Extraordinary Good Luck

Warming up

The ancient yoga book Yoga Vasistha of 29,000 slokas, or verses, is formed as a dialogue between Rama and the sage Vasistha, who says among other things, "Talk of duality ... the enlightened ones laugh at all this."

Illustrations, such as of fables and parables and paintings, often help beginners in field after field. Analogies, similes and metaphors should not be taken literally; they are more like indications, and "the comparison halts" by necessity. Hence, one does well not to stretch the significance of illustrations beyond the intention, says the Yoga Vasistha. It is the longest text in Sanskrit after the epic poems Mahabharata and Ramayana. It teaches Advaita (Non-dualist) Vedanta.

Swami Venkatesananda tells the scripture contains theories that seem extremely important - health hints, instructions for meditation, and romantic stories. And whether the world is real or unreal, Vasistha says: "It is better to think of something else" and direct the attention towards the source within and get face to face with the mind, as mind itself is pure consciousness in essence.

Assorted teachings from the ancient yoga classic Yoga Vasistha [cf. Su] follow.

Vasistha Points

Vasistha, "You have indeed reached the door to emancipation (for) ordinary life itself is the supreme state — Movement (vibration) and limited consciousness (thought) are one and the same. (etc)."

The Self is realised in the body only with effort.

When the infinite vibrates, the worlds appear to emerge.

Decent practice runs towards non-efforts

WHAT SHALL I do in this loka of world-appearances? [132]

If you want to practice it [good Zen too], you must be earnest, careful and meticulous - have the right view. [cf. Prz 152] ◊

What is so extraordinary and wonderful about ... psychic powers? [359]

If seemingly former and unmodified deep mind attains to assuming individuality - maybe contemplation-fitted fares and boons help good luck. Judo is one such asset

THEY SAY the Lord assumes individuality. [cf. 355]

The enlightened one is not characterised by characteristics. [359]

The supreme can be attained without the least effort. [cf. 255]

The enlightened person could be the back of your mind.

Unbroken awareness in the garb of pure consciousness is the supreme contemplation [i.e. meditation]. [cf. 255]

It may well be that what is well designed to be at the background and fit in at that place, hardly thrives in some foreground or limelight. ◊

The supreme ... is unmodified consciousness. [255]

The unconditioned others deserve non-motivational friends - they could even be the very best of friends

VARIOUS fruits of ignorance are in part transcendental, and yet ... [cf. 234]

"They who know the mind say the mind is the "I". ... This ego-sense is but a word. Give it up ... [give up that verbal] conditioning. [355]

Attain to the unconditioned self-knowledge - some call it atma-jnana. [cf. 355] ◊

This is something to keep some of the good old friends: "The skilled analytical approach helps one in being and remaining authentic, and is especially favourable in the face of the hitherto mystical. A very intellectual procedure is often slow too, yet it can be the first step upwards - at times towards higher attainments." [cf. Prz 61]

On the voyage toward enlightenment there could be many skerries.

The actions of one who has attained self-knowledge may be non-volitional ... not agitated by others; not agitating others. [cf. 359]

Perfection gives world-pleasures too.

This mind is like a cloud of ignorance. It had better abstain from all concepts and precepts to improve. [Advanced TM is for that.] [cf. 183]

Omnipresent guru mind is without beginning and end. That is also known as existence or reality. [cf. 274] This can be an awful thing to tell your friends: "There are many who pretend to despise that which is beyond their reach. (American proverb)" [Ak 500] ◊

Seek just helpful notions.

Various truths are different from the end state 'truth'

THEY SAY Truth is omnipresent and can be referred to in various ways. [cf. 234]

Gist

1. Decent practice on and up runs towards non-efforts.
2. Assuming individuality, contemplation-fitted fares and boons could favour good luck itself.
3. The unconditioned others deserve non-motivational friends - they could even be the very best of friends.
4. The end state is spoken of in different ways.

If you are lazy, it might reflect solid worth inside yourself. And individuality could favour good luck too. The very best friends need no motivations to be your best friends. They just are friends to be reckoned with.