Vision of Reality (An Old and Rare Book)

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From the well-known Indian Philosopher Mahamaho- padhyay Sri Gopinath Kaviraj, M.A., D.Litt., Padma Bibhusban:

I have gone through the contents of the above work. with great care and attention. It has impressed me as a very useful handbook for a practical student of Vedanta aspiring after Self-realisation. The major portion of the work is a brief resume of the 'Yoga Vasistha Ramayana summing up its main teachings under certain well-marked broad heads from the initial Vairagya (Detachment and Renunciation) up to the final Nirvana (Absolution). The discourses on the Falsity of the world, quiescence through extinction of vasanas and manas, essential character of the pure Atma and the way to its realisation, contemplation, Jivanmukti and Nirvana are all admirably written and reflect true insight in the writer who has spent most of his life in pursuit of these truths. It is not easy for an ordinary man in quest of Vedantic knowledge to take full advantage of a recondite work like the Yoga-Vasishtha, but he may be immensely benefited by a smaller book like the one under notice which teaches the same truths in a way more intelligible to him. The concluding section of the book embodies certain practical lessons of earlier teachers based upon Rama Gita and (Laghu) Vakyavritti. The language of the discourses is simple and elegant and its general presentation is consistent with the nature of the topics dealt with.

In view of the intrinsic merit of the work it may be reasonably hoped that it will command a wide circulation among earnest students of Vedanta.

This book is a slightly amplified form of my doctoral Thesis, examined by Profs. R. N. Smart of U. K., T. M. P. Mahadevan of Madras and T. R. V. Murti of Banaras. It shows the path to Self-realisation by a comparative and constructive study of Advaitism, in both its earlier and later phases, as found in Yogavāsistha Ramayan and the works of great Sankaracharya. The synthesis of the two phases of Vedanta philosophy has been here established by a detailed study of the representative work of the two great Masters.

The Appendix, not forming a part of the Thesis and consisting of Six Lectures, since delivered in India and outside, has been added as eminently illustrating the same subjectmatter as has been treated in the Thesis itself.

My sincere good wishes and benediction go to "Bodha- Bhaskar" Basantalal Chuke, "Saraswati", "Adwaita-hriday", President of all the Four Adwaita Universities in Nepal for his actively encouraging me in the matter of publishing this Book. My good wishes are also due to Sriman Sankar Chakravarty and Sri Bhabesh Chandra Sarkar: for the former's rendering various services, including proof- corrections and suggestions for the printing and get-up of the book; and the latter's helping me in various ways.