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The Concise Yoga Vasistha

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The Yoga Vasistha is the dialogue between Rama and the holy sage Vasistha. In the beginning of the book Rama has come to realize the endlessly changing nature of life from such a profound level that he sees no hope in anything and does not know how to proceed to live in a way that can lead him away from the inevitable sorrow that always follows all relative hopes and endeavors. The bulk of the text of the Yoga Vasistha is Vasistha's response to Rama's questions and state of dispassion. This book presents the truths of life as perceived and understood by those who have risen above all small self concerns, beyond all karma... from the perspective of one in Unity consciousness, the only real achievement in human life. I find more depth and meaning to this text than to any other spiritual text I have ever read. It it is more totally fulfilling in a lasting way than any other source of fulfillment, except for the DIRECT first-hand experience of the Absolute field of life which the Yoga Vasistha describes.

This book is a dialogue between Sage Vasistha and Rama. Vasistha reveals the "Truth" to rama by narrating a series of stories. The book is divided into six major parts, each part consisting of several short stories.

1. On dispassion.
2. On the behaviour of the seeker.
3. On Creation.
4. On Existence.
5. On Dissolution.
6. On liberation.

The original scripture of 'yoga vasistha' is in the form of verses and has several repetitions. Some stories stories are within other stories. However in this book Venkatesananda does a good job of writing the stories in prose form which is very readable. Also, in the "concise" form of yoga vasistha, venkatesanda takes out very similar sounding stories and keeps the book within 500 pages without taking away any flavour from the original teachings. The book is worth reading several times, and each time it reveals something new. This book is not something that you can expect to read and gulp over night, It has to be chewed slowly and digested. Reading one story a day is immensely satisfying and reminds one of the truth every day.

This is the epitome and crux of Hindu philosphy. A must read for a person looking for ultimate truth and liberation. After knowing the truth presented in this book, there remains nothing to be read further. The author has done a super job of putting this great ancient work together.

Among the great scriptures of Indian spiritual thought, Yoga Vasistha is the the most beloved of mine. It is not a dry, wise and scholarly representation of Upanishadic thinking. It is a witty, surrealistic, out-of-mind story-telling to break the grip of one's logic-dominated mind. How to grasp with human mind what essentially is beyond it? Read it and either you will jump with joy or you will not understand anything beyond the stories. Are you ready? Or are you asleep with your eyes wide open?
Shantu Dand

The Concise Yoga Vasistha by Venkatesananda Swami is the ONLY spiritual book you will ever need! The Concise Yoga Vasistha is a condensed version of the Yoga Vasistha Ramayana, a 29,000 verse scripture! It contains 100% of the essence of ALL the world's holy inspired works... the wisdom of the ages is in this one book. OM!!!!!

Twelve years ago I wrote one of the first Amazon reviews of the Concise Yoga Vasistha based upon my reading of the work seven times over a seven month period.

That was 1997 when Amazon reviews had a much smaller word limit. So I posted about half the story. And I see it's still here. Over the years many people emailed to request the rest of the story.

The earlier requesters received it. The later ones did not. I had lost the file about seven years ago and it remains lost.

The YV today is still my favorite of all scriptual texts ever produced by any culture in any time. I might also add that I am agnostic and do not believe in reincarnation nor life after death. Anyone can relate to this work.

The conversation between Vasistha and the teenage Rama is one that, in some form or another, seems to take place in every human being. The value of a "continual" reading of this wonderful translation, to me, makes clear the reality of this internal dialog already happening quite naturally inside; such value for me is deeply human, one that reflects the saying "we are spiritual beings searching for a human experience. But it's an astonishing experience... as these strange and ancient stories on paper unfold to become the daily experiences of one's own subjective reality. Soaking oneself in these words can do nothing but continually reveal oneself (whatever that means to you) for which there are impossibly good feelings, but alas no words to relate them.

And yet, as with any scriptural text, much can and should be updated, re-interpreted and understood for the times and cultures we live in now. And this raises the question: Who would best speak for Rama today? Who best for Vasistha?

That, of course, can only be you. And you will, no doubt, have your own stories to tell. And I hope somehow I am privileged to hear them.

The Vedic texts are so full of wisdom and profundity that they take a real time commitment to appreciate them. The full text of the Yoga Vasista is no different. That is why I appreciate this condensed version so much. The meaning and nuances are all there, yet it is written in an accessible style. Make no mistake, this condensed form will take time to read also (perhaps one verse per night before sleep), but it is so sublime and so easy to use.

If you have a choice to buy only one book in your life then buy this which will answer all the mysteries in the creation, existence and liberation. It is a great step towards Self realization and make many other self realization book looks like a comic. This is written by a great enlighened sage thousands of years back so this is definetely the truth gifted to the mankind and not a myth or a story.

Not easy if you have no previous experience of India's language or ancient
discriptions of the spiritual realms. But the deep wisdom is present and
validates the teaching of The Course in Miracles for me. I loved it and
recieved many insights from slowly and thoughtfully reading it.

Glittered with stories, this book invokes a deep understanding of our universe. Can be read multiple times in different light. Profound exposition of many ideas floating about in the Samkhya philosophy and Vedic literature.