A
Absolute: The highest
Reality; supreme Consciousness; the pure, untainted, changeless
Truth.
Acarya: (sometimes spelled
Acharya in English): a preceptor, instructor; cf. guru.
Advaita: ("nonduality"):
the truth and teaching that there is only One Reality ( Atman,
Brahman ), especially as found in the Upanishads;
see also Vedanta.
Ahamkara: ("I-maker"):
the individuation principle, or ego, which must be transcended;
cf. asmita; see also buddhi, manas.
Ahimsa ("nonharming"):
the single most important moral discipline (yama).
Akasha ("ether/space"):
the first of the five material elements of which the physical
universe is composed; also used to designate "inner"
space, that is, the space of consciousness (called cid-akasha
).
Amrita: ("immortal/immortality"):
a designation of the deathless Spirit (atman, purusha) ;
also the nectar of immortality that oozes from the psychoenergetic
center at the crown of the head ( sahasrara-cakra ) when
it is activated and the Kundalini is awakened, and transforms
the body into a "divine body" ( divya-deha ).
Ananda ("bliss"):
the condition of utter joy, which is an essential quality of the
ultimate Reality (tattva).
Anga ("limb"):
a fundamental category of the yogic path, such as , yama,
niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana,, samadhi;
also the body (deha, sharira).
Arjuna ("White"):
One of the heroes of the Indian epic Mahabharata, considered to
be the greatest warrior of all. He was the friend and devotee
of Lord Krishna, who revealed the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita
to him on the battlefield.
Asana ("seat"):
a physical posture (see also anga, mudra ); the third
limb (anga) of Patanjali's eightfold path ( astha-anga-yoga
); originally this meant only meditation posture, but subsequently,
in hatha yoga, this aspect of the yogic path was greatly developed.
Ashram ("that where
effort is made"): the dwelling place of a Guru or saint;
a hermitage; a monastic retreat site where seekers engage in spiritual
practices and study the sacred teachings of yoga. Also a stage
of life, such as brahmacharya, householder, forest dweller,
and complete renouncer (samnyasin).
Ashta-anga-yoga, ashtanga-yoga
("eight-limbed union"): the eightfold yoga
of Patanjali, consisting of moral discipline (yama) ,
self-restraint (niyama) , posture (asana) ,
breath control (pranayama) , sensory inhibition (pratyahara)
, concentration (dharana) , meditation (dhyana)
, and ecstasy (samadhi) , leading to liberation
(kaivalya) .
Asmita ("I-am-ness"):
a concept of Patanjali's eight-limbed yoga.
Atman ("self"):
the transcendental Self, or Spirit, or Soul, the divine Consciousness
residing in the individual, which is eternal and superconscious;
our true nature or identity; sometimes a distinction is made between
the atman as the individual self and the parama-atman
as the transcendental Self; see also purusha .
Avidya ("ignorance"):
the root cause of suffering (duhkha).
Ayurveda ("life
science"): one of India 's traditional systems of medicine.
B
Baba: A term of affection
and respect for a saint or holy man.
Bandha: inner lock to hold the
pranic energy or psychic energy within certain areas in the body.
Bhagavad Gita ("Lord's
Song"): the oldest full-fledged yoga book found embedded
in the Mahabharata and containing the teachings on karma
yoga (the path of self-transcending action), samkhya yoga (the
path of discerning the principles of existence correctly), and
bhakti yoga (the path of devotion), as given by the Lord Krishna
to Prince Arjuna on the battlefield 3,500 years or more ago.
Bhakta ("devotee"):
A devotee, a lover of God; a follower of bhakti yoga, the path
of love and devotion.
Bhakti ("devotion/love"):
the love of the bhakta toward the Divine or the guru as a manifestation
of the Divine; also the love of the Divine toward the devotee.
Bhakti Yoga ("Yoga
of devotion"): The path of devotion; a path to union with
the Divine based on the continual offering of love and the constant
remembrance of the Lord.
Bindu ("seed/point"):
the creative potency of anything where all energies are focused;
the dot (also called tilaka ) worn on the forehead as
indicative of the third eye.
Bodhi ("enlightenment"):
the state of the awakened master, or Buddha.
Bodhisattva ("enlightenment
being"): in Mahayana Buddhist yoga, the individual who, motivated
by compassion (karuna) , is committed to achieving enlightenment
for the sake of all other beings.
Brahma ("he who
has grown expansive"): The absolute Reality manifested as
the active creator of the universe, personified as one of the
three gods of the Hindu trinity. The other two are Vishnu, who
represents the principle of sustenance, and Shiva, who represents
the principle of destruction.
Brahmacharya (from brahma
and acarya "brahmic conduct"): the discipline
of chastity, which produces ojas.
Brahman ("that which
has grown expansive"): In Vedic philosophy, the absolute
Reality or all-pervasive supreme Principle of the universe.
Buddha ("awakened"):
a designation of the person who has attained enlightenment (bodhi)
and therefore inner freedom; honorific title of Gautama,
the founder of Buddhism, who lived in the sixth century B.C.E.
Buddhi ("she who
is conscious, awake"): the higher mind, which is the seat
of wisdom (vidya, jnana) .
C
Chakra ("wheel"):
literally, the wheel of a wagon; metaphorically, one of the psycho-energetic
centers of the subtle body (sukshma-sharira) where the
subtle nerve channels converge like the spokes of a wheel. In
Buddhist yoga, five such centers are known, while in Hindu yoga
often seven or more such centers are mentioned: M uladhara
chakra at the base of the spine, S vadhishthana chakra
at the genitals, M anipura chakra at the navel,
A nahata chakra at the heart, V ishuddha chakra
or at the throat, A jna chakra in the middle of
the head, and S ahasrara cakra at the top of the head.
Six major chakras lie within the central channel. When awakened,
Kundalini Shakti flows upward from the base of the spine through
these six centers to the seventh chakra, the sahasrara, at the
crown of the head.
Chin mudra ("consciousness
seal"): a common hand gesture (mudra) in meditation
(dhyana) , which is formed by bringing the tips of the
index finger and the thumb together, while the remaining fingers
are kept straight.
Chit ("consciousness"):
the superconscious ultimate Reality.
Chitta ("that which
is conscious"): ordinary consciousness, the mind.
D
Darshan ("seeing"):
vision in the literal and metaphorical sense; seeing or being
in the presence of a saint, a deity, or a sacred place; a system
of philosophy, such as the yoga-darshana of Patanjali.
Deva : A deity or god.
Devi : The great mother
Goddess; the beloved of Shiva who represents Shakti, or cosmic
energy.
Dharana ("holding"):
concentration, a centering technique; a spiritual exercise that
leads one to the experience of God within ; the sixth limb (anga)
of Patanjali's eight-limbed yoga.
Dharma : Essential duty;
the law of righteousness; living in accordance with the divine
will. The highest dharma is to recognize the Truth in one's own
heart.
Dhyana ("ideating"):
meditation, the seventh limb (anga) of Patanjali's eight-limbed
yoga.
Drishti ("view/sight"):
yogic gazing, such as at the tip of the nose or the spot between
the eyebrows.
Duhkha ("bad axle
space"): suffering, a fundamental fact of life, caused by
ignorance (avidya) of our true nature.
E
Ego : In yoga, the limited
sense of "I" that is identified with the body, mind,
and senses; sometimes described as "the veil of suffering."
G
Ganesha : The elephant-headed
god, also known as Ganapati. Son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati,
he is worshiped at the beginning of any undertaking and in many
festivals as the god of wisdom, the destroyer of sorrows, and
the remover of obstacles.
Gayatri-mantra : a famous
Vedic mantra recited particularly at sunrise: tat
savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayat,"
Gheranda-Samhita ("[Sage]
Gheranda's Compendium"): one of three major manuals of classical
hatha yoga, composed in the seventeenth century.
Goraksha ("Cow Protector"):
traditionally said to be the founding adept of hatha yoga, a disciple
of Matsyendra.
Granthi ("knot"):
any one of three common blockages in the central pathway (Sushumna
nadi) preventing the full ascent of the serpent power (K
undalini shakti) ; the three knots are known as B rahma
granthi (at the lowest psychoenergetic center of the subtle
body), the Vishnu granthi (at the heart), and the Rudra
granthi (at the eyebrow center).
Guna ("quality"):
a term that has numerous meanings, including "virtue";
the three basic qualities of nature that determine the inherent
characteristics of all created things. They are sattva (lucidity,
purity, light, harmony, intelligence); rajas (activity, passion);
and tamas (dullness, inertia, ignorance).
Guru ("he who is
heavy, weighty"): a spiritual teacher, master who has attained
oneness with God and who is able both to initiate seekers and
to guide them on the spiritual path to liberation. A true Guru
is required to be learned in the scriptures and must belong to
a lineage of masters.
H
Hatha Yoga: Yogic practices,
both physical and mental, performed for the purpose of purifying
and strengthening the physical and subtle bodies.
Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika
("Light on Hatha Yoga"): one of three classical manuals
on hatha yoga, authored by yogi Svatmarama in the fourteenth century.
Hiranyagarbha ("Golden
Womb"): the cosmic subtle bogy.
I
Ida-nadi : the prana
current or arc ascending on the left side of the central
channel (Sushumna nadi) associated with the parasympathetic
nervous system and having a cooling or calming effect on the mind
when activated.
Ishvara ("ruler"):
the Lord; referring either to the Creator (see Brahma )
or, in Patanjali's yoga-darshana, to a special transcendental
Self (purusha).
Ishvara pranidhana ("dedication
to the Lord"): in Patanjali's eight-limbed yoga one of the
practices of self-restraint; see also bhakti yoga.
J
Japa ("muttering"):
Repetition of a mantra, either silently or aloud.
Jiva-atman, jivatman
("individual self"): the individuated consciousness,
as opposed to the ultimate Self (parama-atman).
Jivanmukta ("he
who is liberated while alive"): an adept who, while still
embodied, has attained liberation (moksha) .
Jnana ("knowledge/wisdom"):
both worldly knowledge or world-transcending wisdom, depending
on the context; see also prajna ; cf. avidya .
Jnana-Yoga ("Yoga
of wisdom"): the path to liberation based on wisdom, or the
direct intuition of the transcendental Self (atman)
through the steady application of discernment between the Real
and the unreal and renunciation of what has been identified as
unreal (or inconsequential to the achievement of liberation).
K
Kaivalya ("isolation"):
the state of absolute freedom from conditioned existence, as explained
in ashtanga yoga ; in the nondualistic (advaita)
traditions of India, this is usually called moksha
or mukti .
Kali : a Goddess embodyihe
fetters of ignorance, or avidya ).
Kali-yuga : the dark age
of spiritual and moral decline, said to be current now; kali does
not refer to the Goddess Kali but to the losing throw of a die.
Kama ("desire"):
the appetite for sensual pleasure blocking the path to true bliss
(ananda) ; the only desire conducive to freedom is the
impulse toward liberation, called mumukshutva
Karma : (lit., action)
1) Any action--physical, verbal, or mental. 2) Destiny, which
is caused by past actions, mainly those of previous lives.
Karman, karma ("action"):
activity of any kind, including ritual acts; said to be binding
only so long as engaged in a self-centered way; the "karmic"
consequence of one's actions; destiny
Karma Yoga ("Yoga
of action"): the liberating path of self-transcending action
Karuna ("compassion"):
universal sympathy; in Buddhist yoga the complement of wisdom
(prajna)
Khecari-mudra ("space-walking
seal"): the Tantric practice of curling the tongue back against
the upper palate in order to seal the life energy (prana)
; see also mudra
Kosha ("casing"):
any one of five "envelopes" surrounding the transcendental
Self (atman) and thus blocking its light: anna-maya-kosha
("envelope made of food," the physical body),
prana-maya-kosha ("envelope made of life force"),
mano-maya-kosha ("envelope made of mind"),
vijnana-maya-kosha ("envelope made of consciousness"),
and ananda-maya-kosha ("envelope made of bliss");
some older traditions regard the last kosha as identical with
the Self (atman)
Krishna ("Puller"):
an incarnation of God Vishnu, the God-man whose teachings can
be found in the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata-Pura
Kriya : A physical, mental,
or emotional movement initiated by the awakened Kundalini. Kriyas
purify the body and nervous system, thus allowing a seeker to
experience higher states of consciousness.
Kumbhaka ("potlike"):
breath retention; cf. puraka, recaka
Kundalini Shakti : The
primordial Shakti, or cosmic energy, that lies dormant in a coiled
form in the muladhara chakra at the base of the spine. Through
the descent of grace (shaktipat), this extremely subtle force,
also described as the supreme goddess, is awakened and begins
to purify the entire being. As Kundalini travels upward through
the central channel, She pierces the various chakras, finally
reaching the sahasrara at the crown of the head. There the individual
soul merges into the supreme Self and attains the state of Self-realization.
See also CHAKRA,SHAKTIPAT.
Kundalini-Yoga : the yogic
path focusing on the kundalini process as a means of
liberation.
L
Linga ("mark"):
the phallus as a principle of creativity; a symbol of God Shiva;
cf. yoni
M
Mahabharata ("Great
Bharata"): one of India's two great ancient epics telling
of the great war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas and serving
as a repository for many spiritual and moral teachings.
Mahasamadhi : 1) A realized
yogi's conscious departure from the physical body at death. 2)
A celebration on the anniversary of a great being's departure
from the physical body. 3) A shrine erected at the place where
a yogi has taken mahasamadhi.
Mahatma (from maha-atman,
"great self"): an honorific title (meaning something
like "a great soul") bestowed on particularly meritorious
individuals, such as Gandhi
Maithuna ("twinning"):
the Tantric sexual ritual in which the participants view each
other as Shiva and Shakti respectively.
Mala : A string of beads
used to facilitate a state of concentration while repeating a
mantra.
Manas ("mind"):
the lower mind, which is bound to the senses and yields information
(vijnana) rather than wisdom (jnana, vidya) ;
cf. buddhi
Mandala ("circle"):
a circular design symbolizing the cosmos and specific to a deity
Mantra (from the verbal
root man "to think"): a sacred sound or phrase,
such as om, hum, or om namah shivaya, that
has a transformative effect on the mind of the individual reciting
it; to be ultimately effective, a mantra needs to be given in
an initiatory context (diksha) .
Mantra-Yoga : the yogic
path utilizing mantras as the primary means of liberation
Marman ("lethal
[spot]"): in Ayurveda and yoga, a vital spot on the physical
body where energy is concentrated or blocked; cf. granthi
Maya ("she who measures"):
the deluding or illusive power of the world; illusion by which
the world is seen as separate from the ultimate singular Reality
(atman
Moksha ("release"):
the condition of freedom from ignorance (avidya) and
the binding effect of karma ; also called mukti,
kaivalya
Mudra ("seal"):
a hand gesture (such as cin-mudra ) or whole-body gesture
(such as viparita-karani-mudra ); also a designation
of the feminine partner in the Tantric sexual ritual.
Mukty : Liberation from
the cycle of birth and death; freedom from the sense of duality
and limitation.
Muni ("he who is
silent"): a sage .
Murty : (lit., embodiment;
figure; image) A representation of God or of a chosen deity that
has been sanctified and enlivened by worship. A murti can be a
symbolic embodiment of the presence of God or a recognizable human
figure, as in the image of a saint.
N
Nada ("sound"):
the inner sound, as it can be heard through the practice of nada
yoga or kundalini yoga.
Nada-Yoga ("Yoga
of the [inner] sound"): the yoga or process of producing
and intently listening to the inner sound as a means of concentration
and ecstatic self-transcendence
Nadi ("conduit"):
one of 72,000 or more subtle channels along or through which the
life force (prana) circulates, of which the three most
important ones are the ida nadi, pingala nadi, and sushumna
nadi .
Nadi-shodhana ("channel
cleansing"): the practice of purifying the conduits, especially
by means of breath control (pranayama).
Nataraj : ("king
of the dance") A name of Shiva, referring to the dancing
Shiva. The object of his dance is to free all souls from the fetters
of illusion.
Neti-neti ("not
thus, not thus"): an Upanishadic expression meant to convey
that the ultimate Reality is neither this nor that, that is, is
beyond all description
Nirodha ("restriction"):
in Patanjali's eight-limbed yoga, the very basis of the process
of concentration, meditation, and ecstasy; in the first instance,
the restriction of the "whirls of the mind" (citta-vritti)
Niyama ("[self-]restraint"):
the second limb of Patanjali's eightfold path, which consists
of purity (saucha) , contentment (samtosha),
austerity (tapas), study (svadhyaya), and
dedication to the Lord (ishvara-pranidhana)
Nyasa ("placing"):
the Tantric practice of infusing various body parts with life
force (prana) by touching or thinking of the respective
physical area.
O
Ojas ("vitality"):
the subtle energy produced through practice, especially the discipline
of chastity (brahmacharya) .
Om : the original mantra
symbolizing the ultimate Reality,the primal sound form which the
Universe emanates; the inner essence of all mantras. Also written
"Aum".
Om Namah Shivaya : ( "Om,
salutations to Shiva") The Sanskrit mantra of the Siddha
Yoga lineage; known as the great redeeming mantra because of its
power to grant both worldly fulfillment and spiritual realization.
"Om" is the primordial sound;" Namah" is to
honor or bow to; "Shivaya" denotes divine Consciousness,
the Lord who dwells in every heart.
P
Parama-atman or paramatman
("supreme self"): the transcendental Self, which
is singular, as opposed to the individuated self (jiva-atman)
that exists in countless numbers in the form of living beings
Parama-hamsa , paramahansa
("supreme swan"): an honorific title given to
great adepts, such as Ramakrishna and Yogananda
Patanjali : compiler of
the Yoga Sutra, who lived c. 150 C.E.
Pingala-nadi ("reddish
conduit"): the prana current or arc ascending on the right
side of the central channel (sushumna-nadi) and associated
with the sympathetic nervous system and having an energizing effect
on the mind when activated; cf. ida-nadi
Prajna ("wisdom"):
the opposite of spiritual ignorance (ajnana, avidya);
one of two means of liberation in Buddhist yoga, the other being
skillful means (upaya), i.e., compassion (karuna)
Prakriti ("creatrix"):
nature, which is multilevel and, according to Patanjali's yoga-darshana,
consists of an eternal dimension (called pradhana
or "foundation"), levels of subtle existence (called
sukshma-parvan ), and the physical or coarse realm (called
sthula-parvan ); all of nature is deemed unconscious
(acit), and therefore it is viewed as being in opposition
to the transcendental Self or Spirit (purusha)
Prakriti-laya ("merging
into Nature"): a high-level state of existence that falls
short of actual liberation (kaivalya); the being who
has attained that state
Prana ("life/breath"):
The vital life-sustaining force of both the body and the universe.
Pranayama (from prana
and ayama, "life/breath extension"):
breath control, the fourth limb (anga) of Patanjali's
eigthfold path, consisting of conscious inhalation (puraka),
retention (kumbhaka), and exhalation (recaka);
at an advanced state, breath retention occurs spontaneously
for longer periods of time
Prasada ("grace/clarity"):
divine grace; mental clarity
Pratyahara ("withdrawal"):
sensory inhibition, the fifth limb (anga) of Patanjali's
eightfold path
Puja ("worship"):
ritual worship, which is an important aspect of many forms of
yoga, notably Bhakti Yoga and Tantra.
Puraka ("filling
in"): inhalation, an aspect of breath control (pranayama)
Purana ("Ancient
[History]"): a type of popular encyclopedia dealing with
royal genealogy, cosmology, philosophy, and ritual; there are
eighteen major and many more minor works of this nature.
Purusha ("male"):
the transcendental Self (atman) or Spirit, a designation
that is mostly used in Samkhya and Patanjali's yoga-darshana.
R
Radha : the God-man Krishna
's spouse; a name of the divine Mother.
Raga : In Indian music,
a series of five or more notes upon which a melody is based; a
particular melody. Ragas evoke particular moods in the listener
and are often performed to resonate with a season or time of day.
Raja-Yoga ("Royal
Yoga"): a late medieval designation of Patanjali's eightfold
yoga-darshana, also known as classical yoga.
Rama : ("one who
is pleasing, delightful") The seventh incarnation of Lord
Vishnu, Rama is seen as the embodiment of dharma and is the object
of great devotion. He is the central character in the Indian epic
Ramayana.
Ramayana ("Rama's
life"): One of the great epic poems of India; attributed
to the sage Valmiki, the Ramayana recounts the life and exploits
of Lord Rama. This story, so rich with spiritual meaning, has
been told and retold down through the ages by saints, poets, scholars,
and common folk.
Rasa : 1.psycho-energy
state. 2. Flavor, taste. 3. A subtle energy of richness, sweetness,
and delight.
Recaka ("expulsion"):
exhalation, an aspect of breath control (pranayama) .
Rishi ("seer"):
a category of Vedic sage; an honorific title of certain venerated
masters, such as the South Indian sage Ramana, who is known as
maharshi (from maha meaning "great"
and rishi ); cf. muni .
Rudra : The Lord as destroyer,
a form of Lord Shiva. As the fierce aspect of God, Rudra inspires
both great love and great fear among his worshipers.
Rudraksha : Seeds from
a tree sacred to Shiva, often strung as beads for malas. Legend
has it that the rudraksha seed was created from the tears of Lord
Rudra, thus endowing it with great spiritual power.
S
Sadguru : A true Guru;
divine Master.
Sadhaka : A seeker on
the spiritual path.
Sadhana ("accomplishing"):
1) A spiritual discipline or path. 2) Practices, both physical
and mental, on the spiritual path.
Sahasrara : The thousand-petaled
spiritual energy center at the crown of the head, where one experiences
the highest states of consciousness.
Samadhi ("putting
together"): The state of meditative union with the Absolute;
the state of final absorption in God. The eighth and final limb
(anga) of Patanjali's eightfold path; there are many
types of samadhi, the most significant distinction being
between samprajnata (conscious) and asamprajnata
(supraconscious) ecstasy; only the latter leads to the dissolution
of the karmic factors deep within the mind; beyond both types
of ecstasy is enlightenment, which is also sometimes called sahaja
samadhi or the condition of "natural" or "spontaneous"
ecstasy, where there is perfect continuity of superconscious throughout
waking, dreaming, and sleeping.
Samatva or samata
("evenness"): the mental condition of harmony,
balance
Samnyasa ("casting
off"): the state of renunciation, which is the fourth and
final stage of life (see ashrama) and consisting primarily
in an inner turning away from what is understood to be finite
and secondarily in an external letting go of finite things; cf.
vairagya
Samnyasin ("he who
has cast off"): a renouncer
Samsara ("confluence"):
the finite world of change, as opposed to the ultimate Reality
( brahman or nirvana )
Samskara ("activator"):
the subconscious impression left behind by each act of volition,
which, in turn, leads to renewed psychomental activity; the countless
samskaras hidden in the depth of the mind are ultimately
eliminated only in asamprajnata-samadhi (see: samadhi
) .
Samyama ("constraint"):
the combined practice of concentration (dharana), meditation
(dhyana), and ecstasy (samadhi) in regard
to the same object.
Sankalpa : Thought, intention,
or will directed toward a specific outcome.
Sat ("being/reality/truth"):
the ultimate Reality ( atman or brahman )
Sat-sanga ("true
company or company of the Truth"): the practice of frequenting
the good company of saints, sages, Self-realized adepts, and their
disciples, in whose company the ultimate Reality can be felt more
palpably.
Satya ("truth/truthfulness"):
truth, a designation of the ultimate Reality; also the practice
of truthfulness, which is an aspect of moral discipline (yama)
Shakti ("power"):
Spiritual power; the divine cosmic power that creates and maintains
the universe; may be defined as the goddess Shakti.
Shaktipat ("descent
of power"): Yogic initiation in which the Siddha Guru transmits
spiritual energy to the aspirant, thereby awakening the aspirant's
dormant kundalini shakti.
Shambhavi mudra : (state
of supreme Shiva) A state of spontaneous or effortless meditation,
in which the eyes become focused within and the mind delights
in the inner Self without any attempt at concentration.
Shiva ("He who is
benign"): The all-pervasive supreme Reality; also, one of
the Hindu trinity of gods, who carries out the act of destruction
or dissolution.
Shodhana ("cleansing/purification"):
a fundamental aspect of all yogic paths; a category of
Shri : 1) A term or respect
that means sacredness, abundance, beauty, grace, and auspiciousness,
and signifies mastery of all these. 2) Lakshmi, the goddess of
beauty and prosperity. Shuddhi ("purification/purity"):
the state of purity; a synonym of shodhana
Siddha ("accomplished"):
A perfected yogi; one whose experience of unity-consciousness
is uninterrupted.
Siddha Guru : One who
has attained the state of enlightenment and who has the capacity
to awaken the dormant spiritual energy of a disciple and guide
him or her to the state of the Truth.
Siddha master : One who
has attained the state of enlightenment and who has the capacity
to awaken the dormant spiritual energy of a disciple and guide
him or her to the state of the Truth.
Siddha yogi : One who
has received shaktipat initiation through the grace of the Siddha
Yoga Guru and who strives to integrate the Guru's teachings and
practices into daily life; a siddhayogi is proactive in nourishing
and sustaining both their sadhana and the Siddha Yoga path.
Siddhi ("accomplishment/perfection"):
spiritual perfection, the attainment of flawless identity with
the ultimate Reality ( atman or brahman );
paranormal ability, of which the yoga tradition knows many kinds.
Spanda ("vibration"):
a key concept of Kashmir 's Shaivism according to which the ultimate
Reality itself "quivers," that is, is inherently creative
rather than static (as conceived in Advaita Vedanta).
Spiritual practices :
Activities that purify and strengthen the mind and body for the
spiritual path. Siddha Yoga practices include chanting, meditation,
mantra repetition, hatha yoga, seva (selfless service), and contemplation.
Sushumna nadi ("very
gracious channel"): The most important of all the nadis;
the central channel, which extends from the base of the spine
to the crown of the head. It is the pathway of the awakened kundalini
head in order to attain liberation (moksha) .
Sutra ("thread"):
Aphorism; a condensed and cryptic statement that usually can be
understood only through commentary. In India, the major points
of an entire philosophical system may be expressed in a series
of sutras.
Svadhyaya ("one's
own going into"): The study of the Self; the regular disciplined
practice of chanting and reciting spiritual texts such as the
Guru Gita , an important aspect of the yogic path, listed among
the practices of self-restraint (niyama) in Patanjali's
eightfold yoga; the recitation of mantras (see also
japa).
Swami : A term of respectful
address for a sannyasi, or monk.
Swamiji : A term of respectful
address for a sannyasi, or monk.
T
Tandra : The state of
higher consciousness between sleeping and waking that is experienced
in meditation.
Tantra ("Loom"):
a type of Sanskrit work containing Tantric teachings; the tradition
of Tantrism, which focuses on the shakti side of spiritual
life and which originated in the early post-Christian era and
achieved its classical features around 1000 C.E.; Tantrism has
a "right-hand" (dakshina) or conservative
and a "left-hand" (vama) or unconventional/antinomian
branch, with the latter utilizing, among other things, sexual
rituals.
Tapasya : 1) Austerities.
2) The experience of heat that occurs during the process of practicing
yoga. The heat is generated by friction between the senses and
renunciation. It is said that this heat, called "the fire
of yoga," burns up all the impurities that lie between the
seeker and the experience of the Truth.
Tapas ("glow/heat"):
austerity, penance, which is an ingredient of all yogic approaches,
since they all involve self-transcendence.
Tattva ("thatness"):
the basic categories or principles of the process of universal
manifestation from pure Consciousness to matter; that which is
the essence of each stage of manifestation.
Turiya ("fourth"):
The fourth, or transcendental state, beyond the waking, dream,
and deep-sleep states, in which the true nature of reality is
directly perceived; the state of samadhi, or deep meditation.
U
Upaya ("means"):
in Buddhist yoga, the practice of compassion (karuna) ;
cf. prajna
V
Vairagya : Dispassion;
the power of renunciation by which a yogi is able to pursue the
true rather than the false, the eternal rather than the ephemeral.
Varnamayi : One of the
four main categories of the manifestation of awakened Kundalini.
It may include the awakening of previously dormant vocal powers
in the seeker, the spontaneous uttering of mantras, creative literary
inspiration and intuitive wisdom.
Vedas : Among the most
ancient, revered, and sacred of the world's scriptures, the four
Vedas are regarded as divinely revealed, eternal wisdom. They
are the Rig Veda, Atharva Veda, Sama Veda, and Yajur Veda.
Vishnu : 1) A name for
the all-pervasive, supreme Reality. 2) One of the Hindu trinity
of gods, representing God as the sustainer of the universe. Rama
and Krishna are the best known of His incarnations.
Viveka : (lit., discrimination;
distinction) The faculty of discretion that enables a human being
to distinguish between true and false, reality and illusion.
Vritti : Fluctuation or
movement of the mind; thought.
W
Witness : The transcendental
Consciousness that lies at the root of the mind and from which
the mind can be observed.
Y
Yoga : (lit., union) The
spiritual practices and disciplines that lead a seeker to evenness
of mind, to the severing of the union with pain, and through detachment,
to skill in action. Ultimately, the path of yoga leads to the
constant experience of the Self.
Yogi : 1) One who practices
yoga. 2) One who has attained perfection through yogic practices.
Yogini : 1) One who practices
yoga. 2) One who has attained perfection through yogic practices.