nadis

Numerous points created by lines of energy crossing and criss-crossing in the etheric, or energy, non-physical body. In esoteric thought, inherited from the wisdom of the East, each body is believed to have a number of nadis, or energy pressure points, to help the body maintain good circulation and balance

(See also: Nadis, Body Mind and Soul)

Merodach (Chald.). God of Babylon, the Bel of later times. He is the son of Davkina, goddess of the lower regions, or the earth, and of Hea, God of the Seas and Hades with the Orientalists; but esoterically and with the Akkadians, the Great God of Wisdom, "he who resurrects the dead". Hea, Ea, Dagon or Oannes and Merodach are one.

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

Sarasvati (Sanskrit). The same as Vach, wife and daughter of Brahma produced from one of the two halves of his body. She is the goddess of speech and of sacred or esoteric knowledge and wisdom. Also called Sri.

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

Kabalah (Hebrew, Jewish). The hidden wisdom of the Hebrew Rabbis of the middle ages derived from the older secret doctrines concerning divine things and cosmogony, which were combined into a theology after the time of the captivity of the Jews in Babylon. All the works that fall under the esoteric category are termed Kabalistic.

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

Brihaspati (Sanskrit) The name of a Deity, also of a Rishi. It is like wise the name of the planet Jupiter. He is the personified Guru and priest of the gods in India ; also the symbol of exoteric ritualism as opposed to esoteric mysticism. Hence the opponent of King Soma - the moon, but also the sacred juice drunk at initiation - the parent of Budha, Secret Wisdom.

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

Srama (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root sram to toil, labor]

Exertion, labor, toil; often used for the different methods of mental and physical austerity used in several of the yogas of Hindustan. Mystically, srama is active labor, exertion, and training which the disciple undergoes in the acquiring of esoteric wisdom.

(See also: Srama, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Rahasya (Sanskrit) A secret doctrine or teaching; any subtle idea or recondite point of thought; mystical or esoteric teachings. Also a name of the Upanishads. As an adjective, secret, mysterious. The form sa-rahasya also means secret wisdom.

(See also: Rahasya, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Mahavidya (Sanskrit) [from maha great + vidya knowledge]

The great knowledge, magic knowledge "now degenerated into Tantrika worship" (SD 1:169). This great esoteric science is possessed in its relative fullness by the highest initiates alone, as it embraces almost universal wisdom.

(See also: Mahavidya, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Brahmajnana (Sanskrit) (from Brahman cosmic spirit + jnana knowledge from the verbal root jna to know)

Divine, sacred, or esoteric knowledge concerning the cosmic Brahman as taught, for instance, in Vedantic philosophy; also spiritual wisdom per se.

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

Anthroposophy - N

An esoteric cult founded by German mystic Rudolf Steiner. The term literally means "wisdom of man." It teaches that we possess the truth within ourselves. The system of thought is occultic and spiritistic.

(See also: Anthroposophy, New Age, Body mind and Soul)

Brahmasrama (Sanskrit) (from Brahman the supreme principle + asrama sacred building, hermitage)

Mystically, an esoteric seat, an initiation chamber, or secret room where the initiant strives to attain union with Brahman or the inner god. Also a temple, in which the sacred mysteries of the wisdom-religion are taught. Used as well to signify the headquarters of an esoteric school.

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

A Theosophical definition of Buddhism :

Buddhism

The teachings of Gautama the Buddha. Buddhism today is divided into two branches, the Northern and the Southern. The Southern still retains the teachings of the "Buddha's brain," the "eye doctrine," that is to say his outer philosophy for the general world, sometimes inadequately called the doctrine of forms and ceremonies. The Northern still retains his "heart doctrine"  - that which is hid, the inner life, the heart-blood, of the religion: the doctrine of the inner heart of the teaching.

The religious philosophy of the Buddha-Sakyamuni is incomparably nearer to the ancient wisdom, the esoteric philosophy of the archaic ages, than is Christianity. Its main fault today is that teachers later than the Buddha himself carried its doctrines too far along merely formal or exoteric lines; yet, with all that, to this day it remains the purest and holiest of the exoteric religions on earth, and its teachings even exoterically are true  - once they are properly understood. They need but the esoteric key in interpretation of them. As a matter of fact, the same may be said of all the great ancient world religions. Christianity, Brahmanism, Taoism, and others all have the same esoteric wisdom behind the outward veil of the exoteric formal faith. See: exoteric. esoteric

See also: Buddhism, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

Saka (Sanskrit) Applied to intellect or cosmic wisdom in the Vishnu-Purana, mystically and philosophically identical with cosmic mahat.

Esoterically, the aggregate or synthesis of certain manifesting divine principles unfolding or emanating themselves through spirit into and throughout the web of Being. Hence saka is equivalent also to what the Chinese referred to as the Dragon of Wisdom -- the synthesis of all the manifesting deities in any cosmic unit -- and to the cosmic Logos.

(See also: Saka, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Pot Amun (Coptic) A priest and hierophant of the early Ptolemaic dynasty. A term said by Diogenes Laertius to signify one consecrated to Amun (Amen), the god of esoteric wisdom, as amen means "the occult." "Pot-Amun is credited with having been the first to teach Theosophy, or the outlines of the Secret Wisdom-Religion, to the uninitiated" (TG 259).

(See also: Pot Amun, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Gorsedd (Welsh) A throne, seat, chair; an assembly of the Bards; now, the Assembly of Bards that directs the National Eisteddfod. According to Barddas, a Gorsedd might be held four times a year at the solstices and equinoxes.

According to Iolo Morganwg, there were three Gorseddan (or Gorseddau?) of old, of which two became public and lost the secret wisdom; but the third, the Gorsedd of Morganwg (Glamorgan) disappeared from public view in early times and became an esoteric body (celddysgol -- secret teaching), preserving the wisdom of the Druids.

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

Aparavidya (Sanskrit) (from a not + para supreme + vidya knowledge from the verbal root vid to see, know, percieve)

Nonsupreme knowledge; in Vedanta philosophy the lower wisdom of Brahman, relative knowledge acquired by the intellect and through the performance of ritual worship and duties, in contradistinction to paravidya (supreme wisdom), the transcendental knowledge of Brahman attainable by him who has achieved moksha (liberation) during life. This distinction between the exoteric and esoteric tradition and doctrine is found in practically all cultures.

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

Gorsedd (Welsh) A throne, seat, chair; an assembly of the Bards; now, the Assembly of Bards that directs the National Eisteddfod. According to Barddas, a Gorsedd might be held four times a year at the solstices and equinoxes.

According to Iolo Morganwg, there were three Gorseddan (or Gorseddau?) of old, of which two became public and lost the secret wisdom; but the third, the Gorsedd of Morganwg (Glamorgan) disappeared from public view in early times and became an esoteric body (celddysgol -- secret teaching), preserving the wisdom of the Druids.

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

The Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh serves Nyarlathotep in his aspect as the Black Pharaoh. Its leadership is primarily of Egyptian descent, though in modern times it has become more inclusive of other nationalities. The cult has connections to the Church of Starry Wisdom, the Cult of the Bloody Tongue, and the Brotherhood of the Beast. It includes a subgroup known as the Children of the Sphinx that specializes in embalming mummies with the heads of animals.See also:

Cthulhu mythos cults, Cthulhu mythos cults - Black Brotherhood, Cthulhu mythos cults - Brotherhood of the Beast, Cthulhu mythos cults - Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh, Cthulhu mythos cults - Brothers of the Yellow Sign, Cthulhu mythos cults - Chesuncook Witch Coven, Cthulhu mythos cults - Chorazos Cult, Cthulhu mythos cults - Church of Starry Wisdom, Cthulhu mythos cults - Cult of the Bloody Tongue, Cthulhu mythos cults - Esoteric Order of Dagon

Read more here: » Cthulhu mythos cults: Encyclopedia II - Cthulhu mythos cults - Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh

A Theosophical definition of Adept :

Adept

The word means one who is "skilled"; hence, even in our ordinary life, a chemist, a physician, a theologian, a mechanic, an engineer, a teacher of languages, an astronomer, are all "adepts," persons who are skilled, each in his own profession. In theosophical writings, however, an Adept is one who is skilled in the esoteric wisdom, in the teachings of life.

See also: Adept, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

Gordon Melton lists the CUT as a religion of the Ancient Wisdom tradition akin to Theosophy and the I AM Movement. CUT theology is a syncretistic belief system, including elements of Buddhism, Christianity, esoteric mysticism, the paranormal, alchemy and belief in elves, fairies, and other entities it calls elementals. It revolves chiefly around communications channeled from Ascended Masters. Many such as El Morya, Kuthumi, and St. Germain have their roots in the theosophy of Madame Blavatsky. Other ...

See also:

Church Universal and Triumphant, Church Universal and Triumphant - Theology, Church Universal and Triumphant - History, Church Universal and Triumphant - Recent news

Read more here: » Church Universal and Triumphant: Encyclopedia II - Church Universal and Triumphant - Theology

Tara or Taraka Târâ, Târakâ (Sanskrit) The wife of Brihaspati (Jupiter). The Puranas relate that Soma, the moon, carried Tara off with him, which brought about the great war in heaven between the gods and the asuras. Brahma put an end to the war and had Tara restored to Brihaspati. She then gave birth to a son, Budha (esoteric wisdom), whom she claimed was the son of Soma.

"Soma is the moon astronomically; but in mystical phraseology, it is also the name of the sacred beverage drunk by the Brahmins and the Initiates during their mysteries and sacrificial rites. . . .

"Soma was never given in days of old to the non-initiated Brahman -- the simple Grihasta, or priest of the exoteric ritual. Thus Brihaspati -- 'guru of the gods' though he was -- still represented the dead-letter form of worship. It is Tara his wife -- the symbol of one who, though wedded to dogmatic worship, longs for true wisdom -- who is shown as initiated into his mysteries by King Soma, the giver of that Wisdom. Soma is thus made in the allegory to carry her away. The result of this is the birth of Budha -- esoteric Wisdom -- (Mercury, or Hermes in Greece and Egypt.) He is represented as 'so beautiful,' that even the husband, though well aware that Budha is not the progeny of his dead-letter worship -- claims the 'new-born' as his Son, the fruit of this ritualistic and meaningless forms. Such is, in brief, one of the meanings of the allegory" (SD 2:498-9).

See also SOMA; TARAKAMAYA

(See also: Tara, Taraka, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)