One of the key texts in Indian spiritual tradition is the Yogavasishtam. It explains practically all of the different spiritual experiences and ideas that fall within the broad umbrella of the tradition. It is one of the oldest expositions and contains many crucial ideas from the well-known Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita is paralleled in Yogavasishtam by the tale of Arjuna and the yoga of disinterest and detachment. The interaction that typically occurs between a teacher and a pupil is vividly portrayed in the Yogavasishtam literature. The exhibition lasts for about twenty days and is virtually continuously on display from sunrise to sunset. The audience included a diverse group of individuals, ranging from average citizens with basic interests to erudite sages and gods.The setting seems to be in the vast palace gardens in a recess of cleared ground flanked by huge, tall trees with crowns of dense foliage with the sky as canopy. This may be the reason why Vasishta draws heavily from the analogy of tree and cloud apart from the idea of mirage. The exposition is such that all propositions, and hypotheses are explained in great detail with illustrative stories and logical elaborations. Yogavasishtam contains its own annotations and commentary and hence the enormous length. This attempt at translation of this great work is at the instance of my Guru, Sir Shiva Balayogi Maharaj. Several years ago, in a rare moment of communion and compassion, he suggested why dont you translate Yogavasishtam into English. There is no unabridged version of it in English. You know Telugu, English and some Sanskrit. Initial reaction of mine was a shudder Do you really mean it, Swamiji Where am I and where is that great book.