MASTER -

1. one who mastered a spiritual discipline and teaches or guides others.

2. (pl.) hidden teachers who rule the spiritual evolution of Earth (Theosophy). (NAD)

(See also: MASTER, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Sadhaka - one who follows a spiritual discipline to achieve a specific goal. In this book this especially refers to a practitioner of bhakti.

(See also: Sadhaka, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Vairagya - detachment or indifference to this world; a spiritual discipline involving the acceptance of voluntary austerities to achieve detachment from the sense objects.

(See also: Vairagya, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

bhakti-yoga

The spiritual discipline of linking to the Supreme Lord through pure devotional service.

(See also: bhakti-yoga, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Satya:

Satya ("truth/truthfulness"): truth, a designation of the ultimate Reality; also the practice of truthfulness, which is an aspect of moral discipline (yama)

(See also: Satya, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Sadhana:

Sadhana ("accomplishing"): spiritual discipline leading to siddhi ("perfection" or "accomplishment"); the term is specifically used in Tantra

(See also: Sadhana, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Catharsis (from Greek katharsis cleansing from katharos pure)

Cleansing, purgation; used by Aristotle for the cleansing of the emotions of the audience through experiencing a work of art, such as a drama. Also the preliminary discipline in the ancient Mysteries, where the lower nature of the aspirant is purified, fitting him or her for higher training, knowledge, and initiation.

The three lowest degrees "consisted of teachings alone, which formed the preparation, the discipline, mental and spiritual and psychic and physical; what the Greeks called the katharsis or 'cleansing'; and when the disciple was considered sufficiently cleansed, purified, disciplined, quiet mentally, tranquil spiritually, then he was taken into the fourth degree" (Fund 608).

See also INITIATION; MYSTERIES.

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

Tapas (tapasya): Austerity, practical (i.e., result-producing) spiritual discipline; spiritual force. Literally it means the generation of heat or energy, but is always used in a symbolic manner, referring to spiritual practice and its effect, especially the roasting of karmic seeds, the burning up of karma.

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

Durvasa:

Durvasa (Dhuurvaasa). Son of Athri and Anasuya; known for quick temper and severe curses with an eventually constructive effect of driving home hard lessons of discipline and virtuousness. He granted boons to Kunthi, which resulted in the births of Karna and the Pandavas.

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

Sadhana:

Sadhana: Spiritual discipline or exercise; self effort (BV-30), (BV-33) The essential ingredient of this Sadhana is Love. Sadhana without Love (Prema) towards all creation, will reveal only Satan. (SSS-III)

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

Vrata:

Vrata: Vow, religious oath. Often a vow to perform certain disciplines over a period of time, such as penance, fasting, specific mantra repetitions, worship or meditation. Vratas extend from the simplest personal promise to irrevocable vows made before God, Gods, guru and community.

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

Brahma Yoga (Sanskrit) (from Brahman divinity + yoga union)

Divine union; a discipline which includes the best practices of all the yoga schools. {Tyberg, Sanskrit Keys 118}

(See also: Brahma Yoga, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

siddhas

A class of celestial beings advanced in spiritual discipline and naturally possessed of the eight mystic powers, such as the abilities to become atomic in size and to control other people’s minds.

(See also: siddhas, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

KAREZZA

A discipline of Tantric Yoga adapted occidentally by Thomas Lake Harris (d. 1906). It builds up sexual energy by stimulation, but blocks the ejaculation of semen. This results in the creation of astral entities for occult uses.

(See also: KAREZZA, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Sadhana-bhakti - the practising stage of devotion; a stage of bhakti in which the various spiritual disciplines performed for the satisfaction of Sri Krsna are undertaken through the medium of the senses for the purpose of bringing about the manifestation of bhava, or spiritual prema.

(See also: Sadhana-bhakti, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Vaidhi-bhakti - devotion prompted by the regulations of sastra. When  sadhana-bhakti is not inspired by intense longing, but is instigated instead by the discipline of the sastra, it is called vaidhi-bhakti.

(See also: Vaidhi-bhakti, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Dharma: A term of many meanings, including "law", "virtue", and "righteousness". In general, dharma means the religious discipline for the four orders of life: maintaining celibacy and studying, family life, a devout and renounced life (but living with the spouse), and total renunciation for God realization.

(See also: Dharma, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Lomi work (Lomi approach): System of bodywork cofounded by aikidoist Richard Strozzi Heckler, Ph.D.

It is a unique blend of contemplative disciplines and the embodiment of right action. Lomi work encompasses meditation and the use of energy in the context of healing.

(See also: Lomi work, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Psychodynamic Chirology (PDC): A comprehensive diagnostic discipline based on the medical-genetic science of dermatoglyphics (see hand psychology). One of PDC's principles is that events in the brain are invariably represented in the hand.

(See also: Psychodynamic Chirology, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Niyama: Observance; the five Do's of Yoga:

1)   shaucha-purity, cleanliness;

2)   santosha-contentment, peacefulness;

3)   tapas-austerity, practical (i.e., result-producing) spiritual discipline;

4)   swadhyaya-self-study, spiritual study;

5)   Ishwarapranidhana-offering of one's life to God

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

Kaanda:

Kaanda (Kanda): The three sections of the Veda's: Karma, Upasana and Jnana: 'The first one deals with Karma, which is the most voluminous and the second, shorter in size, is called Upasana or Worship. The third or the Jnana section is the Upanishad literature, which is shorter still, the Vedantha or the Consummation of Vedic discipline'. (SSS-II) Kanda means water, an expanse of water (RRV-1)

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

yoga:

yoga. (a) Union of the individual self or Atma with the Supreme Being or Universal Self; act of yoking. (b) A spiritual discipline or exercise aimed at control of the senses. (c) Science of divine communion. No single definition of the word yoga suffices. Patanjali's Yoga-sutras define yoga as a series of eight spiritual steps leading to union with God. This is different from the eight steps given in the section titled "The eightfold path of yoga" of Prasanthi Vahini.

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