Guest guest Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 Yoga Vasistha Saara Sangahah praNAms Advaitins, There was a discussion recently on Yoga Vasistha (YV). Swami Tejomayanadaji's " Yoga Vasistha Sara Sangahah " (YVSS) is a collection of 86 verses from YV, with many references to prasthana traya. Because of these references, in particular to the many references to Bhagavad Gita, I could quickly relate to the verses. It is a beautiful book. On the question of how the a collection of 86 verses can be considered a sara-sangrahah, Swami Tejomayanadaji writes in the preface very clearly: YVSS> One of the purposes of this glimpse into Yoga Vasistha YVSS> is to create an interest for the study of the original text. ... YVSS> One may wonder how 32,000 verses can be abridged into 86 verses. YVSS> Does this mean that the rest of the verses are unimportant? That YVSS> is not so. It is the style of the text that makes this editing YVSS> possible. The YV is written in a puraanic story-telling style YVSS> -- it gives elaborate descriptions of nature, the meeting of students YVSS> with the teachers. ... We may edit these out for one wanting to know YVSS> only the Truth. Further, YV elaborates upon two ways of knowing the YVSS> Truth, Raja Yoga and Jyana Yoga. For anyone interested in following YVSS> either of the paths, we could edit the description of the other out. Here is another excerpt from the Preface: In the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna requests the Lord (Sri Krishna) to clear his own confusions. Here it is the Lord (as Sri Rama) apparently confused who seeks answers from Sage Vasistha. The Lord asks questions and hence, the questions are deep and meaninful. Innumerable questions regarding the individual, the world, its relationship, purpose, the Truth, etc. are asked. Here is the index of chapters (with number of verses in each). 1. Spiritual Yearning of Sri Rama (10). 2. Preparatory teachings of Sage Vasistha (8). 3. Knowledged of the Self (14). 4. Characteristics of Realized Souls Liberated while Living (8). 5. Stages of Spiritual Knowledge (10). 6. Fate of the Ignorant ones and Seekers and Obstacles in the Path (15). 7. Conclusion (21). Here are a couple of verses their meanings and commentary. (Elders, please excuse my transliteration.) moksha-dvare dvaarapaalas-catvaarah parikirtitah samo vicharah satoshas caturthah saadhu-samgrahah At the gateway to liberation, it is declared, there are four gatekeepers. They are quietude of mind, inquiry, contentment and the fourth, association with wise people. (From Chapter 4) yo jaagarthi sushuptistho yasya jaagranna vidyate yasya nirvaasano bodhah sa jiivanmukta uchyate He who is awake while in deep sleep, for whom there is no waking, whose knowledge is free from vaasanas, is said to be liberated while living. raagadvesha bhayaadiinam anuruupam carannapi yo-antar-vyomavad-atyacchah sa jiivanmukta uchyate Though behaving in a manner resembling the presence of likes, dislikes fear etc., he who is extremely pure within like space, is said to be liberated while living. yasya naahamkrito bhaavo yasya buddhir-na lipyate kurvanto kurvanto vaapi sa jiivan mukta uccyate He who, whether engaged in action or not, has no sense of doership, and whose intellect is not tainted, is said to be liberated while living. yasmaannodvijate loko lokaanodvijate ca yah harshaamarsha-bhayaan-muktah sa jiivanmukta uccyate He whom the world does not fear, who is not afraid of the world, and who is not afraid of the world, and who is free of elation, intolerance and fear, is said to be liberated while living. (From Chapter 7) avidyaya jagajjatam naasti satyam ihaaNvapi naasti bhinnam chitthah kinchit swapna-vrittm-idam jagat The world has risen from ignorance. There is not even an iota of truth in it. There exists nothing different from consciousness. This world is like a dream. praNAms to all Advatins. Ramakrishna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 14, 2008 Report Share Posted February 14, 2008 advaitin , " Ramakrishna Upadrasta " <uramakrishna wrote: > > Yoga Vasistha Saara Sangahah ........ There was a discussion recently on Yoga Vasistha (YV). Swami > Tejomayanadaji's " Yoga Vasistha Sara Sangahah " (YVSS) is a collection of 86 verses from YV, with many references to prasthana traya........ Respects to all. In this connection, for the general Info, I am giving below an extract from a mail attachment received by me from I_SERVE, Hyderabad, India. Trust the information will be found useful. best of regards, ramesam ATTACHEMNT: I-SERVE is an institute working on Vedic sciences. Our website is www.serveveda.org. As a part of our research activity, I-SERVE publishes books on Advaita Vedanta. A few of our Vedantic publications are: I. Musings on YOGAVAASISHTA (original by Sage Valmiki) Commentary in Telugu by Sri K.V.Krishna Murthy, Chairman & Managing Trustee , I-SERVE. 1. Part I Vairagya and Mumukshu Prakarana Telugu : Published in 2002 and in English in 2003 (English Translation by Dr.P.G. Krishna Murthy) 2. Part II Utpatti Prakarana Telugu Published in 2004 and in English in 2005 (English Translation by Dr.G. Haragopal) 3. Part III Sthithi Prakarana Telugu Published in 2006 Part III Sustenance (English)Published in 2006 (English Translation by Dr. Vemuri Ramesam) 4. Part IV Upasama Prakarana Telugu:Published in 2007 Part IV The Calm Down (English) : to be published shortly (English Translation by Dr. Vemuri Ramesam) About the book: Yogavaasishta gives logical deductions and practical observations for a better understanding of the nature of Supreme Self. The subject is presented as a discussion between Sage Vasishta and Sri Rama when the latter was caught up in a vortex of doubts regarding the ultimate nature of Supreme Self. Sage Vasishta homogenizes apparently divergent references in Upanishads in to a coherent narration. It is a poetic classic by the sage poet Valmiki, allegorically explaining the Absolute in a unique, graceful and lucid way. II. YOGATAARAAVALI These are the stairs compassionately put together by Ever-venerable Shri Adi Sankara in order to lead the humanity in the current era (Kali yuga) from mundane tedium of daily grind to mystic unity with the Supreme, by assembling various Yogic methods at one place and presenting them in a straight and simplified manner. Telugu Commentary by Sri Kuppa Venkata Krishna Murthy (English Translation by Dr. Vemuri Ramesam) Telugu version published in 2006 and English version in 2007 About the book: The pages in this book-let are an echo of the words of Revered Teacher and Saint Shri Janardanananda Saraswati who articulated as a benevolent teaching his experience of an ecstatic state of blissful enjoyment obtained from a study of the verses of Yogataaraavali. I-SERVE,(Institute of Scientific Research on Vedas),11- 13-279, Road No. 8, Alakapuri,Hyderabad – 500035, India (E- mail:vedakavi). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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