Absolute (from Latin ab away + solvere to loosen, dissolve)

Freed, released, absolved; parallel to the Sanskrit moksha, mukti (set free, released), also to the Buddhist nirvana (blown out), all three terms signifying one who has obtained freedom from the cycle of material existence.

Absolute, in European philosophy, is used somewhat loosely for the unconditional or boundless infinitude. On the other hand, Sir W. Hamilton (Disc 13n) considers the Absolute as "diametrically opposed to, . . . contradictory of, the Infinite," which is correct from the standpoint of both etymology and abstract philosophy. Blavatsky uses the term both ways: sometimes equating it with infinity, at other times with the first cause or one divine substance-principle.

Strictly speaking, absolute is a relative term. It is the philosophic One or cosmic originant, but not the mystic zero or infinitude. An absolute or a cosmic freed one is not That (infinity), for infinity has no attributes: it is neither absolute nor nonabsolute, conscious nor unconscious, because all attributes and qualities belong to manifested and therefore noninfinite beings and things (cf FSO 89-90). The boundless or infinite, in which exist innumerable absolutes, includes the cognizer, the cognized, and the cognition, and is both matter and spirit, subject and object; all egos and non-egos are included within it.

From the zero emanate an infinite number of cosmic Ones or monads. Every absolute is not only the hierarch of its own hierarchy, the One from which all subsequent differentiations emanate, but is also a cosmic jivanmukta, a released monad freed from the pull of the lower planes. Every monad at the threshold of paranirvana reassumes its primeval essence and becomes at one with the absolute of its own hierarchy once more. The absolute is thus the goal of evolution as well as the source, the highest divinity or Silent Watcher of the hierarchy of compassion, which forms the light side of a universe or cosmic hierarchy.

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

Absolution (from Latin ab away + solvere to set free, loosen, dissolve)

Release; in Christian usage, mainly Roman Catholic, remission of sins, the setting free by a priest of a person from guilt, the penalties of guilt, divine punishment, or the censure of the church.

In the Greek, remission (of sins) meant sending away, the intent being that the disciples and the assembled believers together were able to work a change of heart in the sinner so that he would sin no more (James 5:16), not a remission of the karmic penalty due. Only much later was the power of remission taken over by the priest. Moreover, for a thousand years the formula used was "May Christ absolve thee," superseded by "I absolve thee." While clearly a priest may release one from the penalties imposed by his church, he cannot release anyone from the natural consequences of his acts; yet Christians have attached extreme importance to death-bed absolution by a priest. Such death-bed repentance had its origin in the fact that the last thoughts of a dying person color his afterdeath experiences, and even his next incarnation. But though well-wishers and people of high attainment can help with their counsel and example, they cannot set aside the laws of nature. Real absolution must be emancipation from error and wrongdoing, not an escape from the demands of justice or karma.

Absolution also coveys the mystical significance of the Sanskrit moksha and mukti. When one's whole being has been turned upwards and inwards to a more or less perfect union with the god within, one is absolved, released, or set free from the entanglements of the lower nature and, in this sense, one has absolution or freedom.

See also ABSOLUTE.

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

Absoluter Geist (German) Absolute spirit; used by Eduard von Hartmann in his Philosophy of the Unconscious to signify the cosmic hierarch or originant of a hierarchy.

See also ABSOLUTE.

(See also: Absoluter Geist, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Definition and meaning of Absolute Assignment :

Absolute Assignment: Assignment by a policy owner of all control of and rights in the policy to a third party. 

(Source: InsWeb)

Also see these pages: Absolute Assignment , Insurance, Insurance Sitemap, Insurance Dictionary - A

Absolute:

The highest Reality; supreme Consciousness; the pure, untainted, changeless Truth.

(See also: Absolute, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary, Siddha Yoga, Siddha Yoga Dictionary)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

Definition and meaning of Absolute Monarchy

Absolute Monarchy - [Government]

During the 1600s, the governments of the nation-states in western Europe developed the concept of absolute monarchy. After the religious wars of the Middle Ages, monarchs reduced the power traditionally held by nobles to prevent them from amassing armies and leading revolts against the king. The power to form professional armies and administer bureaucracies became centralized under the authority of the kings. The reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715) provides the best example. In addition to controlling the military and government, Louis XIV passed laws without parliament, established state churches, and imposed state economic policies.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Absolute Monarchy

Absolute Monarchy - [Government]

During the 1600s, the governments of the nation-states in western Europe developed the concept of absolute monarchy. After the religious wars of the Middle Ages, monarchs reduced the power traditionally held by nobles to prevent them from amassing armies and leading revolts against the king. The power to form professional armies and administer bureaucracies became centralized under the authority of the kings. The reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715) provides the best example. In addition to controlling the military and government, Louis XIV passed laws without parliament, established state churches, and imposed state economic policies.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Absoluteness. When predicated of the UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE, it denotes an abstract noun, which is more correct and logical than to apply the adjective "absolute " to that which has neither attributes nor limitations, nor can IT have any.

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

Definition and meaning of ABSOLUTE ASSIGNMENT :

ABSOLUTE ASSIGNMENT*: An irrevocable transfer of complete ownership of a life insurance policy or an annuity from one party to another. Contrast with collateral assignment. (See Assignment)

(Source: Insurance Information Institute )

Also see these pages: ABSOLUTE ASSIGNMENT , Insurance, Insurance Sitemap, Insurance Dictionary - A

Definition and meaning of absolute zero:

absolute zero - the temperature at which all motion will cease (0 degrees Kelvin or -273.15 degrees C)

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of absolute tautonymy:

absolute tautonymy - in taxonomy, the identical spelling of a generic-group name and one of its included specific-group names, such as the fish, Badis badis, or the western lowland gorilla, Gorilla gorilla gorilla

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of Absolute Beneficiary :

Absolute Beneficiary: See Irrevocable Beneficiary. (LI)

(Source: InsWeb)

Also see these pages: Absolute Beneficiary , Life Insurance, Life Insurance Sitemap,  Insurance, Insurance Sitemap, Insurance Dictionary - A

Definition and meaning of Absolute Liability :

Absolute Liability: Liability for damages even though fault or negligence cannot be proven.

(Source: The Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary )

Also see these pages: Absolute Liability , Insurance Business, Insurance Business Sitemap,  Insurance, Insurance Sitemap, Insurance Dictionary - A

A Theosophical definition of Absolute :

Absolute

A term which unfortunately is much abused and often misused even in theosophical writings. It is a convenient word in Occidental philosophy by which is described the utterly unconditioned; but it is a practice which violates both the etymology of the word and even the usage of some keen and careful thinkers as, for instance, Sir William Hamilton in his Discussions (3rd edition, p.13n), who apparently uses the word absolute in the exactly correct sense in which theosophists should use it as meaning "finished," "perfected," "completed." As Hamilton observes: "The Absolute is diametrically opposed to, is contradictory of, the Infinite." This last statement is correct, and in careful theosophical writings the word Absolute should be used in Hamilton's sense, as meaning that which is freed, unloosed, perfected, completed.

Absolute is from the Latin absolutum, meaning "freed," "unloosed," and is, therefore, an exact English parallel of the Sanskrit philosophical term moksha or mukti, and more mystically of the Sanskrit term so commonly found in Buddhist writings especially, nirvana  - an extremely profound and mystical thought.

Hence, to speak of parabrahman as being the Absolute may be a convenient usage for Occidentals who understand neither the significance of the term parabrahman nor the etymology, origin, and proper usage of the English word Absolute  - "proper" outside of a common and familiar employment.

In strict accuracy, therefore, the student should use the word Absolute only when he means what the Hindu philosopher means when he speaks of moksha or mukti or of a mukta  - i.e., one who has obtained mukti or freedom, one who has arrived at the acme or summit of all evolution possible in any one hierarchy, although as compared with hierarchies still more sublime, such jivanmukta is but a mere beginner. The Silent Watcher in theosophical philosophy is an outstanding example of one who can be said to be absolute in the fully accurate meaning of the word. It is obvious that the Silent Watcher is not parabrahman. (See also Moksha, Relativity)

See also: Absolute , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

Definition and meaning of Absolute Liability :

Absolute Liability: A type of liability that arises from extremely dangerous operations. An example would be in the use of explosives: A contractor would almost certainly be liable for damages caused by vibrations of the earth following an explosive detonation. With absolute liability it is usually not necessary for a claimant to establish that the operation is dangerous. See also Strict Liability. (LA)

(Source: InsWeb)

Also see these pages: Absolute Liability , Insurance Liability, Insurance Liability Sitemap,  Insurance, Insurance Sitemap, Insurance Dictionary - A

Definition and meaning of Absolute and Relative Chronology

Absolute and Relative Chronology

Absolute chronology depends on knowing the precise date of an event, including the day, month and/or year. Sequencing events in absolute chronology means to organize them in an order, i.e. from oldest to most recent. Relative chronology depends less on specific dates but more on relationships of events. To sequence events, individuals, and time periods, students must understand past, present, and future time. They also must be able to identify the beginning, middle, and end of an event or story, be able to structure a story, creating their own sequence by developing a topic from its beginning to its conclusion, and create and interpret timelines, identifying intervals of time and ordering events in their order of occurrence and in relation to other events.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Absolute and Relative Chronology

Absolute and Relative Chronology

Absolute chronology depends on knowing the precise date of an event, including the day, month and/or year. Sequencing events in absolute chronology means to organize them in an order, i.e. from oldest to most recent. Relative chronology depends less on specific dates but more on relationships of events. To sequence events, individuals, and time periods, students must understand past, present, and future time. They also must be able to identify the beginning, middle, and end of an event or story, be able to structure a story, creating their own sequence by developing a topic from its beginning to its conclusion, and create and interpret timelines, identifying intervals of time and ordering events in their order of occurrence and in relation to other events.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Absolute and Comparative Advantage

Absolute and Comparative Advantage - [Economics]

International trade is based on resources or products which one country needs and another can provide. A country has an absolute advantage when it can produce more of a given product than other countries using a given amount of resources. A country has a comparative advantage in the product that it can produce most efficiently given all of the products it could choose to produce. Each country must determine if it is reasonable to try to produce the product. To do so, the country assesses the opportunity cost and if it is low, it may choose to produce instead of import. Therefore, countries specialize in the goods they can produce most efficiently. The United States markets wheat and farm tractors, not items it cannot produce such as coffee or diamonds.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Absolute and Comparative Advantage

Absolute and Comparative Advantage - [Economics]

International trade is based on resources or products which one country needs and another can provide. A country has an absolute advantage when it can produce more of a given product than other countries using a given amount of resources. A country has a comparative advantage in the product that it can produce most efficiently given all of the products it could choose to produce. Each country must determine if it is reasonable to try to produce the product. To do so, the country assesses the opportunity cost and if it is low, it may choose to produce instead of import. Therefore, countries specialize in the goods they can produce most efficiently. The United States markets wheat and farm tractors, not items it cannot produce such as coffee or diamonds.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of ata:

ata (atmosphere absolute) - one (1) ata is the atmospheric pressure at sea level

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,