dana: (Sanskrit) "Generosity, giving; a gift." See: yamaniyama.

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

Dana

The practice of generosity or charity: one of the Paramitas as well as one of the All- Embracing Virtues, where it means, in the latter, giving others what they want just to lead them towards the truth.

 (See also: Dana , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

dana:

dana - giving

(See also: dana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

dana:

dana (dhaana). Also danam. Charity, giving.

(See also: dana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Dana (Sanskrit). Almsgiving to mendicants, lit., "charity", the first of the six Paramitas in Buddhism.

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

DANA: charity

(See also: DANA , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

A dictionary Of Commonly Used Sanskrit terms. From Dadhicha to Kutichaka.

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.

Dana:

Dana: charity, usually in the form of money (SSS-IV)

(See also: Dana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Dana - Charity.

(See also: Dana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

yama-niyama: (Sanskrit) "Restraints-observances."

The first two of the eight limbs of raja yoga, constituting Hinduism's fundamental ethical codes, the yamas and niyamas are the essential foundation for all spiritual progress. They are codified in numerous scriptures including the Shandilya and Varuha Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Gorakshanatha, the Tirumantiram of Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. All the above texts list ten yamas and ten niyamas, with the exception of Patanjali's classic work, which lists only five of each.

The yamas are the ethical restraints; the niyamas are the religious practices. Because it is brief, the entire code can be easily memorized and reviewed daily by the spiritual aspirant. Here are the ten traditional yamas and ten niyamas.

yamas:

1)    ahimsa: "Noninjury." Not harming others by thought, word, or deed.

2)    satya: "Truthfulness." Refraining from lying and betraying promises.

3)    asteya: "Nonstealing." Neither stealing, nor coveting nor entering into debt.

4)    brahmacharya: (Sanskrit) "Divine conduct." Controlling lust by remaining celibate when single, leading to faithfulness in marriage.

5)    kshama: (Sanskrit) "Patience." Restraining intolerance with people and impatience with circumstances.

6)    dhriti: "Steadfastness." Overcoming nonperseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness.

7)    daya: "Compassion." Conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.

8)    arjava: "Honesty, straightforwardness." Renouncing deception and wrongdoing.

9)    mitahara: "Moderate appetite." Neither eating too much nor consuming meat, fish, fowl or eggs.

10) shaucha: "Purity." Avoiding impurity in body, mind and speech. -

niyamas:

1)    hri: "Remorse." Being modest and showing shame for misdeeds.

2)    santosha: "Contentment." Seeking joy and serenity in life.

3)    dana: "Giving." Tithing and giving generously without thought of reward.

4)    astikya: (Sanskrit) "Faith." Believing firmly in God, Gods, guru and the path to enlightenment.

5)    Ishvarapujana: "Worship of the Lord." The cultivation of devotion through daily worship and meditation.

6)    siddhanta shravana: "Scriptural listening." Studying the teachings and listening to the wise of one's lineage.

7)    mati: "Cognition." Developing a spiritual will and intellect with the guru's guidance.

8)    vrata: "Sacred vows." Fulfilling religious vows, rules and observances faithfully.

9)    japa: "Recitation." Chanting mantras daily.

10) tapas: (Sanskrit) "Austerity." Performing sadhana, penance, tapas and sacrifice.

Patanjali lists the yamas as: ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha (noncovetousness); and the niyamas as: shaucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya (self-reflection, scriptural study) and Ishvarapranidhana (worship).

See: raja yoga.

(See also: Yama-niyama , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

ariyadhana (ariyadhana): Noble Wealth; qualities that serve as 'capital' in the quest for liberation:

á      conviction (see saddha),

á      virtue (see sila),

á      conscience,

á      fear of evil,

á      erudition,

á      generosity (see dana), and

á      discernment (see panna).

 (See also: Ariyadhana , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism: Basic Buddhist Dictionary

A basic dictionary of Buddhism terms. Please note that all words in grey like " Buddhism " are links to an archive with related articles.

A Yoga Dictionary from Abhyasa to Yukti.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Adinidana (Sanskrit) (from adi first + nidana binding from ni down + dana band, rope from the verbal root da to bind on, fasten)

A binding, halter, fetter; the first and supreme causality or originating link in the succeeding chain of nidanas, called in Buddhist writings the twelve causes of manifested existence; otherwise a chain or concatenation of cause and effect throughout the range of manifested being.

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

bhavana (bhaavanaa): Mental cultivation or development; meditation. The third of the three grounds for meritorious action.

See also dana and sila.

 (See also: Bhavana , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

parami, paramita (paaramii, paaramitaa): Perfection of the character. A group of ten qualities developed over many lifetimes by a bodhisatta, which appear as a group in the Pali Canon only in the Jataka ("Birth Stories"): generosity (dana), virtue (sila), renunciation (nekkhamma), discernment (panna), energy/persistence (viriya), patience/forbearance (khanti), truthfulness (sacca), determination (adhitthana), good will (metta), and equanimity (upekkha).

 (See also: Parami, paramita , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

sila (siila): Virtue, morality. The quality of ethical and moral purity that prevents one from falling away from the eightfold path. Also, the training precepts that restrain one from performing unskillful actions. Sila is the second theme in the gradual training (see anupubbi-katha), one of the ten paramis, the second of the seven treasures (see dhana), and the first of the three grounds for meritorious action (see dana and bhavana).

 (See also: Sila , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

dhana (dhana): Treasure(s). The seven qualities of conviction, virtue (see sila), conscience & concern, learning, generosity (see dana), and wisdom.

 (See also: Dhana , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Gwydion (Welsh) The son of Don (Irish, Dana). There were two chief god-families: the Children of Don and the Children of Llyr. Gwydion might be equated with Hermes. His castle (Caer Gwydion) is the Milky Way, but also (like many of the stars and constellations) it was projected in Wales somewhere. An exactly similar projecting of celestial powers and functions into human life was at one time universal. One has to divine the functions of these gods from corresponding figures in other mythologies: in the Mabinogi they are all euhemerized into men.

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

Gwydion (Welsh) The son of Don (Irish, Dana). There were two chief god-families: the Children of Don and the Children of Llyr. Gwydion might be equated with Hermes. His castle (Caer Gwydion) is the Milky Way, but also (like many of the stars and constellations) it was projected in Wales somewhere. An exactly similar projecting of celestial powers and functions into human life was at one time universal. One has to divine the functions of these gods from corresponding figures in other mythologies: in the Mabinogi they are all euhemerized into men.

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