Author: Yoga With Brian

Brian Liem is a yoga and meditation practitioner and teacher, freelance writer, husband and dad living in New York City.

My Weekly Quote

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Often we see other sentient beings as hassles: “This mosquito is disturbing me. Those politicians are corrupt. Why can’t my colleagues do their work correctly?” and so on. But when we see sentient beings as being more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel, our perspective completely changes. For example, when we look at a fly buzzing around, we train ourselves to think, “My enlightenment depends on that fly.” This isn’t fanciful thinking because, in fact, our enlightenment does depend on that fly. If that fly isn’t included in our bodhicitta, then we don’t have bodhicitta, and we won’t receive the wonderful results of generating bodhicitta–the tremendous purification and creation of positive potential.
Imagine training your mind so that when you look at every single living being, you think, “My enlightenment depends on that being. The drunk who just got on the bus–my enlightenment depends on him. The soldier in Iraq–my enlightenment depends on him. My brothers and sisters, the teller at the bank, the janitor at my workplace, the president of the United States, the suicide bombers in the Middle East, the slug in my garden, my eighth-grade boyfriend, the babysitter when I was a kid–my enlightenment depends on each of them.” All sentient beings are actually that precious to us.  –Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron

My Weekly Quote

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Myth: we have to save the earth. Frankly, the earth doesn’t need to be saved. Nature doesn’t give a hoot if human beings are here or not. The planet has survived cataclysmic and catastrophic changes for millions upon millions of years. Over that time, it is widely believed, 99 percent of all species have come and gone while the planet has remained. Saving the environment is really about saving our environment – making it safe for ourselves, our children, and the world as we know it. If more people saw the issue as one of saving themselves, we would probably see increased motivation and commitment to actually do so.
-Robert M. Lilienfeld and William L. Rathje

Join me for a special class benefiting Doctors without Borders

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Hi everyone! 
 
Join me for a special now:yoga at the Shala/yogawithbrian class to benefit Doctors without Borders.  
 
Wednesday, October 31
2:00-3:25pm
815 Broadway, 2nd floor
New York, NY
 
Cash donations, pay what you like.
class cards (if you forgot cash) no credit cards, because, alas, no power.
 
All proceeds go to DwB.  Hope to see you there! 
 
Love, 
Brian 
 
Brian Liem 
 
 

My Weekly Quote

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Since the situation in which we live is much changed but the attitude of people who are in that situation is at variance with the times, this is one of the causes of unnecessary pain, unnecessary problems. Therefore, education is needed to communicate that the concept of violence is counterproductive, that it is not a realistic way to solve problems, and that compromise is the only realistic way to solve problems. Right from the beginning, we have to make this reality clear to a child’s mind — the new generation. In this way, the whole attitude towards oneself, towards the world, towards others, can become more healthy. I usually call this “inner disarmament.” Without inner disarmament, it is very difficult to achieve genuine, lasting world peace.
…Through inner disarmament we can develop a healthy mental attitude, which also is very beneficial for physical health. With peace of mind, a calm mind, your body elements become more balanced. Constant worry, constant fear, agitation of mind, are very bad for health. Therefore, peace of mind not only brings tranquility in our mind but also has good effects on our body.
With inner disarmament, now we need external disarmament. As I mentioned earlier, according to today’s reality, there no longer is room for war, for destruction. From a compassionate viewpoint, destruction, killing others, and discriminating even against one’s enemy are counterproductive. Today’s enemy, if you treat them well, may become a good friend even the next day.
— excerpt by His Holiness the Dalai Lama