Renunciation Dictionary

Jainism: (Jaina) (Sanskrit) An ancient non-Vedic religion of India made prominent by the teachings of Mahavira ("Great Hero"), ca 500 bce. The Jain Agamas teach reverence for all life, vegetarianism and strict renunciation for ascetics.

Jains focus great emphasis on the fact that all souls may attain liberation, each by his own effort. Their great historic saints, called Tirthankaras ("Ford-Crossers"), are objects of worship, of whom Mahavira was the 24th and last. Jains number about six million today, living mostly in India.

See: Mahavira.

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

Rishabha (-deva)

An empowered incarnation of the Supreme Lord who set the standard of an ideal king, gave valuable instructions to his one hundred sons, and then became an exemplar of complete renunciation.

(See also: Rishabha , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Occultism [from Latin occultus hid]

The science of things behind the veils of nature both visible and invisible, things hidden from the multitudes. In theosophy frequently synonymous with the esoteric philosophy or secret doctrine. The study of genuine occultism signifies penetrating deep into the causal mysteries of universal being; the occult arts, by contrast, include psychism, black magic, hypnotism, psychologization, and similar uninstructed or malevolent uses of astral and mental forces.

The term occult has noble, but largely forgotten origins. It properly defines anything which is undisclosed, concealed, or not easily perceived. Early theologians, for example, spoke of "the occult judgment of God," while "occult philosopher" was a designation for the pre-Renaissance scientist who sought the unseen causes regulating nature's phenomena. In astronomy, the term is still used when one stellar body "occults" another by passing in front of it, temporarily hiding it from view. Writing a century ago, when the word had not acquired today's mixed connotations, H.P. Blavatsky defined occultism as "altruism pure and simple" -- the divine wisdom or hidden theosophy within all religions.

As the study or science of things which are hid and secret, occultism is a generalizing term because what is hid or secret in one age may readily be in a succeeding age more or less commonly known and open to public investigation. Many things that in medieval Europe were distinctly secret and therefore occult, are today the field of scientific investigation; and what is now considered to be occult, if science continues in its progress and research, may in the succeeding age in its turn become open and matter of common knowledge. Occultism then will simply have shifted its field of investigation and study to matters still more secret, still more recondite, still more deeply hid in fields of nature which are now scarcely suspected.

Theosophy or the wisdom-religion is the study of the ancient wisdom of the gods, and comprises in any one period that particular portion of knowledge which has been delivered to those who study it; whereas occultism in any age is that portion of the ancient wisdom dealing with matters which at such time are secret, hid, and unknown to the multitude.

Thus occultism is that portion of theosophy which has not yet been openly and publicly promulgated. Occultism is founded on the principle that Divinity is concealed -- transcendent yet immanent -- within every living being. As a spiritual discipline occultism is the renunciation of selfishness; it is the "still small path" which leads to wisdom, to the right discrimination between good and evil, and the practice of altruism.

(See also: Occultism , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

vairagya:

vairagya (vairaagya). Detachment, renunciation.

(See also: vairagya , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sannyasa: Renunciation; monastic life.

(See also: Sannyasa , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

thyaga:

thyaga (thyaaga). Sacrifice, renunciation.

(See also: thyaga , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

NIVRITTI: Renunciation.

(See also: NIVRITTI ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Nivritti Marga - Path of renunciation.

(See also: Nivritti Marga ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

nekkhamma (nekkhamma): Renunciation; literally, "freedom from sensual lust". One of the ten paramis.

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

Siddha Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) Siddha Siddhanta, also called Gorakhnatha Saivism, is generally considered to have come in the lineage of the earlier ascetic orders of India. Its most well-known preceptor was Gorakshanatha (ca 1000) a disciple of Matsyendranatha, patron saint of Nepal, revered by certain esoteric Buddhist schools as well as by Hindus.

The school systematized and developed the practice of hatha yoga to a remarkable degree. Indeed, nearly all of what is today taught about hatha yoga comes from this school. Among its central texts are Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Svatmarama, Gheranda Samhita, Siva Samhita and Jnanamrita. Siddha Siddhanta theology embraces both transcendent Siva (being) and immanent Siva (becoming). Siva is both the efficient and material cause of the universe. Devotion is expressed through temple worship and pilgrimage, with the central focus on internal worship and kundalini yoga, with the goal of realizing Parasamvid, the supreme transcendent state of Siva.

Today there are perhaps 750,000 adherents of Siddha Siddhanta Saivism, who are often understood as Shaktas or advaita tantrics. The school fans out through India, but is most prominent in North India and Nepal. Devotees are called yogis, and stress is placed on world renunciation - even for householders. This sect is also most commonly known as Natha, the Gorakshapantha and Siddha Yogi Sampradaya. Other names include Adinatha Sampradaya, Nathamatha and Siddhamarga.

See: Gorakshanatha.

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

Vairagya:

Dispassion; the power of renunciation by which a yogi is able to pursue the true rather than the false, the eternal rather than the ephemeral.

(See also: Vairagya , Yoga, Yoga Dictionary, Siddha Yoga, Siddha Yoga Dictionary)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

Bhagavan - the Supreme Lord; the Personality of Godhead. In the Visnu Purana (6.5.72-74) Bhagavan is defined as follows: "suddhe mahavibhuty akhye pare brahmani varttate maitreya bhagavac-chabda sarva-karana-karane; sambharteti tatha bhartta bha-karo ‘rthadvayanvita neta gamayita srasta ga-kararthas tatha mune; aisvaryasya samagrasya dharmasya yasasah sriyah jnana-vairagyayos caiva sannam bhaga itingana - "

The word bhagavat is used to describe the Supreme brahma who possesses all opulences, who is completely pure, and who is the cause of all causes. In the word bhagavat, the syllable bha has two meanings: one who maintains all living entities and one who is the support of all living entities.

Similarly, the syllable ga has two meanings: the creator, and one who causes all living entities to obtain the results of karma and jnana. Complete opulence, religiosity, fame, beauty, knowledge, and renunciation are known as bhaga, or fortune.” (The suffix vat means possessing. Thus one who possesses these six fortunes is known as Bhagavan.)

(See also: Bhagavan , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

vanaprastha

A man or woman in the retired order of life, the third stage of spiritual progress in the varnashrama social system. In this order a married man leaves home and travels to the forest and holy places of pilgrimage, either with or without his wife, to prepare himself for full renunciation, sannyasa.

(See also: vanaprastha , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

deha-sanyasa:

deha-sanyasa (dheha-sanyaasa). Outward renunciation.

(See also: deha-sanyasa , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

thyaga-bhumi:

thyaga-bhumi (thyaaga-bhuumi). Land of renunciation.

(See also: thyaga-bhumi , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

yukta-vairagya

real renunciation by utilizing everything in the service of God.

(See also: yukta-vairagya , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

jivanmukta: (Sanskrit) "Liberated soul."

A being who has attained nirvikalpa samadhi - the realization of the Self, Parasiva - and is liberated from rebirth while living in a human body. (Contrasted with videhamukta, one liberated at the point of death.) This attainment is the culmination of lifetimes of intense striving, sadhana and tapas, requiring total renunciation, sannyasa (death to the external world, denoted in the conducting of one's own funeral rites), in the current incarnation.

While completing life in the physical body, the jivanmukta enjoys the ability to reenter nirvikalpa samadhi again and again. At this time, siddhis can be developed which are carried to the inner worlds after mahasamadhi. Such an awakened jnani benefits the population by simply being who he is. When he speaks, he does so without forethought. His wisdom is beyond reason, yet it does not conflict with reason. Nor does he arrive at what he says through the process of reason, but through the process of ajna-chakra sight.

See: jivanmukti, jnana, kaivalya, moksha, Self Realization, Sivasayujya, videhamukti, enlightenment.

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

Nishkrama niskrama (Sanskrit) [from nis away from + the verbal root kram to go, set forth]

Going forth, hence leaving the worldly life; renunciation.

(See also: Nishkrama, niskrama , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

karma-marga:

karma-marga (-maarga). Path of renunciation of the fruit of action.

(See also: karma-marga , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

anupubbi-katha (aanupubbii-kathaa): Gradual instruction. The Buddha's method of teaching Dhamma that guides his listeners progressively through increasingly advanced topics: generosity (see dana), virtue (see sila), heavens, drawbacks, renunciation, and the four noble truths.

 (See also: Anupubbi-katha , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Wesak

(Sanskrit) Celebration of the birth, renunciation, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha, usually on the full moon in Taurus

(See also: Wesak , Body Mind and Soul)