Added: Aug 20, 2008
From: Gurugillies
Duration: 8:50
The Yoga Vasistha is the yoga of self-enquiry. This is in contrast to traditional yoga which assumes that the body and senses are real and is geared to mental mastery and higher states of consciousness. The traditional understanding and other spiritual practices can actually get in the way of self-enquiry. For example, the worship of a deity.Prahlada was a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He then practised self-enquiry. After realising the fruits of self-enquiry he rested in a yogic state of superconsciousness. In the meantime the netherworld has fallen into anarchy. Vishnu blows on his conch and awakens Prahlada.Prahlada's rule beckons in a time of harmony between gods, demons and humans.The merits of studying the story of Prahlada are mentioned.Sin is nothing other than ignorance which can be banished only by enquiry. Enquiry should never be abandoned. This means that every moment should be seen as an opportunity to practise.Rama asks why, if Prahlada was in a state of non-dual consciousness, he was awakened by Vishnu's conch.Why should Prahlada not have heard the conch sound? This indicates that Prahlada had withdrawn into a yogic state. If he'd been in a state of realisation then he would have heard the conch.Vasistha outlines the teachings of the jivanmukta and the videhamukta, enlightenment with or without a body. See chapter 40. This teaching is not relevant to the yoga of self-enquiry.
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Tags: body consciousness embodiment higher hindrance jivanmukta of prahlad self-enquiry spiritual states vishnu worship yoga
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