Yoga Vasistha
Essence of Sanatana Dharma Sacred Texts- Bhagawd Geeta, Vedas & Upanishads
Essence of Sanatana Dharma Sacred Texts- Bhagawd Geeta, Vedas & Upanishads
Yoga Vasistha, the spiritual teaching imparted by Spiritual Guru Vasistha to young Lord Shri Rama, has been dated between 11th and 14th century AD. Yoga Vasistha is regarded as one the longest texts after Mahabharta, containing 32,000 shlokas. Yoga Vasishta is also known as Maha Ramayana, Uttar Ramayana, Vasistha Ramayana etc. Yoga Vasishta in its original form written in Sanskrit language by Sage Valmiki (famous for writing Epic Ramayana).
Most of the scriptures in Sanatana Dharma were narrated by God to His devotees, but the Yoga Vasistha is one unique scripture that is narrated to God Himself, Lord Shri Rama.
Yoga Vasistha is a manual for the sincere spiritual seeker. Through the use of stories, parables and illustrations which hold many hidden depths within them, Guru Vasistha brings out the most subtle points, not for theorizing but for practice. The nature of the stories and their deep rooted philosophies are designed to open the levels of awareness.
Yoga Vasistha is in the form of replies given by Guru Vasishta, to young Lord Shri Rama’s queries regarding philosophical problems of life, death, human suffering etc. Guru Vasistha makes it very clear that, the problem is confusion of the real with the unreal, or change, due to the seeming reality of its appearance. Life is the field where this takes place and life must also be the field where this corrected.
The main theme of Yoga Vasistha:
The soul is undergoing a dream from which it must awake. This dream represents our association and identification with the world.
The sum total of pleasures of the whole world is a mere drop when compared to the bliss of Moksha.
The sum total of pleasures of the whole world is a mere drop when compared to the bliss of Moksha.
Background of Yoga Vasistha:
During the period when young Lord Shri Rama returns from touring the country, and becomes disheartened after experiencing the apparent reality of the world. King Dasaratha, father of Lord Shri Rama, expresses his concern to Guru Vasistha upon Rama's dejection. Guru Vasistha consoles the king by telling him that Rama's dis-passion (viragya) is a sign that the prince is now ready for spiritual enlightenment. Further the sage said that, Rama has begun understanding profound spiritual truths, which is the cause of his confusion; he needs confirmation. Guru Vasistha asks the king to summon Prince Rama.
Then, in King Dasaratha's court, the Guru Vasistha begins his discourse to young prince Rama (which lasts several days). The answer to Lord Shri Rama's questions forms one of the entire sacred Sanatana Dharma scripture namely called as Yoga Vasistha.The conversation between Guru Vasistha and young prince Rama is that between a great, enlightened sage and a seeker who is about to reach wholeness. The text of the book leads to spiritual liberation and is said to be among those rare conversations which directly leads to Truth. The scripture provides understanding, scientific ideas and philosophy; it explains consciousness, the creation of the world, the multiple universes in this world, our perception of the world, its ultimate dissolution, the liberation of the soul and the non-dual approach to creation.