Perception Dictionary

Perception:

The process of classifying sensations.

(See also: Perception , Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Subliminal Perception:

Perceiving without conscious awareness.

(See also: Subliminal Perception , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Extrasensory Perception or ESP:

The categorical term for several psi talents involving the reception of (usually) external data through other than the commonly recognized sensory means.

(See also: Extrasensory Perception , Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Extrasensory Perception: Also written as Extra Sensory Perception, this is a phrase introduced by Dr. J.B. Rhine of the Department of Parapsychology at Duke University. It is used as a general term to describe all sorts of phenomena that cannot be perceived through our usual senses. This includes clairvoyance (seeing things at a distance farther than our normal vision would allow) and clairaudience (hearing things at a greater distance than our normal hearing would allow). These perceptions may not only be from a greater distance, but also from different times or from areas that are not on the physical plane.

Also See: Extra Sensory Perception, ESP

(See also: Extrasensory Perception , Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

General Extrasensory Perception or GESP:

A term used when two or more forms of ESP are operating at the same time.

(See also: General Extrasensory Perception , Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

extrasensory perception

Apart from or in addition to normal sense perception. Awareness and ability to perceive, to acquire and to experience response to event or other external knowledge that is of supernormal or unknown extraordinary initiation

(See also: Extrasensory perception , Body Mind and Soul)

Extrasensory Perception, ESP:

Paranormal acquisition of information. Includes clairvoyance, telepathy and precognition.

(See also: Extrasensory Perception, ESP , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Extrasensory Perception (ESP)

Knowledge of an experience or a response to an external event apart from the five senses. This experience can take place either in a wakeful or dream state. It encompasses most paranormal abilities such as telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance.

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

General Extrasensory Perception, GESP:

ESP in which it is unclear whether the results are due to clairvoyance, telepathy, precognition or retro cognition.

(See also: General Extrasensory Perception, GESP , Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Vipasyana

Discernment; also, insight, correct perception or view.

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

Sanskrit dictionary. From Advaita to Yoga.

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.

Color From darkness comes white light; from white light comes color. These correspond to the unmanifest Logos, the manifest Logos, and the seven rays, and this cosmogonical scheme is repeated throughout the universe.

White light is in the physical world resolvable into a spectrum or band of colors, and color is defined as a quality of visual perception depending on the wavelength of light. But according to theosophy we could see no color at all unless we had it in our mind from the first, and thus recognized the color outside because of its identity with what is within us.

Still less could we resolve the continuous band into seven colors, as even infants can do. The physical stimuli merely evokes what is already in us, the latter recognizing what is objective outside us, causing a phenomenon of cognition to pass along the plane of the physical senses. This becomes more evident when we remember that color sense is relative, depending largely on contrast. Colors are light or sight in its septenary aspect; and color, sight, and light are used almost interchangeably in speaking of the evolution of the senses and their corresponding planes of prakriti.

Colors and sounds have great potency in practical magic, as cosmic powers can be evoked by an understanding use of the proper colors and sounds. The seven colors correspond with other septenates, such as the notes of the musical octave, the sacred planets, and the seven primary elements. It is the universal septenate viewed from a visual aspect as manifested light.

Colors are one of the manifold manifestations of cosmic vitality, a septenary unity -- or a denary or duodenary unity, according to the manner of enumeration -- these cosmic forces are interchangeable, their incomprehensible aggregate being cosmic life; therefore, any form of this cosmic life has not only its particular keynote of sound, but likewise its particular keynote of color, etc.

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

Apperception Perception involving self-consciousness; cognition through the relating of new ideas to familiar ideas. Used by Leibniz to denote a stage higher or more subtle than perception.

The impressions received through perception are apprehended by the mind and are related to other impressions which the memory holds, so that complex ideas are formed. Apperception may be called perception accompanied by awareness and an interpretative power.

In contrast to the theory that the higher faculties of mind are built up synthetically from the lower, Leibniz's views support the theory that the intuitive or original inner powers are primary. "Nascent apperception, which is the Mahat of the lower kingdoms, especially developed in the third order of Elementals . . . (is) succeeded by the objective kingdom of minerals, in which latter that apperception is entirely latent, to re-develop only in the plants"; and "that which is meant by 'animals,' in primary Creation, is the germ of awakening consciousness or of apperception, that which is faintly traceable in some sensitive plants on Earth and more distinctly in the protistic monera. . . . Neither plant nor animal, but an existence between the two" (SD 1:454-5&n; cf ET 940).

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

Nidana (Sanskrit). The 12 causes of existence, or a chain of causation, "a concatenation of cause and effect in the whole range of existence through 12 links". This is the fundamental dogma of Buddhist thought, "the understanding of which solves the riddle of life, revealing the insanity of existence and preparing the mind for Nirvana". (Eitel’s Sans. Chin. Dict.)

The 12 links stand thus in their enumeration.

(1)  Jail, or birth, according to one of the four modes of entering the stream of life and reincarnation - or Chatur Yoni (q.v.), each mode placing the being born in one of the six Gati (q.v.).

(2)  Jararnarana, or decrepitude and death, following the maturity of the Skandhas (q.v.).

(3)  Bhava, the Karmic agent which leads every new sentient being to be born in this or another mode of existence in the Trailokya and Gati.

(4)  Upadana, the creative cause of Bhava which thus becomes the cause of Jati which is the effect; and this creative cause is the clinging to life.

(5)  Trishna, love, whether pure or impure.

(6)  Vedana, or sensation; perception by the senses, it is the 5th Skandha.

(7)  Sparsa, the sense of touch.

(8)  Chadayatana, the organs of sensation.

(9)  Namarupa, personality, i.e., a form with a name to it, the symbol of the unreality of material phenomenal appearances.

(10)              Vijnana, the perfect knowledge of every perceptible thing and of all objects in their concatenation and unity.

(11)              Samskara, action on the plane of illusion.

(12)              (12) Avidya, lack of true perception, or ignorance. The Nidanas belonging to the most subtle and abstruse doctrines of the Eastern metaphysical system, it is impossible to go into the subject at any greater length.

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

consciousness: Chitta or chaitanya.

1)    A synonym for mind-stuff, chitta; or

2)    the condition or power of perception, awareness, apprehension.

There are myriad gradations of consciousness, from the simple sentience of inanimate matter to the consciousness of basic life forms, to the higher consciousness of human embodiment, to omniscient states of superconsciousness, leading to immersion in the One universal consciousness, Parashakti. Chaitanya and chitta can name both individual consciousness and universal consciousness.

Modifiers indicate the level of awareness, e.g.,

-       vyashti chaitanya, "individual consciousness;"

-       buddhi chitta, "intellectual consciousness;"

-       Sivachaitanya, "God consciousness."

Five classical "states" of awareness are discussed in scripture:

1)    wakefulness (jagrat),

2)    "dream" (svapna) or astral consciousness,

3)    "deep sleep" (sushupti) or subsuperconsciousness,

4)    the superconscious state beyond (turiya "fourth") and

5)    the utterly transcendent state called turiyatita ("beyond the fourth").

See: awareness, chitta, chaitanya, mind (all entries).

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

Abhijna (Sanskrit) (from abhi towards + the verbal root jna to know, have special knowledge of, mastery over; cf Pali abhinna)

Inner perception; in Buddhism the five or six transcendental powers, faculties, or superknowledges attained on reaching buddhahood. Gautama Buddha is said to have acquired the six abhijnas the night he attained enlightenment. Generally enumerated as: 1) divyachakshus (divine eye) instantaneous perception of whatever one wills to see; 2) divyasrotra (divine ear) instantaneous comprehension of all sounds on every plane; 3) riddhisakshatkriya, power of becoming visibly manifest at will, intuitive perception; 4) purvanivasajnana (power to know former existences) also called purvanivasanu-smritijnana (recollection of former existences); and 5) parachittajnana (knowledge of others' thoughts) understanding of their minds and hearts.

In China a sixth is listed as asravakshaya (stream-mastery, pain destruction), destruction of all ignorance and the entering of the stream of supernal knowledge. While these aghijnas may be acquired in the process of achieving spiritual progress, the Buddha frowned upon any attempt to develop them; and if they should spontaneously become manifest, then one must avoid any display of such extranormal powers.

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

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)

Running

Running is a traditional symbol of health and vitality in addition to being a means of fleeing potential danger. Thus running could be considered a dream of virility, as well as fear.

Usually, in a dream of running in which fear is the dominant emotion, you will find that you can either run all night and successfully escape the danger (albeit with a serious emotional drain), or you find that you continue to falter and stumble, making the object of your fear even more terrifying. In the latter case, try to relate the dream situation to a situation in your life where you are feeling incredible pressure. Sometimes a simple change of perception can solve the problem.

Source: iVillage, http://www.ivillage.co.uk

(See also: Dream Archives, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Dream Dictionary - Running , Meaning of Dreams about Running , Dream Interpretation Running )

ESP

Common abbreviation for "extrasensory perception." See extrasensory perception

(See also: ESP , Body Mind and Soul)

awareness: Sakshin, or chit. Individual consciousness, perception, knowing; the witness of perception, the "inner eye of the soul." The soul's ability to sense, see or know and to be conscious of this knowing. When awareness is indrawn (pratyak chetana), various states of samadhi may occur. Awareness is known in the Agamas as chitshakti, the "power of awareness," the inner self and eternal witness. See: consciousness, sakshin.

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