Yoga Vasistha is a philosophical text attributed to Valmiki, although the real author is Vasishta. Other names of this text are Maha-Ramayana, Arsha Ramayana, Vasiṣṭha Ramayana, Yogavasistha-Ramayana and Jnana vasistha.
The complete text contains over 29,000 verses. The short version of the text is called Laghu Yogavasistha and contains 6,000 verses. A further condensation of this work was made long ago, by an unknown author, into about 230 couplets, divided into ten chapters, as Yoga Vasishta Sara (Essence of Yoga Vasishta), of which this translation is presented.
This English version of the Yoga Vasishta Sara is based on a translation made by Swami Sureshananda, a devotee of Bhagwan Raman Maharshi.
Yoga Vasistha is presented as a discourse of sage Vasistha to Prince Rama. The teachings are structured as stories and fables, with a philosophical foundation similar to those found in Advaita Vedanta and is particularly associated with drsti-srsti subschool of Advaita which holds that the "whole world of things is the object of mind".
The text is notable for expounding the principles of Maya and Brahman, as well as the principles of non-duality, and its discussion of Yoga.
The text consists of six books.
• Book 1:
titled Vairagya-prakaranam
Exposition of dispassion
which opens with Rama frustrated with the nature of life, human suffering and disdain for the world.
• Book 2:
titled Mumukshuvayahara-prakaranam
Exposition of the behavior of the seeker
which describes, through the character of Rama, the desire for liberation, the nature of those who seek such liberation, and the need for self-effort in all spiritual pursuits.
• Book 3:
titled Utpatti-prakaranam
Exposition of the arising and birth
describes the birth of all creation as well as the birth of spiritual side of Rama.
• Book 4:
titled Sthiti-prakaranam
Exposition of the existence and settling
describes the nature of world and many non-dualism ideas with numerous stories. It emphasizes free will and human creative power.
• Book 5:
titled Upashama-prakaranam
Exposition of the patience and tranquillity
discusses meditation to dissolution of false dualism, to feel oneness and its powers in liberating the individual.
• Book 6:
titled Nirvana-prakaranam
Exposition of the freedom and liberation
the last book describes the state of an enlightened and blissful Rama. The last book also has large sections on Yoga.

Yoga Vasishta Sara
SELECTED VERSES

Yoga Vasishta Sara (Essence of Yoga Vasishta) consists of about 230 couplets, divided into ten chapters, as of which this translation is presented.
Contents
1. Dispassion.
2. Reality of the world.
3.The marks of a liberated person.
4. Dissolution of the mind.
5.The destruction of latent impressions.
6. Meditation on the self.
7. Method of purification.
8. Worship of the self.
9. Exposition of the self.
10. Nirvana.

In this series of five narrations of about 15 min each. We have covered the ten chapters of Yog Vashisth Sara.

свернуть