Timeless Teachings Of Sages of India
Guidance for Meditation and Life from Sages and Great Gurus
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 15.
He is indeed an unfortunate person who, not knowing his own Self, takes pleasure in sense-objects, like one who realizes too late that the food eaten by him was poisonous.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 13 and 14.
All the arts acquired by men are lost by lack of practice, but this art of wisdom grows steadily once it rises.
Just as an ornament worn round the neck is considered lost through forgetfulness and is gained when the mistake is realized, so also the Self is attained (when the delusion is removed) by the words of the Guru.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 11 and 12
Following the customary method of teaching is only for preserving the tradition. Pure awareness results solely from the clarity of the disciple’s understanding.
The Self cannot be seen just by the help of the sacred texts or the Guru. The Self is seen by the Self alone with the pure intellect.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 10
Oh good soul! That which is imparted to a worthy disciple who has become dispassionate, is the real wisdom; it is the real purport of the sacred texts and is also the comprehensive wisdom.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 9
If sages were concerned solely with their own happiness, with whom could those tormented by the sorrows of samsara (worldly life) seek refuge?
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 8
The company of sages converts emptiness into fullness, death into immortality and adversity into prosperity.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 7
The sages are to be approached even if they do not teach. Even their talks in a light vein contain wisdom.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 6
Not a day should be spent in a place which does not possess the tree of a wise knower of Truth with its good fruit and cool shade.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Verse 5
The great remedy for the long lasting disease of samsara (worldly miseries) is the enquiry, ‘Who am I ?, to whom does this samsara belong ?’, which entirely cures it.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1 Verse 4
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Just as a steady boat, O Rama, is obtained from a boatman, so also the method of crossing the ocean of samsara (worldly miseries) is learnt by associating with great souls.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1 Verse 3
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Until one is definitely blessed by the Supreme Lord he will not find either a proper Guru or the right scripture.
Yoga Vasishta Sara – Chapter 1 Verse 2
Sage Vasishta’s Guidance to Lord Rama
Neither one who is totally ignorant nor one who knows It (i.e. Truth) is eligible to study this book. Only he who thinks ‘I am bound ; I must become free’ is entitled to study it.
