For Bahá'ís, the unity of humanity is not a distant prospect, but a present reality. Globalization represents not only the progressively greater manifestation of this principle, but also humankinds progressively greater perception of the bonds which already unite it. The Bahá'í Faith aspires to provide a model for the ideal interaction among the various peoples of the world, and thus a viable spiritual basis for the united world which is to come. The unity of humanity is said to mirror the unity of God, as well as the un ...

See also:

Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity, Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity - Biological Unity, Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity - Elimination of Prejudice, Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity - Political Unity, Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity - Spiritual Unity, Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity - Unity in diversity, Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity - Links

Read more here: » Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity: Encyclopedia II - Bahá'í Faith and the unity of humanity - Spiritual Unity

Good Spiritual Advisor

Guru, virtuous friend, wise person, Bodhisattva, Buddha -- anyone (even an evil being!) who can help the practitioner progress along the path to Enlightenment.

This notwithstanding, wisdom should be the primary factor in the selection of such an advisor: the advisor must have wisdom, and both advisor and practitioner must exercise wisdom in selecting one another.

 (See also: Good Spiritual Advisor, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Stage of progressive awakening

(Jpn.: bunshin-soku)

The fifth of the six stages of practice.

(See also: Stage of progressive awakening, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

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)

Bhagavad-gita

The essential teachings on progressive spiritual life and pure devotion to the Supreme Lord spoken by the Supreme Lord Himself, Krishna, to His friend Arjuna at Kurukshetra in the last moments before the great battle. Vyasadeva included the Bhagavad-gita in the Bhishma-parva of the Mahabharata.

(See also: Bhagavad-gita, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Uttarayana (Sanskrit) [from uttara northern + ayana road, path]

The northern way, the progress of the sun to the north of the equator or the summer solstice. In mystic philosophy, it represents in one sense the path of light leading inwards spiritually, or the nivrittimarga, the path of the involution of matter and the evolution of spirit.

See also DAKSHINAYANA

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

SIDDHIS

Yogic supernatural powers arising spontaneously as the result of spiritual progress. Siddhis are to be ignored, not cultivated. There are supposedly ten supernatural powers or sankhya available to the developed yogi, but two of them do not occur on this plane and only the 8th can be sought deliberately by the will:

(See also: SIDDHIS, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Aryan - is derived from the Sanskrit verbal root r meaning ‘to go ahead’ or ‘progress’. Thus arya means one who is on the progressive path of spiritual advancement. Those who follow the varnasrama system; those who are advanced in terms of social and religious culture i.e. Hindus.

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

Samapatti (Sanskrit) [from sam-a-pad to progress to perfect fulfillment from the verbal root pad to go, progress]

In Buddhism, a subdivision of the fourth stage of abstract meditation (there being eight samapattis); "perfect concentration" in the raja yoga system of occult training, a state of intellectual, spiritual, and psychic unfolding in which meditation becomes vision, and there ensues perfect indifference to things of this world. Said to be the final degree of development, upon reaching which the possibility of entering into samadhi is attained.

(See also: Samapatti, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

future-life progression (future progression, future-life progression hypnosis): Variation of past-life therapy developed by Helen Stewart Wambach, Ph.D. (1925-1985), author of Recalling Past Lives (Harper & Row, 1978) and Life Before Life (Bantam Books, 1979), and provided by Chet B. Snow, Ph.D. Future-life progression isa means of viewing one's future and the potential lives of future incarnations of oneself. To accomplish this, one must step into spacetime.

(See also: Future-life progression, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Ten Stages of a Bodhisattva's Progress

They are the following:

(1)  Joy at having overcome former difficulties and at now entering the path to Buddhahood; (

(2)  Freedom from all possible defilement, the stage of purity;

(3)  The stage of further enlightenment;

(4)  Glowing wisdom;

(5)  Mastery of the utmost or final difficulties;

(6)  The open way of wisdom that is beyond purity and impurity;

(7)  Proceeding afar, above the concept of "self" in order to save others

(8)  Attainment of calm imperturbability;

(9)  Achievement of the finest discriminatory wisdom; knowing, expediently, where and how to save; possessing the ten powers

(10)             Attainment of the fertilizing powers of the Law Cloud.

 (See also: Ten Stages of a Bodhisattva's Progress, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

A sect in the Church of Life. Adherents typically practice zazen and explore koan, although they are not zen buddhists as they do not derive their lineage from one of the recognised zen masters. This sect is for those who have reached some level of enlightenment and are masters of their own spiritual progress. An example of Not Zen haiku. A golden leaf falls, A tear streaks down from my ey ...

See also:

Church of Life, Church of Life - Virtuous Sects, Church of Life - The Not Zen Sect

Read more here: » Church of Life: Encyclopedia II - Church of Life - The Not Zen Sect

Although 50% of all cancer cases diagnosed achieve curation, a large number of cancer patients will die from the disease. There may be ongoing issues with symptom control associated with progressive cancer. These problems may include pain, nausea, anorexia, fatigue, immobility, and depression. Not all issues are strictly physical: personal dignity may be affected. Moral and spiritual issues are also important. Whilst many of these problems fall within the remit of the oncologist, palliative care has matured into a separate, closely al ...

See also:

Oncology, Oncology - Diagnosis, Oncology - Therapy, Oncology - Follow-up, Oncology - Palliative care, Oncology - Ethical issues, Oncology - Progress and research in oncology, Oncology - Complementary and Alternative therapies

Read more here: » Oncology: Encyclopedia II - Oncology - Palliative care

Book I is an examination of the ways of Nature's progress, the spiritual path, the reasons for the divisions and dualities in creation, and a detailed account of the nature of The Absolute, and how this unknowable, immutable omnipresent Reality became the universe we live in. Book II Part 1 explores the original Knowledge and state of the Absolute, and the cosmic Ignorance which is the source of our false perceptions of divisions and dualities in finite existence. It examines the cause of the ...

See also:

The Life Divine, The Life Divine - Basic Themes, The Life Divine - Development of The Book, The Life Divine - List of Chapters, The Life Divine - Structure of The Life Divine, The Life Divine - Links

Read more here: » The Life Divine: Encyclopedia II - The Life Divine - Structure of The Life Divine

Hinduism

The major world religion that originated from the ancient religions of India. The ancient gods (especially the triad of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) are commonly interpreted as representations of the various aspects of the divine (Brahman).

Human beings progress to the ultimate realization of their oneness with Brahman (often called Nirvana) through reincarnation according to the law of karma. Some of the concepts of Hinduism are incorporated, modified, and expanded upon in the New Age Movement.

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

Hinduism

The major world religion that originated from the ancient religions of India. The ancient gods (especially the triad of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) are commonly interpreted as representations of the various aspects of the divine (Brahman).

Human beings progress to the ultimate realization of their oneness with Brahman (often called Nirvana) through reincarnation according to the law of karma. Some of the concepts of Hinduism are incorporated, modified, and expanded upon in the New Age Movement.

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

Alienation can be seen as a foundational claim in Marxist theory. Hegel described a succession of historic stages in the human 'Geist' or Spirit, by which that Spirit progresses towards perfect self-understanding and away from ignorance. In Marx's reaction to Hegel, these two idealist poles are replaced with materialist categories: spiritual ignorance becomes alienation, and the transcendent end of history becomes man's realisation of his species-being (i.e., our triumph over alie ...

See also:

Marx's theory of alienation, Marx's theory of alienation - Alienation in the labour process, Marx's theory of alienation - Significance, Marx's theory of alienation - Criticism

Read more here: » Marx's theory of alienation: Encyclopedia II - Marx's theory of alienation - Significance

Arc(s), Ascending and Descending Also Luminous and Shadowy Arcs. A cycle of development, such as that of a planetary chain, can be divided into two halves, the first from the first globe to the middle of the most material globe, and the other extending from this midpoint upwards to the last globe. The first half is the downward or shadowy arc; the second is the ascending or luminous arc. The descending arc represents an involution of spirit and a concurrent evolution of matter resulting in a progressive materialization of spirit and a continuous grossening or concretion of the texture of matter; the ascending arc represents an evolution of spirit and involution of matter, resulting in a progressive dematerialization, spiritualization, or refinement of matter as it increasingly manifests the qualities of spirit. Yet spirit and matter are fundamentally one essence at different stages of development.

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

Nolan became famous for his 1976 book, Jesus before Christianity, in which he presented an account of Jesus' radical involvement in the struggle for full humanity in the context of first-century Palestine: he "challenged the rich to identify in solidarity with the poor, a spirituality of solidarity that resonated with white Catholics seeking a new, progressive direction" (Egan 1999). The book was translated into nine languages, and a 25th annivers ...

See also:

Albert Nolan, Albert Nolan - Life, Albert Nolan - Writings, Albert Nolan - Public Honours, Albert Nolan - Literature, Albert Nolan - Weblinks

Read more here: » Albert Nolan: Encyclopedia II - Albert Nolan - Writings

When Mr. Lif began making music, the rap scene was, as it is today, heavily commercialized with little emphasis on substantive matters. In his music, Lif consciously defies this status quo by incorporating social, political, and spiritual elements into his lyrics. Much of his early music consisted of battle raps. Later albums put more focus on social and political criticism with markedly progressive themes. Some of his more interesting works extends powerful battle rap metaphors into political diatribes. For example, the single FarmhandSee also:

Mr. Lif, Mr. Lif - Life, Mr. Lif - Origin of Mr. Lif's name, Mr. Lif - Music, Mr. Lif - Discography, Mr. Lif - Def Jux, Mr. Lif - Thought Wizard Productions

Read more here: » Mr. Lif: Encyclopedia II - Mr. Lif - Music

There were seven clans in antiquity. There is a common misperception that the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni or ancient Cherokee priesthood comprised an eighth clan of the Cherokee People, but this belief is a commonplace myth. The Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni appointed a member of each of the seven clans to represent both the spiritual forces the Cherokee believed existed in the Natural World, and the ritual of ceremonies related to the progression of the human spirit from birth until entry into the spirit world to perform the sacred ceremonies for the Cherokee people f ...

See also:

Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Background on Cherokee Clans in Ancient History, Cherokee Clans - The Seven Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Spiritual Significance of the Clans in Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni Rituals, Cherokee Clans - Ancient Spiritual Symbolism of the Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Clan Customs of the Cherokee Clans, Cherokee Clans - Cherokee Marriage Customs Between the Clans, Cherokee Clans - Clan Marriage Ceremonies of the Ah-ni-ku-ta-ni, Cherokee Clans - Clan Married Life, Cherokee Clans - Clan Voting and Banishment in Ancient Times

Read more here: » Cherokee Clans: Encyclopedia II - Cherokee Clans - Background on Cherokee Clans in Ancient History

jnana: (Sanskrit) "Knowledge; wisdom."

The matured state of the soul. It is the wisdom that comes as an aftermath of the kundalini breaking through the door of Brahman into the realization of Parasiva, Absolute Reality. The repeated samadhis of Parasiva ever deepen this flow of divine knowing which establishes the knower in an extraordinary point of reference, totally different from those who have not attained this enlightenment.

Jnana is the awakened, superconscious state (karana chitta) working within the ordinary experience of the world, flowing into daily life situations. It is the fruition of the progressive stages of charya, kriya and yoga in the Saiva Siddhanta system of spiritual unfoldment.

Jnana is sometimes misunderstood as book knowledge, as a maturity or awakening that comes from simply understanding a complex philosophical system or systems. Those who define jnana in this way deny that the path is a progression of charya-kriya-yoga-jnana or of karmabhakti- raja-jnana. Rather, they say that one can choose his path, and that each leads to the ultimate goal.

See: God Realization, door of Brahman, Self Realization, samadhi, jnana yoga.

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