Spiritual Stories 
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IN THE VASISHTAM it is stated that Rama, after his returnfrom a pilgrimage, found that the whole world was full of
misery and that bearing the body was itself a cause of misery.
He, therefore left everything, even things like eating and
drinking, and remained motionless. When Viswamitra asked
Dasaratha to send Rama to guard his oblations ceremony
(yagna), Dasaratha said that Rama was like a mad man and
described some of the signs of his madness. On hearing them,
Viswamitra said that he was very pleased to hear of those
symptoms, that such madness did not come to many people
and that he would like to see him and asked for him to be
brought. Rama accordingly came, prostrated before all those
present and sat down.
Viswamitra saw him and asked him the cause of his
madness, and addressing Vasishta, said, “Please teach Rama
the knowledge of the Self, the knowledge which Brahma taught
you and me.” Vasishta agreed to do so. While he was teaching,
siddhas from all over came to listen to him and they thought
to themselves, “Rama has gained so much knowledge at such
a young age. How surprising! How great! What is the use of
our living so long?”