VIVEKA: discrimination

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Samskara (Sanskrit). Lit., from Sam and Kri, to improve, refine, impress. In Hindu philosophy the term is used to denote the impressions left upon the mind by individual actions or external circumstances, and capable of being developed on any future favourable occasion - even in a future birth.

The Samskara denotes, therefore, the germs of propensities and impulses from previous births to be developed in this, or the coming janmas or reincarnations. In Tibet, Samskara is called Doodyed, and in China is defined as, or at least connected with, action or Karma. It is, strictly speaking, a metaphysical term, which in exoteric philosophies is variously defined; e.g., in Nepaul as illusion, in Tibet as notion, and in Ceylon as discrimination. The true meaning is as given above, and as such is connected with Karma and its working.

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

Jnana - The path of intellectual discrimination. The way of finding Brahman through analysis of the real nature of phenomena. The jnana yogi rejects all that is transient and apparent and superficial saying “not this, not this” so comes to Brahman by the process of elimination. Knowledge into the Enquiry “Who am I”.

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

Vichara: Enquiry/investigation into the nature of the Self, Brahman or Truth; ever-present reflection on the why and wherefore of things; enquiry into the real meaning of the Mahavakya Tat-twam-asi: Thou art That; discrimination between the Real and the unreal; enquiry of Self.

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

Peace Mission Movement

Based on the teaching of founder Father Divine, which contains elements of New Thought, asceticism, perfectionism, utopian communalism, and denies existence of race and strictly prohibits discrimination among members. Requires all members to turn over all property and income, severing all ties to everything but the Peace Mission.

Room, board, and a small allowance for incidentals are provided in exchange for otherwise unpaid labor in Peace Mission owned businesses or projects. Father Divine did not actually claim to be God, but he fostered the belief in his followers, and required loyalty and obedience from them due only to God. The group claims the biblical prophecies about the coming Jewish Messiah and Christ's second coming were all fulfilled by Father Divine.

(See also: Peace Mission Movement , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

SATORI

Zen enlightenment, characterized by sudden, all-encompassing vision or complete understanding, as a result of a breakthrough from mediation. It lies beyond discrimination and differentiation and may endure from a mere intuitive flash to the eternal Void itself. Called No-Thought or No-Mind, it is considered the beginning of Zen training, the end of which is complete Non-Duality.

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

Viveka: (Sanskrit, lit. , discrimination; distinction)

The faculty of discretion that enables a human being to distinguish between true and false, reality and illusion.

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

Jnanayoga:

The path of knowledge, consisting of discrimination, renunciation, and other disciplines.

(See also: Jnanayoga , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Avabodha (Sanskrit) (from ava down away + bodha awakening)

Consciously cognizant or aware of; hence discrimination or awakened perception.

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

Viveka:

Viveka: discrimination.

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

viveka:

viveka. Discrimination.

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

buddhi: (Sanskrit) "Intellect, reason, logic."

The intellectual or disciplined mind. Buddhi is characterized by discrimination (viveka), voluntary restraint (vairagya), cultivation of calmness (shanti), contentment (santosha) and forgiveness (kshama). It is a faculty of manomaya kosha, the instinctive-intellectual sheath.

See: intellectual mind, kosha, mind (individual).

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

Udita-viveka - one whose spiritual discrimination has been awakened; the spiritually awake.

(See also: Udita-viveka , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

WITCHES LEAGUE OF PUBLIC AWARENESS (WLPA): An international organization founded in 1986 by Laurie Cabot and Christine Dumas to protest the filming of John Updike’s novel, The Witches of Eastwick, a gross misrepresentation of the Craft. The WLPA works to end prejudice and bigotry against Witches and Witchcraft. It does not handle individual discrimination cases.

(See also: WITCHES LEAGUE OF PUBLIC AWARENESS , Pagan Organisations, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary, Wicca,)

Paramita (Sanskrit) [from param beyond + ita gone from the verbal root i to go]

Gone or crossed to the other shore; derivatively, virtue or perfection. The paramitas vary in number according to the Buddhist school: some quoting six, others seven or ten; but they are the glorious or transcendental virtues -- the keys to the portals of jnana (wisdom).

Blavatsky gives these seven keys as (VS 47-8):

1)    dana "the key of charity and love immortal";

2)    sila (good character), "the key of Harmony in word and act, the key that counterbalances the cause and the effect, and leaves no further room for Karmic action"; 3) kshanti, "patience sweet, that nought can ruffle";

3)    viraga, "indifference to pleasure and to pain, illusion conquered, truth alone perceived";

4)    virya (strength, power), "the dauntless energy that fights its way to the supernal TRUTH, out of the mire of lies terrestrial";

5)    dhyana (profound spiritual-intellectual contemplation, with utter detachment from all objects of sense and of a lower mental character), human consciousness in the higher reaches of this state becomes purely buddhic, with the summit of the manas acting as vehicle for the retention of what the percipient consciousness experiences; once the golden gate of dhyana is opened, the pathway stretching thence leads towards the realm of "Sat eternal"; and

6)    prajna (understanding, wisdom), that part of the mind that functions when active as the vehicle of the higher self; "the key to which makes of man a god, creating him a Bodhisattva, son of the Dhyanis."

The six, seven, or ten paramitas have reference to the three fundamental grades of training in discipleship: six for the beginner, seven for the one who is more advanced, and ten which are practiced by the adept. A faithful following of these virtues is incumbent upon every disciple, and fidelity and perseverance in performance mark progress along the mystic way.

The other three paramitas, making ten, are adhishthana (inflexible courage) that goes forward to meet danger or difficulty; upeksha (discrimination) which seeks and finds the right way of applying the paramitas; and prabodha (awakened inner consciousness) or sambuddhi (complete or perfect illumination).

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

varna: The four varnas are as follows.

-       brahmin (brahmana): "Mature, evolved soul." Scholarly, pious souls of exceptional learning. Hindu scriptures traditionally invest the brahmin class with the responsibility of religious leadership, including teaching and priestly duties.

-       kshatriya: "Governing; endowed with sovereignty." Lawmakers and law enforcers and military, also known as rajanya.

-       vaishya: "Landowner, merchant." Businessmen, financiers, industrialists; employers. Those engaged in business, commerce and agriculture.

-       shudra: (Sanskrit) "Worker, servant." Skilled artisans and laborers. It is in keeping with varna dharma that sons are expected to follow the occupation of their father, as that is the occupation that was chosen prior to birth.  

-       jati: "Birth; position assigned by birth; rank, caste, family, race, lineage." Jati, more than varna, is the specific determinant of one's social community. Traditionally, because of rules of purity each jati is excluded from social interaction with the others, especially from interdining and intermarriage.

In modern times there is also a large group (oneseventh of India's population in 1981) outside the four varnas. These are called scheduled classes, untouchables, jatihita ("outcaste"), chandalas (specifically those who handle corpses) and harijan, a name given by Mahatma Gandhi, meaning "children of God." "Untouchable" jatis included the nishada (hunter), kaivarta (fisherman) and karavara (leather worker).

The varna dharma system - despite its widespread discrimination against harijans, and the abuse of social status by higher castes - ensures a high standard of craftsmanship, a sense of community belonging, family integrity and religio-cultural continuity.

Caste is not unique to Hinduism and India. By other names it is found in every society. The four varnas, or classes, and myriad jatis, occupational castes, or guilds, form the basic elements of human interaction.

See: dharma, Dharma Shastras, jati.

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

New World Order

The belief that: as the new Age of Aquarius unfolds, a new order of things will come into being. This will be a utopia in which there is world government, and end to wars, disease, hunger, pollution, and poverty. Gender, racial, religious and other forms of discrimination will cease.

People's allegiance to their tribe or nation will be replaced by a concern for the entire world and its people. Probably derived from the writings of Alice A. Bailey. Said by some Christians to be an anti-Christ world dictatorship.

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

The four main spiritual paths for God-realisation are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Karma Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament, Bhakti Yoga for a man of devotional temperament, Raja Yoga for a man of mystic temperament, and Jnana Yoga for a man of rational and philosophical temperament, or a man of enquiry.

Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, Lambika Yoga and Hatha Yoga, are other Yogas. Yoga, really, means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion with the Lord. Whatever may be the starting point, the end reached is the same.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Yoga: The Four Paths of Hindu Yoga

Basics of Hinduism: What about the hindu caste system and untouchability?

Caste is the hereditary division of Indian society based on occupation. The lowest class, deemed untouchables, suffer from discrimination and mistreatment. It is illegal in India to discriminate against, abuse or insult anyone on the basis of caste.

Read more here: » Basics of Hinduism: What about the hindu caste system and untouchability?

What is Dharma? Dharma is so called, because it holds; Dharma alone holds the people, etc. The word Dharma is derived from the root Dhr - to hold - and its etymological meaning is - that which holds - this world, or the people of the world, or the whole creation from the microcosm to the macrocosm.

Dharma is generally defined as - righteousness - or - duty. - Dharma is the principle of righteousness. It is the principle of holiness. It is also the principle of unity.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Dharma: Dharma in Hinduism - The Hindu Dharma

This is the second of two two summaries of the speach about Womens Movement in a Spiritual context delievered by Tapasya Dasaji of the Golden Age Foundation at the Oneness Festival, 16-22 of February 2004.

Read more here: » Women's Spirituality: Womens Movement in a Spiritual Perspective

Hinduism Lexicon on B

From backbiting to buddhi chitta.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on B