Guest guest Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Dear Friends, I find the work Yogavasishta replete with highest advaitic wisdom. This is reported to have been authored by the great sage Valmiki. This is, surely, a mythological account. It must have been written by a very great sage who wanted to be totally anonymous eclipsing himself in the profound wisdom in which there is no scope for any importance for any individuals. Professor Dasgupta, if I am correct, dates the period of this work to the times of Gaudapada. Professor B.L.Atreya, who has done extensive research work on this treatise and brought out its philosophy, dates this work prior to the times of Adi Sankara. Whereas there are references to this work in the treatises Pancadasi and Jeevanmukti Viveka by Vidyaranya, there is no mention of this work by Adi Sankara. Is this attributable to the fact that the author of Yogavasishta belonged to a period subsequent to Sankara, or that it was considered by Sankara that this work was not in conformity with the spirit of the Prasthanthathrya? Anyhow, this contains liberating knowledge of the highest kind. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is reported to have advised householders not to read this work. What could have been the factor weighing with Paramahamsa in not having encouraged this work, but having specifically debarred this from the spiritual literature. Bhaghavan Ramana highly approved of this work, having extensively quoted from this work. with warm regards Sankarraman Shopping Find Great Deals on Holiday Gifts at Shopping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Respected Sankarramanji, Hari Om. Namaskaram. Here is my perspective on why Pujya Ramakrishna Paramhansji might have said what he said about this book. Yogavasishta is full of simple stories that vividly portray how unreal this world of objects is, how empty our attachments to our kiths-kins are and how 'futile and wasted' all our endevours for material gains 'here and hereafter' are. When one studies Vedanta one may do some reflection to grasp the truths therein or one may just read and forget without ever applying anything to oneself if one chooses to do so. This kind of choice is not available with this book. Just like if we watch some very violent movie all the violent scences come to our mind unasked, just like if we have to undergo horrible experience in life then we just swallow hard facts whether we like it or not, it is like that with this book. The message of the book just straight goes to our head and makes a huge impact there without any deliberate effort on our part due to its simple story format and I don't think it will be a pleasant experience for an unprepared mind. If we observe our transactions as a householder, they are all based on 'Jagati Satyatwa buddhi'(assumption that world is real). This book just pulls the carpet from underneath our feet. Just like even though some movies are classics but still they are marked as Rated PG-13, R or for mature adudience only, like that this book should be studied at appropriate time and stage in life in my opinion. Love and Respect Padma advaitin, Ganesan Sankarraman <shnkaran> wrote: Anyhow, this contains liberating knowledge of the highest kind. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is reported to have advised householders not to read this work. What could have been the factor weighing with Paramahamsa in not having encouraged this work, but having specifically debarred this from the spiritual literature. Bhaghavan Ramana highly approved of this work, having extensively quoted from this work. > with warm regards > Sankarraman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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