AVIDYA: Ignorance.

GLOSSARY AYURVEDA: The ancient Indian science of medicine.

ABHAYAM: Fearless. BENARES: A holy pilgrimage centre of Hindus, now

ABHIMANA: Egoism, identification with the body.
ABHYASA: Spiritual practice.
ADHIKARI: A qualified person.
ADHISHTHANA: Substratum, support.
ADHYASA: Superimposition or false attribution of
properties of one thing on another thing.
ADHYATMIC: Spiritual.
ADHYAYANA: Study.
ADVAITA: Non-duality.
AGRAHYA: Unknowable.
AHANKARA: Egoism.
AHIMSA: Non-injury in thought, word and deed.
Click here for a more detailed explanation.
AISVARYA: Divine powers.
AJARAM: Without old age.
ALABDHABHUMIKATVA: The feeling that it is
impossible to see reality.
ALASYA: Laziness.
AMARA: Immortal.
AMARA-PURUSHA: Immortal being.
AMRITAM: Immortal.
ANADI: Beginningless.
ANAHATA: Mystic sound heard by Yogis.
ANANDA: Bliss, happiness, joy.
ANANDA-GHANA: Cloud of bliss.
ANANDA-SVARUPA: Of the form of bliss.
ANANDAMAYA: Full of great happiness.
ANTAHKARANA: Internal instrument such as mind,
intellect, ego and the subconscious mind.
ANANTAM: Infinity.
ANTARATMAN: Inner Self.
ANTARYAMIN: Inner witness.
ANUBHAVA: Experience.
APTA: Realized.
ARHATA: A perfected Soul.
ASAMPRAJNATA: Highest superconscious state
where the mind is completely annihilated and Reality
experienced.
ASANA: A bodily pose or posture.
ASHRAM: A hermitage; monastery.
ASHTANGA: Eight limbs. Click here for a discourse
on Raja Yoga / Ashtanga Yoga.
ASURIC: Demoniacal.
ATMA-JNANA: Knowledge of the Self.
ATMA-SVARUP: The essential nature of the Self.
ATMAN: The Self.
AVADHUTA: A naked sage.
AVARANA: Veil of ignorance.
called Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India.
BHAGAVAD-GITA: A scripture containing Lord
Krishna's teachings.Click here to view an online
version.
BHAGAVATA: Name of a Purana (sacred work
dealing with the doctrines of creation, etc.)
BHAJAN: Devotional song
BHAKTA: Devotee of God
BHAKTI: Devotion.
BHARATAVARSHA: India.
BHAVA(NA): Feeling; mental attitude.
BHAYANAKA-SABDA: A fear inducing sound.
BHOGI: Enjoyer.
BHUMA: The Unconditioned, the Great Infinite,
Brahman.
BHUTA-SIDDHI: A psychic power by which mastery
is gained over the elements.
BODHISATTVA: A being who, having developed the
Awakening Mind (a mind infused with the aspiration
to attain the state of Buddhahood), devotes his life to
the task of achieving Buddhahood for the sake of all
sentient beings.
BRAHMA-CHINTANA: Constant thinking of
Brahman.
BRAHMA-JNANA: Direct Knowledge of Brahman.
BRAHMA-NISHTHA: One who is established in the
Knowledge of Brahman.
BRAHMA-SROTRI: One who has knowledge of the
Vedas and the Upanishads.
BRAHMA-SUTRAS: Classical Vedantic scripture.
BRAHMA-TEJAS: Spiritual halo.
BRAHMA-VIDYA: The science of Brahman,
knowledge of Brahman, learning pertaining to
Brahman or the Absolute Reality. Click here for an
essay on Brahma Vidya.
BRAHMACHARYA: Practice of celibacy. Purity in
thought, word and deed. Click here for a discourse on
Brahmacharya.
BRAHMAMUHURTA: Period from 4 a.m. to 6 a.m.
BRAHMAN: The Absolute Reality; God.
BRIHADARANYAKA: Name of an Upanishad.
BUDDHA: One who is totally purified from all
defilements and who has realized all that can be
known.
BUDDHI: Intellect.
CHAITANYA: Pure Consciousness.
CHAKRAS: Centres of energy in the human system.
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CHANDOGYA: Name of an Upanishad. and effect. Click here for a discourse on Karma Yoga.
CHELA: Disciple. KARMA-INDRIYAS: Organs of action - tongue,
CHIRANJIVI: One who has gained eternal life. hands, feet, genital organ and anus.
CHITTA: Subconscious mind. KARMA-KANDI: One who observes strictly the
duties ordained in the scriptures.
DAIVIC: Divine. KARMASRAYA: Receptacle of actions.
DAMA: Control of senses. KARUNA: Compassion
DARSHAN: Vision. KASHAYA: Hidden desires.
DAYA: Mercy. KIRTAN: Singing devotional songs.
DEHA: Body. KRIYA: A type of of exercise in Hatha Yoga.
DEVAS: Celestial beings. KSHAMA: Forgiveness.
DHARANA: Concentration. KUNDALINI: The primordial cosmic energy located
DHARMA: Righteous way of living as enjoined by in the individual.
the sacred scriptures, virtue. KUTIR: A small cottage; hut.
DHYANA: Meditation.
DIVYA-DRISHTI: Divine perception. LAYA: Merging; dissolution.
DVESHA: Repulsion; hatred; dislike. LINGA-SARIRA: The subtle body, the astral body.
LOBHA: Greed.
EKADASI: Eleventh day of the Hindu lunar fortnight.
Click here for a discourse on the significance of MAHA: Great.
Ekadasi. MAHABHARATA: A Hindu epic.
MAHANT: Great sage
GANDHA: Smell. MAHAPURUSHA: A great soul.
GANGA: River Ganges. MAHARISHI: Great sage
GAYATRI: One of the most sacred Vedic Mantras; MAHASAMADHI: The departure of a Self-realized
goddess. saint from his mortal coil.
GITA: Renowned sacred text "Bhagavad-Gita". Click MAHATMA: Great soul
here to view an online version. MAITRI: Friendship.
GUNA: Quality born of nature. MANAS: Mind.
GURU: Teacher; preceptor. Click here for a more MANONASA: Destruction of mind.
detailed explanation. MANTRA: Sacred syllable or word, or set of words
through the repetition and reflection of which one
HAVAN: Sacred oblations. attains perfection.
HIRANYAGARBHA: Cosmic intelligence; the MAYA: The illusive power of God. Click here for a
supreme lord of the universe; cosmic mind. more thorough explanation.
MOHA: Infatuation.
INDRA: The Lord of gods; the ruler of heaven. MOKSHA: Liberation.
INDRIYAS: Senses. MOUNA: Vow of silence.
ISHVARA: Lord; God. MOUNI: One who observes silence.
MUKTI: Liberation.
JADA: Insentient. MUMUKSHU: One who aspires after moksha or
JAPA: Repetition of the Lord's Name. liberation.
JIVA: Individual Soul. MUNI: An ascetic.
JIVANMUKTA: One who is liberated in this life. MURTI: Idol.
JNANA: Knowledge; wisdom.
JNANA-INDRIYAS: Organs of knowledge or NADA: Mystic sound.
perception. NIRODHA: Control or restraint.
JNANI: (Pronounced Nyani) A wise person. NIRVANA: Liberation; final emancipation.
NIRVIKALPA-SAMADHI: Superconscious state
KAIVALYA: Emancipation; state of absolute where there is no modification of the mind or Triputi.
independence. NITYA-SIDDHA: A liberated soul of marvellous
KARMA: Actions operating through the law of cause powers who is ever present on the astral plane.
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NIVRITTI: Renunciation.
NIYAMA: The second step in Raja Yoga; observance
- purity, contentment, austerities, etc.
OJAS: Spiritual energy.
OM: The sacred monosyllable which symbolizes
Brahman.
OORDHVARETA: A Yogi who has stored up the
seminal energy in the brain after sublimating the same
into spiritual energy.
PARIVRAJAKA: Wandering monk.
PARAM-DHAMA: Supreme abode.
PARAMAHAMSA: The highest class of Sannyasins.
PASU-SVABHAVA: Animal nature; bestial nature.
PATANJALI: The author of Yoga-Sutras. Click here
for a discourse on Patanjali's Raja Yoga / Ashtanga
Yoga.
PRAKRITI: Mother Nature, causal matter.
PRANA: Vital energy; life-breath.
PRANAVA: The sacred monosyllable Om.
PRANAYAMA: Practice of breath-control.
PRATYAHARA: Abstraction of senses; fifth step in
Raja Yoga.
PREMA: Divine Love.
PRITHVI: Earth.
PURANA: Hindu myths and legends.
PURNA-JNANI: A full-blown sage.
PURNA-YOGI: A full-blown yogi.
PURUSHA: The Supreme Being.
RAGA: Attachment.
RAJA: King.
RAJAS: One of the three qualities of Prakriti which
generates passion and restlessness.
RAJA-YOGA: A system of Yoga generally taken to be
the one propounded by Patanjali Maharishi, i.e.,
Ashtanga Yoga. Click here for a discourse on Raja
Yoga/Ashtanga Yoga.
RAJASUYA-YAJNA: A sacrifice performed by a
monarch as a mark of his subduing all other kings.
RAMAYANA: A holy narative of Lord Rama.
RASA: Taste.
RASASVADA: Tasting the bliss of lower Samadhi.
RISHI: Sage.
RISHIKESH: A sacred place in the Himalayas.
RUPA: Form.
SADHAKA: Spiritual aspirant.
SADHANA: Spiritual practice. Click here for a
discourse on Sadhana.
SADHU: Pious man; Sannyasin.
SAGARA: Ocean.
SAHASRANAMA: The thousand Names of the Lord.
SAKSHI: Witness.
SAKTI: Power; the feminine aspect of Divinity.
SAKTI-SANCHAR: Transference of power by a
developed Yogi.
SAMA: Serenity; control of mind.
SAMADHI: The state of superconsciousness where
Absoluteness is experienced attended with all-
knowledge and joy. Oneness.
SAMSARA: The process of worldly life.
SAMSKARAS: Impressions in the subconscious
mind.
SAMYAMA: Perfect restraint, an all-complete
condition of balance and repose, concentration,
meditation and Samadhi.
SANKARA: The well known teacher of Vedanta
philosophy. Click here for a biography.
SANKIRTAN: Singing of divine songs.
SANNYASINS: Those who have embraced the life of
complete renunciation.
SATCHIDANANDA: Existence absolute(Sat),
Knowledge absolute(Chid), Bliss absolute(Ananda).
SATSANG: Association with the wise.
SATTVA: Purity-one of the three qualities of nature.
SATYA-YUGA: the Age of Truth, the first of the four
Hindu time-cycles.
SHABDA: Sound.
SIDDHI: Psychic power.
SIVA: Lord Siva - bestower of auspiciousness on His
devotees.
SLOKA: Verse.
SPARSA: Touch.
SRADDHA: Faith.
SRI: Auspiciousness-a name is qualified by putting
"Sri" before it as a mark of courtesy and
auspiciousness.
STOTRA: Hymn.
SUDDHA: Pure.
SUKHA: Happiness.
SUSHUMNA: The chief among astral tubes in the
human body running inside the spinal column.
SUTRA: Aphorism.
SVADHYAYA: Study of scriptures.
SVARUPA: Essential nature; Reality.
TAMAS: One of the three qualities of nature which
generates inertia, laziness, dullness and infatuation.
TANMATRA: Subtle, undifferentiated root elements
of matter.
TAPAS: Austerity.
TAPASCHARYA: Practice of austerity.
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TATTVA: Essence; principle. imperfections.
TEHSILDAR: Revenue officer. VEERYA: Seminal energy.
TRIPUTI: The triad-seer, sight and seen. VETTA: Knower.
TRISHNA: Sense-hankering. VICHARA: Enquiry into the nature of the Self, Truth,
TURIYA: The state of superconsciousness, the fourth Absolute, Brahman.
state transcending the waking, dreaming and deep VIGRAHA: Attack.
sleep states. VIKSHEPA: The tossing of mind.
TYAGA: Renunciation (of egoism, desires and the VISHAYA: Sense-objects.
world). VIVEKA: Discrimination.
VRITTI: A wave in the mind-lake.
UDDALAKA: A great sage of yore. VYAVAHARA: (Worldly) activity.
UPADESA: Spiritual advice.
UPANISHADS: Revelation; text dealing with YAJNAVALKYA: A great sage of yore.
Ultimate Truth and Its Realization. YAMA: First step in Raja Yoga; Eternal vows - non-
violence, truthfulness, etc.
VAIRAGYA: Dispassion. YOGA: Union; union with the Supreme Being - any
VASANA-KSHYA: Desireless. course that makes for such union. Click here for a
VASANAS: Subtle desires. discourse on Yoga.
VASTU: Article. YOGI (N): One who practices Yoga; one who is
VEDANTA: The school of Hindu thoughts (based established in Yoga.
primarily on the Upanishads). YONI: Source.
VEDANTIN: One who follows the path of Vedanta
VEDAS: The most ancient authentic scripture of the ZAMINDAR: A rich landlord.
Hindus, a revealed scripture and therefore free from

Last Updated: Sunday, 17-Oct-2004 09:56:04 EDT

Mail Questions, Comments & Suggestions to : pannir@dlshq.org

Spiritual Diary

Month : ________________
Date
Questions

1. When did you get up from bed ?

2. How many hours did you sleep ?
3. How many Malas of Japa ?
4. How long in Kirtan ?
5. How many Pranayamas ?
6. How long did you perform Asanas ?
7. How long did you meditate in one Asana?
8. How many Gita Slokas did you read or get by heart ?
9. How long in the company of the wise (Satsanga) ?

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10. How many hours did you observe Mouna ?
11. How long in disinterested selfless service ?
12. How much did you give in charity ?
13. How many Mantras you wrote ?
14. How long did you practice physical exercise ?
15. How many lies did you tell and with what self-punishment ?
16. How many times and how long of anger and with what self-
punishment ?
17. How many hours you spent in useless company ?
18. How many times you failed in Brahmacharya ?
19. How long in study of religious books ?
20. How many times you failed in the control of evil habits and with
what self-punishment ?
21. How long you concentrated on your Ishta Devata (Saguna or
Nirguna Dhyana) ?
22. How many days did you observe fast and vigil ?
23. Were you regular in your meditation ?
24. What virtue are you developing ?
25. What evil quality are you trying to eradicate ?
26. What Indriya is troubling you most ?
27. When did you go to bed ?

Key to Bliss 15. Aspiration, Renunciation and Meditation.

1. Serve. Love. Give. Meditate. Realise.
2. Be Good. Do Good.
3. Enquire ‘Who am I?’ Know the Self and be free.
4. Detach. Attach. D.I.N. (Do It Now)
5. Adapt, Adjust and Accommodate.
6. Bear insult. Bear injury. Highest Sadhana.
7. Simplify. Purify. Intensify.
8. Seek, Find, Enter and Rest.
9. Devote, Dedicate and Dissolve.
10. Examine, Analyse and Know.
11. Enquire, Discover and Recover.
12. Cooperate, Collaborate and Coordinate.
13. Devotion, Dedication and Discipline.
14. Discrimination, Dispassion and Determination.
16. Service, Sacrifice and Sublimation.
17. Solitude, Seclusion and Silence.
18. Purification. Concentration. Reflection.
Meditation.
19. Illumination, Identification, Absorption and
Salvation.
20. Energise. Galvanise. Vitalise.
21. Excel in service. Expand in love. Advance in
knowledge.
22. Pray. Aspire. Inspire.
Select, O aspirants, any one of these keys, open the
chambers of thy heart and enter the abode of Bliss and
rest peacefully for ever. May Lord bless you.