Yoga Vashishtha 1.1.1-3
(Self, Existence, Bliss)
The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha is a profound philosophical text attributed to Sage Vālmīki, presenting a dialogue between Sage Vasiṣṭha and Prince Rāma. The opening verses set the tone for the exploration of Ultimate Reality and Consciousness.
Verse 1.1.1:
यतः सर्वाणि भूतानि प्रतिभान्ति स्थितानि च । यत्रैवोपशमं यान्ति तस्मै सत्यात्मने नमः ॥ १ ॥
"Salutation to the True Self, from whom all beings arise, in whom they exist, and into whom they dissolve."
Verse 1.1.2:
ज्ञाता ज्ञानं तथा ज्ञेयं द्रष्टा दर्शनदृश्यभूः । कर्ता हेतुः क्रिया यस्मात्तस्मै ज्ञस्यात्मने नमः ॥ २ ॥
"Salutation to the Self, the Knower, from whom emanate the Knower, Knowledge, and the Known; the Seer, seeing, and the seen; the doer, means, and action."
Verse 1.1.3:
स्फुरन्ति सीकरा यस्मादानन्दस्याम्बरेऽवनौ । सर्वेषां जीवनं तस्मै ब्रह्मानन्दात्मने नमः ॥ ३ ॥
"Salutation to the Self of Brahmananda (Supreme Bliss), from whom flow the dews of delight in heaven and earth, and who is the life of all."
Verse 1.1.1 emphasizes the cyclical nature of existence, highlighting that all beings emerge from, exist within, and ultimately merge back into the Ultimate Reality — the True Self. This underscores the transient nature of the phenomenal world and points towards a singular, unchanging Source. Recognizing this leads to the Realization that individual identities are manifestations of this Singular Reality, fostering a sense of Unity and dissolving the illusion of separateness.
Verse 1.1.2 delves into the triadic nature of experience: the Knower, the process of Knowing, and the Known; the Seer, the act of seeing, and the seen; the doer, the means of doing, and the deed. By attributing all these facets to the Self, the verse conveys that every aspect of experience is a manifestation of the same underlying Reality. This holistic perspective encourages the seeker to transcend dualities and recognize the interconnectedness of all experiences, leading to a more integrated and enlightened State of Being.
Verse 1.1.3 portrays the Self as the Source of Supreme Bliss, from which emanate the droplets of Joy experienced in both celestial and terrestrial realms. By identifying the Self as the Essence of life for all beings, it establishes that the Ultimate Source of happiness and vitality is inherent within. This recognition shifts the pursuit of happiness from external acquisitions to Internal Realization, guiding individuals towards Inner Peace and contentment.
Comparative Verses from Vedic Texts
Similar themes are echoed in various Vedic texts, emphasizing the Unity of Existence and the Nature of the Self.
Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 2.1.1:
तदेतत् सत्यं यथा सुदीप्तात् पावकाद्विस्फुलिङ्गाः सहस्रशः प्रभवन्ते सरूपाः ।
एवं अखरात् व्ययः पुरुषात् प्रजायन्ते सर्वे लोकाः स च एव अनुप्रविष्टः ॥ १ ॥
"As from a well-kindled fire, sparks by the thousands issue forth of the same Nature, so from the Imperishable, O beloved, various beings come forth, and into It again they merge."
This verse from the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad closely parallels Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 1.1.1 in describing how all beings originate from a Single, Imperishable Source, exist within it, and ultimately merge back into it.
This reinforces the concept of non-duality (Advaita), where all individual existences are merely temporary manifestations of the Singular Reality.
Bhagavad Gītā 7.7:
मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय।
मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव॥
"O Arjuna, there is nothing Higher than Me. All this is strung in Me like pearls on a thread."
This verse echoes the message of Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 1.1.2, where the Self is described as the foundation of all experiences — Knower, Knowledge, and Known. Similarly, in the Bhagavad Gītā, Krishna asserts that all existence is pervaded by the Supreme Reality, just as pearls are strung on a thread. The underlying essence of all things remains the same, just as the various experiences of knowing, seeing, and acting stem from the one Unchanging Self.
Taittirīya Upaniṣad 2.7.1:
रसो वै सः। रसग्ं ह्येवायं लब्ध्वाऽनन्दी भवति।
को ह्येवान्यत्कः प्राण्यात्।
यदेष आकाश आनन्दो न स्यात्।
एष ह्येव शारीर आत्मा।।
"That is indeed Bliss. For having attained that Bliss, one becomes Blissful. For what indeed can one live by, if there were no Bliss in space? That itself is the embodied Self."
This passage aligns with Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 1.1.3, which speaks of Bliss (ānanda) as the Essence of the Self, manifesting as the Source of all Joy in both heavenly and earthly realms. The Taittirīya Upaniṣad describes the Ultimate Reality as Pure Bliss, without which life itself would be impossible. This underscores that True Joy is not external but arises from the Self.
Conclusion
The opening verses of Yoga Vāsiṣṭha set the foundation for non-dualistic thought, aligning with major Upaniṣadic and Bhagavad Gītā teachings. They establish:
1. The Self as the Singular Source of all Existence (Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 1.1.1, Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 2.1.1).
2. The Self as the underlying Reality of all experiences (Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 1.1.2, Bhagavad Gītā 7.7).
3. The Self as the Source of all Bliss (Yoga Vāsiṣṭha 1.1.3, Taittirīya Upaniṣad 2.7.1).
Together, these teachings guide the seeker toward Realizing the Unity of Existence and experiencing the Bliss inherent in the Self.
No comments:
Post a Comment