YOGA VASISHTHA SARAH
(Transl. by Swami Sureshananda)
CH 1: DISPASSION
1. Salutations to that calm effulgence which is endless and unlimited by space, time etc., the pure Consciousness which can be known by experience only.
2. 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.
3. Until one is definitely blessed by the Supreme Lord he will not find either a proper Guru or the right scripture.
4. Just as a steady boat, O Rama, is obtained from a boatman, so also the method of crossing the ocean of samsara is learnt by associating with great souls.
5. The great remedy for the long-lasting disease of samsara is the enquiry, ‘Who am I ? To whom does this samsara belong?’, which entirely cures it.
7. The sages are to be approached even if they do not teach. Even their talks in a light vein contain wisdom.
11. Following the customary method of teaching is only for preserving the tradition. Pure awareness results solely from the clarity of the disciple’s understanding.
12. The Lord cannot be seen with the help of the sacred texts or the Guru. The Self is seen by the Self alone with the pure intellect.
23. Nothing whatever is born or dies anywhere at any time. It is Brahman alone appearing illusorily in the form of the world.
24. The Self is more extensive than space; it is pure, subtle, undecaying and auspicious. As such how could it be born and how can it die?
25. All this is the tranquil, One without beginning, middle or end, which cannot be said to be existent or non-existent. Know this and be happy.