Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna went to Guru Vashistha and started a discussion. The kind of teaching which is contained in this exposition of Atma is called Vashistha Gita. (SSB 1977, pp. 50-51)

A divine sage of the stature of Vashistha could not recognize Divinity sometimes. No doubt, he knew that Shri Rama was the incarnation of Lord Narayana, verily. Yet, he ventured to teach some philosophical truths to him. The compendium of these truths has come to be known as ‘Vashistha Gita’ or ‘Yoga Vashistha’.One wonders why Sage Vashistha, a person known for such in-depth knowledge of philosophy was overpowered by delusion. Sage Vashistha started with the impression that Shri Rama was an ordinary human and gradually realised the fact that He was in fact, God in human form. The reason for this delusion was Shri Rama donned the vesture of a human being. Divine Will prevails over everything else. In all other cases, ‘man proposes but God disposes’! (Beacons of Divine Wisdom, Part 1, pp. 98-99)