Vasistha's Yoga (Special Paper; 27)

Can one give a book "Infinite ********** Stars"? When i first got to read Swami Venkatesananda's marvellous complete translation of the Yoga Vasistha nearly 30 years ago, I was amazed at what is surely the "greatest spiritual work" ever composed--a remarkable scripture of the most sublime nondual (advaita) profundity, rich stories ranging from the poignant to the psychedelic, and a warm, witty humor. Every page contains "quotable quotes" of such pithiness as to make you want to have them tatooed onto your skin. Yes, if there were a book i'd want to have with me if ever "stranded on a desert isle," this would be it (along with my mentor Sri Nisargadatta's *I AM THAT* collection of conversations, one of the Sri Ramana Maharshi collections--e.g., Talks or The Gospel of Sri Ramana Maharshi, the 100,000 Songs of Milarepa, and maybe one of the Ch'an/Zen collections, some Meister Eckhart German sermons, some Lao Tzu, and maybe one of the nondual Sufi shaikhs' teachings). I've gone through over 2,000 works on our classic sacred mystical traditions (East & West, including all the great Advaita classics), and, truly, Yoga Vasistha is a cut above all of them. Tripura Rahasya is about the only one that comes close, due to its inclusion of some wonderful stories. The original 2-volume English translation by Swami Venkatesananda (a disciple of Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh), issued in 1976 by the Chiltern Yoga Trust (only 3,000 copies printed!) has, with this single-volume 1993 SUNY publication, become indispensable for anyone interested in authentic nondual spiritual realization or, in general, Hindu studies or study of world religions. No one knows quite when to date the Yoga Vasistha. Because, like most ancient religious texts, it was composed in layers, we have to speak of when an earliest core might have emerged and when a more-or-less final edition might have been composed. For the former, circa 5th-6th century is likely a good ballpark figure (see the work of Indian scholar B.L. Atreya). For the latter, T.G. Mainkar's date of around 1150 to 1250 is a good guestimate. Most scholars seem fairly sure it was composed in Kashmir, and that its mid- and late-stage versions are, among other things, a response to Buddhism (Kashmir had been a stronghold for Mahayana Buddhism before then). Anyway, beyond the ultimately pointless scholarly details, one need only dive in and start reading on almost any page to get a sufficiently potent blast of nondual truth to utterly dissolve the illusion of there being any separate solid self or distinct, solid objects. All that's left is Consciousness (Pure Awareness) Alone, absolutely Full (of Being-Awareness-Bliss-Light-Love), utterly Empty/Open (not a speck of "anything" to be found), completely transcendent and vividly all-pervading. The Yoga Vasistha, with its teaching of Ajatavada / Mayavada (no ultimately real, solid world exists), combined with such tales as that of various enlightened queens and kings, can produ

Very few books actually give one the sense of the transcendent reality like this one does. Often words point you in the direction but leave the actual experience untasted. The way the words are arranged in this book of stories you can almost sense what enlightenment is. Highly recommended to help us realize we are not the body mind complex but the Eternal One residing in the Heart. As far as words can take you this book does take one into the state. There are 2 versions of this book. One is the Concise version. The longer version is quite lengthy and the themes of the stories are repeated. Sometimes the words are flowery and bog down the pace. The Concise version eliminates much repitition in the themes but the price is not much different between the two. The larger book is definitely not a quick read especially if you have limited time and are reading other books at the same time, 725 pages. But the larger book will have more stories that you can read later whereas you might finish the Concise version,(400+ pages),early and still want more...One of the best books conveying the reality of Brahman.

Its amazing how contemporary this book feels, despite its age. The translation is elegant and a joy to read. Though the author says, "it's wise to read just one page a day", it is almost impossible to put the book down.

This book is peace for the soul, which is ready to accept it's message. It is very simply written, and the stories are very engaging. It is a book that effected me deeply, to my core. It is VERY long, but well worth the read. It was a blessing to have come across it.In short, it is about a man who became despondent realizing that all pleasures end in pain. He is instructed by a sage, how to liberate oneself from this pain and suffering.Even if only one or two key concepts are adopted and practiced, remarkable changes are likely to occur, as they have for me.

This is a translation of a series of talks given by Sage Vasistha when Rama's services were requested by Sage Viswamitra. Its purpose - to free the minds of all that read or hear these talks of delusion. This translaton is an example of how the truth may set you free. Swami Venkateshananda has stayed out of the way of Sage Vasistha's great words in this translation. Why do I say this? The truth still rings out from every line and, that truth is very liberating.If you have any interest in the teachings of our elders from India please put this book on your list. It is particularly wonderful in conjunction with reading the Ramayana by Sage Valmiki. All those who have read the Bhagavad Gita by Sage Vyasa will find this a familiar and comforting read.Om namah Shivaya