A Wisdom Archive on Yoga Vasishta

The Ramayana is the story of Rama. But more significantly, the epic provides a peephole into Vedantic wisdom on the nature of existence, reality and governance.
 
Vasishtas sagacious discourse to prince Rama was offered at a moment of confusion and crisis in the young princes life, when he was beginning to feel a surge of vairagya at a tender age. While extolling the vairagya state of Rama, Vasishta initiates Rama into the deeper ontological questions of existence and the nature of the mind.
 

Read more here: » Yoga Vasishta: Vedantic Wisdom in The Yoga Vasishta

Ravana then undertakes another penance for 10,000 years, endeavoring to please Lord Brahma. Brahma tells Ravana that he cannot grant him the immortality he desires, for none of the created are immortal. But Ravana obtains invulnerability against all celestial beings and living creatures, save man. Vishwamitra: king Kaushika undertakes a heavy penance, fasting and meditating for thousands of years to become the equal of Guru Vasishta, a Brahmarishi. He steadily rises to become a Rajarshi, or a royal saint after a thousand ...

Read more here: » Tapasya: Encyclopedia II - Tapasya - Famous Tapasvins

Politics and the concept of a global identity are two artificial constructs dominating our collective consciousness today.
 
A nationalist professes undying allegiance to his nation. Therefore he would find it impossible to love another nation or its nationalists.
 
Patriotism, on the other hand, is born of a deeper feeling of togetherness and bonding of a people in a particular civilisation/heritage. Hence a patriot would fully understand and appreciate similar sentiments in another pat-riot of a civilisation/heritage different from his own.

 
(See also: Peace on Earth, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul )

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Nationalism and patriotism  

Yoga is closely linked with tapasya. The disciplined and concentrated practice of yogic arts and exercises may be considered tapasya by itself. A vow to observe brahmacharya, silence or fast is the commitment an individual offers to complete the objectives of a tapasya. The observance of a vow is tapasya itself. ...

Read more here: » Tapasya: Encyclopedia II - Tapasya - Yoga and Vows

The protracted discussions of the ultimate, infinite Self, or Atman, and realization of Brahman, are the true legacy of the Upanishads, and the first principal Yoga text is the Bhagavad Gita ("The Lord's Song"), also known as Gitopanishad. The Bhagavad Gita elaborates in detail on Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Karma Yoga. ...

Read more here: » History of Yoga: Encyclopedia II - History of Yoga - Bhagavad Gita

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra forms the basis of all yoga that is practised today. It contains knowledge which is useful for all, whether one is an evolved yogi, a developing sadhaka or an uninitiate.
 
In the Astanga Yoga, the eight constituents of yoga are discussed. Of these, the first constituent talks of the five Yama. These are the restraints every human being is advised to practise in day-to-day living.

 
(See also: Patanjali Yoga Sutras, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul )

Read more here: » Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Patanjali’s Guide To Self-Evolution  

Modern Hindu mendicants pursue their respective tapasyas - meditation and study of religion in ashrams across India and the world. Many hundreds of monks and mendicants base themselves around the holy sites of Hinduism, or in hermitages around the Himalayas to observe their vows and penance in an as religious environment as possible. ...

Read more here: » Tapasya: Encyclopedia II - Tapasya - Modern Tapasvins

Maryada Purusha , Rama Navami , Rama nama, Rama nama mantra, Rama nama contains the power of all mantras. Just uttering the syllable 'Ra' can purge us of all sin. The following syllable 'Ma' ensures that expunged sins do not return to plague us.
 
The Rama nama mantra stands for Supreme Reality. Chanting Rama's name produces a rhythmic sound that soothes and relaxes the mental and physical system. Mental recitations are equally, if not more, effective. 'Ra' is taken from the Astakshari Mantra Om Namo Narayanaya and 'Ma', from Panchakshari Mantra, Namah Shivaya . The word Rama stands for one who is always present in the hearts of yogis and makes them feel happy. Rama nama liberates from ego and desires. If you are depressed, the mantra will lift your spirits.

 
(See also: Rama Navami, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul )

Read more here: » Rama Navami: In Praise of Rama, Maryada Purusha  

The Yoga-bhasya, Veda Vyasa's commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali could have been written as early as 450 CE. Professor J. H. Woods, places the date of the Yoga-bhasya between 650 CE to 850 CE. Trevor Leggett places the date closer to 600 CE based on a commentary to the Yoga-bhasya published in Sanskrit in 1952 in the Madras Government Oriental Series #94 by Polakam Sri Rama Sastri and S. R. Krishnamurti Sastri. Evidence strongly suggests that this s ...

Read more here: » History of Yoga: Encyclopedia II - History of Yoga - Yoga-bhasya 450 - 850 CE

In India, many civilisations have come together over the years, creating new patterns of universal oneness. Raja Ram Mohan Roy ushered in the age of new thought in 1828. He wrote: "All mankind is one great family of which numerous nations and tribes existing are only various branches".
 
All religions tell us that the divine is within us. The Gospel according to St Thomas says: "He who has heard and assimilated my word is as I". In Sanatana Dharma it is Tat Tvam Asi. To find divinity within oneself it is important to act with compassion towards all beings.

 
(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul )

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Time to Rekindle Passion for Unity

Older findings are believed by some to show that "yoga" existed in some form well before the establishment of vedas in the Indian subcontinent: A triangular amulet seal uncovered at the Mohenjo-daro archaeological excavation site depicts a male figure sitting cross-legged on a low platform, with arms outstretched. His head is crowned with the horns of a water buffalo. He is surrounded by animals (a fish, an alligator and a snake) and diverse symbols. The likeness on the seal and understandings of the surrounding culture have led ...

Read more here: » History of Yoga: Encyclopedia II - History of Yoga - Pre-Vedic ca. 6000 - 3000 BCE [?]