beseech: To ask of someone earnestly. To solicit with fervor.

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

blessing: Good wishes; benediction. Seeking and giving blessings is extremely central in Hindu life, nurtured in the precepts of karunya (grace), shakti (energy), darshana (encountering/seeing the divine), prasada (blessed offerings), puja (invocation), tirthayatra (pilgrimage), diksha (initiation), shaktipata (descent of grace), samskaras (rites of passage), sannidhya (holy presence) and sadhana (inner-attunement disciplines).

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

bce: Abbreviation for "before common era," referring to dating prior to the year zero in the Western, or Gregorian calendar, system. Thus, 300 bce was 300 years before the turn of the millennium. Cf: ce.

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

devoid: Completely without; empty.

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

denial: Saying "no." Opposing or not believing in the existence of something.

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

dharana: (Sanskrit) "Concentration." From dri, "to hold." See: meditation, raja yoga, shraddadharana, yoga.

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

Devi: (Sanskrit) "Goddess."

A name of Shakti, used especially in Shaktism.

See: Shakti, Shaktism.

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

Darwin's theory: Theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin (18091882) stating that plant and animal species develop or evolve from earlier forms due to hereditary transmission of variations that enhance the organism's adaptability and chances of survival.

See: evolution of the soul, nonhuman birth.

(See also: Darwin's theory , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

bhakta: n (Sanskrit) "Devotee." A worshiper. One who is surrendered to the Divine.

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

deva: (Sanskrit) "Shining one."

A being living in the higher astral plane, in a subtle, nonphysical body. Deva is also used in scripture to mean "God or Deity."

See: Mahadeva.

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

devotee: A person strongly dedicated to something or someone, such as to a God or a guru. The term disciple implies an even deeper commitment. See: guru bhakti.

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

dormant: Sleeping; inactive; not functioning.

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

ashrama dharma: "Duties of life's stages."

Human or developmental dharma. The natural process of maturing from childhood to old age through fulfillment of the duties of each of the four stages of life- brahmachari (student), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (elder advisor) and sannyasa (religious solitaire)- in pursuit of the four human goals: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (pleasure) and moksha (liberation).

See: ashrama dharma.

(See also: Ashrama dharma , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

dichotomy: A division into two parts, usually sharply distinguished or contradictory. See: paradox.

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

brahmarandhra: (Sanskrit) "Door of Brahman." See: door of Brahman.

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

bhaga: n (Sanskrit) "Good fortune; happiness." A God of the Rig Veda; Lord of wealth, prowess and happiness. See: purushartha, Rig Veda, wealth.

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

dashamamsha: (Sanskrit) "One-tenth sharing." The traditional Hindu practice of tithing, giving one-tenth of one's income to a religious institution. It was formerly widespread in India. In ancient times the term makimai was used in Tamil Nadu.

See: dashama bhaga vrata, purushartha, tithing.

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

dvaitic (dvaita) Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) "Dualistic final conclusions."

Refers to schools of Saiva Siddhanta that postulate God, soul and world as three eternally distinct and separate realities. See: Pati-pashu-pasha, Saiva Siddhanta.

(See also: Dvaitic (dvaita) Siddhanta , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

bodhi tantra: (Sanskrit) "Wise methods; ways of wisdom." See: sadhana, tantra.

(See also: Bodhi tantra , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Dhanurveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of archery."

A class of ancient texts on the military arts, comprising the Upaveda of the Yajur Veda. Dhanurveda teaches concentration, meditation, hatha yoga, etc., as integral to the science of warfare.

See: Upaveda.

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

bi-sexual: Of or characterized by sexual attraction for members of both genders. See: heterosexual, homosexual, sexuality.

(See also: Bi-sexual , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

dharma: (Sanskrit) "Righteousness." From dhri, "to sustain; carry, hold."

Hence dharma is "that which contains or upholds the cosmos." Dharma, religion, is a complex and all-inclusive term with many meanings, including: divine law, law of being, way of righteousness, religion, ethics, duty, responsibility, virtue, justice, goodness and truth. Essentially, dharma is the orderly fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny. Relating to the soul, it is the mode of conduct most conducive to spiritual advancement, the right and righteous path.

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