Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta

Craz said:
Interesting.

I have just started my second reading of Valmiki's Ramayana. The most cosmic book I have ever read.
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Never read that full version - are you using HP Shastri's translation? Tulsidas has a version too - I think.

Another shorter, more spiritual one is the Adhyatma Ramayana.
 
Skull said:
Never read that full version - are you using HP Shastri's translation? Tulsidas has a version too - I think.

Another shorter, more spiritual one is the Adhyatma Ramayana.
Click to expand...


There have been many versions/languages written over time with some variation in the plot. Tulsidas's version is the most well-known where I am (England,UK).

"Never read that full version - are you using HP Shastri's translation?"
Yes. I first read it when I was about 27 and am now revisiting almost 40 years later.
 
I have read only the Tulsidas Ramayana. It is beautiful. One third of India goes by it. It made me much wiser, but I think, you need to know the language. Yes, there are local versions everywhere, may be different, but all respectable. It is one of our two most important stories.
 
The full text has much to teach about God, liberation, karma, self-reliance, virtue & vice etc:

II 7 O Rama, one should, with a body free from illness and mind free from distress, pursue self-knowledge
so that he is not born again here. One who tries with his best self-effort to destroy the ideas
of God and providence, fulfills his aspirations both here and hereafter. Those who rely on fortune or
God and ignore effort are self-destroyers. Self-effort is rooted in an inner vibration that awakens an
urge for realization in one's consciousness, then a decision in the mind, and then physical action. The
process of self-exertion embraces every part of the individual — spirit, intellect, mind, senses and body.

Self-effort consists of these three — knowledge of the scriptures, learning from one's Guru and your
own holy striving. Providence or God's dispensation does not enter here. Hence, he who desires
salvation should divert impure mind to pure endeavor by persistent effort — this is the very essence of
all scriptures. The Holy ones emphasize persistently treading the path that leads to the eternal good.
And the wise seeker knows that the fruit of my endeavors will be commensurate with the intensity of
my self-effort and neither fate nor any God can ordain it otherwise. Indeed, such self-effort alone is
responsible for whatever man gets. Only to console blockheads at the time of sorrows or difficulties is
the word God used. No one has seen such a God, but everyone has experienced how an action (good or
evil) leads to a result (good or evil). Hence, from one's childhood, one should endeavour to promote
one's true good by a penetrating study of the scriptures; keeping company with the Holy ones and by
right self-effort.
 
Nicholas Weeks said:
The full text has much to teach about God, liberation, karma, self-reliance, virtue & vice etc:
Click to expand...
@Nicholas Weeks
Gosh! It's been 10 years since I posted in this thread and I still haven't finished my second reading.
Some comments/reflections


Nicholas Weeks said:
II 7 O Rama, one should, with a body free from illness and mind free from distress, pursue self-knowledge
so that he is not born again here.
Click to expand...


Much of the last decade, I have been in much discomfort (both physically and mentally) and these things have definitely hindered my core-love of pursuing self knowledge. I have been slow to come to terms with these hindrances, but as I do, it becomes easier to return to the quest for more knowledge.
The last part of the sentence(in red) to me means not to return to the slovenly states of consciousness I have been immersed in. (I have no belief in reincarnation)

Nicholas Weeks said:
One who tries with his best self-effort to destroy the ideas
of God and providence, fulfills his aspirations both here and hereafter.
Click to expand...
I understand this to mean that one should never be complacent in one's concepts of truth/gods/God. I think it is always a good idea to self-challenge.


Nicholas Weeks said:
Those who rely on fortune or
God and ignore effort are self-destroyers. Self-effort is rooted in an inner vibration that awakens an
urge for realization in one's consciousness, then a decision in the mind, and then physical action. The
process of self-exertion embraces every part of the individual — spirit, intellect, mind, senses and body.
Click to expand...
Beautifully put.

Nicholas Weeks said:
Self-effort consists of these three — knowledge of the scriptures, learning from one's Guru and your
own holy striving. Providence or God's dispensation does not enter here. Hence, he who desires
salvation should divert impure mind to pure endeavor by persistent effort — this is the very essence of
all scriptures. The Holy ones emphasize persistently treading the path that leads to the eternal good.
And the wise seeker knows that the fruit of my endeavors will be commensurate with the intensity of
my self-effort and neither fate nor any God can ordain it otherwise. Indeed, such self-effort alone is
responsible for whatever man gets. Only to console blockheads at the time of sorrows or difficulties is
the word God used. No one has seen such a God, but everyone has experienced how an action (good or
evil) leads to a result (good or evil).
Hence, from one's childhood, one should endeavour to promote
one's true good by a penetrating study of the scriptures; keeping company with the Holy ones and by
right self-effort.
Click to expand...

I left the Guru I had and then the whole of existence became my Guru and I see that everybody's story is a scripture in itself.
The last sentence(in red) is about keeping in good company.
 
Here in two volumes is a good translation of the unabridged text:

https://shop.yrf.org/yoga/books/yoga-vasistha/

Adorations to the Self of all, who is in the heavens, in the sky, in the earth, within and without, and by whose light all these shine.

The Qualified Student

Valmiki said: He who feels that he is imprisoned in the world, and that he must attain release; he whose aspiration is intense; he who is neither too ignorant, nor fully enlightened — such a person is qualified for listening to the expositions of Yoga Vasistha.

The aspirant who has studied the Purva Ramayana with devotion as the first step, must meditate upon the means of liberation as they are being expounded in Yoga Vasistha. Such an aspirant will be released from the cycle of birth and death
 
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Valmiki
Nicholas Weeks said:
Here in two volumes is a good translation of the unabridged text:

https://shop.yrf.org/yoga/books/yoga-vasistha/

Adorations to the Self of all, who is in the heavens, in the sky, in the earth, within and without, and by whose light all these shine.

The Qualified Student
Click to expand...

Nicholas Weeks said:
Valmiki said: He who feels that he is imprisoned in the world, and that he must attain release; he whose aspiration is intense; he who is neither too ignorant, nor fully enlightened — such a person is qualified for listening to the expositions of Yoga Vasistha.

The aspirant who has studied the Purva Ramayana with devotion as the first step, must meditate upon the means of liberation as they are being expounded in Yoga Vasistha. Such an aspirant will be released from the cycle of birth and death
Click to expand...

On my first reading all those years ago I was a Qualified Student in that I believed in the concepts of devotion to the living Guru, liberation and reincarnation etc. The reading of the book was an exceptional experience at the time.

These days I probably would not be a qualified student, since I don't hold many of the concepts mentioned. However, when I read the excerpt above (post #6), I can see the book still has great value to me, particularly for reflection.
 
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