Book Review of Yoga Vasistha
By God's grace, I was extremely fortunate to read Yoga Vasistha in Telugu written by an author who was born-blind (Sri Vennelakanti Sundara Rama Sarma Garu). I am amazed how a born-blind could write such a splendid Telugu translation of Yoga Vasistha which is originally in Sanskrit.
I want to write a quick book review for those who are interested:
BTW, Vasistha is one of the three rishis of my gotra. I am really proud that I am a remote little descendant of this great rishi.
Sincerely,
Subrahmanyam Jiddu (jnsubbu@gmail).
By God's grace, I was extremely fortunate to read Yoga Vasistha in Telugu written by an author who was born-blind (Sri Vennelakanti Sundara Rama Sarma Garu). I am amazed how a born-blind could write such a splendid Telugu translation of Yoga Vasistha which is originally in Sanskrit.
I want to write a quick book review for those who are interested:
- Yoga Vasistha is one of the top books that I have read. It is a Moksha shastra revealing the nature of the universe and the human mind.
- Sage Valmiki has written two Ramayanas. First one is the popular story of Rama, Sita, Hanuman and Ravana. Second is the Vasistha Ramayana, quintessence of the 18-day discourse made by Vasistha to Rama.
- Popular Ramayana tells us the external nature of Rama but it doesn't talk much about the internal nature (state of the mind or psychology) of Rama.
- It is the second Ramayana (Yoga Vasistha) that reveals the internal nature of Rama when he was asked to go to forests, when Sita was kidnapped by Ravana, when he has to face the battles with mighty demons like Ravana etc.
- It was Jagadish Chandra Bose who scientifically discovered that plants also have life. However, Vasistha has already revealed in Thretha Yuga itself that plants also have life. Interestingly, he says, metals, rocks etc also have life. Perhaps, someday some scientist will discover that too.
- Although I am not an expert of quantum physics, I do understand that it says there is no objective reality to the world but only a subjective reality. This very finding has been hammered through out Yoga Vasistha. I don't know how Quantum physics can answer the question as to how multiple people can have the same subjective reality of the world when there is no objective reality to it, but Vasistha does clearly explain this in response to Rama's question.
- I honestly feel, we are reinventing the wheel and rubbishing the Vedas etc as mere humbug and unscientific beliefs.
- It is a great treatise on human psychology leading to Moksha or Jivan Mukta state.
- Unlike most other books on Vedanta which are theoretical in nature, Vasistha explains the concepts with umpteen real-life anecdotes/illustrations for quick assimilation by Rama.
- Caveat: Before we embark on reading this book, we would do well to acquire Sadhana Chatustaya as laid by Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and master texts like Bhagavad Gita. There is little use in reading advanced vedantic books unless we master basic vedantic works.
BTW, Vasistha is one of the three rishis of my gotra. I am really proud that I am a remote little descendant of this great rishi.
Sincerely,
Subrahmanyam Jiddu (jnsubbu@gmail).
