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My sincere thanks to J. Muir, whose Poems I have quoted in these pages, from
his well known Metrical Translations, of the Sanskrit Writers, and also to Irene
Ward, Grace Curtis and Clare Mc Kinney for their wonderful help in the revision
of this volume.
The Author
INTRODUCTION
We have two Yoga Vashishts, one going under the name great, the
other small.
This is the small book; both hooks are the work of the Rishi Vashisht, and it is
the book for those who are seeking truth but not for the ignorant. It is the best
book on wisdom and gives seven states of wisdom by understanding the liberation
easily to be attained, and it also gives us the seven states of ignorance. It gives
spiritual food for those who hunger. "No one can miss the God consciousness within,"
Swami Ram Tritha once said. It is true and I agree with the Swami. It is the best
work for self realization. In it, one will find the answer to, who created this
universe; the cause of and how to cure diseases. It reveals the mastery of the Kundalini,
the Mother of the Universe, and her power; how to perform levitation, and the secret
of the long lived Yogi. How to master mind, and control matter and all the miseries
of the world. In the story of Bali, it gives us encouragement and faith, that even
a great egoist can attain liberation,—the goal of the Yogi or the truth seeker.
More than a year ago, I was at Los Angeles and for the first time, heard that
the truth seekers were searching for this book.
Many asked if I would get some copies of it, for them. I wrote to India and also
tried here, but was unable to find a copy. I then advertised in Europe but could
not find it there.
A student of mine, in Los Angeles, brought a copy to my class but the owner refused
to part with it, even when offered thirty dollars. I then decided to translate this
work for the truth-seeker.
The reader will find this work contains the records of spiritual truths, the
secret doctrine or eternal teaching of the Munis and Rishis, of India.
The ideals are wonderfully clear. They always begin on the gross and gradually
take the student to a higher and finer stage of self realization. They do that because
the thought, at first, is undeveloped, but step by step becomes finer and finer.
The Hindus in their attempt to find a solution to the problems of life and death
in the external world, failed, as the nations of the West do to-day. They found
that the senses could not help them in the problems of life, therefore, they gave
up the external world and turned their attentions upon the internal. They gave all
their time to the study of the Atma, which gave them finally, the solution of the
problems of life and death. Their teachings give us a glimpse of the Atma that is
the Absolute. They found that the individual soul is no other than the Brahma, Himself.
Those readers who will follow closely the teachings of this work and concentrate
upon them will surely reach the goal "where the sun cannot shine, nor the moon nor
the stars—the lightning cannot illumine, how can they? For when the Self shines,
all shine."
I have put here the way my Master taught me about this work, for the benefit
of the truth-seeker.
It is the guidance for the daily life. The work of the Great Master, who has
it made so very easy, by illustrations.
THE AUTHOR.
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VRIDDHA CHANAKYA XV. 10
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The list of books is long; mishaps arise
To bar the student's progress; Life is brief;
Whatever, then, in books is best and chief.
The essence, kernel—that attracts the wise.
J. Muir—Metrical Translation.
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