hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~
Namasté
The work Yogavasișțharāmāyaṇa, is also known as the Yoga Vasișțha, or Vasișțha's Yoga. My great interest with this knowledge is it nicely compliments and parallels the views of Reality held by kaśmir śaivism.
In a word or two , this creation is the play and display of consciousness or caitanya. Its appeal (at least to me) is its thoroughness in offering the vedāntic-genius in a sequential format that is comprehensive. Most of all the wisdom that it imparts is IMHO knowledge that changes/stretches one's view-point of the world.
Vasișțha's Yoga is the conversation of Vasișțha-ji (and other saints) with Śrī Rāmaḥ ; a great work for the sādhu and sadhvī¹ to advance one's sādhana by knowledge and insight; offering a spiritual view of the world around you.
This work is not considered beginner material, nor is it appropriate for the window shopper (light reading). It is for the person with an eye and motivation to spiritual enquiry (vicāra).
Vasișțha-ji says it this way - the eye of spiritual enquiry (vicāra) does not lose its sight even in the midst of all activities.
Yet what is this enquiry? He says, one ponders and is compelled by questions of Who am I? How has this saṃsāra (repetition of birth and rebirth) come into being? It is the light of enquiry that there is realization of the eternal and unchanging Reality, this is the Supreme..
Is this the only thing? No, as vasișțha-ji also mentions self-control ( which I always can use more of ), contentment and satsaṅg as the other 'gatekeepers' that stand at the door of mokṣa. We can review these at a later date.
It is my good fortune to have encountered this book some years ago that has been translated by svāmī veṅkaṭeśānanda¹ whose writing/translation ability IMHO is superb.
So, I thought I would offer some ideas and insights from this book. It is divided into 6 sections or prakaraṇa¹ . Why 6 sections, why not 5 ( higher knowledge) or 8 ( esoteric knowledge and mokṣa) or 10 ( fullness, the 10 directions)? We can address this at a later time, or if someone wishes to offer their POV on this matter it will be warmly welcomed.
The 6 prakaraṇa
A one line description for each prapāṭhaka¹
- Vairāgya prakaraṇaṃ - vairāgya is dispassion, non-attachment
- Mumukṣu prakaraṇaṃ - mumukṣu is a seeker with the burning desire for kaivala or mokṣa (liberation)
- Utpatti prakaraṇaṃ - utpatti is creation, origination, generation, ~creation ~
- Sthiti prakaraṇaṃ (sthā - to stand) sthiti a state or condition, ~ existence ~
- Upaśānti prakaraṇaṃ - upāsana is the act of throwing off; upaśānti is cessation , intermission , remission ~dissolution ~
- Nirvāṇa prakaraṇaṃ - nirvāṇa = 'nir' meaning out + 'vā' ( as in vāyu) is to blow. What is one blowing out? The cycle of birth and death, ignorance. The extinction ( blowing out) of all impressions. If we were talking
the yoga sutras of Patañjali, samādhi-pāda, 2nd sutra¹, this would be called citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ or the cessation/stilling of all mental activities.
Rama , said vasișțha-ji, do you remember what I have so far said to you, the words which are capable of awakening a knowledge of truth or Self-knowledge? By resorting to dispassion (vairāgya) and a clear understanding of the truth this ocean of saṃsāra ( birth-after-birth) can be crossed - hence engage yourself in such endeavor … Chapter 6, nirvāṇa prakaraṇaṃ
- Vairāgya prakaraṇaṃ - the true nature of life in this world- 5% of this book
- Mumukṣu prakaraṇaṃ - the qualifications of a seeker - 3% of the book
- Utpatti prakaraṇaṃ - many short stories that bring to light the nature of this creation - what is, and what 'seems' to be - 22% of the book
- Sthiti prakaraṇaṃ - in story format, it offers a view of this existence of this world and the foundation that supports it - 9% of the book
- Upaśānti prakaraṇaṃ - knowledge that is offered to dissolve false impressions - 16% of the book
- Nirvāṇa prakaraṇaṃ - knowledge to support the destruction ( blowing out) of ignorance - 45% of the book
praṇām
words
- caitanya - from cétana meaning consciousness
- prakaraṇa प्रकरण production , creation ; treatment , discussion , explanation ; this is equal to prapāṭhaka
prapāṭhaka प्रपाठक- chapter or subdivision of a book; a lecture.
- for more on Methods of organization in śāstra see this HDF post: http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showthread.php?t=3727&highlight=subdivision
- sādhu and sadhvī - male and female person practicing sādhana
- samādhi-pāda ( 1st chapter, 2nd sutra):
- yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
- yogaś - process of yoking; union from yuj reviewed in a previous post
- citta - as a noun it is thinking , reflecting , imagining , thought; some put this as active mind
- vṛtti - ' rolling , or rolling down' i.e. patterning, turnings, movements.
- nirodhaḥ - suppression , destruction ; some prefer stilling, cessation, restriction
- svāmī veṅkaṭeśānanda - was sisya of svāmi śivānanda. veṅkaṭeśa = 'lord of veṅkaṭa' or another name for viṣṇu or kṛṣṇa + ananda = bliss or happiness. Note veṅkaṭa is of a very sacred hill in the drāviḍa country.
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