Chogyam Trungpa

(1940-87) Tibetan teacher noted for his propagation of Tibetan Buddhism in North America.

Trungpa was recognized as the eleventh Trungpa tulku ("incarnate lama"), an important line of Kagyu tulkus who presided over the Surmang monasteries in eastern Tibet. He was found and enthroned when he was eighteen months old, was subsequently ordained, and received the rigorous training reserved for high tulkus. He fled Chinese-occupied Tibet in 1959, first working in India under appointment by the Dalai Lama, then traveling to England in 1963, where he relinquished his monastic vows, married, and taught Tibetan Buddhism and its contemplative practices to Westerners.

Arriving in the United States in 1970, Trungpa spent the next seventeen years teaching, writing, founding contemplative centers, and inaugurating various organizations, including the Vajradhatu association of (Tibetan) Buddhist churches (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), the Naropa Institute, an upper division accredited college (Boulder, Colorado), the Nalanda Translation Committee (Halifax and Boulder), and Shambhala Training, a nonsectarian program in meditation.

Trungpa was known for his innovative, sometimes unconventional approach to transmitting Buddhism to the West and for his insistance that meditation is the cornerstone of Buddhism.

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

bhranti-darshana:

bhranti-darshana - a delusion

(See also: bhranti-darshana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Asathor (Scandianvian Norse). The same as Thor. The god of storms and thunder, a hero who receives Miolnir, the "storm-hammer", from its fabricators, the dwarfs. With it he conquer Alwin in a "battle of words" breaks the head of the giant Hrungir, chastises Loki for his magic; destroys the whole race of giants in Thrymheim; and, as a good and benevolent god, sets up therewith land-marks, sanctifies marriage bonds, blesses law and order, and produces every good and terrific feat with its help. A god in the Eddas, who is almost as great as Odin. (See "Miolnir" and "Thor’s Hammer".)

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

Visvamitra (Sanskrit) Friend of all; a celebrated rishi (sage), famed for his contests with the sage Vasishtha. By birth a Kshattriya of the lineage of Pururavas of the lunar dynasty, he was employed at the court of Raja Sudas of the Tritsus, as was Vasishtha. Visvamitra was constantly worsted in his struggles for supremacy over the great Brahmin Vasishtha, and determined to elevate himself to the rank of a Brahmin, which he succeeded in doing after many strenuous austerities. Many verses of the Rig-Veda are said to have been written by him, and he is also credited with authorship of a law book.

In the Ramayana, Visvamitra is stated to be a counselor of Ramachandra.

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

A Theosophical definition of Vahana :

Vahana

(Sanskrit) A "vehicle" or carrier. This word has a rather wide currency in philosophical and esoteric and occult thought. Its signification is a bearer or vehicle of some entity which, through this carrier or vehicle, is enabled to manifest itself on planes or in spheres or worlds hierarchically inferior to its own. Thus the vahana of man is, generally speaking, his body, although indeed man's constitution comprises a number of vahanas or vehicles, each one belonging to  - and enabling the inner man, or manifesting spiritual or intellectual entity, to express itself on  - the plane where the vahana is native.

Vahana is thus seen to have a number of different meanings, or, more accurately, applications. E.g., the vahana of man's spiritual monad is his spiritual soul; the vahana of man's human ego is his human soul; and the vahana of man's psycho-vital-astral monad is the linga-sarira working through its vahana or carrier, the sthula-sarira or physical body. The wire which carries the current of electricity can be said to be the vahana of the electric current; or again, the intermolecular ether is the vahana of many of the radioactive forces of the world around us, etc. Every divine being has a vahana or, in fact, a number of vahanas, through which it works and through which it is enabled to express its divine powers and functions on and in worlds and planes below the sphere or world or plane in which it itself lives. (See also Soul; Upadhi)

See also: Vahana , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

UNIFIED FIELD THERAPY

Unified field therapy (UFT) proposes that beyond the body, beyond energy, lies a matrix of consciousness that permeates every aspect of our world. This dynamic, ever expansive matrix forms a single field from which all conscious life flows. This field is called the Unified Field.

All physical, mental, emotional, and energetic patterns known to our world originate from this single source. Present in our every experience, these patterns form the very fabric of our reality. The most subtle shift or change in these patterns can yield immense expansion in our consciousness and bring enormous transformation to one’s life. Utilizing this knowledge, Unified field therapy directly accesses the Unified Field to initiate shifts within a conscious system.

Clients remain fully clothed and are asked to lie face up on a massage table in a comfortable position with eyes closed and attention focused internally. The therapist then begins to evaluate, palpate, and integrate fields of consciousness surrounding and permeating the client. This can be done in a hands-on or hands-off application. Sessions last approximately 40 to 60 minutes. Accordingly, clients must define for themselves how their consciousness integrates and changes as a result of this work. For this reason, therapists are trained not to define or project their perceptions or expectations onto a client’s experience.

Therapists often request that new clients follow up between 48 to 72 hours after the initial visit to discuss any additional “shifts” that may have occurred in the interim.

(See also: UNIFIED FIELD THERAPY , Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Sagittarius: The Adventurer

Key Phrase: I UNDERSTAND

Sagittarius is the optimistic quality which inspires us to have faith in ourselves and our futures. As the Mutable Fire sign of the zodiac, Sagittarius expresses the ability to maintain an open mind. Philosophical and tolerant of differences, Sagittarius can show great wisdom, and through the energy of Jupiter, its planetary ruler, is stimulated to reach toward broader horizons. Yet it can also be tactless, blunt, and even condescending. Sagittarius must have an opinion about everything - in a pinch, it will generate one on the spot. Sagittarius looks for adventurous and philanthropic opportunities; when carried to the extreme, it can become overly zealous and gluttonous. Symbolized by the Archer, Sagittarius is always looking upward and forward, and may sometimes gallivant into the sunset leaving others behind. Where you find Sagittarius in your chart, there is a need to expand and to develop tolerance.

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

Anthropomorphism The ascription of human qualities, attributes, and possibly human form to divine beings; also, more generally, the degradation of symbolism by giving it a humanized, materialistic, or animalistic interpretation.

This error has a more or less mystical origin: because human beings are children of the universe, imbodying in themselves all qualities, attributes, powers, and functions that the universe has on the macrocosmic scale, it is easy through careless thinking to slip into the idea that therefore the divinities must be copies of humans.

As form in religious and philosophic conception took precedence over the spirit, the original religious, philosophic, and mystical ideas became clothed or imbodied, and the spirit then was more or less lost sight of.

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

2005-04-23

A Theosophical definition of Mesmerism :

Mesmerism

An ill-understood branch of human knowledge, developed within fairly recent times, connected with the existence of the psychomagnetic fluid in man which can be employed by the will for purposes either good or evil.

Mesmerism has been called animal magnetism, but more often in former times than at present. The first European who rediscovered and openly proclaimed the existence of this subtle psychomagnetic fluid in man was Dr. Friedrich Anton Mesmer, born in Germany in 1733, who died in 1815. His honesty and his theories have been more or less vindicated in modern times by later students of the subject.

There are distinct differences as among mesmerism, hypnotism, psychologization, and suggestion, etc. (See also Hypnotism)

See also: Mesmerism , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

Bija (Sanskrit) Sometimes vija. Seed or life-germ, whether of animals or plants; esoterically the original or causal source of the urge of life to express itself. "Whether it be a kosmos or universe, or the reappearance of god, deva, man, animal, plant, or mineral, or, indeed, elemental, the seed or life-germ from and out of which any one of these arises is technically called Bija, and the reference here is almost as much to the life-germ or vehicle itself, as it is to the self-urge for manifestation working through the seed or life-germ. Mystically and psychologically, the appearance of an Avatara, for instance, is due to an impulse arising in Maha-Siva, or in Maha-Vishnu (according to circumstances), to manifest a portion of the divine essence, . . . Or again, when from the chela is born the Initiate during the dread trials of initiation, the newly-arisen Master is said to have been born from the mystic Bija or Seed within his own being" (OG 18).

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

ENZYME THERAPY: a form of therapy that employs supplements of plant and animal enzymes to improve digestive function and other conditions. During digestion, the bodyÕs own digestive enzymes are not the only ones at work; the enzymes present in raw fruits and vegetables also contribute to the breakdown of food in the stomach.

 Enzyme therapy advocates supplementation to reduce the work that the body has to do, and because plant enzymes are destroyed in cooking. Since enzymes canÕt be synthetically manufactured, supplements are derived from plants or from animal tissues. Some practitioners inject liquid enzymes to treat cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Enzyme supplements are available over the counter, singly or in combination, in capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid form.

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

Ajna chakra: Centre of command,the" third eye".

(See also: Ajna chakra , Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Aristophanes (448?-380 BC) Athenian comedic playwright, of whose 44 plays 11 survive -- the only complete Greek comedies to reach modern times. Well-thought of as a person, he is mentioned in Plato's Symposium as among the noblest of men. His penetration, patriotism, sarcasm and satire, scorn of what is evil and base, imagination, command of language, and technical skill make him one of the great writers of comedies of all time. (SD)

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

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

"

Sacrament

See also: Sacrament , Christianity, Body Mind and Soul

The Transition Method: Subject of an incredible correspondence course offered by The Transition Institute, in Conifer, Colorado. The institute's president, reputed former millionaire Bob Scheinfeld, assembled and christened the method, which spawns daily miracles. One of its principles is that a vast communications network interconnects all earthlings; , this (alleged) linkage exists in humans at the level of the unconscious.

(See also: Transition Method , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Mara (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root mri to die]

That which kills, death, destroyer; in exoteric Indian literature, the representation of temptation, esoterically personified temptation through men's vices, which kill the soul. Maha-Mara is the king of the maras, or temptations collectively, the great ensnarer, and is usually represented "with a crown in which shines a jewel of such lustre that it blinds those who look at it, this lustre referring of course to the fascination exercised by vice upon certain natures" (VS 76).

Mara is the god of darkness and death: "Death of every physical thing truly; but Mara is also the unconscious quickener of the birth of the Spiritual" (SD 2:579n). The hosts of Mara refer to the unconquered passions that the neophyte must slay or transmute before he is reborn spiritually, or can become a dvija (twice-born). Mara is also a name frequently given to Kama, the personified god of love or desire.

(See also: Mara , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Water Lily In the West equivalent to the Eastern symbol of the lotus, especially in the Greek and Latin Churches. It particularly signifies spiritual productions or manifestations, thus the Archangel Gabriel is sometimes represented as appearing before the Virgin Mary bearing a lily or a bunch of water lilies. "This spray typifying fire and water, or the idea of creation and generation, symbolizes precisely the same idea as the lotus in the hand of the Bodhisat who announces to Maha-Maya, Gautama's mother, the birth of the world's Saviour, Buddha. Thus also, Osiris and Horus were represented by the Egyptians constantly in association with the lotus-flower . . ." (SD 1:379).

Just as the water lily or lotus rises out of the mud through the more ethereal water into the still more ethereal air, permeated by the sun, so does the individual follow the same progression of developing spirituality from the world of matter upwards through the astral light into the world of spirit illuminated by the divine sun as master of life.

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

Gnomes: Gnomes are elemental spirits of Earth. The name was invented by Paracelsus in the 16th century. He identified spirits of the four elements, or elementals.

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

Will-less A condition of beings who have not yet evolved forth free will, hence without initiative or self-determination. A specific instance is the case where will-less may be applied to the gods in heaven against whom Satan rebelled (as narrated in Milton's Paradise Lost). In theosophical literature, used in reference to mankind in its early stages before manas (mind) became awakened, hence to the first and second root-races and early third root-race. Even among these early races the will was not absent, but it had not yet come into functional activity.

(See also: Will-less , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)