Renunciation & Salvation-Yoga-Vasistha

Every one speaks of the spiritualism of the East: some in tones of contempt, others in a spirit of uninformed wonder. It seems paradoxical that the land, where lofty ideals were enunciated and the highest points of metaphysical speculations reached, should be regarded as being under-developed. The explanation of this paradox is that a country is judged today by purely material standards. The extent of industrialisation, the abundance of mechanical devices and technical skill stand for progress. Even in the realm of reading, the daily news paper, with its emphasis on crime and quarrel, has taken the place of books which stimulate thought and inspire lofty conduct. It is well, therefore, that from time to time, we should be recalled to a realisation of the higher values of life.

Parallel to the philosophy of Karma, preached by Lord. Krsna to Prince Arjuna on the battle-field of Kuruksetra, there is a (so a philosophy of Renunciation and Salvation taught by Vasistha to Prince Rama.

In the Bhagavad-Gita Arjuna, the mighty Pandava archer, comes to spiritual grief to (ere the first arrow is shot) a crisis of conscience. He finds himself arrayed against his Kaurava cousins. How to fight them and whom to kill and whom to spare-in much the same manner as the British vacillated before the declaration of the First World War against their cousins, the Germans.

Lord Krsna, who was acting as Arjuna's charioteer on the field of battle, had then preached the "Bhagvad-Gita," India's philosophy of Karma or selfless service (adding 'Nothing dies and nothing is killed'. Do your duty irrespective of whatever result might follow, 'as Baba Parmanand Bharathi would put it today.

The Yoga-Vasistha is a work which deserves to be better known. It will be like a breath of pure air, a ray of sunlight. It will take us into regions where fraud and deceit and greed do not exist and will bring us into contact with what is good and great.