Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta

Craz said:
Interesting.

I have just started my second reading of Valmiki's Ramayana. The most cosmic book I have ever read.
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Never read that full version - are you using HP Shastri's translation? Tulsidas has a version too - I think.

Another shorter, more spiritual one is the Adhyatma Ramayana.
 
Skull said:
Never read that full version - are you using HP Shastri's translation? Tulsidas has a version too - I think.

Another shorter, more spiritual one is the Adhyatma Ramayana.
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There have been many versions/languages written over time with some variation in the plot. Tulsidas's version is the most well-known where I am (England,UK).

"Never read that full version - are you using HP Shastri's translation?"
Yes. I first read it when I was about 27 and am now revisiting almost 40 years later.
 
I have read only the Tulsidas Ramayana. It is beautiful. One third of India goes by it. It made me much wiser, but I think, you need to know the language. Yes, there are local versions everywhere, may be different, but all respectable. It is one of our two most important stories.
 
The full text has much to teach about God, liberation, karma, self-reliance, virtue & vice etc:

II 7 O Rama, one should, with a body free from illness and mind free from distress, pursue self-knowledge
so that he is not born again here. One who tries with his best self-effort to destroy the ideas
of God and providence, fulfills his aspirations both here and hereafter. Those who rely on fortune or
God and ignore effort are self-destroyers. Self-effort is rooted in an inner vibration that awakens an
urge for realization in one's consciousness, then a decision in the mind, and then physical action. The
process of self-exertion embraces every part of the individual — spirit, intellect, mind, senses and body.

Self-effort consists of these three — knowledge of the scriptures, learning from one's Guru and your
own holy striving. Providence or God's dispensation does not enter here. Hence, he who desires
salvation should divert impure mind to pure endeavor by persistent effort — this is the very essence of
all scriptures. The Holy ones emphasize persistently treading the path that leads to the eternal good.
And the wise seeker knows that the fruit of my endeavors will be commensurate with the intensity of
my self-effort and neither fate nor any God can ordain it otherwise. Indeed, such self-effort alone is
responsible for whatever man gets. Only to console blockheads at the time of sorrows or difficulties is
the word God used. No one has seen such a God, but everyone has experienced how an action (good or
evil) leads to a result (good or evil). Hence, from one's childhood, one should endeavour to promote
one's true good by a penetrating study of the scriptures; keeping company with the Holy ones and by
right self-effort.
 
Nicholas Weeks said:
The full text has much to teach about God, liberation, karma, self-reliance, virtue & vice etc:
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@Nicholas Weeks
Gosh! It's been 10 years since I posted in this thread and I still haven't finished my second reading.
Some comments/reflections


Nicholas Weeks said:
II 7 O Rama, one should, with a body free from illness and mind free from distress, pursue self-knowledge
so that he is not born again here.
Click to expand...


Much of the last decade, I have been in much discomfort (both physically and mentally) and these things have definitely hindered my core-love of pursuing self knowledge. I have been slow to come to terms with these hindrances, but as I do, it becomes easier to return to the quest for more knowledge.
The last part of the sentence(in red) to me means not to return to the slovenly states of consciousness I have been immersed in. (I have no belief in reincarnation)

Nicholas Weeks said:
One who tries with his best self-effort to destroy the ideas
of God and providence, fulfills his aspirations both here and hereafter.
Click to expand...
I understand this to mean that one should never be complacent in one's concepts of truth/gods/God. I think it is always a good idea to self-challenge.


Nicholas Weeks said:
Those who rely on fortune or
God and ignore effort are self-destroyers. Self-effort is rooted in an inner vibration that awakens an
urge for realization in one's consciousness, then a decision in the mind, and then physical action. The
process of self-exertion embraces every part of the individual — spirit, intellect, mind, senses and body.
Click to expand...
Beautifully put.

Nicholas Weeks said:
Self-effort consists of these three — knowledge of the scriptures, learning from one's Guru and your
own holy striving. Providence or God's dispensation does not enter here. Hence, he who desires
salvation should divert impure mind to pure endeavor by persistent effort — this is the very essence of
all scriptures. The Holy ones emphasize persistently treading the path that leads to the eternal good.
And the wise seeker knows that the fruit of my endeavors will be commensurate with the intensity of
my self-effort and neither fate nor any God can ordain it otherwise. Indeed, such self-effort alone is
responsible for whatever man gets. Only to console blockheads at the time of sorrows or difficulties is
the word God used. No one has seen such a God, but everyone has experienced how an action (good or
evil) leads to a result (good or evil).
Hence, from one's childhood, one should endeavour to promote
one's true good by a penetrating study of the scriptures; keeping company with the Holy ones and by
right self-effort.
Click to expand...

I left the Guru I had and then the whole of existence became my Guru and I see that everybody's story is a scripture in itself.
The last sentence(in red) is about keeping in good company.
 
Here in two volumes is a good translation of the unabridged text:

https://shop.yrf.org/yoga/books/yoga-vasistha/

Adorations to the Self of all, who is in the heavens, in the sky, in the earth, within and without, and by whose light all these shine.

The Qualified Student

Valmiki said: He who feels that he is imprisoned in the world, and that he must attain release; he whose aspiration is intense; he who is neither too ignorant, nor fully enlightened — such a person is qualified for listening to the expositions of Yoga Vasistha.

The aspirant who has studied the Purva Ramayana with devotion as the first step, must meditate upon the means of liberation as they are being expounded in Yoga Vasistha. Such an aspirant will be released from the cycle of birth and death
 
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Valmiki
Nicholas Weeks said:
Here in two volumes is a good translation of the unabridged text:

https://shop.yrf.org/yoga/books/yoga-vasistha/

Adorations to the Self of all, who is in the heavens, in the sky, in the earth, within and without, and by whose light all these shine.

The Qualified Student
Click to expand...

Nicholas Weeks said:
Valmiki said: He who feels that he is imprisoned in the world, and that he must attain release; he whose aspiration is intense; he who is neither too ignorant, nor fully enlightened — such a person is qualified for listening to the expositions of Yoga Vasistha.

The aspirant who has studied the Purva Ramayana with devotion as the first step, must meditate upon the means of liberation as they are being expounded in Yoga Vasistha. Such an aspirant will be released from the cycle of birth and death
Click to expand...

On my first reading all those years ago I was a Qualified Student in that I believed in the concepts of devotion to the living Guru, liberation and reincarnation etc. The reading of the book was an exceptional experience at the time.

These days I probably would not be a qualified student, since I don't hold many of the concepts mentioned. However, when I read the excerpt above (post #6), I can see the book still has great value to me, particularly for reflection.
 
This extensive collection of verses from YV by Atreya is another good source:

https://ia803100.us.archive.org/1/items/Acc.No.11273TheVisionAndTheWayOfVasistha2005/Acc.No.11273-The Vision and the way of Vasistha-2005_text.pdf

From the Introduction:

"It is the Bible of those who seek for Peace and Liberation, as the Ramayana of Tulsi Das and the Bhagavata are for the devotees and the Bhagavadgita for men of action. Thousands of men and women from the lowest to the highest grade of culture find solace in the study of this wonderful work, which contains many stories in which even children may find pleasure, and philosophical speculations which the brightest intellect may find difficult to comprehend. In grandeur it may be compared to the great Himalayas which, being situated on the earth, are within the reach of all, yet whose lofty peaks baffle the attempts of even the most earnest expedition. Men of all tastes, literary, religious or philosophical, find interest in it. It is really one of the wonders that the mind of India has produced in its literature, and surely the best companion for one who is anxious to realise Cosmic Consciousness and to live on the heights of spiritual Peace, where the best and the noblest men of India have always aspired to stay. All who have had the fortune of studying Yogavasistha share this view, and others who will study it earnestly will not differ much."
 
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II 4 O Rama, listen to what I [Vasistha] am about to say, which instruction is sure to remove the darkness of ignorance. A well-sustained self-effort leads to success in every field of life. Wherever one encounters failure, it is due to lack of self-effort.

Liberation produces selflessness; we lose our selfishness when we come to know the unity of the soul. By effort one can attain knowledge which leads to salvation. This is obvious; but what is called (daivam) God, destiny or fate is fictitious and is not seen. The dull and the ignorant created destiny, which is none other than self-effort of a past incarnation affecting one.

Self-effort, Rama, is that mental, verbal and physical action which is in accordance with the instructions of a holy person well versed in the scriptures. This will reveal the moon of spiritual bliss beyond the dark clouds of mental impurities. Such effort, continuous and constant, gives good results, all the rest is sheer madness. The goal of self-effort is Self-realization.

It is only by such effort that Indra became king of heaven, that Brahmā became the creator, and Vishnu and Shiva earned their place. When right self-effort is sustained, one rises to that lofty state wherein ruling the vast earth is known as insignificant compared to the glory of Self-realization.
 
Rama speaking:—
1 Our minds are infested with evil passions and faults, and fluctuate in their observance of duty and service to superiors, like the plumes of a peacock fluttering in a breeze. 2 Minds eagerly and restlessly rove about at random from one place to another, like a poor village dog running far and wide in search of food. 3 It seldom finds anything anywhere, and happening even to get a good store somewhere, it is as little content with it as a wicker vessel filled with water.
4 The vacant mind, O sage, is ever entrapped in its evil desires. It is never at rest with itself, but roams at large like a stray deer separated from its herd. 5 The human mind, as light as the minutest particle, is like an unsteady wave. Therefore it can have no rest in spite of its nature. 6 Disturbed by its thoughts, the mind is tossed in all directions, like the waters of the milk-white ocean when churned by Mandara Mountain. 7 I can not curb my mind, resembling the vast ocean in its course, subject to huge surges of passions, with whirlpools of error, and beset by the whales of delusion.

Yoga Vasistha chapter 16
 
This is good information, thanks

There is a recent thread elsewhere on the forum On Fallen Angels where the topic of yoga is discussed (for part of the thread). The topic comes up when Post 18 has a link to a Wikipedia entry of an exorcist - in the article it appears this gentleman has a very negative assessment of yoga. (under the section "views on yoga") I saw that, pointed it out on the thread, and more discussion ensued. I don't know if any of us on that thread really understood anything about yoga and in fact I think yoga was misunderstood significantly and cast negatively and unfairly. Perhaps you could lend your knowledge to that thread?
 
TheLightWithin said:
This is good information, thanks

There is a recent thread elsewhere on the forum On Fallen Angels where the topic of yoga is discussed (for part of the thread). The topic comes up when Post 18 has a link to a Wikipedia entry of an exorcist - in the article it appears this gentleman has a very negative assessment of yoga. (under the section "views on yoga") I saw that, pointed it out on the thread, and more discussion ensued. I don't know if any of us on that thread really understood anything about yoga and in fact I think yoga was misunderstood significantly and cast negatively and unfairly. Perhaps you could lend your knowledge to that thread?
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No Sage am I, but go to Yoga Sutras thread. Patanjali's old text is the traditional starting point.
 
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