by Swamini Vidyananda
Shri Valmiki, author of Yoga Vasishtha, is not only a Brahma Nishtha but also a Shrotriya - of the highest order. Brahma Nishatha is one who always & effortlessly revels in his transcendental truth; while Shrotriya is one who is adept in the art & science of effective communication, even of that which is beyond words & comprehension. Using all tools at his command he effectively communicates the subtle truths to all kinds of people. Inspiring & enlightening stories after stories follow to not only make the whole discourse highly interesting, digestible but also relevant - and all in an amazing sequence, like blossoming of a flower. It is like a travel where scenery never stays the same. It reminds one of soul’s travel from life to life, from birth to death and another birth, each one being in unique conditions, with different notions and emotions, surroundings and relations. From mendicant to a king, from king to a deer, from deer to swan, flower, creeper, bird, bee, fish, sage, snake - in a seemingly never-
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ending sequence. Till one is mesmerized with things around, striving for some and leaving some others, getting in and out of relations and exchanging one place for another, world after world and life after life give an abundant field for various experiences. He is like a child who plays with toys, so deeply engaged into his play that he forgets about everything else. In the book, we are getting a full view of many lives and Valmiki draws our attention to never-changing reality which transcends all these lives, notions and experiences, however different they seem to be, and instead of being just another of many wonderful amazements, they become pointers to subtle truth lying behind and through all happenings. Like a thread connecting many beads in a necklace, not seen from outside, but essential for keeping these beads together, here is a
Adhyatmic Teachings of Guru Vashista to Sri Ramji
reality behind and through all things and experiences, which holds all of them together. Instead of looking out for wonderful and amazing beads, you start looking inside for the thread which is always present, but stays as if hidden for these who never look for it. Each story is a pointer - instead of casually looking out, look within yourself to discover that one indivisible reality which makes the whole world possible. Besides stories which go one after another, Yoga Vasishtha is full of stories within stories within stories within stories. The process begins on the very first page and also may appear as having no end, like a series of dreams within dreams, and coming out of the one, you go right into another one. Without a wise knowledgeable guide this process goes with almost random transitions, which depend on many factors. With wise guidance of Valmiki, stories sequence and development are not random, they set to bring one to understand its own self. Central story of Yoga Vasishtha, Vedanta Sandesh