Shri Yoga Vashistha Maharamayan

One of the jewels in the ocean of holy scriptures of true spiritual wisdom and Vedanta is Shri Yoga Vashistha MahaRamayana. This is one of the longest texts in Sanskrit, after the Mahabharata. It consists of about 32,000 shlokas, including numerous short stories and anecdotes used to help illustrate its content. The content of this holy scripture summarizes Sage Vasistha's teaching to Rama on the subject of Advaita Vedanta, the illusory nature of the manifest world and the principle of non-duality.

The scene setting of Shri Yoga Vashistha MahaRamayana  is like this. At the young age of sixteen, Prince Rama returns from touring the country, and becomes utterly disillusioned after experiencing the apparent reality of the world. A serious dispassion arose in his heart and he became totally uninterested in the worldly affairs up to an extent that he even left eating. This worries his father, King Dasaratha, who expresses his concern to Sage Vashistha. Sage Vashistha consoles the king by telling him that Rama's dis-passion (vairagya) is a sign that the prince is now ready for spiritual enlightenment.
He says that Rama has begun understanding profound spiritual Truths, which is the cause of his confusion; he needs confirmation. Sage Vashistha asks the king to summon Rama. Then, the sage begins his discourse to Shri Rama, which lasts several days. The answer to Rama's deeply meaningful and logical questions forms the entirety of a great scripture, that is Shri Yoga Vashistha MahaRamayana.

It is unfortunate that only a few Hindus have even heard about such a master piece of Vedanta. Everyone knows about Ramayana – the story of Sri Rama and about how he conquered over the evil Ravana. However, only a few know about the Self-realization of Shri Rama and the wisdom of Truth that was imparted upon Sri Rama by his Sage Vashishtha.

The Saints of India adore Shri Yoga Vashistha Maha-Ramayana to the highest stature. Most of the Saints believe that if an aspirant with pure heart reads this scripture in the presence of a master and with understanding, he is sure to gain spiritual enlightenment. The scripture provides understanding, scientific ideas and philosophy; it explains consciousness, the creation of the world, the multiple worlds in this universe, our perception of the world, its ultimate dissolution, the liberation of the soul and the non-dual approach to creation.

Swami Ram Tirtha used to say that, “Rama will behead himself if someone fails to realize the Truth (get enlightenment) even after repeatedly reading and analyzing the spiritual text present in the form of  Shri Yoga Vashistha Maha-Ramayana.”

Here are some of the excerpts from Shri Yoga Vashistha Maha-Ramayana:

“Ignorance of the Truth leads to false ego, which leads to the illusion of this world. Because of this, deep rooted desires arise and as per these desires, one gets deceived by this unreal world.  When Self-analysis appears, then this world begins to appear like a dream and the desires are dissolved. When desires disappear, the seeker is liberated.”

"How can one who is involved in the world and its activities ... reach the supreme state of peace and bliss?"

"The great remedy for the long-lasting disease of samsara(world) is the enquiry, 'Who am I? To whom does this samsara(world) belong?', which entirely cures it."

"Nothing whatsoever is born or dies anywhere at any time. It is Brahman (Supreme Consciousness) alone, appearing in the form of the world."

"O Rama, there is no intellect, no consciousness, no mind and no individual soul (jiva). They are all imagined in Brahman (Supreme Consciousness)."

"That consciousness which is the witness of the rise and fall of all beings – know that to be the immortal state of supreme bliss."

"Knowledge of truth, Lord, is the fire that burns up all hopes and desires as if they are dried blades of grass. That is what is known by the word samadhi – not simply remaining silent."

"The moon is one, but on agitated water it produces many reflections. Similarly, ultimate reality is one, yet it appears to be many in a mind agitated by thoughts."