Introduction Dictionary

The analysis of dreams and their cause by psychoanalysts are defective. They maintain that the cause of dream creation lies in the suppressed desires of the dreamer. Can they create dreams as they like by suppressing desires? No, they cannot do that. They say that desires stimulate or help the dream creation. But they do not know what supplies the material out of which they are made and what turns the desires into actual expression, enabling the dreamer see his own suppressed desires materialised and appearing to him as real.

A spiritual view on dreams and the meaning of dreams by Sri Swami Sivananda, an authority in the vedic sciences and traditions.

Read more here: » Philosophy of Dreams: Introduction to Philosophy of Dreams by Sri Swami Sivananda

Karma: In Hindu tradition the karma is the record of all actions from all lives, the consequences for which are determined by the intentions of the act, not the consequences of the act. In Yoga, this is the form of practice that emphasizes work.

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

 Dokusan: A period of interaction between a Zen student and a Zen teacher, which is done according to a regular schedule. This is a personal encounter, in which the teacher is able to probe and stimulate the student's understanding, and the student is able to ask questions directly related to practice. Since everything is Zen practice, questions can be asked about anything. This is different from a mondo only slightly, because this involves an individual and a mondo can be done in a group. Mondo is similar enough that it is often used.

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

Bon (Tibetan) (possible variation of bod Tibet, or an ancient word meaning invoker)

Also pon and bhon. The Tibetan religion before the introduction of Buddhism in the latter half of the 8th century. The priest and adherents of Bon are called Bonpos (bon po), the ancient invokers for the pre-Buddhist and non-Buddhist kings and nobles of Tibet.

The Bon religion, which survives today, seems based on at least four sources:

1)    the ancient folk religions of the Tibetan people;

2)    the tradition of the ancient "invokers";

3)    a conscious competition with Buddhism in terms of doctrine, texts, institutions, pantheon, and ritual; and

4)    a number of non-Tibetan influences, including Hindu, Iranian, Central Asian, and other elements.

Bon has been influenced by Buddhism to the extent that it has its own Kanjur and Tanjur, its own monks and monasteries, and its own "Buddha," Shen-rab (gshen rab). All existing Bon literature was produced after the introduction of Buddhism, and shows the influence of and competition with Buddhism. Bon has also influenced Tibetan Buddhism, especially the Nyingmapa and Kargyupa sects.

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

Queztalcoatl

(Aztec - "feathered-serpent")

 An Aztec god of the air or a sun-god and a benefactor of their race who instructed them in the use of agriculture, metals and the like.

According to one account, Quetzalcoatl was driven from the country by a superior god and on reaching the shores of the Mexican Gulf promised his followers that he would return. He then embarked on his magic skiff for the land of Tlapallan.

The Great Bird-Serpent is the most powerful figure in Mexican mythology, and it was known and accepted as a god in ancient Mexico and Central America. Accordingly, he dominated the great early American civilizations, from the land of the Incas in South America, to the Pueblo Indians of the our southwestern desert; from Teotihuacan (Mexico City) on the high plateau to Chichen Itza in Yucatan, he is a prevailing motif on ancient monuments.

Sometimes with his jaws open, bifid tongue, and articulated spinal column, he is easily recognizable. At others, he seems to have been coded in an almost infinite variety of formalized patterns derived from his famous scales, or feathers.

To the ancients, Quetzalcoatl became the force for understanding the universe, as it was known before the introduction of modern religion by the Conquistadors of Spain. The god Quetzalcoatl represented, to the ancient peoples of Central and South America, the very essence of life.

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

Kundalini: A name used in Yoga for a snake like inner energy, that is wrapped around the abdominal region of the body. This is somewhat related to ki, ch'i, and te.

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

Bon shamanic practices: A number of traditional methods - rituals and modes of visualization - used to generate vital forces and heal internal and external obstacles to growth. The Tibetan word bon literally means invocation, recitation. Bon or Pon refers to various religious customs in Tibet that preceded the introduction of Buddhism. Bon involved worship of spirits and protectional deities (e.g., the Lord of the Soil). It survives in modified form in Nepal.

(See also: Bon shamanic practices , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

aroma-spa therapy: Subject of a textbook of the same name (Anessence Inc., 1996), by massage therapist Anne Roebuck, of Toronto, Canada. aroma-spa therapy is the practice of aromatherapy as a part of spa therapy, which Roebuck describes in the introduction as therapeutic face and body treatments at a spa location.

(See also: Aroma-spa therapy , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhahood

(Jpn.: bukkai)

The state of awakening that a Buddha has attained. The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice and the highest of the Ten Worlds. The word enlightenment is often used synonymously with Buddhahood. Buddhahood is regarded as a state of perfect freedom, in which one is awakened to the eternal and ultimate truth that is the reality of all things. This supreme state of life is characterized by boundless wisdom and infinite compassion. The Lotus Sutra reveals that Buddhahood is a potential in the lives of all beings.

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Buddhahood , Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

teacher

1. A discarnate who relates to an entity for the purpose of introduction, instruction, guidance or serving in capacity of mentor

(See also: Teacher , Body Mind and Soul)

Chinese medicine (Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM): Ancient holistic system whose basics include herbology, nutrition, and the concepts of acupuncture meridians, the Five Elements (Five Phases), and yin and yang.

Traditional Chinese Medicine theory posits both Organs (the Triple Burner, for example) and Substances (such as Shen, or Spirit) for which scientific evidence is absent. Variations and hybrids of Chinese medicine include Korean medicine, Tibetan medicine, and Vietnamese traditional medicine.

Chinese medicine probably originated about 2,000 years ago, but it became dogmatic and stagnated for centuries; overall its development has been slow. It probably stems from shamanism. The basis of Chinese medicine is Taoism, a religion according to which spirits (shen) inhabit the human body and take care of its functions. The foundational text of Chinese medicine - known as the Classic of Internal Medicine, the Huangdi Neijing, the Inner Classic, the Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor, the Neiching, the Nei Jing, The Yellow Emperor's Classic, The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, and the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon - was completed by the first century C.E.

(See also: Chinese medicine , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Knowledge: In Eastern traditions, knowledge is equated with intuition, not just information.

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

Religion: Derived from the Latin word religio, meaning to bind or bring together. Religion is that which brings people together.

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

Consciousness: In Buddhism there are eight classes of consciousness. The first five are the senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing), the sixth is thought, the seventh is manas, and the eighth is alaya-vinana.

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

Chakra: (Cakra) The centers of force that are within specific organs of the body. These organs "collect, transform, and distribute the forces flowing through them" (Kapleau, p.15).

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

History of Herbs

The traditional definition of an herb is a non-woody plant that dies down to the ground after flowering. However, "herb" is often used to describe any plant of which any part is used for medical treatment or nutritional value. In this sense of the word, herbs have been used and studied since prehistoric mankind. Five thousand years ago, the Sumerians kept the first written record of the use of herbs. In 2700 B.C., the Chinese wrote an herb book listing over 365 medicinal plants and their uses. Herbs are mentioned in the Old Testament, and the medicinal practices of ancient Greeks and Romans rose from herbalism.

The first European book on herbs dates from the first century A.D. It refers to more than 500 plants and remained an authoritative reference into the 1600s. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church discouraged the practice of medicine. Herbalism was preserved in monasteries, by monks hand-copying manuscripts of herbs, and planting their own herb gardens.

In the 17th century, the introduction of active chemical drugs and the development of chemistry led to the decline of herbalism, although folk medicine still existed in the home and small villages. By the end of the 19th and into the 20th centuries, orthodox medicine had pushed homeopathic medicine further from the mainstream.

Herbalists today seek to help people build their health with natural sources. The philosophy is that the body is capable of healing itself given the proper conditions. Herbalism, psychic healing, acupuncture, aromatherapy, touch therapy, and massage therapy can all work with orthodox treatments to create a healthy body.

(See also: Herbs , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Dharma (Dhamma): Translated as law. In Buddhism, the Dharma is the canonical texts.

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

Maya: Name attributed to Gautama Siddharta's mother. More importantly, maya is translated as illusion, and is used to describe reality.

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

Avidya: In Hinduism this is one of the conditions involved in samsara and reincarnation, meaning ignorance. This is ignorance of spiritual perception, not book knowledge. The origin of tanha (craving) is avidya (ignorance), where tanha is what keeps the living in the cycle of samsara. We can see this reflected in the third noble truth, where the source of greed is illusion, and in order to overcome illusion we must overcome avidya, ignorance.

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

Mahayana: The Greater Raft/Vehicle. One of the four main branches of Buddhism, emphasizing salvation for the regular people. The Mahayana school uses the vernacular language to convey its teachings. It was founded some time after Asoka, from his example of spreading Buddhism. It is practiced in China and Japan.

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