Inspired Dictionary

Inspiration, Inspired (from Latin in into, upon + spiro breathe (cf afflatus from ad upon + flo breathe); adopted from Greek empneusis from en in + pneo breathe)

Generally the reception of knowledge or influence from a source superior -- or even inferior -- to the ordinary consciousness.

(See also: Inspiration, Inspired , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Islamic Dream Dictionary: Meaning of Dreams in Islam

Islamic dream dictionary with dream interpretation related to Islam and the Prophet: Includes the meaning of dreams about: Call to prayer, Bathing, Birds, Blowing, Clothing, Cover, Cows: Fat cows, Lean Cows, Fresh Dates, Ripe Dates, Door or Gate, Opening a Door, Egg, Elevation, Flowing Spring, Furnishing, Garden, Receiving a Gift, Gold, Hajj, Hand-hold, Keys, Laughing, Leg irons, Makkah, Marriage, Milk, Mountains, Pearls, Reconciliation, Right Side, Room, Rope, Ruler, Sexual Intercourse , Ship, Shirt, Silk Cloth, Sword.

See also: Meaning of Dreams

Read more here: » Islamic Dream Interpretation: Meaning of Dreams in Islam - I

A Christian theological definition of Apocrypha according to CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry:

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Apocrypha

See also: Apocrypha , Christianity, Body Mind and Soul

Inspiration

The belief that human actions of extraordinary insight, worth or power are due to inspiration - an inflow of psychic force, life-giving breath. The idea of inspiration in Christian theology may be traced to Hebrew prophecy and to Greek philosophy.

The most important theological problems of inspiration concern the subjects, the sources, the means and the criteria of true inspiration as distinguished from false, rather than the reality if inspiration itself.

The question of the proper subject of inspiration - whether a person, a community or a book may properly be said to be inspired - has been greatly confused in history by getting involved in the problem of church authority,. thus the doctrine of the inspiration of scriptures was largely developed to secure the Roman church against Protestantism when the Protestants made claims the inspiration for their special leaders.

The doctrine that ecumenical councils or popes are inspired when speaking on matters of faith and morals was developed partly to deal with the Protestants' rigid scriptural Òconst itutionalismÓ. The problem of the source of inspiration was raised in Hebrew thought by the appearance of false prophecy, and by the consequent question for monotheism in what sense such inspiration came from God. In Christian theology the questions were to what extent the inspiring principle in the Godhead was distinct from the creating and redeeming principle, in what sense it proceeded from one or both of these. The question about the means of inspiration has been dealt with indirectly and in confusion with the question of subject and criteria.

The orthodox Protestant and Catholic churches have emphasized the importance of Scriptures, of church discipline and instruction as the ordinary means through which inspiration comes.

Mystic and sectarian groups have shown a larger interest in other means - asceticism, the practice of silence, etc. In the Protestant doctrine of the Òtestimony ~ the Holy SpiritÓÓ which must accompany the reading of the word if there is to be true inspiration and in Roman as well as Eastern Catholic acceptance of monasticism the great churches have made some approach to the interests of the sects and mysticism.

Among the criteria employed by religious thought to distinguish true from false inspiration the most important are:

1)    the consistency of the product of inspiration not only in itself but also and primarily with accepted norms, i. e. , with the moral laws, the Òspirit of Jesus Christ,Ó the Scriptures, the common understanding of the community.

2)    the test of true inspiration is the truth of prediction. This test, which the basis of modern science, has been used apologetically rather than critically, to validate the inspiration of scriptures, as in the argument from prophecyÓ;

3)    disinterestedness, that is the extent to which personal interests and opinions are absent or negated in the ÒinspiredÓ utterance; in the extreme form,

4)    Intelligibility might be added as a fourth criterion of the validity of inspiration though not a test of its truth, since the unintelligible cannot be said to be true or false. Also, the Protestant doctrine that the Bible was written by the influence of God. It is, therefore, without error. It is accurate and authoritatively represents God's teachings. It is an illumination in that it shows us what we could not know apart from it. Believers know that the Bible is inspired, because it says so.

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

Twenty NLP practitioners met in Vail, Colorado with the intention of exploring the psycho-spiritual motifs that exist in the consciousness of people and the systems in which they live. Using ideas inspired by family systems innovators Bert Hellinger and Virginia Satir, Chaos Theory, Systemic Thinking and Morphogenetic Fields; the group worked with patterns resident in family and organizational systems.

Read more here: » NLP - Neuro Linguistic Programming: Exploring the Psycho-Spiritual Motifs of the Family Mind

What is the brain’s unique role in connecting a human being to what many call God? New scientific information about the human heart identifies it as the very first connection point between the physical body and its Creator source. Amazing recent evidence indicates that the heart begins to beat in the unborn fetus even before the brain is formed so it appears that the heart truly holds primary status as the initiator of human life.

Read more here: » Science and Spirituality: How are your Heart and Brain connected to God?

rishi: (Sanskrit) "Seer."

A term for an enlightened being, emphasizing psychic perception and visionary wisdom. In the Vedic age, rishis lived in forest or mountain retreats, either alone or with disciples. These rishis were great souls who were the inspired conveyers of the Vedas. Seven particular rishis (the sapta-rishis) mentioned in the Rig Veda are said to still guide mankind from the inner worlds.

See: shruti.

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

Osho makes a special mention of one unique book which not many people know of. He says: "There are millions of books in the world, but The Book of Mirdad stands out far above any other book in existence

It is a small book, but the man who gave birth to this book - and mind my words, I am not saying 'the man who wrote this book', nobody wrote this book - was an unknown, a nobody. And because he was not a novelist, he never wrote again; just that single book contains his whole experience. The name of the man was Mikhail Naimy.

(See also: The Book of Mirdad , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » The Book of Mirdad: Silence of Words Inspired Osho  

Apocrypha

(Greek: hidden) It is used in a general sense to describe a list of books written by Jews between 300 and 100 B. C. More specifically, it is used of the seven additional books accepted by the Catholic church as being scriptural.

The entire list of books of the apocrypha are: 1 and 2 Esdras, Tobit, Judith, the Rest of Esther, the Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, (also titled Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, The Letter of Jeremiah, Song of the Three Young Men, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, The Additions to Daniel, The Prayer of Manasseh, and 1 and 2 Maccabees. The books accepted as inspired and included in the Catholic Bible are Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees Wisdom of Solomon Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus), and Baruch.

The Jews never recognized these books as being canonical (inspired). There is no record that Jesus or the apostles ever quoted from the apocryphal books. The Septuagint (LXX) includes the books, not as scripture, but as part of the translation of the Hebrew manuscripts as a whole.

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

Vedas

Veda is a generic name for the most ancient Indian sacred literature, i.e. the Rg-veda, Yajur-veda, Sama-veda and Atharva-veda. Each of these books is divided into two portions, mantra and brahmana. The term Veda is generally reserved for the mantras or metrical hymns, especially those of the Rg-veda. Sri Aurobindo has translated and/or commented on many of the Vedic hymns. Most of his writings related to the Vedas have been collected in Volumes 10 and 11of the Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library(SABCL), The Secret of the Veda, and Hymns to the Mystic Fire.

"I propose...that the Rig-Veda is itself the one considerable document that remains to us from the early period of human thought of which the historic Eleusinian and Orphic mysteries were the failing remnants, when the spiritual and psychological knowledge of the race was concealed, for reasons now difficult to determine, in a veil of concrete and material figures and symbols which protected the sense from the profane and revealed it to the initiated. One of the leading principles of the mystics was the sacredness and secrecy of self-knowledge and the true knowledge of the Gods.

The Veda...is an inspired knowledge as yet insufficiently equipped with intellectual and philosophical terms. We find a language of poets and illuminates to whom all experience is real, vivid, sensible, even concrete, not yet of thinkers and sytematisers to whom the realities of the mind and soul have become abstractions.

The Vedic Rishis believed that their Mantras were inspired from higher planes of consciousness and contained this secret knowledge. The words of the Veda could only be known in their true meaning by one who was himself a seer or mystic; from others the verses withheld their hidden knowledge.

Many of the lines, many whole hymns even of the Veda bear on their face a mystic meaning; they are evidently an occult form of speech, have an inner meaning.

Under pressure of the necessity to mask their meaning with symbols and symbolic words...the Rishis resorted to fix double meanings, a device easily manageable in the Sanskrit language where one word often bears several different meanings, but not easy to render in an English translation and very often impossible....The Rishis, it must be remembered, were seers as well as sages, they were men of vision who saw things in their meditation in images, often symbolic images which might precede or accompany an experience and put it in a concrete form, might predict or give an occult body to it. ...The mystics were and normally are symbolists, they can even see all physical things and happenings as symbols of inner truths and realities, even their outer selves, the outer happenings of their life and all around them."

-- Sri Aurobindo, The Secret of the Veda, SABCL Vol. 10

(See also: Vedas , Hinduism, Vedic Scriptures, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

A Christian theological definition of Inspiration according to CARM - The Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry:

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Inspiration

See also: Inspiration , Christianity, Body Mind and Soul

Rabindranath Tagore lived up to his name. Rabi means the Sun and like the Sun's rays the myriad-minded "Great Sentinel" - as Mahatma Gandhi called him - never failed to dazzle with his creative genius, enlightening us with his sagacious insight.

Tagore's songs, poems, plays, short stories, novels, essays, letters, and paintings take us through his personal reflection of reality, which soon become our own because they touch the core of our heart, bonding us with nature. His writings are a heartfelt appeal for universal peace, love and harmony.

(See also: Rabindranath Tagore , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Rabindranath Tagore: Creative Philosophy Inspired by the Sun - about Rabindranath Tagore  

How often have you woken in the night, looked at a digital clock, but it has appeared blurred or doesn't make sense? Have you ever reached out to turn on the light - or any electrical appliance - to discover that it doesn't function properly, or not at all? Have you got vague memories of getting up in the middle of the night, trying to open the door, finding that it won't open and going back to bed? Would you believe it, if you were told that you were probably dreaming? A false awakening is a convincing illusion of having woken when, in fact, you are still in dreaming sleep, so the imagery - although seemingly real - is artificial.

Read more here: » Lucid Dreaming: False awakening and lucidity

A dictionary Of Siddha Yoga Terminology. From Abhanga to Yogini.

Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

Albigenses A sect arising in Southern France in the 11th century and opposed by the Roman Catholic Church, which exterminated it in the 13th century. It had affinity with the Catharists and also more distantly with the Paulicians, derivatives of the Eastern Church.

The doctrines and the pedigree of the Albigenses show it to be a distant offshoot of Manichaeism, so long the formidable rival of orthodox Christianity in Europe and Asia. There was the characteristic Manichaean dualism and belief in some form of transmigration and metempsychosis. There was, according to some, the Docetic view of Christ -- that his body was a mere appearance, his spirit being the reality. The authority of the Old Testament was not admitted as inspired.

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

In Buddhism, the striving is to awaken insight within oneself, through one's own efforts. A guru is then someone who embodies a possibility, our own potential. He offers the inspiration one can realistically aspire to and in time lifts the veils of ignorance over one's true enlightened nature. The guru teaches and demonstrates the path. The onus remains on us to make the effort, with the guru's help, to acquire the skilful means to make the journey.

(See also: Advantage of Guru , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Advantage of Guru: Getting Inspired By Spiritual Masters  

Buddhism: The religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (ca 624544 bce). He refuted the idea of man's having an immortal soul and did not preach of any Supreme Deity. Instead he taught that man should seek to overcome greed, hatred and delusion and attain enlightenment through realizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path.

Prominent among its holy books is the Dhammapada. Buddhism arose out of Hinduism as an inspired reform movement which rejected the caste system and the sanctity of the Vedas. It is thus classed as nastika, "unbeliever," and is not part of Hinduism. Buddhism eventually migrated out of India, the country of its origin, and now enjoys a following of over 350 million, mostly in Asia.

See: Buddha.

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

Uranus: Uranus rules Aquarius. If you have wondered why and how sudden changes come into your life, look no further. Uranus may be the answer. This planet reflects the energy of sudden change and also provides the intuitive information you need to deal with beginnings, endings, and even catastrophes.

Let’s look at the independent, unconventional actions inspired within us and reflected by Uranus in the chart. This planet shows what part of your life will be the focus of your independence and where you will take an unconventional approach to family, career, relationship – everything. Disruptive ideas and events come along to bring you back into balance. Have you noticed that the more eccentric your behavior, the more life gives you a push and forces you to conform? This is Uranian type energy working to bring you back into balance.

Next consider the role of intuition in your daily life. As you have disruptive episodes, you begin to be able to anticipate them, making adjustments ahead of time to minimize the upset. For example, once you slide on the ice a few times you learn how to keep your balance. Then you learn how to control a skid while driving a car. Then you understand how to manage a spiritual disruption ore easily. This is due to your developing intuition – you can foresee the future partly because of past experiences themselves and partly because you recall intuitive flashes that preceded or accompanied them. Uranus shows how this works for you personally.

When you find yourself detaching from people and events, this is Uranus in action. You have the capacity to take an aloof position, a more analytical and less active role in situations. The placement and aspects of Uranus show how you can best achieve an impersonal attitude in the face of difficulty (or it shows you how to remain connected in those moments when you would really rather be doing something else). This energy focuses your attention on invisible inner perceptions of your world in a way that is similar to everyone in your age group (all your friends have Uranus in the same zodiac sign), yet utterly personal in its development and expression, based on the house placement and aspects to other planets.

(See also: Uranus , Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

Lal Ded's Vaakhs and Kashmir Shaivism

Kashmir, often described as the abode of saints, has produced a number of spiritually evolved persons. Among them Lal Ded, better known as Lalla Yogeshwari, ranks as a great mystic poetess of the 14th century.

She was an ardent practitioner of Kashmir Shaivism which is also known as Trika Shastra founded by Vasu Gupta. Lal Ded took Shaktipat Diksha from her guru, Sri Neel Kanth.

Read more here: » Kashmir Shaivism: Lal Ded's Vaakhs and Kashmir Shaivism

Rudolf Steiner

(1861 - 1925 ) Austrian philosopher, scientist, artist and educator who was the originator of the social philosophy called Anthroposophy. Steiner founded the Anthroposophical Society in 1924, and it now has branches throughout the world, and is especially popular in Britain.

He traveled extensively in Europe lecturing on spiritual science, the arts, social sciences, religion, education, agriculture and health. His published works amount to over 350 titles, including collections of lectures, books, articles, reviews and dramas. His occult philosophy is outlined in key titles such as Knowledge of the Higher Worlds and Its Attainment (1904-05), and An Outline of Occult Science (1909).

His teachings inspired the development of the Waldorf School movement and of schools for handicapped or maladjusted children; his agricultural methods for preparing soil inspired chemical-free organic farming and gardening; he created eurythmy, a form of expressive movement to music and speech; and his guidelines on holistic medicine and pharmacology are still widely respected.

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