The profound contributions to Hindu philosophy associated with Sage Valmiki, the primary poet of Ramayana's epic story, include his relatively minor work, Yoga Vasishtha: a text that stands in great stature as perhaps the most philosophical essay general within Hindu literature and still worthy of much wisdom for reference in modern day by spiritual seekers.

How Yoga Vasishtha Came to Be and What Its Structure Is

Sometimes called "Maha-Ramayana" or "Jnana-Yoga Vasishtha," the Yoga Vasishtha is described as" the "Arsha Ramayana," This scripture is said to have included about 32,000 verses in six prakaranas (books):

1. Vairagya Prakarana: Rama's disillusionment with the reality of worldly existence

2. Mumukshu Vyavahara Prakarana: Seeker Behavior: Functions as qualifications for

spiritual knowledge

3. Utpatti Prakarana: Creation: Cosmology and the nature of existence

4. Sthiti Prakarana: Existence - It is that aspect which examines reality and consciousness;

5. Upashama Prakarana: on dissolution discusses dissolution of mental conditioning

6. Nirvana Prakarana: on liberation presents the final stage of understanding of-very high

spiritual attainment. 

Core Philosophical Teachings

Yoga Vasishtha has a well-developed non-dualistic philosophy marked by an assimilation of Advaita Vedanta, Samkhya, Yoga, and Buddhist thought. Its teachings include the following:

1. The "Deep" Nature of Consciousness: For the text, consciousness (Brahman) is the sole reality of whatever phenomenal existence there is. For instance, in Utpatti Prakarana (3.61.31), Vasishtha comments: "As waves arise from water and subside into water again, so does this world arise from Brahman and subsides into Brahman."

2. Mind-Made World: This world is brought into being by thought, in itself largely a mental projection. "This world is nothing but the mind's creation. When the mind ceases to think, the world ceases to be" (Yoga Vasishtha 3.84.15).

3. Path of Liberation: Only self-knowledge and mental purification will bring about liberation. "The knowledge itself is the direct means to liberation; all else is merely an aid to knowledge" (Yoga Vasishtha 4.42.9).

4. Effort Value: Here, emphasis is placed on self-effort (purushartha) as distinct from fate. "by one's own effort leads to accomplishment; nether fate nor divine intervention will make it succeed" (Yoga Vasishtha 2.5.11).

Yoga Vasishtha at Present     

The Yoga Vasishtha now offers valuable resources to the modern person interested in learning Hinduism or contemplating the adoption of the religion:

1. Psychological framing of spirituality: The book presents spirituality not as mere rituals or beliefs but as a psychological transformation process occurring within consciousness. "The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation.

2. Coherent Science and Spirituality: Things will properly parallel in that the sense of reality as projection of consciousness will emerge in some interpretations of quantum physics. Its basis is that consciousness is reality, giving one a conceptual framework about how to integrate both worldviews.

3. Mental Afflictions: The Yoga Vasishtha deals on nature's extraordinary suffering and transcendence, thus adding to modern tools of mental health, psychological-like thinking. "Indeed, suffering exists so long as the mind is there; with the dissolution of the mind, suffering is completely dissolved" (Yoga Vasishtha 5.78.16).

4. Theistic but Not Dogmatic: The text therefore encourages ethical living as the natural fruit of understanding reality. "One who sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self naturally acts with compassion" (Yoga Vasishtha 6.119.14). 

5. Practical Techniques: The text outlines actual meditation techniques that are still practical today concerning self-inquiry and mindfulness. "By steadfast contemplation on 'Who am I?' the mind reaches its source and dissolves therein" (Yoga Vasishtha 6.51.19). 

Guide for the Spiritual Seeker     

For this reason, it is comprehensive for a new person entering Hinduism. The very scripture says: "This scripture is to every man and to everyone especially, of whom those disgusted with worldly life, those having a desire for emancipation, they are neither completely ignorant nor fully enlightened" (Yoga Vasishtha 1.1.3). 

Start with the shorter version called Laghu Yoga Vasishtha (The Concise Yoga Vasishtha), which restates the heart of the teachings in more digestible form. Pay particular attention to the ones where the stories illustrate a philosophical point, such as Leela (which illustrates the nature of reality) or Gadhi (which illustrates the relativity of time and experience). 

Way Yoga Vasishtha reminds us, ultimately, that spirituality is about transforming the inner consciousness rather than external practices: "It does not exist in the sky, nor in the depths, nor yet on the earth; it is the extinction of the mind with all its desires" (Yoga Vasishtha 5.90.45). 

In such a convoluted modern world, Valmiki's penetrating understandings of consciousness, reality, and human potential offer much more than psychic guidance; they also impart great practical wisdom for our lives to be productive and meaningful.