The Concise Yoga Vāsiṣṭha

Translated by Swami Venkatesananda
Introduction by Christopher Key Chapple

Subjects: Yoga
Paperback : 9780873959544, 448 pages, June 1985
Hardcover : 9780873959551, 448 pages, June 1985
Out of print (Hardcover)

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Table of contents

Preface
Introduction

Section One: On Dispassion

Section Two: On the Behavior of a Seeker
The Story of Suka
Self Effort

Section Three: On Creation
The Story of Lia
the Story of Karkati
The Story of the Sons of Indu
The Story of Ahalya
The Story of the Great Forest
The Story of the Three Non-Existent Princes
The Story of Lavana

Section Four: On Existence
The Story of Sukra
The Story of Dama, Vyala and Kata
The Story of Bhima, Bhasa and Drdha
The Story of Dasura
Kaca's Story

Section Five: On Dissolution
The Story of King Janaka
The Story of Punya and Pavana
The Story of Bali
The Story of Prahlada
The Story of Gadhi
The Story of Uddalaka
The Story of Suraghu
The Story of Bhasa and Vilasa
The Story of Vitahavya

Section Six: On Liberation

Discourse on Brahman
The Story of Bhusunda
Description of the Lord
Deva Puja
The Story of the Wood-apple
the Story of the Rock
The Story of Arjuna
The Story of the Hundrew Rudra
The Story of the Vampire
The Story of Bhagiratha
The Story of Sikhidvaja and Cudala
The Story of the Philosopher's Stone
The Story of the Foolish Elephant
The Story of Kaca
The Story of the Deluded Man
The Story of Vipascit
The Story of the Hunter and the Sage
The World Within the Rock
The Story of the Sage from Outer Space
The Story of Bhrngisa
The Story of Iksvaku
The Story of the Hunter and the Deer
The Seven States of Yoga

Bibliography
Index

Description

The Concise Yoga Vāsiṣṭha a clear, provocative summary of one of the leading texts of Hinduism. Swami Venkatesananda continues the long tradition of elaborating on and clarifying the teachings of the sage Vāsiṣṭha. It captures the verve of the original text while eliminating needless repetition. For the specialist, this book makes available a handy guide to the original Sanskrit without sacrificing philosophical depth. To the comparative religionist, it provides an occasion for understanding how Hinduism has been able to accommodate seemingly opposite schools of thought without giving way to the platitudes which mar many syncretic movements.

Reviews

"It is really quite a readable translation, and a good abridgement of an extremely long text. It includes most of the things that I like best in the Yoga Vasistha leaves out most of what I like least. It is certainly far and away the best thing available on this text, a text that never should have been neglected as it has been and never would have, had a translation as good as this been available." -- Wendy D. O'Flaherty