The basics of yoga and meditation practice...

Negative mind sees things negatively.
Positive mind sees things positively.
Agitated mind sees things agitatedly.
Peaceful mind sees things peacefully.
Depressed mind sees things depressingly.
Cheerful mind sees things cheerfully.

Liberated mind sees things as they are.

They are neither negative, nor positive, nor agitating, nor peaceful, nor depressing, nor cheerful.
Everything is just what it is.

These are the basics of yoga and meditation practice.

Be free.

Letting go...

When the mind experiences and recognizes 'problems' or 'undesirable experiences', it can choose to react in different ways - Complain or letting go.

Untrained minds will have the urge to complain about problems and unhappiness, and choose to complain and moan.

The act of complaining can relieve some tension or frustration for sure, but it doesn't undo the problems nor makes the problems disappear, and yet we are spreading those vibrations into the surrounding environment and those whom we complain to.

Letting go is different.

If the mind is able to let go what it recognizes as problems or undesirable experiences, the mind is undisturbed or uninfluenced by those experiences, there's no need to complain or moan about anything at all.

Letting go is our basic yoga and meditation practice.

Seclusion comes gradually and naturally...

Seclusion for a period of time, is important in the path of yoga and meditation for emancipation, although there's no guarantee of liberation, if it wasn't being carried out with correct understanding and right effort.

It is not the same as somebody who has Anthropophobia or Social phobia, and they want to be alone. Sincere yoga and meditation practitioners who go into semi-secluded life style, or complete seclusion for a few years are not anti-social. In fact they have so much loving kindness for the society that they want to attain liberation through focusing on intense Sadhana, so that they can serve humanity efficiently.

Most minds try to avoid seclusion with many excuses, as the worldly minded egoistic outgoing attention seeking mind doesn't like it.

If we still have some worldly duties and responsibilities need to be carried out, or we still have something that we have to do, or there's something that need to be achieved in this life existence, then we should perform all our duties and responsibilities, and give full attention and maximum effort to pursue all our dreams.

Seclusion, or complete renunciation from worldly social activities and interactions comes gradually and naturally, when Vairagya / dispassion and Viveka / right discrimination is firmly rooted in the mind of the Sadhaka, seeing the highest meaning of human existence is serving humanity by attaining liberation from ignorance and egoism.

Only when one attains liberation from ignorance and egoism, one can truly serve humanity efficiently, without being affected, influenced or determined by all actions and the fruit of actions.

Retreats are supposed to be disciplining the mind and training the mind to get use to seclusion and to move away from worldly ideas and objects. But, many of the yoga retreats in the world nowadays are not about seclusion at all, in fact, it is about ego-pampering, worldly sensual indulgence and gratification of desires.

Om shanti.

Desires...

When desire is absent from the mind, whether it's wanting something or doesn't want something, the mind is peaceful, happy and content during those precious moments of being free from desires.

When desires arise in the mind, but are not being gratified, the mind feels disturbed, unhappy, upset, disappointed and frustrated.

We think that we will be happy and contented if we can gratify all our desires, but the more we gratify the desires, the more desires or craving will arise to be gratified. The mind is forever restless and dissatisfied.

Once a desire is being gratified, it's like adding fuel to the fire. The desires will multiply and grow stronger.

To be free from desires, the only way is to stop gratifying any desires. It's like stop adding fuel to the fire. Eventually all desires will die out completely.

Be free from desires, if we truly want to be in peace.

By performing yoga asana and meditation practice everyday, or attending countless retreats, or trying to accumulate and possess qualities of a 'good being', won't bring us peace, nor make us being free from unhappiness or suffering, if the mind is not free from desires.

When we have interest in learning and practicing yoga and meditation, are we working on the annihilation of desire and egoism, or are we expecting the yoga and meditation practice can fulfill our desires whether it's personal desires or universal desires? Even setting good and positive intention or aspiration before, during or after the yoga and meditation practice, wishing everything to be good and positive, is also a desire. We are not free.

We'll get depressed, disappointed and frustrated with ourselves or others for being not good enough if our personal and universal desires are not being fulfilled the way that we desire it to be.

Mumukshutva is the only 'desire' that will allow us to have the strong will-power and determination to renunciate both the worldly passionate and spiritual desires, and render the mind one-pointed towards emancipation.

There are many people who 'love' yoga and meditation practice, as well as like to attend yoga retreats from time to time, including 'yoga teachers', but only a few are interested in serious yoga sadhana that is about moving the mind away from worldly objects, affairs, activities, sensual enjoyment and social interactions. Solitude of being away from all these worldly activities for a few days or weeks will make them feel so 'wrong' and depressed, not to say seclusion for a few years.

While living in this world having the function of the body and mind, having certain knowledge, skills and talents, we do our best for the well-being of ourselves and for the world, while allowing everything to be what it is, without any desires, intentions, or expectations to make everything to be the way that we want it to be, or the way that we think it should be.

Just like the elements of fire, wind, water, earth and ether. Without any desires, intentions, or expectations to influence or determine everything to be existing or cease existing, but everything exists and cease existing because of the cohesion or dissolution of all these elements.

Om shanti.

All physical activities should be completely suspended, all attachments should be ruthlessly cut asunder completely for five or six years, if you want to practice Dhyana Yoga, if you want to realise God through concentration of mind. Newspaper-reading and correspondence with friends and relatives should be completely stopped; as they cause distraction of mind and strengthen the world-idea. Seclusion for a period of five or six years is indispensable.

Swami Sivananda 

Addicted to anger and bitterness...

Some people don't like to be angry and bitter, and want to be free from anger and bitterness.

While some people seem to enjoy being angry and bitter from time to time, and have no interest to stop being angry and bitter.

Anger and bitterness can be addictive. Just like most minds are addicted to being busy seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching and thinking, they have to be engaging in some sorts of mental or physical activities, or else they will feel very uncomfortable and irritated. Like fish out of water. After being in a silent meditation retreat for a few days observing all the disciplines of the silent retreat, the mind will want to runaway, thinking "What am I doing here? Wasting my time. I better off going back to the outside world doing something that I like to do..."

Some people don't feel good or comfortable, if their minds are not having certain degrees of tension for some time.

The mind is already used to certain degrees of tension occupying the mind. The mind feels comfortable having certain degrees of tension that it familiars with.

The mind doesn't know how to allow itself to be in a relaxed state, without any tension arise in the mind. The mind identifies the relaxed state of mind without any tension as boredom or void. And this makes the mind feels anxious, or out of control about everything and whatever situation that it is encountering. The mind prefers to be in a state of tension as it makes the mind feels safe and comfortable, or be in control and feels good about itself.

By being angry and bitter can generate a particular type of sensation/tension which the mind is craving for, or addicted to.

Due to impermanence, when the anger and bitterness towards something or someone is lessening or fading away from the mind, the mind will start looking for some other objects to be the target for the mind to be angry and bitter at. The mind doesn't feel comfortable if anger and bitterness is absent in the mind. This behavior pattern of the mind exists in those who have the habits of fault finding, moaning, grumbling, back-biting, arguing, criticizing and condemning.

The mind actually takes pleasure in the tension or sensation that come from anger and bitterness. Just like certain people take pleasure in self-harm, and they won't feel good and satisfied unless they induce self-harm onto themselves.

If we are aware of our mind keeps falling into a state of anger and bitterness quite frequently from time to time, while knowing that anger and bitterness is unhealthy for the body and mind, but still it wants to be in a state of anger and bitterness, then know that our mind could be addicted to anger and bitterness.

We think that there is something or someone that we don't like or disagree with that inflicts the anger and bitterness in us. We think that our existing life problems and unhappiness are the responsibility of something or somebody, but not 'I'.

Actually it's our own mind finds pleasure in anger and bitterness, and keeps looking for something and someone to be a target for the mind to express anger and bitterness to satisfy the craving for certain tension or sensation.

No one can free another being from this ignorance and suffering. It has to come from self-realization of what is going on in the mind and understanding the behavior pattern of the mind, and willingly want to get out from the behavior pattern of the mind, or stop all the madness.

Om shanti.

No time and space for anything but peace and compassion...

Fully engage our body and mind with the cultivation for peace and compassion. There's no time and space to entertain nor be interested in anger, hatred, hurts, guilt, regrets, sadness, disappointment, dissatisfaction, jealousy, ill-will, ill-thinking, fear, worry, bitterness, resentment, grumble, fault finding, criticism or condemn, as every moment and all the space is fully occupied by peace and loving kindness.

Om shanti.

Be anything that we want to be?

"Be anything that we want to be"

We hear this very often from yoga classes, or positive thinking and motivational classes to encourage people to be positive and confident about themselves, and strive to become who they want to be.

There's nothing wrong with "Be anything that we want to be" as long as we know that "Whatever we want to be, is not who we are"

There's no attachment or identification towards what we think we were, or what we are, or what we want to be.

All the names and forms that we think we are, or we could be, or we want to be, are impermanent and there's no 'I' exists in these names and forms.

Om shanti.

Want to be free?

Many beings want to be free.

Be free from suffering, painful sorrow, unhappiness, discrimination, separateness, racism, sexism, war, killing, violence, hatred, prejudice, unjust, corruption, criticism, condemn, corrupted government and leader, bias rules and regulations, obstacle, weakness, sickness, injuries, unpleasant sensations, pain, old age, death, separation from people and things that we love, undesirable experiences, fear and worry, and so on.

We think and believe that it is all the above 'bad' and 'negative' names and forms that make us not being free.

We think and hope that all kinds of suffering, painful sorrow, unhappiness, unpleasantness, evilness, bad and negative things or happenings will cease existing in this world or in our life existence, will make us free.

 

All those names and forms that we think are bad, wrong and evil in this world are all deriving from human beings under the influence of ignorance and egoism. All human beings need to work independently to free their minds from ignorance and egoism through their own effort. None can remove the ignorance of others. And by perceiving suffering in ourselves due to being disturbed, determined and affected by the ignorance and the consequences of ignorance of other human beings, is also the consequence of ignorance in ourselves.

We are not free is not because we are limited or restricted by all those qualities of name and form that make us think and feel that we are not free, but it's ignorance.

Real freedom is when our mind is free from ignorance, egoism of attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion, expectation and all kinds of impurities and restlessness deriving from ignorance and egoism.

As long as our mind is not free from ignorance, egoism of attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion, expectation and all kinds of impurities and restlessness, we won't be free.

Due to ignorance, human beings create lots of unnecessary 'conditions' conditioning the entire life existence of the body and mind under the influence of egoistic attachment and identification with certain qualities of name and form to be identifying as 'I', as well as there's expectation towards this life existence and the world that it has to be in certain ways that how we would like it to be, or how we think it should be.

Under the influence of ignorance, we don't just conditioning the life existence of our body and mind with the limited and subjective thinking and belief, and the ceaseless desires of want (craving) and don't want (aversion) and expectation, but whether intentionally or unintentionally, we also try to limit and restrict other beings' life existence by interfering with how they should and shouldn't think and behave based on our particular subjective thinking and belief, expecting all and everyone should be the way that we would like them to be.

Allowing others to be free for being who and what they are, even if our mind cannot agree with or dislikes what they think, act and speak, as their thinking and behavior are contradicted or different from our own thinking and behavior, but without being disturbed, or influenced, or determined by others' thinking and behavior.

Be free from all kinds of desire of craving and aversion and expectation is real freedom, even though the world is still being what it is, not necessarily the way that we think how it should be. Allowing the world to be what it is, but without being disturbed or determined by the world. Just do our best for ourselves and others through this life existence, and let go of attachment, identification, intention and expectation towards this life existence or the world that it has to be in certain ways that we think it should be.

Don't blind-believing or blind-following any teachings from anyone, not even the teachings mentioned here. Inquire the truth of everything, attain self-realization, and be free.

Om shanti.

Eliminate egoism by starving the ego, or stop feeding the ego...

As yoga practitioners, we have to remind ourselves from time to time that the yoga practice is about the annihilation of egoism.

Elimination of egoism is through starving the ego, or stop feeding the ego.

If we look at our thoughts, actions and speech in everyday life, most of them are feeding the ego.

Although we are doing some yoga practice from time to time, and convince ourselves and others that we love yoga, and we like to practice and do yoga everyday, but we don't really practice yoga if we didn't work on the elimination of egoism, but instead, in everyday life, we are empowering the ego whether intentionally or unintentionally.

It is the ego that has lots of desires of craving and aversion towards what it wants and doesn't want. Craving for qualities of name and form that our mind perceives as good, pleasant, happiness, positive and meaningfulness. Aversion towards qualities of name and form that our mind perceives as bad, unpleasant, unhappiness, negative and meaninglessness.

It is the ego that likes or loves something, even if it's something really good and right. If we truly practice yoga and meditation, there's no 'I' being here to like or love something that our mind perceives as good and right, even if it's yoga and meditation practice, or the fruit of yoga and meditation practice.

It is the ego that dislikes or hates something, even if it's something really bad and wrong. If we truly practice yoga and meditation, there's no 'I' being here to dislike or hate something that our mind perceives as bad and wrong.

It's the ego that feels good or bad, happy or unhappy, positive or negative, excited or depressed, peaceful or not peaceful, meaningful or meaningless, and so on.

It's the ego that generates likes and dislikes, agreements and disagreements towards what the mind experiences through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body/skin and thinking.

It's the ego that generates attachment, identification, craving and aversion towards the qualities of name and form to be 'I', and what 'I' think is 'my' and 'mine'.

The one who wants and doesn't want to feel in certain ways, is the ego.

The one who judges, compares and expects, is the ego.

The one who admires or condemns, is the ego.

The one who feels confident and proud, or feels not confident and shameful about 'I' as somebody with or without certain qualities, abilities and achievements, is the ego.

The one who feels sad, or depressed, or angry, or hate, or jealous, or fear, or worry, or lonely, or unhappy, or neglected, or ignored, or unattended, or unloved, or embarrassed, or humiliated, or hurt, or betrayed, or insulted, or disrespected, or guilt, or regret, or dissatisfied, or disappointed, or meaningless, and the opposite of all these feelings, is the ego.

The one who is longing for approval, support, liking, companionship, association, acknowledgement, agreement, compliment, praise, appreciation, gratefulness, thankfulness from within and without, is the ego.

The one who is ambitious, who have dreams, or not, is the ego.

The one who wants to create or destroy, is the ego.

The one who wants to love or doesn't want to love, is the ego.

The ego is fed and strengthened by gratifying all its desires of wants and doesn't wants. 

Starve and eliminate the ego by free the mind from attachment, identification, desires, craving, aversion, and all the modifications of egoism.

Realize selflessness, or egolessness, or 'I'-lessness.

There is no 'I' being here to want to love or doesn't want to love.

There's no 'I' being here to hurt, or be hurt.

There's no 'I' being here to heal, or be healed.

There's no 'I' being here to be positive or negative, to be happy or unhappy, to be good or bad.

There is no 'I' being here being not free, or being free.

Om shanti.

Beyond all the thinking and feelings, action and inaction, there's no 'I', 'my', or 'mine'...

Beyond all the thinking and feelings, action and inaction

Whether it's positive or negative thinking and feelings
Whether it's good or bad thinking and feelings
Whether it's happy or unhappy thinking and feelings
Whether it's clear or confuse thinking and feelings

Beyond kind or evil, right or wrong action and inaction

There is no 'I', 'my', or 'mine'

Allow the mind to perceive all the names and forms as they are, and allow the names and forms to be what they are

There's no attachment or identification with any names and forms as 'I', 'my', or 'mine'
There's no desires, clinging, longing, craving, or aversion
There's no dissatisfaction and disappointment
There's no feelings of hurt or painful sorrow
There's no anger and hatred
There's no fear and worry

Be free

If our yoga and meditation practice doesn't bring the mind closer to peace but the opposite, constantly be disturbed, be affected, be influenced, or be determined by all the qualities of name and form of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, sensations, and thinking/memory/imagination due to the reactions of the mind towards its craving and aversion towards what it likes and dislikes, agrees and disagrees with, wants and doesn't wants, then let go of what we have been practicing, and start practicing again based on the basic teachings of yoga and meditation about 'I'-lessness or egolessness, or the self inquiry towards "who am 'I'/what is 'I'?", or impermanence, limitation, conditional, non-self, and selflessness.

Om shanti.

Neither positive nor negative, everything is just what it is...

The teaching of yoga and Buddhism is about seeing the truth of things as they are, and allow all the names and forms to be what they are, without generate clinging or craving towards what the mind wants to think and believe as positive, good and happiness, without generate aversion towards what the mind wants to think and believe as negative, bad and unhappiness.

Everything is just what it is. It is neither positive nor negative, neither good nor bad, neither happiness nor unhappiness.

The truth is still the truth, whether we know about it, or not; whether we like it, or not; whether we agree with it, or not. Everything is subject to impermanence. This life existence comprising the body and mind is subject to changes, discomfort, old age, sickness, weakness and death, or decomposition. The truth doesn't change according to whether our mind is being positive or negative, good or bad, happy or unhappy.

Being super positive, super good and super happy, while denying something that the mind recognizes as negative, bad and unhappiness, won't bring the dead back to life, nor prevent the body and mind from experiencing pain or unpleasantness, or else there won't be painful sorrow exists in the world due to losing someone whom we love very much. It won't make other beings to be free from negativity, anger and hatred, or stop being bad and unhappy.

The positive and optimistic people need to be positive and optimistic shows that they do perceive and recognize something as negative, bad and unhappiness, but they want to convince that everything that they are going to experience will be all positive, good and happy, and they don't want to experience something that they perceive and recognize as negative, bad and unhappiness. They are not free from the perception of duality, craving and aversion. Or else, they don't need to be positive and optimistic at all, if truly there is no negative, bad and unhappiness existing in their mind perception.

Impermanent changes are always there. 'Good' things are changing. 'Bad' things are changing. They change due to their respective cause and at their own pace. If somebody who claims to be having the 'super mind power' to influence and change something to be all good and nothing bad, then the world is already all good and nothing bad.

There are many 'good' people everywhere in the world always wishing or praying for the best and goodness in oneself and in others. It's very good, but it doesn't stop 'bad', 'miserable' and 'undesirable' things and happenings continue to be existing here and there. It doesn't make all kinds of suffering and painful sorrow to disappear from everyone's life. It doesn't remove ignorance and egoism in all beings. Or else, every beings in the world will be selfless, peaceful, wise and compassionate.

Practicing yoga or Buddhism is not about to be positive and optimistic, but to see the truth of things as they are (whether it is something pleasant or unpleasant, whether we like or dislike, agree or disagree with it), without attachment, craving or aversion, without identification with the impermanent body and mind to be who we are, without being affected or determined by all the impermanent qualities of name and form to be peaceful, happy, confident and to feel meaningful, or not.

Before we see the truth of things as they are, we need to stay positive and to counter negative thinking with positive thinking, so that we won't be 'drowned' by negative thinking. When we see the truth of things as they are, there is no need to be positive or to have positive thinking.

Be free from ignorance, egoism and all the modifications of the egoism is the ultimate freedom. It's not about denying or keep away from something that the mind perceives and recognizes as negative, bad and unhappiness, or changing something that we don't want into what we would like it to be.

Om shanti.

If being stressed doesn't change the outcome, why stressed then?

If we have some obligated duties and responsibilities in our lives towards ourselves and our family that make us feel tied-up, and thinking that we have to achieve certain results to gain maximum return whether it's for financial stability or it's to maintain certain credibility of professionalism in a particular work-field, unwittingly we live under stress and being anxious towards our performance and the result of our performance. We are accumulating lots of tension mentally and physically. This will hinder us from performing at our best, affecting our work performance, and eventually our physical and mental health condition will be disturbed. This stops us from carrying out our duties and responsibilities efficiently.

We can just do our best in whatever we do, and allow the outcome to be what it is. There's nothing need to be stressed and anxious about.

By being stressed and anxious doesn't change the outcome of anything to become better than what it is.

Why stressed then?

It is the egoism, attachment, identification, expectation, and the desires of craving and aversion that make us think that we cannot fail, or we have to achieve certain results, that generate unnecessary stress and anxiety in the mind.

We can learn how let go of the ego, attachment, identification, expectation, and the desires of craving and aversion, learn how to live in the present moment, and just do our best to perform all our duties and responsibilities without any stress or anxiety.

Certain anxiety is due to hormonal changes/imbalanced or even brain malfunctioning/damage, it's not necessarily has anything to do with external elements. Such like, we could have anxiety attack out of a sudden even though everything in our life is good or there's nothing to be worry about. In that case, one might need to do something that could help to regulate and balancing the hormonal system. Usually by having regular sufficient physical exercises and eating healthily, as well as by balancing work/activity and relax/sleep will help to regulate and balancing the hormonal system in the body.

Om shanti.

Practice yoga of selflessness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness...

Many people like to do yoga asana exercises, as the yoga exercises, the breathing exercises, and the concentration while performing the yoga exercises can give many physical and mental health and fitness benefits when being done regularly. The body and the mind will feel good and light after the yoga asana and pranayama practice. The vast variations of the yoga exercises also give some sort of challenges and stimulation to the restless mind that craves to be stimulated and kept interested all the time. Or else the mind feels bored, dulled, depressed, meaningless, void or empty. But all these benefits and effects of performing the yoga exercises are impermanent and they are not the end of yoga practice.

Yoga practice is meant to allow the mind to go beyond all the qualities of name and form, to stop chasing after the objects of name and form, to be free from restlessness, to realize the truth of things as they are, and be free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion, and thus be free from suffering.

The benefits and effects derived from the yoga asana practice which consumes lots of time, effort, concentration, patience, determination and perseverance of the body and the mind, can help to interest the mind to be busy doing some physical and mental activities that don't just benefit oneself physically and mentally, but at the same time one won't have the free time, free body and mind to be engaging in any unhealthy physical and mental activities that can harm oneself or other beings. It is very good even if one isn't interested in the complete annihilation of ignorance and egoism.

All these benefits and effects are momentary, and don't guarantee one freedom from ignorance and suffering, if one doesn't know how to be free from egoism, attachment, identification, and desires of craving and aversion.

The root cause of suffering is ignorance (not knowing the truth of things). From ignorance, there arise egoism. From egoism, there arise attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion. From all these attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion, there arise all sorts of impurities and restlessness. From impurities and restlessness, the mind has no peace and perceives suffering.

Most minds want to be free from suffering and have peace, but not many are interested when come to the yoga practice towards selflessness (the annihilation of egoism, attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion), attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness.

We can be putting our body in many different yoga asana poses after years and years of repeated practice of all these yoga poses, becoming more skillful and effortless while performing all these yoga poses, but, the mind might still be influenced by egoism and ignorance, it's not free from attachment, identification, desires of craving and aversion, impurities and restlessness. The mind is constantly being affected, disturbed, influenced and determined by what it perceives through the senses of what it sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches and thinks. There is no real peace which is beyond impermanence, which is not the momentary calmness, peaceful feelings and pleasant sensations that derived from performing some yoga exercises.

There is a common reaction of most minds who love yoga or love to do the yoga exercises - After we manage to perform certain yoga asana poses, the ever restless and dissatisfying nature of the egoistic mind will have this thought about "What next?" and try to do some other more challenging poses or new exercises that it never done before, one after another one. Even after the physical body has come to a point in achieving its highest strength and flexibility, the mind is still wondering "What next?"

By challenging and pushing the body to go beyond its physical limitation, and making the mind feels good doesn't guarantee one peace and compassion. Peace and compassion has nothing to do with physical conditions and abilities, or the impermanent states of the mind. It is freedom from ignorance and egoism.

The restless mind is never contented with just doing the same few basic yoga poses everyday, which is all that we need to help to balance and calm the mind, preparing the mind for meditation. There's nothing wrong with that. That's what the mind does. It gets bored. It needs new toys, new interests, new stimulation.

Even though the body and mind is busy spending lots of time and effort into practicing yoga asana exercises, years after years, and attaining many benefits of the exercises, but we are not really practicing yoga at all, if we never train the mind to go beyond the qualities of name and form, to free the mind from ignorance, duality, egoism, attachment, identification, intention, expectation, desires, greed, dissatisfaction and restlessness. Instead we keep on trying to satisfy the desires of craving and aversion of the restless mind, keep on feeding and strengthening the egoism of the mind and all its modifications while performing the yoga asana practice.

May all be free, by practicing yoga, not just doing some yoga asana exercises.

Om shanti.

Practice yoga and meditation in everyday life?

There were retreat guests have doubt about whether they can continue to practice yoga and meditation in everyday life, or whether they will have the free time and space to perform yoga and meditation practice when they go back to their busy city life. What they meant is about whether they will have the discipline, time and space to perform the yoga asana practice and the sitting meditation practice. But, yoga and meditation practice is unlimited by time and space.

It exists everywhere in every moment in our life whether we are doing some external and physical yoga and meditation practice in a particular name and form, or not. It is the mental or internal yoga and meditation practice of continuous awareness and observation towards what is going on in our mind, from moment to moment, without generate attachment, identification, craving or aversion. Being undisturbed, unaffected, uninfluenced, undetermined by all the impermanent changes of names and forms that the mind perceives through the senses.

Whenever there is perception of name and form when the mind comes in contact with the objects of the senses, that is the moment of our yoga and meditation practice that is happening in our mind. It is not somewhere outside doing some external physical form of yoga and meditation practice.

In this present moment, no matter how we are, where we are, what we are doing or not doing, or how is the surrounding environment and what is happening, free the mind from :-

• The past pleasant and unpleasant experiences
• The future projection, speculation, imagination and anticipation
• The egoism, or the idea of 'I' exist as an individual being
• Attachment and identification
• Intention and expectation
• Clinging, craving, aversion
• Possessiveness
• Obsessiveness
• Defensiveness and offensiveness
• Criticism, argument, justification, condemn, prejudice
• Violence, back-biting, ill-will and ill-thinking
• Anger, hatred, jealousy, greed, desires
• Dissatisfaction and disappointment
• Feelings of hurt, guilt, regret
• Agitation and depression
• Fear, worry, anxieties, doubts, and all sorts of restlessness
• Ignorance

Develop dispassion, right discrimination, self-inquiry, self-awareness, self-control, self-discipline, independence, initiative, mindfulness, open-mindedness, patience, determination, perseverance, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, adjustment, adaptation, accommodation, forgiveness, loving kindness, magnanimity, generosity, simplicity, contentment, calmness, straightforwardness, honesty, purity of thoughts, actions and speech.

Contemplate and realize the truth of non-duality, non-separateness, selflessness, attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness. Go beyond all the qualities of name and form, the life existence and worldly experiences through the function of the mind, the body, the sense organs and the senses.

Allow the mind to be calm and quiet, to be equanimous and at peace under any circumstances, conditions and situations.

This is our yoga and meditation practice in everyday life.

Undetermined by who we think we are and how we are; what is our gender and sexual orientation; what language we communicate with others; what type of educational and training background, talents and skills; what nationality and origin; what is our family and cultural background; whether we think we are spiritual or non-spiritual; whether we are religious or non-religious; whether we believe or disbelieve in 'God', heaven and hell, karma, cause and effect, reincarnation; whether we can perform any yoga poses and what are their benefits, or how we look and feel during and after the yoga poses; the 'correct' physical alignment; the knowledge of the names and benefits of all the yoga poses; the knowledge of physiology and anatomy; the degrees of intelligence and how much knowledge we know about this and that; the physical appearance; the physical conditions; the physical abilities to do this and that; the condition of the environment and what is happening in our life and in the world.

In this present moment, if our mind is being disturbed and influenced by what it sees, hears, smells, tastes, touches and thinks, and generates reactions of like and dislike, agreement and disagreement, craving and aversion, and is restless due to all these activities in the mind, then keep practice, without judgment, comparison, or expectation, until the mind is no longer be disturbed nor influenced by all the perceptions of names and forms.

Om shanti.

About death...

One of the objectives of yoga and meditation practice is to prepare the mind for confronting the moment of the end of life existence of the body and mind, or what we call 'death', with clear understanding and in peace, disregards what is the cause of death, when, where and how it happens, whether it's the 'death' of oneself, or of other beings, especially our dearest ones. There's no fear, no painful sorrow, no anger, no hatred, no clinging, no aversion.

It's normal for the common minds to mourn, to be sad, to be angry, or to be guilty and regret towards the death of the loved ones, and be disturbed by the fear of death, or the fear of separation with those whom we love very much, even when the cause of death is something natural, expected and unintentional, not to say if the cause of death is something unnatural, unexpected and intentional.

But no matter what are our mind reactions, whether in peace or not in peace, it doesn't undo the history, and won't bring back the life of the dead.

May the deceased rest in peace. May the family and friends of the deceased, and those who concern be in peace.

The depth of yoga is not measured by whether we can perform some complicated yoga asanas, or how much we studied and talked about the teachings of yoga, or how much time we have spent on yoga and meditation practice, or how much benefits we gained from yoga practice, or what is the cause of the end of life existence, but it is shown upon how our minds react towards all the perceptions of name and form that it perceives in this moment now.

Be free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification, desires, craving, aversion, and all sorts of impurities like anger, hatred, vengeance, ill-will, greed, dissatisfaction, disappointment, fear, worry, guilt, regret, and so on.

Appreciate lives, but without clinging, attachment or identification.

Om shanti.

Fitness yoga exercise classes?

Yoga practitioners who live in the big city and wish to engage more time into their personal yoga practice by teaching some fitness yoga exercise classes in the big city to make a living to support their lives that also allow them to have the free time and space to perform their own yoga practice shouldn't be bothered by what other people say about "These fitness yoga exercise classes are not about yoga and they are just a commercial 'money making' thing." or "It's wrong to modified traditional yoga asana practice into modern physical fitness exercise classes to make a living."

Even if the fitness yoga exercise classes didn't mention anything about the aspect of 'spirituality' whether intentionally or unintentionally, and it's not about letting go of the egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion at all, they do provide excellent and efficient physical fitness workout that can benefit many people disregard their personal cultural belief and religion practice, especially those who live a busy city lifestyle with limited personal time and space.

Although many yoga practitioners and teachers try to explain that yoga is universal, but, when we apply the name and form of 'spirituality' onto something that we believe is universal, then, not everyone will agree with 'spirituality' is universal friendly to all and everyone. As different people might have belief and disbelief about 'spirituality'. Among those who believe in 'spirituality', different people or groups will have different names and forms of 'the spirituality' that they think is belonged to them, and their 'spirituality' is better or purer than other forms of 'spirituality'.

If something that is truly universal, it is free from being conditioned by any names and forms. It is nameless and formless beyond qualities of names and forms.

Fitness yoga exercise classes that don't involve any aspects of 'spirituality' can bring the yoga practice to many levels and diversities of the society. As there are people do not wish to involve in the world of 'spirituality', which we can understand why, as there are many 'weird' people and 'weird' happenings going on in the world of 'spirituality' which are not necessarily what spirituality is about.

Not involving in the world of 'spirituality' doesn't determine whether one is spiritual, or not. Just like not identifies oneself as good person, nor associating with other good people, doesn't determine whether one is good, or not.

Without touching the aspect of 'spirituality', it is like any sports activities, it's universal friendly. Anyone whether with or without a particular religion belief, being spiritual or non-spiritual, can take part in any kind of sports activities, if one is interested. Although great achievements and excellency in sports activities doesn't guarantee anyone liberation from ignorance, egoism and suffering.

Living among the society, whatever people do and don't do, there will always be somebody or some group in the society reacts towards something that they don't like and don't agree with, and criticize or condemn about this and that. Why should anyone be bothered?

Every living being comes into existence as a living being by oneself alone (even if there are multiple birth at the same time) and will leave this world by oneself alone (even if the life of multiple living beings ends at the same moment). Self-realization or liberation from ignorance is attained by oneself alone. It has nothing to do with another being or group, not even all our past and present teachers and Gurus, or family and friends.

When a peaceful being prefers to be in solitude away from the society and keeps the path of liberation to oneself, and has no intention or interest in 'teaching' or sharing' the path of liberation with any other beings, there will be criticism and condemn from somebody or some group about this being is selfish.

When a peaceful being has the intention or interest for 'sharing' the path of liberation with other beings, and tries to 'teach' or 'guide' other beings about the path of liberation in its own particular way, there will also be criticism and condemn from somebody or some group about one is not 'teaching' or 'guiding' other beings in the 'correct and appropriate' way according to what they think how it should be.

Let them be. These minds that like to find faults in everything, and take pride and joy in criticism and condemn are restless. Most untrained minds are restless, or else there won't be any criticism or condemn from anyone or anywhere about anything. The world will be very quiet and peaceful. Be compassionate towards all these restless minds, they are so unhappy and peaceless. Those who know non-attachment and non-identification will not be influenced by the points of view, thinking and beliefs, action and reaction of these restless minds. One shares what one is, or not, and it's nothing to do with what others want and don't want, like and dislike, agree and disagree with.

Among many different forms of fitness exercise for attaining good health and fitness level, these yoga exercises are being adapted and modified from traditional yoga asana practice providing huge varieties and efficient fitness workouts for all levels of different physical conditions and abilities, to cater the personal requirements, the likes and dislikes of many different types of people, can promote fitness and obtain higher energy level, to induce good mood and relaxed state of the mind, to develop positive and clear thinking, to lower risk of injuries or contracting illnesses, to improve and maintain good physical and mental health condition, to improve quality of life, relationships, self-esteem and the sense of meaningfulness. Although all these qualities of names and forms are still subject to impermanence, and don't guarantee anyone liberation from ignorance and suffering.

The world will definitely be a better place with more people having a 'cool and relaxed' state of mind through performing yoga exercises regularly, there will be less conflicts and violence. It is better than taking some substances that might also can induce a momentary 'cool and relaxed' state of mind, but might bring other forms of side effect.

Eventually by obtaining and maintaining a well-balanced and 'cool and relaxed' state of mind through regular practice of some yoga exercises, naturally one could be evolving towards purity and higher consciousness, without any intention nor interest to involve in 'purity', or 'higher consciousness'.

It is absolutely fine if people are not interested at all towards the teachings of yoga about the elimination of egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion. It's definitely nothing wrong when there's no mention about these yoga teachings in the fitness yoga exercise classes, but instead it is moving away from all these yoga teachings, whether intentionally or unintentionally, such like, strengthening the attachment and identification towards self-image, physical conditions and abilities, the empowerment of likes and dislikes, craving and aversion, judgment and expectation towards the performance, and results orientated, and etc.

It isn't being disrespectful towards the Gurus and the teachings of yoga when yoga (asana) practice in the world has been transformed into something that is very little to do with what yoga is about, which is to free the mind from ignorance and egoism of attachment, identification, desire of craving and aversion and all sorts of impurities, to know the truth of names and forms, to eliminate ignorance and transcend suffering. And all these have nothing to do with whether one is spiritual, or not, whether one has a religion belief, or not, and whether one believes in the existence of an Almighty God or an individual soul, or not.

Yoga practice is to free the mind from ignorance, egoism, desires, impurities and suffering. And this alone is universal. Untrained minds are being influenced by ignorance, egoism and impurities, and thus experience inevitable suffering. A well-trained mind is free from the influence of ignorance, egoism, impurities and doesn't experience suffering. An impure unrest mind creates havoc into the surrounding environment. A pure and peaceful mind doesn't generate havoc into the surrounding environment. A closed mind generates offensiveness and defensiveness towards everything. An opened mind embraces all and everything.

It doesn't matter where we came from, where we are now, who we are, what we are and how we are, we all have a mind and there are countless mind activities going on every moment, whether consciously or unconsciously. Without knowing this mind and its modifications, one generates disharmony in oneself and into the surrounding environment. Know thyself, is knowing this mind and its modification. There is no 'I'.

May all be free, be peaceful, be happy.

If anyone doesn't want to be free, or peaceful, or happy, let them be.

Om shanti.

Emotional imbalanced?

People, or human beings are emotional sentimental creatures. At one moment, the mind is super happy and elevated when it gets what it wants and likes. At another moment, the mind is super unhappy and depressed when it gets what it doesn't want and dislikes, or when it doesn't get what it wants and likes. And this is perfectly normal for the untrained minds.

Very often we will see some couples around us, they are full of joy and happiness being together while chatting about something that they both agree with, and then suddenly one of them or both of them turn angry and upset about something that they disagree with one another. And then, maybe, when they manage to come to a point of agreement, and they will once again show joy and happiness being together.

Emotion doesn't only manifest when there are people interacting with us, but, even when we are alone by ourselves, there are random thoughts arising from here and there about this and that, and along with some passionate feelings and emotions based on all these random impermanent thoughts of past memories and future imaginations or anticipations.

Emotions are nothing wrong or bad, however, being emotional imbalanced without correct understanding and self-control can be creating unnecessary disturbance to ourselves and all the others around us.

Observe, not about other people's mind behavior, but observe our own mind's behavior.

Whatever reason that we think is causing the mind to be emotional imbalanced, is not important, but, to know that everything is impermanent, and soon, this will also pass away, is the path of liberation.

The untrained mind is irrational and nonsense most of the time. Do not take our own, or other people mind's reactions, feelings and emotions too seriously. Do not allow all these impermanent feelings and emotions to over-powered our conscience and losing self-control over our actions and speech. But learn to observe without suppressing them nor expressing them.

It's impermanent.

It's really not worth to feed these feelings and emotions, and spread them around into the surrounding environment to disturb the peace and harmony between us and everyone else who come in contact with us.

Just observe, be aware, without pushing them away nor feeding them, and allowing all these feelings and emotions to be there, change, and passing away, and eventually, the mind will be balanced in peace and harmony again.

May all be free, be peaceful, be happy.

The restless mind

Whenever there is perception of different qualities of name and form, there will always be somebody with the thinking mind experiences restlessness, showing disagreement, or dislike, or be offended by certain names and forms.

Unless it is attributeless, nameless and formless, then nobody with the thinking mind can perceive something nameless and formless that is beyond qualities of name and form, and nobody will experience restlessness, showing disagreement, or dislike, or be offended by something that is beyond the mind perception of names and forms.

If somebody will be restless, showing disagreement, dislike and be offended by something that isn't there, then that is still within the mind perception of qualities of name and form. The mind is offended by something that it doesn't know. It's like, "I don't know what it is, but I just disagree with it and I don't like it..."

That's how restless the mind can be.

Go beyond the mind perception of names and forms, realize attributelessness, namelessness and formlessness, and be free from restlessness, agreements and disagreements, likes and dislikes, offensiveness and defensiveness.

Om shanti.

Without any intention, just do our best and allow the fruit of action to be what it is...

No need to have good intention to do good and not to do bad, although we do good and try not to do bad.

Without any intention to be sharing yoga with anyone, we are sharing yoga with someone.

Without any intention to perform action that will benefit somebody, somebody is benefited from our actions.

If the yoga school or yoga class will become bigger without any intention to make it any bigger than what it is, let it be.

If the yoga school or yoga class will become smaller without any intention to make it any smaller than what it is, let it be. 

If we are teaching yoga to many people without any intention to be teaching yoga to many people, let it be.

If we are teaching yoga to less people without any intention to be teaching yoga to less people, let it be.

If we will stop teaching yoga to anyone without any intention to stop teaching yoga to anyone, let it be.

Be free from greed, desire, longing, craving and aversion.

Be free from intention and attachment.

Without any intention, just do our best and allow the fruit of action to be what it is...

In the end, it's about - May all be free, be peaceful, be happy.

Om shanti.

Asteya and Aparigraha - Non-stealing and non-covetousness

From the surface meaning of the word Asteya or non-stealing, it's about not stealing or not taking anything that doesn't belong to us, whether those things has an owner or not, or belonged to somebody or not.

And, from the surface meaning of the word Aparigraha or non-covetousness, it's about not coveting, or not possessing, or not grasping, or not greedy towards worldly objects or material and sensual enjoyments. As well as not accepting bribe or supporting bribery.

Both of them are related to greed. Greed is one of the characteristics of egoism.

Practicing Asteya and Aparigraha, abstaining from stealing and coveting, can help to eliminate greed from one's mind and helps eliminate egoism on the path of self-inquiry.

There are some teachings beyond these literal meanings.

Before we know what is the ego and the truth of names and forms, when we are still influenced by greed, then the practice of non-stealing and non-covetousness has its importance and merits.

When one is observing the practice of Asteya and Aparigraha, one doesn't need to acknowledge others or to glorify oneself for observing Asteya and Aparigraha, one just is. There's no attachment or identification of "I am observing Asteya and Aparigraha."

When we know what is the ego and the truth of names and forms, and we are free from the influence of greed, then all these practice don't mean anything, or are useless. One who is free from egoism and ignorance doesn't need to practice Asteya or Aparigraha as one doesn't need to remind oneself or to restrain oneself not to steal or not to be greedy, as there is no greed or the desire to steal existing in this mind.

Greed exists in many places that we might not be aware of. There are many 'spiritual' aspirants fall into the trap of greed without being aware of it. Greed doesn't just apply onto attachment, craving, longing and grasping towards worldly material objects and achievements.

Longing for merits and virtues is a form of greed. Longing for accumulating good karma by performing good actions is a form of greed. Longing for spiritual achievements, entitlements and acknowledgement is a form of greed. Longing for agreement, supports and association is a form of greed. Longing for good conditions, good relationships and happiness is also a form of greed. Longing for something that we like and want may it be something good and right which doesn't exist in the present moment now is a form of greed. Longing for assistance or blessing from any external source is a form a of greed. Longing for good health and longer life span is also a form of greed. Longing for changing the world to be the way that we think it should be is also a form of greed. Longing to have bigger and more yoga centres is also a form of greed. Longing to be a great yoga teacher to teach yoga is also a form of greed.

One is free from greed when one is completely free from attachment, identification, clinging, longing, craving and aversion, whether towards spiritual or worldly objects and achievements.

One will enter into silence when all forms of gross and subtle greed, desire, attachment, clinging, longing, grasping, craving and aversion subsided.

The realization of unconditional love and peace has nothing to do with the quantity or amount of Karma yoga or selfless service that we can perform through this life existence. Performing lots of charity work or volunteering service might generate some satisfactory happy and joyful feelings, and sense of meaningfulness in the mind, but it doesn't guarantee us liberation from ignorance and suffering, if we don't know what is performing actions without the influence of egoism, without intention, without attachment, identification, craving and aversion.

When we know the truth of names and forms, we will realize there is nothing in this life existence that the mind perceives through the senses that really belongs to 'us', or who we think is 'I', including the existence of the body and the mind, and their functions.

We can be in a relationship with someone. But, this relationship and the person in the relationship with us don't belong to us. We will generate 'problems and unhappiness' for ourselves and the person in the relationship with us, if we think we own this relationship and the person in the relationship with us, or we think they belong to 'I'.

If there is nothing belongs to anyone in this worldly existence of names and forms, there's no such accusation of somebody 'steals' or 'takes' something that 'belongs' to somebody else. It's the same as the teachings of yoga about oneness or non-separateness, and selflessness or I-lessness. The idea of something being stolen from someone by someone (objects and subjects) doesn't exist when we realize oneness or non-separateness.

This doesn't mean that one can take advantage of this teaching to 'take' or 'steal' anything that we like and want, thinking that "I am not stealing anything from anyone, as everything doesn't belong to anyone anyway." This is corrupted thinking influenced by ignorance.

Just like someone might take advantage of the teachings of yoga about "everything is just what it is, it is neither good nor bad" to be doing bad actions, while thinking that "I didn't do anything bad as there is no bad." It is the desires, intention, attachment and identification that makes the difference. While being 'aware' of such actions are 'bad' and still intentionally doing 'bad', while thinking and believing that there is no 'bad', doesn't free one from the consequences of actions, or the bondage of cause and effect.

It also doesn't mean that one can 'take' or 'steal' other people's spouse or children freely, or one can 'take' or 'steal' other people's 'belongings' or 'properties' influenced by some egoistic selfish desires and greed, and thinking 'I' am not committing any violation or intrusion towards anyone's existing life and property. Taking anything that doesn't 'belong' to us is 'stealing', even when there are no owners for anything. Everything and anything is not just doesn't belong to anyone, but also doesn't belong to 'I'.

When one is free from ignorance, egoism, attachment, identification, craving, aversion, and all sorts of impurities, when one is beyond all the perceptions of name and form, one won't be 'taking' or 'stealing' anything or anyone from anybody or anywhere.

When we are living on the earth, being in this space, and consuming the sunlight, the water and the air to be existing, did we ever ask permission from them, or did they give us any permission? The elements of fire, water, wind, earth and ether pervade the entire body and mind, did they ask the permission of this body and mind, or did the body and mind give permission to them?

The elements of fire, water, wind, earth and ether don't exist if the universe doesn't exist. And vice versa.

The universe exists because of the elements, and the elements exist because of the universe.

But out of compassion, everyone and everything co-existing and depending on one another to be existing. The sun, the water, the air, the earth and the space have no intention to be involved in actions of 'giving' and 'taking'. They have no intention to allow or disallow anything to be existing or not. They have no identification of 'I' am 'giving' something from 'I' to someone or something for everything to be existing, or 'I' am 'taking' something from someone or something for everything to cease existing, it doesn't matter who they are, what they are, how they are, where they are.

And above all, there's no 'I' involved in all these 'gives and takes' that is happening from moment to moment.

Before the realization of selflessness or I-lessness, all actions are bound by the idea of give and take, and are not free from the bondage of cause and effect.

Upon the realization of selflessness or I-lessness, all actions are neither give nor take, or are beyond giving and taking, and are free from the suffering of being determined by the inevitable impermanent selfless changes governed by the law of cause and effect.

Om shanti.