Self practice

 Lot of times, people used to ask how do we gain the same experience that we get in the class. They couldn't get the motivation to do daily practice on their own or our mind will manipulate us not to practice. 

I used to have the same question or same problem in the beginning days. 

Once I started understanding experientially what goes into practice bit by bit, then the question became how can I afford not to train?

Seriously, I'm not at all interested in being weak and I had lived that enough.

 Structure the time for training and stick with it. That commitment will give overall stability to our character. Some day we all are going to die. Until then we can choose to live good and strong. Society needs strong and good people. 

My practice time is one of the most beautiful time in my life. I will pretty much bring all of my attention towards my body, mind, emotions and energy. It elevates my consciousness and brings so much stability, clarity and balance to deal with day to day stuffs. Especially when we take on more responsibilities, we have to step up and be in the best possible place. Early in my life, I realised that I'm the most biggest challenge in my life. 

The profound tools that we study, matters only based on how much we practice and live it. Else it will be another garbage sitting on our head. That's from my experience. 

The more we practice, the more we live the better way and the more life will be better quality. 

Modern day yoga

 

Today I see many yoga teachers who are teaching through online and in person. They post lot of videos in Instagram with so many poses. There is an Indian couple (both husband and wife are yoga instructors) in Instagram who posted lot of videos and suddenly they were silent for few months. Finally she told she had depression and had to seek separate therapy from someone else. While I appreciate her honesty, I really wish that they could find the healing from yoga itself.  

What's the purpose of yoga in their lives? Why do they want to teach? 

Just keep doing lot of yoga asanas everyday is good but is that enough? Is it really addressing the needs of us? 

There are other kind of yoga teachers who read lot of books, watch lot of YouTube videos but with weak character and load their students with lot of information. 

Definitely students will benefit to some extent from both kind of teachers. 

My question is are these teachers opening the minds of students? Are they giving profound insights or enable the students to gain profoundness in their life? 

Are they enhancing the quality of life?  Students are able to take charge of their life or walk independently ?

The same goes with martial arts teachers as well. 

I'm really scared of people who takes away the simplicity of life. I like to keep things simple and basic fundamentals of life is always simple. 

While the tons of spiritual literature talks about enlightenment or liberation is the ultimate, what about day to day living?  How do we step up the quality of living ?

Not everyone can skip the life and just do yoga and get liberated directly. I don't think that is so easy like that. I think we need to live our life to the fullest possible. 

There is also other philosophy "World is maya and only God is real.". Definitely some great sages would have said that from their experience. Are we in a position to say that from our experience? 

And lot of spiritual seekers repeat it like a parrot and scared of worldly pleasures. I think this is not a living way of freedom. Discipline gives the freedom but the restricting onself & creating conflicts within, will never set us free. 

If there is God, I don't think God will leave us or punish us just because we enjoy our lives. 

I think through our better living with inner freedom, we can feel Him, appreciate Him and learn from Him. 

Self respect

 

Let go of people who aren't ready to love you.
This is the hardest thing you will ever have to do in your life and it will also be the most important thing.
Stop having difficult conversations with people who don’t want to change.
Stop showing up for people who have no interest in your presence.
 
You deserve so much more.
The most valuable thing you have in your life is your time and energy as both are limited.
The people and things you give your time and energy to, will define your existence.
When you realize this you start to understand why you’re so anxious when you spend time with people, activities or spaces that don’t suit you and shouldn’t be near you.
You’ll start to realize that the most important thing you can do for yourself and everyone around you, is to protect your energy more fiercely than anything else.
Make your life a safe haven, in which only people "compatible" with you are allowed.
You are not responsible for saving anyone.
It's not your responsibility to convince them to improve.
It's not your job to exist for people and give them your life!
You deserve real friendships, true commitments, and complete love with healthy, prosperous people.
Deciding to distance yourself from harmful people, will give you the love, esteem, happiness and protection you deserve.

Codes & Tenets of Tang Soo Do

 

Five Codes of Tang Soo Do:

Loyalty to country

Obedience to parents

Honor friendship

No retreat in battle

In fighting choose with sense and honor

The Seven Tenets of Tang Soo Do

Integrity

Concentration

Perserverence

Respect and Obedience

Self Control

Humility

Indomitable Spirit

Peace

A real peace is free from ones own conflicts. In other words, it is free from war between emotions and intellect. When we lead our life by buddhi or intellect, only then contentment is possible. Contentment or peace is the real happiness and only then, love is possible. I mean unconditional love which gives safety and security to others. Love always comes with feeling of giving (not taking). I love you means I’m willing to give or sacrifice for you with full happiness.

Pleasures are just pleasures and nothing wrong with it but they are very limited. We do need them sometimes to keep life juicy. If we stuck with ever changing emotions or conflicting desires, only confusion prevails. Especially as we grow older, we should learn to keep distance from emotions. Else family, society or world will not tolerate us. I see that everywhere.

Clarity is something beyond emotions. Some examples of the day to day emotions which handicap us are morning laziness to wake up very late, procrastination, emotional expectations from others, attachment, being afraid of what others think about us, don’t feel like eating, don’t feel like sleeping etc. we are human beings and we do have emotions. But
if we are not aware of our feelings that trap us, we might lose ourselves and it will affect our health.

How to be aware?
 1. Everyday spend some time for ourselves
2. Being in the company of people who are clear and balanced.
3. Makes choices based on clarity.

Beautiful enlightening song from Thevaram by Thirugnanasambandar

I happened to listen to this song today from Thevaram. The moment I listened to it, it went deep into my heart.
What a profound song for all the people who does spiritual practices everyday!!!!. Forever in-debt to Thirugnanasambandar. Sometimes even when you practice and given all your best efforts, some things might cloud our spirit and create confusion due to past karma(or habits). But the moment you listen to Namashivaya, the self illuminates(I don’t know how)and deep sense of clarity and peace prevails.. I witnessed many a times and when I try to understand, it’s probably because of the surrender to HIM and the instant relaxation of myself from my own ego. When I experience the space beyond or bigger than my ego, what else can I say? Other than sit in silence with love and gratitude ❤️.

ஊனில் உயிர்ப்பை ஒடுக்கி, ஒண் சுடர்
ஞானவிளக்கினை ஏற்றி, நன் புலத்து
ஏனை வழி திறந்து, ஏத்துவார்க்கு இடர்
ஆன கெடுப்பன அஞ்சு எழுத்துமே.


பொ-ரை: உடம்பில் பிராணாயாமத்தால் உயிர்ப்புச்
சக்தியை ஒடுக்கி, ஞானவிளக்கம் பெறச் செய்து, அறிவைப் பெறும்
வாயில்களால் நல்ல மெய்யறிவை நாடி இறைவனைப்
போற்றுவார்கட்கு அறியாமையால் வரும் துன்பங்களைக் கெடுப்பன
திருவைந்தெழுத்தேயாகும்.