Adhere Dictionary

adhere: To remain attached or faithful, as to a leader, society, principle, etc.

(See also: Adhere , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Apostolic Churches

A branch of Pentecostalism including several denominations as well as independent churches with the name "Apostolic"; many (but not all) Apostolic churches adhere to Oneness Pentecostalism.

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

Awakening vs. Enlightenment

A clear distinction should be made between awakening to the Way (Great Awakening) and attaining the Way (attaining Enlightenment). (Note: There are many degrees of Awakening and Enlightenment. Attaining the Enlightenment of the Arhats, Pratyeka Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, etc. is different from attaining Supreme Enlightenment, i.e., Buddhahood.)

To experience a Great Awakening is to achieve (through Zen meditation, Buddha Recitation, etc.) a complete and deep realization of what it means to be a Buddha and how to reach Buddhahood.

It is to see one's Nature, comprehend the True Nature of things, the Truth. However, only after becoming a Buddha can one be said to have truly attained Supreme Enlightenment (attained the Way).

A metaphor appearing in the sutras is that of a glass of water containing sediments. As long as the glass is undisturbed, the sediments remain at the bottom and the water is clear. However, as soon as the glass is shaken, the water becomes turbid. Likewise, when a practitioner experiences a Great Awakening (awakens to the Way), his afflictions (greed, anger and delusion) are temporarily suppressed but not yet eliminated.

To achieve Supreme Enlightenment (i.e., to be rid of all afflictions, to discard all sediments) is the ultimate goal. Only then can he completely trust his mind and actions. Before then, he should adhere to the precepts, keep a close watch on his mind and thoughts, like a cat stalking a mouse, ready to pounce on evil thoughts as soon as they arise.

To do otherwise is to court certain failure, as stories upon stories of errant monks, roshis and gurus demonstrate.

 (See also: Awakening vs. Enlightenment , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

adhere: To remain attached or faithful, as to a leader, society, principle, etc.

(See also: Adhere , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

Purusharthas, Dharma, Artha, Karma and Moksha

Purusha means human being and artha means object or objective. Purusharthas means objectives of man. According to Hindu way of life, a man should strive to achieve four chief objectives (Purusharthas) in his life. They are: 

1.    dharma (righteousness), 

2.    artha (material wealth), 

3.    kama (desire) and 

4.    moksha (salvation). 

Every individual in a society is expected to achieve these four objectives and seek fulfillment in his life before departing from here. The concept of Purusharthas clearly establishes the fact that Hinduism does not advocate a life of self negation and hardship, but a life of balance, achievement and fulfillment. 

Read more here: » Purusharthas: Dharma, Artha, Karma and Moksha - The Purusharthas

The 'soul' metaphysics in Jainism has a very interesting colour-coded concept called the Lesya . According to Jainism, Lesya is determined by the adherence of karmic matter to the jiva or soul, resulting from both good and bad actions. This adherence is compared to the way in which particles of dust adhere to a body smeared with oil.

Read more here: » Jainism: Lesya - Jaina Theory Of Coloured Destiny

Feng Shui In Business

During the past seven years of Feng Shui practice, I have discovered that business people who adhere to the application of Feng Shui principles in their places of business and homes have a distinct edge over those who do not.

The Chinese have known for thousands of years how the environment affects the well-being and prosperity of governments, families and businesses. They know how to "read" the energies of the mountains, waterways, trees, shrubs, slopes of the hills, directions of the roads, and other environmental features. They also know how shapes and colors define these energies both outside and inside of structures. When they add compass direction and time to these distinctions, they can give a comprehensive picture of what any particular environment will provide for its inhabitants, and how to most effectively use that space.

Read more here: » Feng Shui: Feng Shui In Business

Bentonite Clay and its spiritual properties: Intestinal cleanse of the colon is strongly recommended by Kalki and The Golden Age Foundation in order to be fully receptive for pranic energy. It is so vital that it should be the mandatory preparation before all deeper spiritual processes and as a continous maintenance of the body as an antenna of cosmic energies. Bentonite (also available at many pharmacies under alternative substance names to bentonite: bentonitum, montmorillonite) is believed to have exceptionally properties. This article from www.alternativemedicine.com desribes the genereal properties and use of bentonite.

Read more here: » Bentonite Clay Properties - Intestinal cleanse helping spiritual awakening

The different yoga philosophies simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The yoga philosophies are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change.

Read more here: » Yoga Philosophy: The different Yoga philosophies

The Sanskrit word 'yoga' is derived from the root verb yuj, which means union. The supreme union of individual mind and cosmic mind is yoga. In his Yogasutras , Patanjali advocated the eight-fold path of astanga yoga . Its eight limbs are: yama (self-restraint), niyama (life-regulating moral rules and observances), asana (postures of bodily restfulness), pranayama (breath control), pratyahar (withdrawal of senses), dharana (fixing the mind on the Supreme), dhyana (absorption of self), and samadhi (liberation of the soul).

Read more here: » Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Supreme Union of Body, Mind, Soul with the Patanjali Yoga Sutras

Science and Spirituality: An Islamic View of Creation & Life

According to Islamic tradition, life is God's creation - regardless of whether life was specially created or resulted from evolution. Evolution itself is a process of creation as admitted by Darwin in The Origin of Species.

Creation falls into four categories - inanimate matter, plants, animals and human beings. According to Islam, all four are separate creations. Among living things, a number of species co-exist, all having been created separately. There is doubtless some similarity in physical attributes; yet, each has a permanent, separate existence. There is no concept of a missing link in Islam.

Read more here: » Science and Spirituality: An Islamic View of Creation Life

Four Asanas are prescribed for the purpose of Japa and meditation. They are Padmasana, Siddhasana, Svastikasana and Sukhasana. You must be able to sit in any one of these four Asanas at a stretch for full three hours without shaking the body. Then only you will get Asana-Jaya, mastery over the Asana. Without securing a steady Asana, you cannot further get on well in meditation. The steadier you are in your Asana, the more you will be able to concentrate and make your mind one-pointed. If you can be steady in the posture even for one hour, you will be able to acquire one-pointed mind and feel thereby infinite peace and Atmic Ananda.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Asanas: Importance Of Asanas

Gathas are the divine songs composed by prophet Zarathushtra, more than 3,000 years ago. Gathic verses reflect the communion which the Prophet received from Ahura Mazda, the Supreme Being. The Gathic verses are collected in 17 chapters, each called a Haiti, incorporated into a ritual text, the Yasna.

Ahura Mazda as the sole creator and protector of the universe. The Avestan Ahura means 'lord of life', and Mazda means 'all knowing, omniscient'. The Zoroastrian religion is based on the immutable and eternal law of Asha which signifies truth, order, discipline and progress.

Read more here: » Law of Asha: Zarathushtra and the Law of Asha

 What is Vasthu?

Human body is under the influence of the nine Planets. In fact it is governed and controlled by all these nine planets. Dwelling place is known as GRAHA, and this graha is under the rule of vasthu, the Omnipotent Devtha (Divine Lord of men's dwelling place.) So there has to be an utmost harmony between the body (which is ruled by Nava Graha) and home (Graha which is under the influence of Vasthu. Vasthu Sasthra is the science which explains the rules of the harmony required.

Read more here: » Vastu Shastra: What is Vasthu?

MOTHER SARASWATHI

Mother Saraswathi, is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment of knowledge of the Absolute. The sound of Her celestial veena awakens the notes of the sublime utterances of the Upanishads which reveal the Truth, and the sacred monosyllable, Om. She bestows the knowledge of the supreme, mystic sound and then gives full knowledge of the Self as represented by Her pure, dazzling snow-white apparel. Therefore, to propitiate Saraswathi, the giver of knowledge, is the third stage.

From " Hindu Fasts & Festivals " by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Saraswathi: The Hindu Godess Mother Saraswathi

Four Asanas are prescribed for the purpose of Japa and meditation. They are Padmasana, Siddhasana, Svastikasana and Sukhasana. You must be able to sit in any one of these four Asanas at a stretch for full three hours without shaking the body. Then only you will get Asana-Jaya, mastery over the Asana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Asanas: Most important Yoga Positions - Yoga Asanas

Malvin Artley gives an exciting mythological background to Venus in connection to the forthcoming Venus Transits of 2004 and 2012. A must read if you are interested in the significance of the Venus Transit.

Read more here: » Venus Transit: The Venus Conjunction June 8 2004

The very root and core of all moral discipline is mental purification through refraining from all evil action and the active practice of virtue. Do good at all times. Ahimsa, Satya and Brahmacharya symbolise the three processes of avoiding sin, sticking to virtue and Self-purification.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: Ethical Culture Or The Process Of Purification

Jaina Ôsoul metaphysics has an interesting colour-code called lesya, a unique concept in the phenomenology of karma. The special aura of the soul can be described in terms of colour, smell, touch or taste indicating the stages of spiritual progress of a living being, whether human, animal, demonic or divine.

Read more here: » Lesya: The Colour of Your Karma - Lesya