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Yoga Vashishtha 2.9.23–32
(Influence of past tendencies or vasanas, and the path to Realization through self-effort)
श्रीराम उवाच ।
प्राक्तनं वासनाजालं नियोजयति मां यथा ।
मुने तथैव तिष्ठामि कृपणः किं करोम्यहम् ॥ २३ ॥
श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच ।
अत एव हि राम त्वं श्रेयः प्राप्नोषि शाश्वतम् ।
स्वप्रयत्नोपनीतेन पौरुषेणैव नान्यथा ॥ २४ ॥
द्विविधो वासनाव्यूहः शुभश्चैवाशुभश्च ते ।
प्राक्तनो विद्यते राम द्वयोरेकतरोऽथ वा ॥ २५ ॥
वासनौघेन शुद्धेन तत्र चेदद्य नीयसे ।
तत्क्रमेण शुभेनैव पदप्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम् ॥ २६ ॥
अथ चेदशुभो भावस्त्वां योजयति संकटे।
प्राक्तनस्तदसौ यत्नाज्जेतव्यो भवता बलात् ॥ २७ ॥
प्राज्ञश्चेतनमात्रस्त्वं न देहस्त्वं जडात्मकः ।
अन्येन चेतसा तत्ते चेत्यत्वं क्वेव विद्यते ॥ २८ ॥
अन्यस्त्वां चेतयति चेत्तं चेतयति कोऽपरः ।
क इमं चेतयेत्तस्मादनवस्था न वास्तवी ॥ २९ ॥
शुभाशुभाभ्यां मार्गाभ्यां वहन्ती वासनासरित् ।
पौरुषेण प्रयत्नेन योजनीया शुभे पथि ॥ ३० ॥
अशुभेषु समाविष्टं शुभेष्वेवावतारय।
स्वं मनः पुरुषार्थेन बलेन बलिनां वर ॥ ३१ ॥
अशुभाच्चालितं याति शुभं तस्मादपीतरत् ।
जन्तोश्चित्तं तु शुवित्तन्मुहूश्चतूयेद्गलात् ॥ ३२ ॥
Sriram said:
2.9.23: I am helplessly bound by the web of past tendencies (vasanas) that drive my actions. O Sage, what can a wretched person like me do?
Maharishi Vashishta said:
2.9.24: Therefore, O Rama, you will attain eternal well-being only through your own effort and self-reliance, not by any other means.
2.9.25: Your tendencies are of two kinds, O Rama—auspicious and inauspicious. These arise from past actions, and you may be influenced by one or both.
2.9.26: If you are currently guided by pure tendencies, you will gradually attain the Eternal State through auspicious actions.
2.9.27: But if inauspicious tendencies lead you to difficulties, you must forcefully overcome them through determined effort.
2.9.28: You are Pure Consciousness, not the inert body. If something else were to animate you, where would your own Consciousness reside?
2.9.29: If another entity makes you conscious, what makes that entity conscious? This leads to an infinite regress, which is not real.
2.9.30: The river of tendencies flows through both auspicious and inauspicious paths. Through self-effort, direct it toward the auspicious path.
2.9.31: O best among the strong, through resolute effort, guide your mind, immersed in inauspicious tendencies, toward the auspicious.
2.9.32: The mind of a Being, when swayed from inauspicious to auspicious tendencies, becomes pure and may momentarily falter but ultimately triumphs.
Summary of Teachings:
The dialogue between Rama and Vasishta in these verses from the Yoga Vasishta addresses the fundamental human struggle with the influence of past tendencies (vasanas) and the path to Realization through self-effort. In verse 2.9.23, Rama expresses his sense of helplessness, feeling trapped by the momentum of his past actions. This sets the stage for Vasishta’s teachings, which emphasize personal agency and the transformative power of conscious effort. The verses highlight the dual nature of tendencies—auspicious and inauspicious—and the importance of steering one’s mind toward the positive to achieve lasting well-being.
Vasishta’s response in verses 2.9.24–2.9.27 underscores the centrality of self-effort (paurusha) in overcoming the binding effects of past tendencies. He acknowledges that tendencies, whether positive or negative, stem from prior actions and shape one’s present state. However, he encourages Rama to actively combat inauspicious tendencies through deliberate effort, assuring him that aligning with pure tendencies will lead to eternal spiritual fulfillment. This teaching reflects the text’s broader philosophy that Realization is not a passive process but requires active engagement and discipline.
In verses 2.9.28–2.9.29, Vasishta delves into the nature of Consciousness, asserting that Rama is not the physical body but Pure Awareness. He challenges the notion of an external entity controlling Consciousness, pointing out that such a view leads to an illogical infinite regress. This metaphysical insight reinforces the idea that the Self is autonomous and capable of directing its own destiny. By identifying with Pure Consciousness, one can transcend the limitations imposed by past tendencies and external influences.
Verses 2.9.30–2.9.32 employ the metaphor of a river to describe the flow of tendencies, which can lead to either auspicious or inauspicious outcomes. Vasishta urges Rama to use self-effort to channel this flow toward the positive, emphasizing that even a mind steeped in negative tendencies can be redirected. The final verse acknowledges the challenges of this process, noting that the mind may waver but can ultimately achieve purity through persistent effort. This reflects the Yoga Vasishta’s optimistic view of human potential, where transformation is always possible through disciplined action.
Overall, these verses encapsulate the Yoga Vasishta’s core teachings on self-reliance, the nature of Consciousness, and the power of intentional action. They encourage the practitioner to recognize their agency in shaping their spiritual path, overcome negative tendencies through effort, and align with the Eternal Truth of their conscious nature. This dialogue serves as both a philosophical treatise and a practical guide for navigating the complexities of the mind and achieving Realization.
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