as a parent, as a citizen, as a teacher, as a student, as a brother or sister, as a leader, as an employee or employer, as a wife or husband, as a partner or companion, as "this" and "that" and so on..., then there will be no stress and tension at all. There is no attachment. There is no identification. There is no fear and worry. There is no anger and hatred. There is no hurt and disappointment. There is only kindness, joy and peace.

Give and share, and let go.

Be true. Be free. Be happy.

May all beings be happy.

Go Beyond The Ego And The Mind, Be Free

When we say "I feel good when I do this", or "I feel good when others agree with me, praise me, thank me, like me as a person and for what I do", know that it is our ego and the mind is feeling good. It is still within the mind under the influence of the ego. It is not beyond the ego yet. The ego feels good and like to be praised, be thanked, be noticed, be knowned, be the giver, be the good person, be the lovely person, be the good child, good friend, good parent... The ego will not feel good anymore or it will feel bad when all these things are not happening.

And so, the craving for good feelings is there to encourage us to do those things that will make us feel good. The craving for good feelings is the main motivation for us to do this and that.

The point is, the things that we do to make us feel good can be something very good or can be something not very nice. It is not necessary that all egos are feeding on the good feelings that come from doing good. It can be good feelings that come from doing bad.

If doing good and be kind to others will make our ego and the mind feel good, and become a strong motivation for us to do more good and be kind to others, then this is very good indeed. Such like doing yoga asana stretching the body and calming the mind will make us feel good, give helps to others, making other people laugh, taking care of other people, share food with others, be friendly to everyone, show love and care to our family and friends, will make us feel very good. And most of the time, we like to and want to do all these acts is mainly because it makes us feel good about ourselves. There is nothing wrong to feel good, but we are still under the influence of the ego and the mind. We are still being subject to the things that we do and don't do to make us feel good or feel bad about ourselves. We are not free yet. We are being conditioned by the ego and the mind.

What if the things that we do to make us feel good are harmful for ourselves and for others? Such like some people might enjoy hurting other people's feelings or stealing or telling lies or making fun of other people or gossipping or excitement from peeking at other people's privacy or taking drugs and alcohol. This is not so nice then.

The best is if we can go beyond the ego and the mind. Go beyond the craving for good feelings. Go beyond the ego that always wants to feel good about itself. And do everything that is good for others and ourselves without the craving for good feelings or pleasure sensations, without the identification as the doer of the action, without the attachment to the fruit of the action, and without the influence from the mind and the ego.

If no one appreciate what we do, no one notice what we do, no one is there to thank us, no one is there to tell us that we are good, no one is there to encourage us, and even if others reject our kind acts, being ungrateful and say bad things about us and what we do, and we still be happy to give and share, then this is going beyond the ego and the mind. The true Self doesn't need all these things to motivate or demotivate it to act or not to act.

It is the ego that feeds on others reactions towards its actions. The ego needs all these things to motivate or demotivate it to act or not to act.

After a good yoga asana class, we will like to say that "my body feels so good now", "I feel so good now" or "yoga makes me feel so good", know that it is the body and the mind that are feeling good. And this good feeling that comes from doing yoga asana is temporary also. It will disappear after a while. We will miss that good feeling and will crave to have that good feeling again. This will definitely encourage us to come back for more yoga asana classes. This is totally nothing wrong or bad. This is very good. It is still one of the beneficial things to do for ourselves.

But if we attach to that good feeling and pleasure sensation that come from doing some yoga asanas and let it be the motivation for us to practice yoga asana, very soon we will feel not so good if we are not able to practice yoga asana the way that we usually like it to be, or when we are restricted by some physical injuries or restricted by weakness that comes from aging. We will also be demotivated if we attended a yoga asana class that is taught by another teacher with different styles. We might feel bad if the yoga asana practice is not agreeable with our body and the mind. We might be demotivated if the yoga teacher always teach the same asanas over and over again (this is due to the mind doesn't like to do the same repeated actions, it gets bored). All these are because the mind and the ego is craving for the good feelings and pleasure sensations that come from doing the things that they like only, but not doing the things that they don't like.

Such like certain people attach to certain asanas and only like to do those asanas. If we are being told not to do the asanas that we usually like to do for the next few months, and being told to do only the asanas that we usually don't like to do, we will be very demotivated and don't feel good at all. We want to choose to do certain asanas that we like and reject some other asanas that we don't like, especially those asanas that will make us confront with our inner fear. We also don't like to do the asanas that we think that we are not so good at, because the ego doesn't like to show off its weakness. It doesn't like to feel not good enough. It doesn't like to feel not so good at something. It wants to make sure that it is good at everything in front of other people. It will runaway from the things that it is not so good at.

We are still being subject to and influenced very much by the body and the mind.

Beyond the body and the mind, there is no feel, no feelings of good or bad.

Beyond the body and the mind, is freedom. Free from the conditions of the body and the mind. Free from what the body can do and cannot do. Free from the good and bad sensations that come from the body and the mind. Free from good and bad feelings. Free from craving and aversion. Free from judgment, comparison, competition and expectation.

What is the meaning trying so hard to maintain the ability of the physical body to perform many complicated asanas but if we are not free, still being conditioned by the good and bad feelings and sensations that come from the body and the mind?

Some people think that going beyond the body and the mind means trying to go beyond the ability of the physical body, challenging the body to go beyond its physical limitation. They would torture the body and ignore its condition and limitation. But in truth is, we need to accept the condition of our physical body from moment to moment. Accept the law of impermanence. Accept the changes of the physical body from moment to moment. Accept its condition and limitation that is also impermanent. Accept that this physical body has its limitation and is subject to impermanence, old age, illness, pain and soon it will die. Be happy and appreciate the body that we have now to do good for ourselves and for others.

We thought that we are not free being conditioned by the condition of the body and its ability to do this and that, but it is not.

We are not free being conditioned by the ego and the mind, and it's nothing to do with the ability of our physical body to do this and that.

The body can be paralyzed and full of pain, but we still can be free.

If we feel bad, know that it is the ego and the mind feel bad, not us. When we feel good, it is also the ego and the mind feel good, not us.

Go beyond the ego and the mind. Be free.

Om Shanti.

Are You Ready For Yoga?

No Doubt that yoga is for everyone and it is already within everyone. What we need to do is to purify and discipline the mind for us to be able to realize yoga in us.

But not everyone is ready to receive the great knowledge of yoga yet. It is because their minds are still full of impurities and the ego is still very dominant in them. They attach strongly to their own individual identity and personality and their knowledge, and are strongly identify with the mind and the ego. They are not ready yet to surrender the ego or to give up the identification with the body and the mind. They are not ready for becoming 'I'less, or egoless. They are not even ready to be humble enough to learn.

Real yoga practice (not just using yoga asana as an exercise) will either generate strong resentment in them towards the deep philosophy of yoga and the disciplines in yoga practice, or it will trigger painful suffering in them physically or mentally or emotionally (being part of the purification process and due to lots of restrictions for the mind and the ego). Most of these people will not only drop out from the path of yoga due to they cannot accept the teachings of yoga, and they cannot endure hardship and discipline lifestyle, but they will condemn the teachings, the practice and the teachers as well. Their minds don't like to be disciplined and their egos are refusing to give in. Basically the path of yoga is asking the ego to "get lost" and to change the habits of the mind. Of course those people who attach strongly to the mind and who have a strong ego will be very uncomfortable with this control of the mind and thinning out of the ego, and are strongly against the teachings of yoga.

We cannot tell people who are very selfish and arrogant, or who doesn't know what is thoughtfulness, tolerance, patience, forgive, humility and selflessness, and to those who is petite mindedness and full of anger, hatred and jealousy, for them to let go of the differences of superiority and inferiority, to love, respect and be kind to all beings as one without discrimination, to let go of all judgments and comparison with other people and with our own self, and to sacrifice our own comforts and benefits to perform selfless service for other beings without any expectations and not asking for any rewards in return.

These divine qualities have no values and meanings for them who like to live in the egoistic and materialistic world that is full of judgment, comparison, competition and expectation everywhere, and only talk about worldly and personal success, sensual and material enjoyment as happiness. Again, all these are not wrong at all, but they cannot give us true and lasting happiness.

Only those who are tired of the impermanence of life existence, who are disgust about worldly sensual enjoyment, who are inquiring for the true knowledge to be free from ignorance and the worldly suffering, and are looking for true happiness, are fit and ready to walk the path of yoga.

For those who are not ready yet, they can continue enjoying their "perfect" worldly sensual pleasure life, chasing after the momentary pleasure and busy gratifying their unlimited lustful desires and cravings, and be happy with what they want for themselves.

The problem is many people don't really know what they really want in life.

There is nothing wrong with anyone who wants to live in the way of a "normal" worldly life according to what the mind thinks it should be. Be happy then. We can choose to spend our entire lifetime in eating, drinking, sleeping, working, playing, accumulating, socializing, feeling up and down, and having discontentment, fear and worry most of the time, or we can choose to know what is the real meaning of our life existence.

When the time is right, and when people are ready for spiritual evolve, everything will come naturally for them to walk the path of yoga. We can't force anyone who is not ready for yoga yet (real selfless yoga that develops non-attachment to the body and mind, and not trendy branded fitness yoga that develops strong attachment to the body and mind) to accept the teachings of yoga, or to follow intense yoga practice and the traditional disciplines seriously, because it will cause more harmful effects and unhappiness to themselves than giving them real beneficial effects and happiness.

In the meantime, we wish all beings be happy whether they are ready to walk the path of yoga yet or not.

Om Shanti.

Be Happy In Life Is Yoga

Some people think that yoga is something absolute that it cannot simply be grasped by normal human beings and even though some people might think they understand what yoga teaches about the absolute, but it seems like it is not easy to be practical in life.

Anybody from young to old, from low intelligence to high intelligence, everyone can practice yoga and attain yoga in their hearts.

In simple term, it's about knowing how to be happy in life no matter how is the condition and situation of our lives. Those who know how to be happy in life, being undetermined and undisturbed by the ups and downs, gain and loss, are indeed peaceful wise beings with great wisdom.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being unhappy. Don't see that it is something not good or as something negative. It is a natural way for us to express our emotion. Suppressing unhappy feelings in our hearts is not healthy for our mind and the body. Everyone has the freedom to be happy or be unhappy. Life goes on whether we are happy or unhappy. And being unhappy is taking up lots of energy from us and it might create more unhappiness for ourselves and other beings.  

 

Happy and unhappy feelings are both impermanent and conditional. Knowing how to unattach towards impermanent conditional happy and unhappy feelings is the key to be happy unconditionally in life.

Since we have the freedom to choose to be happy or be unhappy even though life is not always the way that we would like it to be, then why don't we be happy instead of making ourselves and other beings miserable? Life will be so much easier if we are happy even though it looks like it is still the same life full of problems and undesirable experiences. Life is constantly changing from moment to moment. This constant changing phenomena is the permanent unchangeable truth. That's why we all experience and feel restlessness. And yoga practice is to guide us how to be free from restlessness and be at peace under any circumstances.

To be able to be happy in life can be very simple for certain people and it also can be very challenging for some other people. It is all subject to our mental attitude towards everything. If we want to be happy, we just need to change our own mental attitude especially we can't really change other people or change the world.

It is not necessary that having all our wishes come true and we will be happy. This is due to the characteristic of the mind is not easily satisfied and it is forever changing.

It is about able to have gratitude and contentment in whatever we do and whatever we have in life at the present moment now, not craving for the desirable things that we don't have and not moaning for the undesirable things that we have, being able to accept the truth of things are impermanence and non-self, accepting everything as it is, accepting everyone as they are, accepting ourselves as we are, being aware of we are not this body and not this mind, not attaching towards the thoughts, feelings and sensations, be able to let go of the past and the future, not having strong craving and aversion towards anything, and not attaching towards our fleeting momentary feelings of conditional happiness and unhappiness.

We can say that the weaker the ego is and the less attachment towards everything is, the easier it is for us to be happy and remain happy unconditionally.

When we are being in the present moment, we will find that there is no fear and worry.

Being free from fear and worry, and free from craving and aversion, there will be minimum tension being generated in our body and the mind. Peace is there upon the balance state of mind. Even this balance state of mind is impermanent, but it's important on the path of yoga.

Only with a balance state of mind, we can advance in the path of yoga, until we realize all and everything are one universal consciousness through realizing oneness.

Being happy in life unconditionally is being very close to yoga. And what lies beyond the feeling of being happy is yoga. It is beyond happiness and unhappiness. It is beyond the perception of the mind. It is beyond the perception of happy thoughts and happy feelings.

It is beyond "want to feel happy" and "don't want to feel unhappy". We need to accept that unhappiness does exist, and allow it to be exist, not trying to deny it or push it away, but we don't have to attach to it nor give it values, and let it go. We can't really attach to happy feelings either. We enjoy the happy feelings and let it go. By not having craving for happy feelings and not having aversion towards unhappy feelings will bring us peace of mind and be truly happy.

Having gratefulness and appreciation will bring us happy feelings. Doing good and be kind to other beings will also bring us happy feelings. But these feelings are not the end of suffering, if it is being conditioned by our mind that doing "this" and having "that" will make us happy, and while not doing "this" and not having "that" will make us unhappy.

Some people feel happy by hurting others and making others suffer, that is not real happiness. And so, it is not the path of yoga.

The path of yoga is true happiness that derives from non-violence towards ourselves and other beings. True happiness also derives from the realization of selflessness, being compassionate towards all beings, being wise and understanding about the truth of everything, being fearless and worry-less, and having unconditional love and peace in our hearts.

Even though happy feelings are still part of the impermanent selfless modification of the mind, it is still wiser than feeling unhappy most of the time while trying to reject or avoid unhappiness. Even if it is the ego that is the one who feels happy most of the time, it is indeed a happy ego - the Sattvic element. In the end, it's going beyond the three gunas of Tamasic, Rajasic and Sattvic. This is nothing bad at all. When the mind is pure, the ego is not our enemy but it is our good friend. Only when we have transcended the Tamasic and Rajasic state of mind and achieved the Sattvic state of mind, then we can go beyond the Sattvic state of mind and transcend both happiness and unhappiness, attaining everlasting unconditional peace.