 Vedic Literature is another one of the specialties we have developed over the last 20 years. If you are interested in something not listed in the catalogue please call or email us, as we have many resources to obtain other selections. 
$16.00PaperbackDuet of OneRamesh BalsekarThis is my favorite book by Ramesh Balsekar (a direct disciple of Sri Nisargadatta.) I have read it and re-read it. Balskekar’s commentary on The Ashtravakra Gita (The Bible of Non-Duality) to me, offers wondrous insight into the preordained drama that we call life. The Ashtravakra Gita and Ramesh's commentary bring into sharp view what is real and what separates the real from all else. At first there may be fear created by this reality, but through acceptance it brings much peace, as all happens and unfolds as it should, and all action is predetermined. The main theme is that we are dreamers (in actuality there is only one dreamer), the dream being this life. When the time is opportune we awaken to the one reality. This awakening is inevitable and the time and place already set… all we need do and can only do is just carry on in the drama of every day life until that day when the drama becomes a comedy and the laughter begins to flow. Review by Tony Kainauskas 
$150.00Paperback: 4 Volume SetMahabharataTranslated by Kisari Mohan GanguliMahabharata, the great Indian epic, actually the longest literary work in history, literally means the great India (Bharata). It contains stories about human civilization — past, present and future. It has been said that, what is not in the Mahabharata is nowhere to be found. The edition by Ganguli is the only word for word unabridged translation of this great work in English. 
$40.00PaperbackMahabharataTranslated by Kamala SubramaniamI feel this is the best translation of the Mahabharata… unfortunately it is also edited, but If you would like to get your feet wet before embarking on the unabridged version, this is the one for you. 
$9.95PaperbackMahabharataTranslated by C. RajagopalachariA wonderful translation of the epic in a small, bite size, pocket edition. Wonderful as a first read of this work. 
$24.95PaperbackMahabharata for ChildrenDreamland PublicationsA great rendition of this immortal classic, for children. It is presented in 12 comic type books with color illustrations. 
$17.95PaperbackSwami PuranaSwami Satyananda SaraswatiA wonderful compendium of knowledge-filled stories from ancient India that read like fairy tales but are fun and instructive to people of any age or any walk of life. This volume is especially recommended for readers 12 and under. Delightful! 
$18.95PaperbackUnveiling Creation: Eight is the KeyNirmal and Derek PughThis a very complete exposition of the relation between the Constitution of the Universe as seen in the Rig Veda and different aspects of physical creation as seen through the eyes of modern science. In the second half of the book, the authors present examples to help give validation to their theories from many ancient civilizations - India, Greece, China, Persia, the Mayans, and others. Those who seek to tie together Vedic Science and Modern Science will especially find fulfillment in these pages. 
$24.95HardcoverAll Love Flows To The Self: Eternal Stories from the UpanishadsKumuda Reddy, Thomas Egenes & Linda EgenesThe Upanishads include some of the most beloved and illuminating stories from the vast literature of India's Vedic tradition. Adapted from the original text, these twelve tales tell the story of enlightenment in simple, poetic language that will appeal to both adults and children. A beautiful gift for a loved one or for oneself. 
$16.95PaperbackVastusutra UpanishadBoner, Sarma, & BaumerThe Essence of form in sacred art. This is the first known Atharvavedic text on image making. 
$12.95PaperbackBhagavad GitaTranslated by R. PrasadComplete eighteen chapters with Sanskrit, transliteration, and translation. The unique feature of this translation is the parallel references to each Gita verse with twenty-five other Vedic texts. Ramananda Prasad's translation of and commentary on the Bhagavad Gita (the Lord's Song) is one of my favorite works, of twenty different Gita translations I've collected over the years. Here's why. The Bhagavad Gita, 700-odd verses from the Mahabharata, is the distilled essence of Indian philosophy. It is one of the most often translated works in the world. Every translator brings his or her own awareness, values, and even biases to the task of bringing out the knowledge in this work. There is no single "right" interpretation of it; the range of love, spiritual insight, and wisdom revealed in various translations is wide. (In fact, I have seen one translation and commentary that could only be described as bizarre, even wrong-headed.) As you evaluate any translation of the Gita, turn first to verses 2:45 and 2:48. The translator's point of view, clarity of thought, and understanding of the metaphysics of Eastern scripture will be revealed there, both in the translation and the commentary. Dr. Prasad, the translator of this work, is from India, a strong point in his favor. I believe the most insightful and deep commentaries on the Gita come from India. Many Western, academically oriented translators entirely miss the point of Indian scripture. They describe Eastern scripture in dry, sterile terms that show a lack of understanding of the fundamental forces at work in nature: consciousness, creative intelligence, the power of spiritual disciplines, and so on. This work, on the other hand, shows clarity of thought, love of humanity, and love of God. It is true to the deepest, most profound principles of Indian thought and tradition. The author offers many parallels between the ideas of the Gita, other Vedic works such as the Rig Veda and the Upanishads, and even the Christian Bible. Each verse is presented in Devanagari script, transliteration, English translation, and, for most verses, commentary. The Devanagari script for verses the author considers most important are printed in red. Dr. Prasad remains true to the spiritual truths of each chapter, revealing deep metaphysical understandings needed to reach enlightenment. If you have read only the first six chapters of the Gita, as translated and explained brilliantly by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Dr. Prasad's work should be your next step. If you have not read the Gita before, this work is a wonderful entry point into Indian philosophy. If I could add a copy of another spiritual work to the bedside cabinet drawers of every lodging place in the world, this would be it. Review by Michael Maddox (not affiliated with the International Gita Society) 
$4.95PaperbackAshtavakra SamhitaSwami NityaswarupanandaA Vedantic text with terse poetic verses. It is actually a dialogue between the sage child prodigy, Ashtavakra (eight curves in the body), and King Janaka. Fundamental topics like wisdom, true seeker, desire, the master, and Shiva are expounded. This is the bible of Advaita philosophy. 
$9.00PaperbackBhagavad GitaTranslated by Juan MascaroClear translation but without commentary and notes. Mascaro also translated the Upanishads. This is my favorite translation of the Gita… it is poetic and sublime. Review by Tony Kainauskas. 
$38.95PaperbackBhagavad GitaTranslated by Winthrop SargeantTranslated by Winthrop Sargeant, This is the only complete and accurate translation that provides an inter-linear word for word translation along with the devanagari characters and their transliteration. 
$19.95HardcoverBrahma-Sutra Byasya of SankaracaryaSwami GambhiranandaSankaracarya once more revivified the Vendanta philosophy. In the Upanishads the arguments are often very obscure. He worked out, rationalized, and placed before men the wonderful coherent system of Advaita. 
$10.00PaperbackDurga Puja BeginnerDevi MandirA perfect place to start learning the worship of the Divine Mother, in Sanskrit, Bengali and English. 44 pages 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 Bold Type 
$10.00PaperbackShiva Puja BeginnerDevi MandirA perfect place to start learning the worship of Lord Shiva, in Sanskrit, Bengali and English. 40 pages 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 Bold Type 
$22.95PaperbackCosmic PujaDevi MandirDerived from the Chandi Path, the Cosmic Puja describes methods of worship the Divine Mother in her forms as Mahalakshmi, Mahasarasavati, and Mahakali. Included is the "Panch Devata Puja," the worship of the five divisions of the Hindu Dharma: Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Ganesh, and the nine planets. Other pujas, not widely available, are the Yantra Puja, Agni Prajvalitam (enkindling of sacred fire), Nyasas of Matrika, Bahya Matrika, and many more. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$12.95PaperbackDevi GitaDevi MandirThe Divine Mother said, "I will take birth in the home of Himalaya. With the questions of Himalaya, the teachings of the Devi Gita begin." The answers to these and other questions are presented in the original Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. Now available in paperback. 
$10.00PaperbackGanesh PujaDevi MandirGanesh Puja contains forms of Vedic, Puranic, and modern worship. It is full and complete, and its recitation fills the worshipper with the bhava of Ganesha. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$19.95PaperbackHanuman PujaDevi MandirHanuman Puja, the worship of the blessed servant of the Lord, will fill our monkey minds with divinity. The orthodox system of Hanuman Puja includes complete Pujas for Ganesha, Guru, and Nava Grahana, as well as Shiva, Durga and Rama. The text includes the Hanuman Calisa, Bajaranga Bana, Sankata Mocan, Sankshipta Homa and all offerings, and much more in the original Sanskrit, Hindi, transliteration, and English translation.
$12.95PaperbackThe Guru and the Goddess: Includes Sri Guru Gita, Kasyapa Sutra, and Lalita TrisatiDevi MandirThe first section is a translation and commentary of the KASYAPA SUTRAS. The second is a Sanskrit text and translation of the GURU GITA. The third is a Sanskrit text and translation of the LALITA TRISHATI STOTRAM, a definition of Sri Vidya, an explanation of the Sri Cakra Yantra, and exposition of three hundred names of the Divine Mother. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$25.50PaperbackChandi Path: Chants to Mother DivineDevi MandirThe Chandi Path is the story of how She manifests in the lives of devotees to facilitate the recapture of divine authority from the demonic forces, to fill our lives with love, respect, devotion, and a sense of meaningful purpose. In studying the Chandi Path we learn how to create a balance between Two Little and Too Much, how to surrender the arrogance of the Great Ego, and how to cut through the selfishness of Self Conceit and Self Deprecation. Also included are the Prayoga and Upasamhara Pujas. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$22.00PaperbackKali PujaDevi MandirKali is the Goddess who takes away darkness. She cuts down all impurities, consumes all iniquities, purifies Her devotees with the sincerity of Her Love. Now we can worship Her according to the ancient tradition. Presented in original Sanskrit, a Romanized phonetic transliteration, and a complete English translation. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$22.95PaperbackSiva Puja and Advanced YajnaDevi MandirThis advanced Puja contains a beginner's Puja, an intermediate Puja, an advanced Puja, and a complete system for fire sacrifice. The yajna is the union between the fires burning in the ajna cakra, the light of meditation, and the howan kunda, the sacrificial altar. This union allows the sacrifice of all egotism and duality. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$19.95PaperbackLakshmi Puja: 1,000 names of LakshmiDevi MandirLakshmi is the Goddess of Wealth—our goals, values, or aspirations. Lakshya means goal and Lakshmi manifests our goals or what we value. Lakshmi Puja consists of the 1000 names of Lakshmi, Her puja, japa, and nyasa. The text is in the original Sanskrit along with Romanized phonetic transliteration, and translation in English provided by Swami Satyananda. 
$8.00PaperbackSaraswati Puja for ChildrenDevi MandirSaraswati presides over Music, Art, Philosophy, and Literature. She is the Goddess worshipped by all students who long for progress in their studies. Saraswati Puja for Children is small enough that youngsters can begin, and large enough so that older children will still find value. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$19.95PaperbackRudrastadhyayi: Eight Chapters of Shukla Yajur Veda (Also known as Rudri)Devi MandirThe eight chapters of the Shukla Yajur Veda, which are especially beloved by Lord Shiva, show that all existence is within us and that we are One with all creation and One with God. It is also commonly known as Rudri. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$20.00PaperbackThousand Names of Vishnu and the Satya Narayana VratDevi MandirThe Thousand Names of Vishnu comes from the Mahabharata, and describes a thousand qualities and attributes of the Supreme Divinity. The Satya Narayana Vrat is the vow to speak and act in truth, the most important sadhana for the Kali Yuga. Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$19.95PaperbackGayatri SahasranamDevi MandirThe Thousand Names of Gayatri shares the most succinct philosophies, the most subtle ethics, the greatest ideals of spiritual perfection, expressed in alphabetical order, with rhymes and musical tones in harmonic convergence, and rhythms in orders of mathematical perfection, all in one composition. One has to bow in awe and reverence at the majesty of thought presented by the rishis! Contains Sanskrit, transliteration, and English translation. 
$15.00PaperbackPronunciation and the Chandi SamputsDevi MandirContains a collection of stories about sadhus' chanting, and about the constituent ingredients of intention, motivation, sincerity, attention, bhava, and understanding. It shares an outline of the history of Sanskrit literature, and details the origins of transliteration into Roman characters. It discusses the various styles of chanting among sadhus, and describes the differences in the alphabets of the different languages of India. Then it details the Sadhana of the Chandi: different ways of chanting for different purposes. Ultimately it defines many of the Chandi Samputs, and describes the siddhis for which each would be employed. It's a small book—a simple book—but I think it is very important for students of Sanskrit. 
$55.00CDBhagavad Gita on 10 Audio CD's: Sanskrit and EnglishChanting of the complete Gita, in Sanskrit and English. 
$29.95CDDevi Mahatmya: 3 CD'sChanting of the Devi Mahatmya (also known as Chandi Path). 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series (New Edition) : GaneshChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series (New Edition) : VishnuChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series (New Edition) : ShivaChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series (New Edition) : SaraswatiChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series (New Edition) : LakshmiChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series (New Edition) : DurgaChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series (New Edition) : HanumanChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$13.00PaperbackThe Legend of Bagger Vance: A Novel of Golf and the Game of LifeSteven PressfieldThis book is the "real deal." The movie was pretty good, but did not do justice to greatness of the book. I don't need to give you a long review on this one, just trust me and read it. This one belongs at the top of your list. It is deep and it is subtle and it is very close to eternal truths. Review by Len Oppenheim. 
$4.95PaperbackGods and Goddesses of India Series : BrahmaChaturvediOne of the best series around on Indian deities. Each book is about 100 pages. They each contain symbolism and authentic stories related to the deities, gathered from the Purunas. Well known hymns, prayers, and rituals of the deities are also included. Verses in Sanskrit and transliteration. Series consists of Ganesh, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, and Hanuman. 
$11.00PaperbackUpanishadsJuan MascaroMascaro's poetic translation has been praised by many, including Tagore. The strength of this translation lies in its clear and elegant rendering. 
$20.00PaperbackBhagavad Gita, A New Translation and Commentary, Chapters 1 - 6Maharishi Mahesh YogiThis was first published in 1967. As Maharishi points out in the preface, truth and eternal wisdom are available in the Veda. The absolute, unchanging nature of truth underlies the relative, always changing nature of the manifest universe. Although the underlying truth is independent of time, man’s perception of truth changes with time. There are times when mankind and societies are closer to the truth, and other times when the truth is obfuscated by the blinding influence of the phenomenal world. Mankind has been fortunate to enjoy the revival of truth from time to time as the great teachers and masters of different epochs have expounded it. However, because ultimate Truth is subtle and non-linear in nature, language is an inadequate medium to convey Truth. For example, that which the Buddha knew, he may have been able to communicate to his closest disciples, but as the message gets passed on from one generation to the next inevitably it is subject to change and a diminution of its accuracy and efficacy. The analogy most commonly used is of the party game, called the "telephone game", when one person tells a story which is passed on to each person, one at a time, until it arrives back to the originator in a very distorted manner. It is Maharishi’s purpose in writing this commentary "to restore the fundamental truths of the Bhagavad Gita, and thus restore the significance of its teaching." In my opinion, one of Maharishi’s greatest contributions to the intellectual grasp of enlightenment or higher states of consciousness, is his explanation of how for many generations seekers have been confusing the path with the goal. Maharishi does an incredible job of explaining how the concept or doctrine of non-attachment has been misunderstood by most seekers as referring to "an attitude" when in fact it refers to a state of consciousness. Rather than my trying, in my inept way, to explain this in greater detail, I say go right to the Master, and read this wonderful book. If you have read other translation or commentaries on The Gita, but you have not read this one, you have a real treat in store. This was another "no-brainer" to include in our selections of "Books You Can’t Live Without". Review by Len Oppenheim. Please note this title is currently out of stock with publisher. Please contact us for updates. 
$14.95PaperbackBhagavad GitaTranslated by Swami ChidbhavanandaIn Sanskrit. The commentary is translated from Swami Chidbhavananda's original Tamil. The perfect guide to those who aspire to build a perfect personality. From Ramakrishna Order.There is nothing whatsoever higher than me, Dhananjaya. All this is strung on me, as rows of gems on a string. 1004 pgs (Indian edition) 
$32.95PaperbackThe Concise Yoga VasisthaTranslated by Swami VenkateshanandaIntroductionFor a period of about two years, The Yoga Vasistha was the only book that I read. I found it so potent and so entertaining that, thanks to Tony at 21st Century Books, I collected many versions and read them over and over again. (Sorry, Tony, for driving you nuts with all of those special orders!) Of all of the versions extant, this one was and still is my favorite. It is an ancient classic, reminiscent of a Purana or of the epic Ramayana itself, presented as a series of short stories narrated by various persons, with one unique distinction. While most Hindu scriptures were narrated by God to His devotees, The Yoga Vasistha was narrated to God himself. It is the essence of the Vedantic teachings of the sage Sri Vasistha, imparted to Rama immediately before the latter realized his true status. According to Sri Vasistha: "He is qualified to study this scripture who is neither totally ignorant nor enlightened, whose intelligence has not been silenced by a firm faith in the reality of this illusory world and the pleasures in it. The wise endeavor to remove the sorrow of those who are therefore ripe to undertake self-enquiry." As the story begins, Rama is a young man who has just finished his formal education and, being a prince, is about to embark on a career of heroic deeds in his father's kingdom, when a deep dispassion suddenly overtakes him. He determines that he must first know the highest truth at all cost, and demands to know of his elders: "Who are those heroes who have freed themselves from delusion? What methods did they adopt to free themselves? If you consider that I am neither fit nor capable of understanding this, I shall fast unto death." And so saying, he remains silent. Every time I read this it gives me quite a thrill. I feel that if Sri Vasistha's reply is good enough for Rama, it is good enough for me. It is also reassuring to hear that even a very deep despondency is not necessarily pathological when viewed as a part of the big picture. TheoryProcess and ContentThe Yoga Vasistha is a masterpiece of process as well as content. By "process," I refer to the many literary devices which are used to keep the reader's interest engaged. By "content," I refer to the Vedantic teachings which are embedded in the stories and even within the devices themselves. For example, consider the following exchange between Sri Vasistha and Rama: Rama: How can ignorance and egotism arise in the Self? The Yoga Vasistha follows its own advice, and employs many "suitable aids and tricks" throughout. The text is so highly organized that often the way that a story is presented seems to emulate what is being talked about within the story. Process and content thus become equally instructive mirror images of one another. This fairly short version of the text includes about fifty stories and ten discourses, averaging about a half dozen pages each. All of them present the highest Vedantic knowledge, but different stories bring out different aspects of the teaching. I would like to focus here on one general point which is brought out in several different ways, of which I shall mention but three. There's No Such Thing as "Context"My dictionary defines "context" as, "surrounding conditions, the circumstances or events that form the environment within which something exists or takes place." The Yoga Vasistha is perhaps best known for the many colorful ways in which it shows us that, compared to the infinite contrast between reality and illusion, all other merely circumstantial distinctions are literally non-existent, as all forms of illusion have the same amount of reality: nil. The Yoga Vasistha shatters context in all of its many forms. In the end, no amount of presumed context can alter the fact that there is nothing but Self, which expresses itself as being, consciousness, and bliss. There simply are no layers, levels, curtains or veils separating "us" from "It." If, as Sri Vasistha tells us, the illusory world is paper-thin—a puff of colored smoke—then we don't have to "go through channels" to get to the Self; we are always closer to God than we think. On every page, in every story, we are reminded that, contrary to appearances, we are never really dealing with the "parts" of life; it's never not about wholeness. This line of thinking is constantly re-iterated in numerous creative ways throughout The Yoga Vasistha, and is very effective in drawing us out of our spiritual complacency. No "Frames of Reference"One of the main ways in which this point is made is by showing us that there is no real difference between various frames of reference. Here is an example, which illustrates this from "The Story of Vitahavya." Rama: If the creation of the Sage (Vitahavya) was fictitious and imaginary, how were the embodied beings in it conscious and sentient? As an illustration of my own, I'd like to tell you "The Story of the Tap on the Nose," and it goes like this: What if I were telling you about a dream that I had, and in this dream a man is watching a movie, and in this movie a girl is telling a joke, and in this joke one boy gives another boy a tap on the nose and, in the spirit of demonstration, I reach out and give you a tap on the nose? That one tap would suffice to dispel our mutual illusion that the dream, movie or joke (or any combination thereof) constitutes a real and substantial barrier between us. No "Others"Perhaps the most entertaining dimension of this point is that in which Sri Vasistha shows us that there are no real differences between the various protagonists within a given story. One of the most striking tales in the whole text is "The Story of the Hundred Rudras," in which Sri Vasistha narrates a fable with layer upon layer of identity changes, which I have abridged as: "There once lived a mendicant who was devoted to meditation. One day he fancied birth as a common tribesman (and so became one). One day this tribesman got drunk and dreamt that he was a powerful king who indulged in royal pleasures and then slept and dreamt of a celestial nymph. This nymph dreamt she was a deer and this deer dreamt it was a creeper. The inner intelligence in the creeper saw in its own heart a bee. It therefore became a bee and the bee began to drink the nectar in the flowers on the creeper. At night an elephant approached this creeper and plucked it, along with the bee, and crushed it in its mouth. The elephant was captured by a king, but because it had seen swans in the nearby lake it became a swan. One day, while the mendicant was meditating upon the swan, he was overcome by death. In his heart there arose the conviction, "I am Rudra" and the memory of all that had taken place." In this quote we find no solid lines between any of the characters. We also find no clear divisions between human, plant and animal, sentience and insentience, and even life and death. In other stories are many examples of non-distinction between states of mind, cause and effect, earthly and celestial realms, past, present, and future, etc. In this story, each new object quickly becomes a subject, and vice versa. Throughout all of the transformations of name and form, however, the true identity of the protagonist never changes. Even though it is the only constant, its nature can only be hinted at. One would like to have something with which to compare it, an example of some type, but you guessed it… No "examples"Turning again to my dictionary, I see that it defines "example" as, "something that is representative by virtue of having similar features." Sri Vasistha shows us that, since there is nothing else like the Self, no mental image is truly capable of representing it, and since we are never really away from the Self, no example can bridge the imagined gap between it and the illusion of its absence. This leads to the curious paradox that, while on the one hand no example is adequate to represent the Self, on the other hand, since only the Self IS, everything reminds me that "I am," and even the least example captures the Self perfectly and completely. Like William Blake's infinity in a grain of sand, any one name or form becomes a perfect proxy for the whole of creation. Ironically, it seems that, although one can never really talk about Vedanta, one is always having a Vedantic discussion. Nothing is true, but everything is Truth itself. I have noticed in my own life that, as my thinking shifts gradually from Veda to Vedanta, I find increasingly that which I encounter that strikes me as "true," yet at the same time I seem to be losing my capacity to reject anything at all. This perspective presented in The Yoga Vasistha would seem to simplify many issues. For example, the famous question in Buddhism as to whether or not a beetle (or a rock) has "Buddha-nature" (consciousness, soul, etc.) becomes moot because, without context, we are not able to exclude any "parts" from the whole in order to make and apply this distinction. Fortunately, it also clarifies the whole notion of trying to improve upon one's relative personality and lot in life (prarabdha karma). Just as in a dream, I need not transform myself from being sick, poor, and foolish (all of which I currently am!) to being healthy, wealthy, and wise in order to "wake up" to my true Self-nature. I need not devote precious time to polishing my waking-state defects, which are, after all, downstream from my true nature. I don't really want to fix my dream, I want to wake up! Eventually, the implications of the general assertion that there is no such thing as context become more and more global until they obviate such mainstay constructs of everyday life as memory and meaning and, as we saw at the end of the quote from "The Story of Vitahavya," even the manifest world itself. PracticeThe art of thinking backwards: Self-enquiry in The Yoga VasisthaThe rampant disregard for every kind of boundary which we have seen in The Yoga Vasistha makes one stop and wonder: what is to keep the story from turning around at any time, facing backwards, and demanding to know, "who are you (the subject of your experience) that is reading this review (an object of your experience)?" And, "who am I (the all-important "subject" to me, but just another "object" to you) that is typing it?" And, "who are we really?" Sri Vasistha tells Rama that, while there is ultimately no difference between the subject and objects of experience (as we saw in "The Story of the Hundred Rudras"), in practice we must assume that there is until such assumption is experientially proven otherwise. The key to self-discovery is therefore said to be the development of the specific ability to distinguish clearly between the subject and objects of experience. This point is referred to explicitly in many places, for example, from "The Story of Bali": "Pure consciousness is but a word, it has no name. I am the eternal subject, free from all object and predicate." As this quote suggests, although in theoretical terms it is but a part of the subject-object pair, in practical terms, the subject of experience is our direct link to the "pure subjectivity" of the Self and may be traced back to it! As Vedantic teachers have long been telling us, 1) we must turn our attention "inwards" or "backwards" toward the source of thought, and 2) the isolated subject of experience, the simple thought, "I," unassociated with any object, is the most effective "vehicle" on which to focus our attention while doing so. Having a clear rationale for identifying the most potent instrument for inner work is a good start, but this understanding is as far as we can go relying on theory alone. Fortunately, The Yoga Vasistha offers an extremely potent technique to increase our awareness of the Self, or rather to increase our awareness that we are the Self. Throughout the text, Sri Vasistha is resolute in stating that the most direct path out of ignorance is regular practice of the technique of "self-enquiry" (atma vichara). In "The World Within the Rock", Sri Vasistha tells Rama that, "Vain argumentation is like boxing with space," and exhorts him to undertake this technique to liberate himself from the world-illusion. In the truly amazing "Story of Shikhidvaja and Cudala," Sri Vasistha shows us the enlightened Queen Cudala (who is impersonating a Brahman boy named Kumbha in order to instruct her King, Shikhidvaja) saying, "All austerities are indirect methods. Why should one not adopt the direct method of self-knowledge?" So often is this technique mentioned and so highly is it praised that I suggest that The Yoga Vasistha may best be viewed as a Purana-like treatise on its efficacy. The value of self-enquiry and glowing descriptions of its results are specifically elaborated in several other stories, including "The Story of Dama, Vyala and Katha" and "The Story of Ghadi." Sri Vasistha even guides Rama step-by-step through the technique in "The Story of the Foolish Elephant" and again in a discourse section titled "The Importance of Self-Effort." Speaking of the role of individual effort in spiritual practice (sadhana), let us take a closer look at it. Tough love, Vedanta-styleIn many different ways, Sri Vasistha encourages us to cultivate a genuine curiosity about the unique question, "who am I?" Nurturing a fascination with this question is said to be true self-directed research in consciousness, and is preferable to following, with the surface of our minds, the pronouncements of any Teacher, however qualified. After all, you are here and Sri Vasistha is not (except as your own Self), which means that only you can do the work that needs to be done to secure your freedom. I believe that a lot of long-time seekers, having spent many years practicing object-based meditation, will intuitively recognize the value of practicing self-enquiry. One reason that more such capable people do not actively practice it (as distinct from reading, thinking and talking about it) is undoubtedly that it is simple but hard, whereas we would all prefer to spend our time on spiritual pursuits that are complex but easy. The effort required to practice the technique is no doubt exacerbated by two prevalent myths. The first is that, "since the ego is what needs to be transcended, it is an unsuitable tool for inner work." While it is true that the ego is the enemy, it has excellent connections to the Self. What better strategy could there be than to harness one's adversary, put him to work and follow him to his home, especially as that home is also our goal? After all, what is more potent than the enemy? When used properly, even snake venom makes powerful medicine. The second myth is that, "the path to the natural state should be easy." This sounds good, and I would sure like to believe that it's true, but in my heart I know that it's not. As long as we are willing to accept the "illusion of control" of our lives, we must also accept the "illusion of responsibility" for our inner growth, and apply ourselves earnestly to this most important activity. We are constantly engaging our faculty of discrimination anyway. If we were able to apply the same amount of energy to finding and holding the "I"-thought as we put into, say, choosing a movie or a restaurant, our work would be done that much quicker. Full speed backwards!I'd like to invite you to take one step backwards with me as you finish reading this review. Here's what I suggest: First, just notice that thoughts pass almost continuously through your mind without any real authorship on your part. Next, ask yourself "to whom do these thoughts come?" An inner response in the form of a sense or feeling of "I"-ness will naturally come to mind by itself. Now, ask yourself, "who is this 'I'?", or "who am I?" Some thing from some where inside of you will resonate, as if to say, "here I am, it's me!" This is the "I"-thought, the object of your enquiry. Notice the direction from which it came, and that it just simply feels different from any and every other thought in your mind. Do you know that special feeling that you get when you find your face in a group photograph? It is the thrill of recognizing that which is most intimate and charming, the thought of one's own self, and it definitely has its own unique feeling. Hold onto this feeling and it will lead you back the way it came. Since it is the "I"-thought, by holding onto it you will naturally come to identify yourself with it. It will therefore soon change from being an object-"I" (the object of your search) into the subject-"I" (you.) The shifting of identity to this "new" (subject) "I" is the crucial "backwards step", and is automatic once you have found and held onto the "I"-thought. Now starting from here, you (as this "new subject-I") can again ask, "who am I?", from a position that is one step closer to the Self. Congratulations! You have just taken one step backwards in self-enquiry. The overall process is not a matter of taking many superficial steps in quick succession, it is a matter of getting the feeling of taking one single step, holding onto that feeling and repeating the process from time to time during any kind of activity (not just when sitting with eyes closed). If you're like me it is hard work, but taking even one step in this direction can change your whole perspective. This, finally, is true sadhana, something worthy of all of the intensity of attention that we can bring to bear upon it. Beyond this, Sri Vasistha tells us that there is nothing more we can do. As he tells Rama at the end of The Yoga Vasistha, "Dear Rama, now remain rooted in wisdom." You won't need to spend two years with this classic saga to come to love it as I do. I hope that you'll begin your friendship with it today by driving Tony a little more nuts with a rush order. For theory, practice, and high entertainment, The Concise Yoga Vasistha is nearly impossible to beat. Review by Michael Baxter 
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