Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Dear Adi, I agree with all you say about Yoga Vasistha. I have the two volume edition by Swami Venkatesananda. I wanted to know more about the historical background, origins, authorship (if known) of the work itself. best wishes, Peter Message: 9 Wed, 01 Sep 2004 13:28:23 -0000 "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16 Re: Yoga Vasistha Yes ! Peter! You are absolutely right! The Yoga Vasishta is indeed an inspiring work and has influenced great saints like Sri Ramana Maharishi, Swami Vivekananda etc ... who used to quote from this text frequently. In this great scriptural text Yoga Vasishta, complex philosophical truths are explained through simple parables or stories. <Snip> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Peter! i kind of figured out you are familiar with the work of Yoga Vasishta when you commented 'it is an inspiring work.' Well, as for the authorship - i think it is sage Valmiki. (?) as far as the historical background, it is part of the epic Ramayana. and for origins- i narrated the story where how Sri Rama was troubled by the 'dukha of samsara' ( sorrow of the material world) and wanted to inquire into the Nature of Reality and therefore approached Sage Vasishta .... I used my google search but could not find a web site which answeed all your questions in a detailed manner ... the sites describe more about the Text ITSELF.... SORRY! love and regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Namaste Sri Peter: I am afraid that you may not be able to get any more on the historical background than what Adiji has provided you in her replies. I want to bring to your attention, the Vedic saying: "rishi moolam, nadi moolam" (I don't recollect the complete verse and may be Sunderji may be able to complete the verse). Essentially, the above saying reminds us not to judge a rishi (saint/scholar) on the basis of his/her birth origin but judge him/her using the present status. Similarly the origin of the river is less important than its present condition (purity level of the water). We all agree that 'Yoga Vasistha' is a great scholarly work on advaita vedanta in a conversation style - (dialog between Sage Vasistha and Divine Rama the hero of Ramayana). The Vedic system uses the 'oral tradition' to preserve scholarly works for over 5000 years or more (no definite date can be determined). The written work of Yoga Vasistha can vary between 5th century AD upt to 9-11th century AD and the acceptance of the date depends on whom we believe the most! Everyone seemms to accept that Yoga Vasistha is a part of Ramayana (just like Bhagavad Gita being a part of Mahabharatha. Consequently we could say that the original words of this text have been spoken by the great sage Valmiki. As you may know (Swami Venkatesananda book does mentions) that Valmiki who wrote the Ramayana is likely the author of this work. It is just like accepting that Vyasa who wrote the Mahabharata is the author of Bhagavad Gita. Sri Benjamin (a member of this list and my friend) has spent quite a bit of time looking into the historical side of this work and he may be able provide some insights into your question. Sri Benjamin points out that a critical reading of the philosophy of Yoga Vasistha brings out the similarities between advaita and Buddhist thought. He even stretches couple more steps and finds support for "idealism" from Yoga Vasitha. (I suggest you to use the Google search at the site: http://www.escribe.com/culture/advaitin using the word "Yoga Vasitha) and you will get 100 or more postings on this subject). It is quite remarkable that the two great philsophical works - Yoga Vasitha and Bhagavad Gita have been implanted in the middle of two great epics Ramayana (by Sage Valmiki) and Mahabharat (by sage Vyasa) respectively. Any of us who want to understand these philsophies inevitably need to study (not just read) the personalities of the characters, their actions and the circumstances behind those actions in Ramayana and Mahabharat. These dialogs happened between the 'Divine' and "the seeker of the Divine." In Yoga Vasistha, the seeker of the Divine (sage Vasistha) explains the philosophy to the Divine (Sri Ram) for confirmation. In the Bhagavad Gita, the Divine (Sri Krishna) explains the philsophy to the seeker of the Divine (Sri Arjuna). It seems that during the Ramayana time there were more divinity and less evil and consequently the Divine Sri Ram wanted to listen to the seeker (sage Vasistha). During the Mahabharat time, there were evil and less divinity and consequently the Divine Sri Krishna wanted to teach the seeker (Sri Arjuna) on the Divine virtues. This may explain why the Divine Sri Ram was in the frontstage of Ramayana and the Divine Sri Krishna was in the backstage! Warmest regards, Ram Chandran advaitin, "Peter M" <nous07.theos@b...> wrote: > Dear Adi, > > > I agree with all you say about Yoga Vasistha. I have the two volume edition > by Swami Venkatesananda. I wanted to know more about the historical > background, origins, authorship (if known) of the work itself. > > best wishes, > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Thank you sri Ram-ji! If i recall correctly, the verse goes like this ... " Rishi Moolam Nadi Moolam Parkka Kudathu" - we should not trace the orgins of a River or a Rishi or something to that effect .... Very good post! Sri RAM-JI! I specially liked these points ... ( These dialogs happened between the 'Divine' and "the seeker of the Divine." In Yoga Vasistha, the seeker of the Divine (sage Vasistha) explains the philosophy to the Divine (Sri Ram) for confirmation. In the Bhagavad Gita, the Divine (Sri Krishna) explains the philsophy to the seeker of the Divine (Sri Arjuna). It seems that during the Ramayana time there were more divinity and less evil and consequently the Divine Sri Ram wanted to listen to the seeker (sage Vasistha). During the Mahabharat time, there were evil and less divinity and consequently the Divine Sri Krishna wanted to teach the seeker (Sri Arjuna) on the Divine virtues. This may explain why the Divine Sri Ram was in the frontstage of Ramayana and the Divine Sri Krishna was in the backstage!) Yes, In RAma Rajya, it was 'SATYA YUGA' everything was centred around 'dharma' and 'truth' may i also add Here's what the book (yoga vasishta) has to say about itself: In this scriputre there is nothing new; but the truth has been presented in a pleasant fashion with a number of stories. It is the truth that is proclaimed in this scripture that is important; not the one who has declared the truth or composed the scripture. ) By a mere study of this scripture ... ignorance is dispelled. The beauty of this scripture is that its student is not abandoned to his despair; if something is not clear in the first instance, a further study of the scripture makes it clear. This scripture dispels delusion and enables you to realise that the ordinary life itself is the supreme state. Therefore, one should study at least a small part of the scripture daily. If, however, one thinks it is not authoritative because it is of human origin, one can resort to the study of any other scripture dealing with self-knowledge and final liberation. But one should not waste one's lifetime. http://www.digiserve.com/mystic/Hindu/Vasishtha - 7k - Cached Btw, where is Ben-ji!! He used to provide the 'comic' relief in this group - when the discussions became too stuffy or heavy, he used to always see the 'humor' in that situation and made us Lighten up ! Cool GUY, OUR BEN-JI!! hey, ben-ji , i am sure you will have to lot to contribute to GREg-ji's monthly topic- after all, you are the most vedantic bUddhist i have ever known!!! Silence, btw, does not mean absence of Speech!! It only means 'stilling the MInd', ben-ji! You can come out of your shell, now!!! ! smiles!! love and regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <RamChandran@a...> wrote: > Namaste Sri Peter: > > Everyone seemms to accept that > Yoga Vasistha is a part of Ramayana (just like Bhagavad Gita being a > part of Mahabharatha. Consequently we could say that the original > words of this text have been spoken by the great sage Valmiki. > > As you may know (Swami Venkatesananda book does mentions) that > Valmiki who wrote the Ramayana is likely the author of this work. It > is just like accepting that Vyasa who wrote the Mahabharata is the > author of Bhagavad Gita. > Namaste According to Sanskrit Hindu tradition, the original Valmiki Ramayana was perhaps much much longer than the present one that goes by the name of Valmiki Ramayana. The words 'shata-koTi-pravistaraM' are folklore. This 100-crore-shloka Ramayana is the source of all things about Rama and the Ramayana. Yoga-VasishhTa must have been part of it. The various stories about Rama that are current in the different parts of India, but which differ in certain details from Valmiki Ramayana, are also said to owe their origin to the shata-koTi Ramayana. It is very difficult to comment on these traditional opinions, in any historical research sense. ..... VK >Vasishhtha and Bhagavad Gita have been implanted in the middle of two > great epics Ramayana (by Sage Valmiki) and Mahabharat (by sage Vyasa) > respectively. Any of us who want to understand these philsophies > inevitably need to study (not just read) the personalities of the > characters, their actions and the circumstances behind those actions > in Ramayana and Mahabharat. > > These dialogs happened between the 'Divine' and "the seeker of the > Divine." In Yoga Vasistha, the seeker of the Divine (sage Vasistha) > explains the philosophy to the Divine (Sri Ram) for confirmation. In > the Bhagavad Gita, the Divine (Sri Krishna) explains the philsophy to > the seeker of the Divine (Sri Arjuna). It seems that during the > Ramayana time there were more divinity and less evil and consequently > the Divine Sri Ram wanted to listen to the seeker (sage Vasistha). > During the Mahabharat time, there were evil and less divinity and > consequently the Divine Sri Krishna wanted to teach the seeker (Sri > Arjuna) on the Divine virtues. This may explain why the Divine Sri > Ram was in the frontstage of Ramayana and the Divine Sri Krishna was > in the backstage! In view of the above remarks by Ram Chandranji, allow me to make the following observation: Arjuna's flag on the battlefield of Mahabharata carried the figure of Hanuman of the Ramayana. Saint Thiagaraja, one of the famous Trinity of Carnatic music of the early nineteenth century sings in one of his songs ("Geethaarthamu") that Hanuman knows all the contents of the Gita well enough to be able to check whether Krishna is doing it right!. Hanuman knows it because, he has personally seen his Ram move about in the world like a 'sthita-prajna' and 'brahma- vit' -- descriptions of which abound in the Gita. So with a poetic flourish Thiagaraja says that Hanuman is sitting on the flag of Arjuna's chariot, in order to test the authenticity of the words of the Gita, on the touchstone of Rama's ideal behaviour as an "Aadarsha purushha"! Secondly, why was Rama able to behave like a sthita-prajna? Certainly because, he was taught advaita in his earlier days by Vasishta . And that is what YogaVasishta is about! And that incidentally, answers Greg-ji's sub topic: "What in practice is it to practise advaita?". Lord Shri Rama is the standing example. Listen to what Krishna said; Have Rama as your role model!!! PraNAms to all advaitins profvk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Nameste Ramchandran-Ji & Adi-Ji: advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16> wrote: > Thank you sri Ram-ji! > > If i recall correctly, the verse goes like this ... > > " Rishi Moolam Nadi Moolam Parkka Kudathu" - we should not trace the > orgins of a River or a Rishi or something to that effect .... > If this was to be "really true" then we will need to determine the "real purpose and the significance" of why "gangotri and jamanotri" are important tiirthakshetra? Which are considered to be the origin of Ganges and Yamunaa rivers !!. Any thoughts? Regards, Yadunath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Namaste Yaduji: Your point is well taken and the original saying does not prevent anyone to trace the origin of the river. The message is very subtle and conditional. If the river (rishi) is pure there is no need to trace the origin. Really speaking, the origin for the river water is rain always rain and most of the time the rains that fell on the top of a mountain become a river. The 'rishi moolam' specifically emphasizes the fact that the greatness of a rishi depends only on his/her scholarship and he/she is accepted in the Vedic tradition irrespective of his/her birth origin. Sage Valmiki (a hunter and highway robber) became a Brahmarishi and also wrote Ramayana. The present dirty condition of Ganges in Banaras will force all of us to trace back its origin. The beauty of Ganges is that as you go higher and higher on Himalays, it becomes purer and purer and it is purest at Gankothri. Our Vedic tradition emphasizes the importance of purity for spiritual growth - purity of heart, body, mind and soul. Interestingly the spiritual growth and mind purity also reaches the peak at the top of the Himalays. This may explain why Lord Siva sits on the top of Mount Kailas meditating in total peace and tranquility! regards, Ram Chandran advaitin, "ymoharir" <ymoharir> wrote: > Nameste Ramchandran-Ji & Adi-Ji: > > > advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16> > wrote: > > Thank you sri Ram-ji! > > > > If i recall correctly, the verse goes like this ... > > > > " Rishi Moolam Nadi Moolam Parkka Kudathu" - we should not trace > the > > orgins of a River or a Rishi or something to that effect .... > > > > If this was to be "really true" then we will need to determine > the "real purpose and the significance" of why "gangotri and > jamanotri" are important tiirthakshetra? Which are considered to be > the origin of Ganges and Yamunaa rivers !!. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2004 Report Share Posted September 3, 2004 Namaste yaduji: Let me add the following observations to complete my thoughts on "Rishi Mooam and Nadi Moolam..." for further clarifications: In the Vedic tradition, those who achieved the higher peaks of spiritual maturity and scholarship, get the title recognition Rishi. Consequently when the person becomes a Rishi, his/origin is immaterial. In the case of Nadi (river) the origin is always recognized as pure and holy. This may explain why Gangotri, Jamanotri, TalaiKaveri are considered sacred. With this understand, we should interpret the statement "rishi moolam, nadi moolam" by the following: The purity of a Rishi is determined by the present where as the sacredness of a river is determined by its origin! Warmest regards, Ram Chandran Note: Actually I was looking for the original Sanskrit verse that starts with "rishi moolam, nadi moolam...." The Tamil version stated by Adiji has the potential for misunderstanding (as observed by yaduji). This Tamil interpretation came as a supporting evdience for the eradication the Caste System in Tamil Naud. I want to thank Yaduji was raising the question and force me think for better insights for the Sanskrit verse. advaitin, "ymoharir" <ymoharir> wrote: > If this was to be "really true" then we will need to determine > the "real purpose and the significance" of why "gangotri and > jamanotri" are important tiirthakshetra? Which are considered to be > the origin of Ganges and Yamunaa rivers !!. > > Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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