Essence of Yoga Vashishta

Yoga Vashishta is a systematic guide to attain wisdom. Wisdom develops with reading of the scriptures and keeping the company of virtuous people.

Vashishta says dispassion arises, when one ponders about, "Who am I?" with perseverance, undaunted even in adversity. This reflection is a great medicine for the prolonged disease of worldly existence, leading to a radical reversal of consciousness. It is important for a seeker to be detached from the fruits of his actions.

Destroying the latent mental impressions or vasanas (the impressions left on the mind by past good or bad actions that produce joy or sorrow) is a requisite for liberation. The river of mental impressions flowing through good and bad channels should be directed toward the good path, which requires great human effort. Again, if the disposition of the mind is bad, whatever the degree, it needs to be conquered by persistent effort.

The mind being the source of all action and suffering should be brought under control. To allay the excitement of the mind and attain bliss is the goal of yoga. In this step, the yogi realizes that the mind itself is pure consciousness.

When the seeker evolves, he realizes that he is nothing but pure consciousness. In the next state, he realizes that only pure consciousness exists and the rest is just a dream. All states of the mind are achieved through intense practice of meditation and divine grace.

Vashishta says, "He who considers the world as unreal is never subject to joy or sorrow. It is only the ignorant who are elated or depressed at one or the other."