Introduction to Yoga Vasishta

Yoga Vasishta, otherwise known as Maha Ramayana, is written by the Sage Valmiki. It appears as a sub plot in the Ramayana but is bigger than the main plot as it contains 32000 verses compared to 24000 verses of the Ramayana. A tenth century Kashmiri Pandit named Sri Abhinav Gupta wrote a concise version called Laghu Vasishta in 9000 verses.

As the narrative goes, Lord Sri Rama, as a young boy, goes out of the palace once to look around the country. He is profoundly affected by the miseries of the world and his mind seeks solution for these sufferings. He was found in deep thought after his return to the palace. When the Sage Vishwamitra comes to Dasharatha’s court and asks for Sri Rama, he was informed about the pensive state of mind of Sri Rama. The learned sage asks Sage Vasishta to counsel Sri Rama. This book is all about Sri Rama’s profound questions and the Sage Vasishta’s deep answers.  This scripture brings out some stunning truths about existence, the universe, the world as creation of mind, time and space, our deep-rooted but faulty beliefs etc. The scripture is mostly in the form of interesting stories and parables to drive certain complex concepts. An example being Lord Rama asks the sage as to what happens to the world after pralaya or dissolution of the universe. The Sage says it is just like water in a mirage. No one put water there and hence no question of removing the water. The readers or listeners are also cautioned about the limitations of examples, limitations of listeners and the limitations of the person narrating it, to convey concepts which have no limitations.

 An interesting parallel to Mahabharata, in reverse, where Lord Krishna teaches Arjuna, while here it is the Lord who questions and listens.

This scripture puts emphasis on Atma Vichara or Self -Enquiry as the only means to solve all afflictions, which was the central teaching of Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi. He encouraged many seekers to read this book and reflect on it.

“It is the Crest-Jewel of all works on Vedanta which raises a man to the lofty heights of divine splendor “ says Swami Sivananda, an acclaimed master.

This book will be interesting to both, people with Spiritual bent of mind as well as to those inquisitive people who look for logical, rational explanations about truth and reality.

This effort is towards narrating some abridged stories, lightly passing over the philosophical aspects, thereby making it easy and interesting for the readers and at the same time sow the seed for deeper reflection. The questions and the answers are just the kind of material needed for a deep thinker.