Disease and health, like circumstances, are rooted in thought. Sickly thoughts will express themselves through a sickly body. Thoughts of fear have been known to kill a man as speedily as a bullet, and they are continually killing thousands of people just as surely though less rapidly. The people who live in fear of disease are the people who get it. Anxiety quickly demoralizes the whole body, and lays it open to the entrance of disease, while impure thoughts, even if not physically indulged, will soon shatter the nervous system.

Read more here: » Power of Thought: Effect of Thought on Health and the Body

Bifrost (Scandianvian Norse). A bridge built by the gods to protect Asgard. On it "the third Sword-god, known as Heimdal or Riger", stands night and day girded with his sword, for he is the watchman selected to protect Asgard, the abode of gods. Heimdal is the Scandinavian Cherubim with the flaming sword, "which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life".

(See also: Bifrost , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

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A Theosophical definition of Asrama :

Asrama

(Sanskrit) A word derived from the root sram, signifying "to make efforts," "to strive"; with the particle a, which in this case gives force to the verbal root sram.

Asrama has at least two main significations.

1. The first is that of a college or school or a hermitage, an abode of ascetics, etc.; whereas the second meaning signifies a period of effort or striving in the religious life or career of a Brahmana of olden days. These periods of life in ancient times in Hindustan were four in number: the first, that of the student or brahmacharin;
2. second, the period of life called that of the grihastha or householder  - the period of married existence when the Brahmana took his due part in the affairs of men, etc.; third, the vanaprastha, or period of monastic seclusion, usually passed in a vana, or wood or forest, for purposes of inner recollection and spiritual meditation; and fourth, that of the bhikshu or religious mendicant, meaning one who has completely renounced the distractions of worldly life and has turned his attention wholly to spiritual affairs.

Brahmasrama. In modern esoteric or occult literature, the compound term Brahmasrama is occasionally used to signify an initiation chamber or secret room or adytum where the initiant or neophyte is striving or making efforts to attain union with Brahman or the inner god.

See also: Asrama , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

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A dictionary Of Commonly Used Sanskrit terms. From A to Crore.

Please note that all words in grey, like "yoga", "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

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Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

A Christian theological definition of Abyss according to CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry:

"

Abyss

See also: Abyss , Christianity, Body Mind and Soul

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The Blessed Lord said: “Many births have been left behind by Me and by thee, O Arjuna, I know them all, but thou knowest not thine, O Parantapa.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Soul After Death: What Does The Gita Say On Life After Death

Abyss

(Greek- bottomless)

1. The formless chaos from which matter and spirit were formed,
2. The bottomless pit (or deep) of the ancient cosmologies.
3. The final place of punishment of the wicked. mystic Christianity.
4. The abode of evil powers (Chrisitan) .

(See also: Abyss , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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Kundalini Dictionary

Dictionary over terms related to kundalini and kundalini awakening. Please note that words in grey like " Kundalini " are links to archives with related articles.

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An initiated journey thru the mayor Hindu Spiritual rituals by Sri Swami Sivandanda.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Rituals: An overview of Hindu Rituals

Abyss (from Greek a not + byssos, bythos deep, depth)

Bottomless, unfathomable; chaos, space, the watery abyss which becomes the field of manifestation or cosmos -- a concept found in all mythologies. With the Sumerians, Akkadians, and Babylonians the great Deep gave birth to Ea, the All-wise, unknowable infinite deity, while in the Chaldean cosmogony Tiamat, the female principle, is the imbodiment of chaos. The Abyss or chaos was the abode of cosmic wisdom. Egyptian cosmogony speaks of Nut as the celestial abyss while Scandinavian cosmogony tells of Ginnungagap (chasm of offspring of Ginn), the infinite void or the abyss of illusion (SD 1:367).

(See also: Abyss , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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Yetsirah (Hebrew) [from the verbal root yatsar to form, fashion]

Also Yetzirah, Jesirah, Jetzirah. `Olam hay-yetsirah is the sphere of formation, the third of the four worlds or `olam of the Qabbalah. It is an emanation or continuation of the second world, `olam hab-beri'ah. It is considered as the abode of the angels or intelligences which preside over the celestial bodies, including the sun and planets; further, on earth, over all the manifestations of nature such as fire, light, wind, rain, change of seasons, etc. It is also called the world of the builders, constructive as opposed to ideally planning architects, reminiscent of the architects and builders of The Secret Doctrine; therefore `olam hay-yetsirah is frequently referred to by its Chaldean name for angels (messengers or builders) -- Mal'achayya'.

Following the division into ten, as is the case in the superior spheres, the angelic hosts are grouped into ten classes as:

Mal'achim Messengers, Angels, Builders

'Er'elim Heroes or Mighty Ones

Seraphim Fiery Ones

Hayyoth Lives

'Ophanim Wheels

Hashmallim Shining Ones

'Elim Imbodied Divinities

'Elohim Gods

Benei 'Elohim Sons of the Gods

'Ishim Men (cf Zohar ii, 43a)

In this `olam there is little taint of the earthly matter found in the world of action, the fourth world, `olam ha-`asiyyah, emanated from the yetsiratic world.

(See also: Yetsirah , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

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Aether, Ether (Greek) (from aitho shining, fire)

The upper or purer air as opposed to aer, the lower air; the clear sky; the abode of the gods. In Classical antiquity it denoted primordial substance, Proteus or protyle, the unitary source both of all substances and energies, the mask of all kosmic phenomena. Often used loosely to embrace a domain which extends from the All-Father himself down to the atmosphere of our earth. Vergil speaks of "Jupiter omnipotens aether," and Cicero describes aether as the ultimate zone of heaven encircling, embracing, and permeating all things. At one time a member of the pantheon and object of veneration, at another the quest of the alchemist in search of the "absolute element" which would give him power over nature, and finally a hypothetical medium of science for conveying light waves.

Sometimes aether is used in translating the Sanskrit akasa, which has the same etymological and philosophical meaning. Here it is an element or principle coming after manas and kama and before the astral light and ether. Again, it is a high aspect of akasa, having itself also seven subordinate aspects. There are in kosmic space at least seven aethers or prakritis, which exist one within the other in a rising scale of spirituality. Collectively they may be called spirit-aether or akasa.

Generally in The Secret Doctrine it is the fifth kosmic element from below, a link between kosmic mind or mahat and the lower manifested world, the vehicle of the former and the parent of the latter. Looking at aether in a more general kosmic way, it is the field of activity of the kosmic Third Logos, Brahma-prakriti, and therefore the great womb of manifested being, the treasure house of all kosmic types, forth from which they flow at the opening of manifestation and back into which they will again be ingathered at the beginning of kosmic pralaya. It is in consequence the great mother-substance out of which all the hierarchies are built.

It interpenetrates everything, lasting from the beginning of the universal manvantara to its end, and indeed, may be said to continue, in its most spiritualized form throughout kosmic pralaya as the seed-house or storehouse from which everything will flow into manifestation again when the new period of kosmic activity arrives. Considered as the cosmic mother of all things, aether in its highest feminine aspect is the same as the Vedic Aditi or the Hera or Juno of Greece and Rome. Thus in one sense it is also mulaprakriti, the generator or producer of the seeds of beginnings and things. The Old Testament refers to aether as the kosmic waters. In its highest parts it is mystically alaya (the kosmic spirit-soul) or what in Northern Buddhism is called svabhavat, more mystically adi-buddhi.

See also ACTIO IN DISTANS; AKASA

(See also: Aether, Ether , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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Antariksha, Antariksha antariksa, antariksa (Sanskrit) (from antar within, interior + iksha from the verbal root iksh to behold, see)

The mid-region; the firmament or space between earth and heaven, the abode of apsaras (nymphs), gandharvas (celestial musicians), and yakshas (nature sprites of many types) along with the mythical wish-granting cow of plenty, Kamadhenu. In the Vedas, antariksha is the middle or second of three lokas (spheres) usually enumerated as bhur, bhuvar, and svar.

Above these rise in serial order the four higher lokas of the ordinary Brahmanical hierarchy. Hierarchically, taking the bhurloka as the physical sphere, bhuvarloka or antariksha corresponds with the astral plane. In the Vishnu-Purana (3:3), Antariksha is named as the Vyasa (arranger of the Veda) in the 13th dvapara yuga in the Vaivasvata manvantara, our present world cycle.

(See also: Antariksha, Antariksha antariksa, antariksa , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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Alfheim, Alfhem (Icelandic, Swedish) (alf elf (cf Icelandic elfrom river, channel) + heim, hem home)

The home of elves in Norse mythology; the meaning commonly ascribed to the word elf as a fairy or sprite needs reexamination, as the myths bear out the assumption that an elf denotes a channel between the divine source of an entity and its vehicle or body; in other words, that the elf is the intermediate nature or soul of any being.

In the Edda, Alfhem is the "teething gift" bestowed in the morning of time on the god Frey, the planetary deity, indwelling consciousness, or lord of our earth-system with all its components, so that Elf-home is the abode of souls on this sphere. The warriors of Odin on earth use the sword of Frey (the spiritual will) to do battle in the "giant world" of matter. Alfhem is to Frey as the human soul (elf) is to a human being.

(See also: Alfheim, Alfhem , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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Aethiopians, Ethiopians An undefined but powerful group of peoples, generally placed south of Egypt and east of Babylon; often spoken of as being at one time a monarchy and able to contribute kings to the Egyptian throne. Blavatsky shows the archaic racial connection between Egypt and India (SD 2:417; IU 1:569-70).

Migrants from northwestern India to Africa took with them the names of their great river, variously called Aethiops or Nila, now called the Indus. These immigrants were the so-called Sons of Horus or Blacksmiths of Egyptian records, mighty builders but somewhat later than the Atlantean descendants who built the first pyramids. This makes the Aethiopians -- and also, therefore, some of the Egyptians -- Aryans. A highly advanced urban civilization of Mohenjo-Daro has been discovered on the Indus "between Attock and Sind," exactly the location mentioned in The Secret Doctrine as the abode of the Aethiopians.

The reason classical Greek and Roman writers speak of the Egyptian Aethopians was that the Aethiopians of southern Egypt were then considered to be the last remnants of an Aryan immigration from South India, which took place in prehistoric antiquity, and Greek and Roman writers not infrequently contrasted and identified the Aethiopians of Egypt with the Eastern Aethiopians.

It was originally these Eastern Aethiopians who were known to the prehistoric Greek nations as the Aethiopians -- the only ones then considered as rightfully bearing this name. These Eastern Aethiopians inhabited the central and especially the southern part of the Indian peninsula including Ceylon, and therefore were the descendants of one of the last subraces of that portion of Atlantis existing earlier on a land south of India called Lanka, of which Ceylon, then one of its northern highlands, is the only present geological remnant.

See also Ethiopia

(See also: Aethiopians, Ethiopians , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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Alaya-mahat (Sanskrit) (from alaya abode, dwelling + mahat cosmic mind)

The universal mind, of which the personal or individual mind (buddhi-manas) is a temporary reflection. (BCW 12:313, 371)

(See also: Alaya-mahat , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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A dictionary Of Siddha Yoga Terminology. From Abhanga to Yogini.

Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

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 Adhisthana:

seat, abode

(See also:  Adhisthana , Body Mind and Soul)

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ananda-nilaya:

ananda-nilaya (aanandha-nilaya). Abode of supreme bliss.

(See also: ananda-nilaya , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

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The Guru occupies a strategic relevance in the Sikh society, as the guidance of the Guru towards the attainment of Moksha -release - is absolutely essential. He is only a shade lighter rather than the supremacy of the Almighty. Here is a brief description of the ten gurus of Sikhism.

Read more here: » Sikhism: The Ten Gurus of Sikhism

Antarakasa (Sanskrit) (from antar within, in the middle + akasa space, ether from a-kas to shine, be brilliant)

The akasa of akasa, the essence of akasa; interior or inner aether. The spiritual-divine aether or pradhana which is the seat of the primordial atman, on the cosmic scale or as applicable to an individual entity. "Now what is within the brahmapura (city of brahman) is an abode, a small lotus-flower; within it is a small space (antarakasa). What is within that, should be searched out; that, assuredly, is what one should desire to understand" (ChU 8:1:1).

(See also: Antarakasa , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

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