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Yoga Vasistha - the Art of Self Realization

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Yoga Vasistha - the Art of Self Realization Yoga Vasistha - The Art of Self Realization Yoga Vasistha - The Science of Self Realization PREFACE One of the greatest spiritual classics ever recorded, the Yoga Vasistha is a mind blowing account of a detailed conversation between Sri Rama and his Spiritual teacher Vasistha Maharshi. The book goes into great detail surrounding the subtle intricacies of the mind, unraveling the multitude of layers to our very existence along the way. Much of the text is told through parable stories, which hold many hidden depths within them. The ongoing theme throughout the book revolves around the notion of worldly miseries being caused by our own illusion of the world, and how whatever we perceive on the outside is merely a reflection of how we feel inside. Moving beyond these temporary illusions is the path to true enlightenment and Vasistha Maharshi goes into great depth as to how such a journey can be undertaken. Yoga Vasistha contains a system of ancient philosophical thought unique in its kind. Those whose minds are turned away from the worldly desires and have become indifferent towards the objects of this world and those who are longing for liberation will be really benefited by this book. The nature of the stories and their deep rooted philosophies are designed to open our levels of awareness, and legend states that those who complete the book will have their spiritual growth significantly accelerated. Yoga Vasistha is the essence of all the Hindu Philosophical texts – Bhagawad Gita, Vedas and Upanishads. The nature of the ParaBrahma, Supreme God consciousness and the methods to attain Self Realization are vividly described in this book. "This Atman (Eternal Self) is certainly different from the body, senses, mind, and prana. It is blissful, supreme, non-dual, permanent, formless, sinless, and pure. The moment this realization comes to you, you are liberated." "If you constantly think of the Atman, your mind will be purified and your ignorance will be uprooted along with the past tendencies, just as your ailments will completely disappear by your taking medicine daily. When the mind is pure, you will get unalloyed bliss." "When one realizes the truth of the unity between the Jivatma (soul of man) and the Paramatma (God) whether by instruction from the guru or from spiritual texts, that every moment the source of ignorance, along with the cause and effect, will mingle with Paramatma. The state mentioned above is called moksha (liberation). The self is ever-free." [Vasistha to Rama:] When the mind is at peace and the heart leaps to the supreme truth, when all the disturbing thought- waves in the mind-stuff have subsided and there is unbroken flow of peace and the heart is filled with the bliss of the absolute, when thus the truth has been seen in the heart, then this very world becomes an abode of bliss. (II:12) Aum Namoh Narayana Aum Loka Samastha Sukinou Bhavantu May all the beings in all the worlds be happy; Peace, peace and peace be everywhere. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 What are the four Gatekeepers (Pillars) to Freedom? .............................................................................................. 5 Inspirational Verses from Yoga Vasistha .................................................................................................................. 7 The Story of HastAmalaka .......................................................................................................................................... 8 Para Pooja .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Rama and Dispassion ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Story of Suka – How Suka attained the Highest State of Bliss.............................................................................. 13 What are the impediments of Yoga? How to abandon them? ............................................................................... 15 Eight limbs of Meditation .......................................................................................................................................... 15 Greatest Verses from Yoga Vasistha ....................................................................................................................... 16 Story of Lila ................................................................................................................................................................ 24 Story of Son of Indhu (Moon) ................................................................................................................................... 32 The Story of deceitful Indra ...................................................................................................................................... 33 Story of Karkati .......................................................................................................................................................... 37 Story of King Janaka ................................................................................................................................................. 45 Story of Bali ............................................................................................................................................................... 49 Story of Prahlada ....................................................................................................................................................... 52 Story of Gadhi ............................................................................................................................................................ 56 Story of Uddalaka ...................................................................................................................................................... 60 Story of King Bhageeratha ....................................................................................................................................... 65 Story of Bilwa fruit ..................................................................................................................................................... 67 Story of King Sikhidwaja .......................................................................................................................................... 68 The Story of Kacha .................................................................................................................................................... 85 Story of Bhringisara .................................................................................................................................................. 86 Story of King Ikshwaku ............................................................................................................................................. 88 The Story of Muni and a Hunter ............................................................................................................................... 91 The Conclusion of NirvAna Prakarana .................................................................................................................... 93 SUMMARY OF THE YOGA VASISTHA ..................................................................................................................... 98 What is Sri Satya Narayana Homam or Puja? ....................................................................................................... 121 Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Story 1 ......................................................................................................................... 121 Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Story 2 ......................................................................................................................... 122 Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Story 3 ......................................................................................................................... 123 Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Story 4 ......................................................................................................................... 124 Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Story 5 ......................................................................................................................... 124 INTRODUCTION THE YOGA-VASISTHA is a popular text on Non-dual God, Ancient in form and philosophical in content. It is also known by other names like Knowledge Vasistha, Maha Ramayana, Vasistha Ramayana and Vasistha and is ascribed to Sage Valmiki himself. It is in the form of replies given by Vasistha to Sri Rama's queries regarding philosophical problems of life and death, and human suffering, and treats the essentials of Advaita Vedanta. Yoga Vasistha, written by Sage Valmiki, is the spiritual teaching imparted by Sage Vasistha to Sri Rama. Yoga Vasistha is also known as the Maha Ramayana, the Uttar Ramayana and the Vasistha Ramayana. It describes how Rama’s knowledge, wisdom and understanding evolved and progressed throughout the different stages of his life. Yoga Vasistha is an elaborate work, consisting of 32,000 verses and 64,000 lines. The main theme of Yoga Vasistha is that the soul is undergoing a dream from which it must awake. This dream represents our association and identification with the world.
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