THE YOGA VASISHTA (Abridged Version) by K.N.SUBRAMANIAN

                                                              

THE YOGA VASISHTA by K.N. SUBRAMANIAN is an abridged version of Abhinanda Pandit's LAGHU YOGA VASISHTA, with a brief synopsis to second half of NIRVANA PRAKARANAM.

Philosophy and that too, SELF REALIZATION is not an easy subject to study. SELF REALIZATION is a task of seeing the one beyond mind and which we try to do through mind. It requires immense amount of struggle, enquiry, deep thinking, logical analysis, ability to interpret everything from positive angle and above all, urge to know self. 

This book has an introduction to YOGA VASISHTAM , which is sufficient to know something about it. Then the book begins with, Sage Viswamitra asking Dasaratha to send Lord Rama along with him to kill rakshasas. After prolonged arguments, Dasaratha agrees to send. To everybody's dismay, Rama is found to have lost interest in all the worldly affairs and pleasures. Sage Vasishta, approaches him and asks him, why he is detached from everything? Rama answers with putting forth all his doubts regarding world, philosophy, self-realization, etc. Sage Vasishta answers them through various intricately woven stories, each embedded with the essence of Advaita philosophy. 

Stories are so breath taking, mind blowing, thought provoking and above all, priceless. When I read them and began thinking about them, I was awestruck at the various superb concepts which we come across in physics like parallel universes, relativity of time and space, evolution of earth etc. I simply couldn't think how they envisaged all those things without any experiments or technology. The explanations to various stories, which at first reading seem to be very confusing, is also wonderful.  Various stories are highly captivating and thought provoking. Also this books requires a careful and patient reading as chances of misinterpreting many stories, is there.

Overall, this book (Transalation by K L Subramanian) is worth reading once but after reading it, I felt an urge to read original work. No doubt its a very good treatise on Advaita doctrine. 

VEDIC THOUGHT AND WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY

VEDIC THOUGHT AND WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY by Dr.Shivaram Karikal, is one of the finest books I have read in recent times. Long time back, I had read Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra and in that book, author links the philosophy ( or rather various philosophies) with the various concepts of modern physics. I liked the book upto some point and later, found that, author got completely confused with the, Advaithic doctrines, Buddhist and Chinese doctrines; and in process almost merged all of them under single roof. I thought, at that time, that; Self Realization is not an easy one to be attained (as Somerset Maugham quoted from Katha Upanishad in his Razor's edge -- "The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.")  

This book was the first book I encountered, in which, author explained the philosophy from the Psychology point of view. I came across couple of books in which authors explained philosophy from science point of view; and especially Modern physics. (like MAYA in physics etc..).

The author beautifully began with an introduction to various western psychologies, their drawbacks in explaining some of the phenomena and how each succeeding theories contradict the prevailing ones etc etc. Later, he came to the Indian Philosophy and especially Advaitha philosophy and explained the various tough, tougher and toughest concepts with beautiful, line diagrams, analogies and analysis. He explained various human emotions from both Psychology and philosophy standpoints. I also liked the authors way of putting the Yoga as the best way of Psychoanalysis and also the following explanation in support of it. He ended the book with few exercises in YOGA and they are interesting. I don't want to tell much about this book as this would tamper your interest. The language in the book is highly technical and bit complicated in manner.

Final word is, I really owe a big thanks to the author for clearing the many doubts prevailing in the philosophy effortlessly and clearing my path, for the further quest. My big thanks and Best regards to the author  Dr.Shivaram Karikal. 

MYTH=MYTHOLOGY, My views

Today I finished a book, MYTH=MYTHOLOGY by Dr.Devdutt Patnaik. It was lucid, simple and logical in the way it was presented. I got to know many mythological characters and the stories related to them, which I otherwise wouldn't have bothered. I enjoyed the way he presented the famous stories in a readable way. I never lost any interest in it and the book is also small and simple.

 Nowhere, the author, deviated from the main crux of the Hinduism and he tried to give explanations to various rituals, symbols and incidents, occurring in our Mythology. I was shocked at one of the stories, where he puts forth the parallel universe theory in relation to that story.(mostly story related to Indra bothering Vishwakarma regarding his palace's construction). I also loved the way he explained the manifestation of supreme reality as gods and goddesses. He also tried to explain few tough concepts through, simple line diagrams and analogies.     

I had heard many of the stories, from my grandmother, old aunts and from my parents, and I found the discrepancies in his explanations. I found the explanation he gave in the Parasurama's story, to be not in par with the Dharma. It somehow, portrayed, slight disobedience of Parasurama towards his father. Not only that one, I also found, author, avoiding an interpretation of Varna-Ashrama Dharma. I also found few other, misinterpretations, but forgot at present.

Anyhow, I felt very happy, at finding a modern author, who, without spoiling our principles, projected the various mythological stories. Overall, one can give a single read, effortlessly and grab the positive aspects of our Dharma. Kudos, to Dr.Devdutt Patnaik.