Yoga Vasistha
The Yoga - Vasishtha ( Sanskrit: योगवासिष्ठ yogavasiṣṭha ) is a philosophical work dealing with the Advaita Vedanta. It is a poetic text in Sanskrit, which is the legendary Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana attributed.
Versions of the Work
The original work, which bears the name Yogavasishta Ramayana, was probably written in the 8th century AD. The original text has been lost. It should have been according to tradition, 32,000 verses long. In the form of an imaginary dialogue between the hero Rama and his teacher Vasishtha, the author presents a wealth of ideas that show an unusual depth and universal perspective. The sage Vasishta was already mentioned in the Rig Veda and is considered one of the great Rishis of the past.
In the 9th century, the text by Gauda Abhinanda the Laghu Yoga Vasishta with 4829 verses was - according to tradition, it should have been 6000 Verse - streamlined. The work has significantly influenced the Yoga and Vedanta.
There is also a third, highly abbreviated version of an unknown author with 225-230 verses, which is called Yoga Vasishtha Sara.
Rama Tirtha, a saint from the 19th century called the Yoga Vashishtha " one of the greatest books and, in my opinion, the most wonderful that was ever written under the sun .... and that no one can read on earth, without to experience God - consciousness. "