“The wise move through life like a lotus on water—untouched.”
The verse: Yoga Vasistha 4.46.16
The quote above is our paraphrase. This is the verse as it reads in the Vihari-Lala Mitra translation (1891–99):
“He who has nothing to desire or leave, but lives as he is obliged to live, has his intellect as unsullied as the lotus-leaf, to which the laving waters never stick.”
About the text: Yoga Vasistha
The Yoga Vasistha is a long Sanskrit philosophical work, traditionally attributed to Valmiki, in which the sage Vasistha teaches Prince Rama through stories and dialogue. Its six books teach liberation through self-effort and insight. Scholars date it anywhere from about the 6th to the 14th century, and it probably grew over time.
More from the Yoga Vasistha
- “Bhusunda’s life illustrates the power of sustained spiritual practice.”
- “Forgiveness liberates the heart from bitterness.”
- “Consistent practice leads to lasting transformation.”
- “Implicit faith in the Guru accelerates spiritual growth.”
- “Renounce desires, and the universe becomes your playground.”
- “Karkati symbolizes the mind that can afflict or liberate.”