Yoga Vasistha is a historic, influential, and philosophical text of Hinduism. It is known by several names like Maha-Ramayana, Vasistha Ramayana, Yogavasistha Ramayana, etc. Written between 6th CE and 15th CE, its real author is unknown. However, some have credited Maharshi Valmiki with its authorship. Yoga Vasistha has a long version of 29000 verses and a shorter summarized version called Laghu Yogavasisthum which has 6000 verses.
What exactly is real? What is the nature of reality? What is the purpose of any particular life? These are some of the questions that are explored in Yoga Vasistha. They are explained through epic tales and detailed storytelling about kings, sages and people from all walks of life.
The storytelling is similar to that found in the Ramayana and its unifying philosophy is closer to that of Advaita of Sankara. It is placed as a discourse between a prince wanting to know the nature of reality, and an enlightened master seeking to quench this thirst for knowledge.
The text begins with Prince Rama recognizing that the nature of the world is dissatisfactory and finding himself in front of sage Vasistha.
So who was the master and how was the prince liberated?
Who was Vasistha?
Vasistha in Sanskrit means most excellent, best or richest. Sage Vasistha was mind-born and was a creation of Brahma. Another theory states that he was the progeny of Mitra-Varuna and Urvashi. He is one of the oldest and most revered of the ancient Rishi’s aka the seven Vedic sages or SaptaRishis. His philosophy was very influential and he has been considered to be the the first sage of the Vedanta school of philosophy by Adi Shankara.
Sage Vasistha owned the divine cow Kamdhenu who would grant its owner any material wish and her daughter Nandini. This became one of the reasons for his legendary feud with sage Vishwamitra who coveted the divine cow.
The great Rishi was the priest and teacher of the Ikshvaku kings clan. He was also the preceptor of Manu the ancestor of Kshatriyas and Ikshvaku. Along with Lord Rama, his other disciples were King Samvarta, Bhishma, Rantideva and Nahusha.
Yoga Vasistha in Brief
The “Yoga Vasistha” is a profound text that blends philosophical discourse with illustrative stories, guiding seekers towards the path of enlightenment. Through these six chapters, Sage Vasistha provides a comprehensive roadmap for understanding the nature of reality, the mind, and the journey towards ultimate liberation.
Here is a summary of the six chapters of “Yoga Vasistha” along with some of the prominent stories shared in them.
Chapter 1: Vairagya (Dispassion)
The “Yoga Vasistha” begins with the young prince, Lord Rama, mired in disillusionment with the world and a deep sense of dispassion. To address this existential crisis, Sage Vasistha imparts wisdom to Rama, starting with the importance of renunciation and detachment. The sage narrates the story of King Sikhidhvaja and his queen Chudala. The story states how, despite being abundantly endowed with worldly possessions, they attain spiritual liberation once they realise the impermanence of material life and the eternal nature of the self.
Chapter 2: Mumukshuvayah (Longing for Liberation)
This chapter focuses on the intense desire one has for liberation. Vasistha emphasizes the necessity of cultivating a strong yearning for freedom from the cycle of birth and death. He illustrates this through the story of a celestial being named Arjuna, who is cursed to be born as a tribal hunter but eventually attains liberation through sincere penance and devotion. The lesson of the story states that true longing for liberation can overcome any obstacle.
Chapter 3: Utpatti (Creation)
Sage Vasistha explains in depth the nature of creation, revealing how the universe is a projection of the mind. The chapter includes the story of Lila, a queen who wishes to reunite with her deceased husband. Through her journey, she learns that life and death are mere illusions, and everything exists in the mind. Vasistha throws light on the concept of multiple universes and parallel realities, demonstrating the vastness and the illusory nature of creation.
Chapter 4: Sthiti (Existence)
In this chapter, Vasistha explores the nature of existence and the sustenance of the universe through the telling of the story of the demoness Karkati. Initially, Karkati had a desire to devour all beings. To stifle this unholy desire, she undergoes severe penance and is transformed into a compassionate being. This story draws attention to the power of tapas (austerity) and the transformation that can occur through intense spiritual practice. The chapter accentuates that the world is maintained by the consciousness of enlightened beings.
Chapter 5: Upashama (Dissolution)
The theme of detachment or inaction is addressed in this chapter. Vasistha discusses how the dissolution of the mind leads to liberation. He narrates the story of King Janaka, who remains unperturbed by worldly activities, understanding them to be the mere play of consciousness. Janaka’s equanimity amidst external chaos serves as a typical example of the state of upashama, where the mind is undisturbed by external circumstances.
Chapter 6: Nirvana (Liberation)
The final chapter deals with the ultimate goal of spiritual practice: Nirvana or liberation. Vasistha explains the state of a liberated soul, free from all attachments and dualities. He tells the story of Bhusunda, an ancient crow who has witnessed numerous cycles of creation and destruction. Bhusunda’s perpetual wisdom and steadfast peace demonstrate the timeless nature of the liberated state. The chapter concludes with Vasistha imparting the highest knowledge to Rama, leading him to self-realization.
The Concepts or Truths in Yoga Vasistha
Once Lord Rama realizes that existence is futile and the misery that accompanies it, he seeks the answers to this dilemma with Sage Vasistha. This learned and enlightened Rishi engages the Lord in a dialogue that takes him to the pinnacle of truth. Yoga Vasistha is a compilation of this timeless dialogue that is interwoven with deeply insightful stories that throw light upon astonishing truths about this life and put an end to Lord Rama’s sorrow.
1. The Universe is a mirage.
According to Yoga Vasistha, this world is not real, it does not exist, it is a mirage or an illusion.
Surprisingly, modern physics seems to agree with this truth. According to a recent study, there is a complete balance between matter and antimatter in the Universe. They should have cancelled out each other, which means the world should not exist.
So how do living beings function and breathe in this world?
In answer to Lord Rama’s question, “Where does the world go during dissolution?” Rishi Vasistha says, “Water in the mirage does not come into being and go out of existence, even so, this world does not come out of the absolute, nor does it go anywhere. The creation of the world had no cause and therefore it has no beginning. It does not exist even now, so how can it reach destruction?”
Consider this, if you give it a thought, the world in the past does not exist today, and the world today will not exist in the future. The world has a fleeting appearance and is unreal.
2. The world is the creation of the mind:
Yoga Vasistha elaborates on the power of one’s mind to create their world. He says, “The mind alone is the creator of the world, the mind alone is the supreme person. What is done by the mind is action, and what is done by the body is not action. Whatever appears in one’s consciousness, that seems to come into being, gets established and even bears fruit.”
Simply put, Karma is created through thoughts and not actions of the body.
The truth is, you create your life. Your life events like work, relationships, status, etc., have been created in your thoughts maybe as far back as 5 years ago or 5 days ago. Your life and your mind have a direct connection that is sometimes visible and sometimes vague.
You have been creating your life through your thoughts for several lifetimes, and each one impacts the other in different ways.
3. Time is Relative:
Remember Einstein’s theory of relativity? Yoga Vasistha talks about this concept since ancient times. It argues that time is relative to the person observing it. Events occurring at a particular time for one observer may appear as occurring at a different time for another observer.
Sage Vasistha explains this concept to Lord Rama in a beautiful way through a story.
In this story, a queen travels through her previous lifetimes with the help of the Goddess of knowledge, Saraswati.
The Goddess then tells the queen that her husband had died just eight days ago in his previous life. This puzzles the queen. She asks the Goddess as to how this is possible since they had been married for a long time.
Goddess Saraswati replies, “Just as the world and its creation are mere appearances, a moment, and an epoch are also not real. They are imaginary. For a lover, a single night without his beloved seems like an epoch. We, however, dream of birth, death and relationships happening in a very short time. The jiva or soul too, thinks of experienced and non-experienced objects in the twinkling of the eye. So we can say that the truth about time is that it is relative.
4. There is life outside of Earth:
How did the great sage know that extraterrestrial life exists? This is something that puzzles scientists even now!
In Yoga Vasistha, Sage Vasistha tells Lord Rama, “Rama, just as in this universe there are countless beings of different species, in other universes, too, there are various beings with bodies suitable for those universes.”
Rishi Vasistha knew that alien life existed on different celestial bodies. Life forms that were vastly different from life on Earth.
5. The mind is a dead entity:
The mind is referred to by Rishi Vasistha, as an entity that is forever dead. He says, “The mind has no self, no body, no support and no form. Yet, by it, everything in the world is consumed. This is the greatest mystery of life. To say that one can be hurt by the mind which is dumb, blind, and inert is like saying one can be roasted by the light of a full moon.”
Only with the power of the life force within the body can the mind function. Once the body is dead the mind stops functioning. With no form, the mind has no support or existence and is as good as dead.
6. Knowledge of the mind makes you fearless:
Our minds are unable to see the reality of life. All the miseries are a product of our minds. This fear hinders our trust in those we hold dear. Rishi Vasistha says, “One who does not understand the true nature of the mind, is unfit to understand the truth expounded in the scriptures. Such a mind is fearful of everything, the sound of music, the wind in the trees, loud noises, and a sleeping relative. He flees in fear. A deluded mind overpowers an ignorant man.”
7. Nothing happens because of fate:
Rishi Vasistha was against the concept of fatalism. One should not say that anything in life happens because of fate. To quote Sage Vasistha, “Fate has come to be regarded as the truth by merely repeatedly regarding it as true. In this world, except for a corpse, everything else is active. Thus an action results in an appropriate result. If god is the ordainer of everything in this world then what is the meaning of any action?”
He further says, “If someone says that fate is the cause of his action, then he is brainless, and the goddess of fortune abandons him.”
Conclusion:
Lord Rama met Rishi Vasistha when he was in great misery. Together, they have created a treasure that can guide anyone dealing with big questions like why we exist and why we suffer. We all think about these questions sometimes but often avoid them because we worry we’ll never get answers. In Yoga Vasistha, you can find those answers, although they might challenge what you believe and leave you feeling confused, as you realise what you thought was true, isn’t so.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Yoga Vasistha
“Yoga Vasistha is a very big thing. Yoga Vasistha needs to be read again and again, reading it once won’t work. If you read it every two to three years, something altogether different will come up. Read and ponder on it. You will gain new understandings.”
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