Mjotudr (Icelandic) [from mjot measure + udr out of, exhausting]

In Norse mythology, the dying phase of a Tree of Life, the second half of its existence when the energies are retreating from the material back toward the spiritual realm. Applies to any world tree, large or small.

See also MJOTVIDR

(See also: Mjotudr, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Divine Life Society - Religion & spirituality. Spiritual counselling, Yoga training, Retreat centre, Libraries, meditation calsses etc. Publication of many books and booklets on various topics related to Hinduism and Self-development keeping in view the needs of the modern man. Divine Life Society - Social field. Charitable hospital at Sivanandanagar Divine Life Society - Education field. Around 1000 students from poor classes are given financial assis ...

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Divine Life Society, Divine Life Society - Activities, Divine Life Society - Religion & spirituality, Divine Life Society - Social field, Divine Life Society - Education field, Divine Life Society - Cultural field, Divine Life Society - Relief activities, Divine Life Society - Province of its influence, Divine Life Society - Major publications, Divine Life Society - Related Links

Read more here: » Divine Life Society: Encyclopedia II - Divine Life Society - Activities

There are several organizations that teach kriya yoga as taught by Yogananda. A few are: Self-Realization Fellowship, founded by Yogananda; Ananda, founded by Swami Kriyananda (a direct disciple of Yogananda); Center for Spiritual Awareness, founded by Roy Eugene Davis (also a direct disciple of Yogananda); and the Song of the Morning Retreat Center founded by one of Yogananda's chief disciples, Yogacharya Oliver Black. The lineage of Lahiri Mahasaya also continues in the person of Shibendu Lahiri, the great-grandson of Lahiri Mahasaya. He is based in Benares but travels around the world, initia ...

See also:

Kriya yoga, Kriya yoga - History, Kriya yoga - Other lineages, Kriya yoga - External link

Read more here: » Kriya yoga: Encyclopedia II - Kriya yoga - Other lineages

Sight Among the elements, correlated with fire or light. Like the other senses it has its spiritual originant which expresses itself through its several forms, corresponding to the different planes.

The organ of spiritual vision in the human body is the third eye. Some of the Atlantean magicians and initiates had this inner sight, which was even in their material race highly developed, so that their vision could pass any distance and penetrate opaque bodies.

In the order of evolution of the physical senses and their organs, sight comes third, and was evolved as a physical sense towards the end of the third root-race, though existing in rudimentary form in the preceding root-race. The third eye was once external and an organ of physical vision, but retreated inwards when it was replaced by the two eyes as at present functioning; the third eye has now become the pineal gland.

(See also: Sight, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Acervulus Cerebri Brain-sand; minute particles of a yellowish, semi-transparent, hard, brilliant substance found in the pineal gland in the human brain. Its exceptional absence occurs in congenital idiots, in young children, and in the senile aged. The physiologists report that this "sand" is composed of alkaline phosphates and carbonates and some animal matter, but they fail to account for its presence or purpose.

The fact that this brain-sand is of mineral rather than of osseous character is in keeping with the occult history of the once external, active third eye of early humanity. The ancients knew that, with the racial evolutionary descent into gross matter, this spiritual eye, gradually becoming atrophied and petrified, retreated deeply within the developing brain when its course was run (SD 2:294&n). The pineal gland being the chief organ of spirituality in the human brain at present, this mysterious sand is the result of the work of mental electricity upon the surrounding matter. This is based on the ancient idea that every atom of matter is only a concretion of crystallized spirit or akasa, the universal soul.

See also PINEAL GLAND.

(See also: Acervulus Cerebri, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Ushnisha usnisa (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root ush to be warm, flaming; mystically warmth through inner light, intuition, vision]

A turban, diadem, or crown; also a kind of "excrescence" on the head of a buddha. Like the long ears so often seen in figures of the buddhas, the meaning of the ushnisha is entirely occult, and was in no sense whatsoever intended to signify a tuft of hair, nor any fleshly excrescence on the skull, but was a way of suggesting the radiating power of the eye of Siva or organ of vision and of intuition, working at relatively full power within the skull of a great adept.

The eye of Siva is the pineal gland; originally an external and active eye in the head of primitive mankind during this fourth round on earth, it gradually retreated within the skull, which grew to cover its place with bones, skin, and hair. As this presently so-called third eye retreated within the skull, its place was progressively taken by the two present organs of vision. At this period of our racial development it is buddhas, avataras, and other initiates of relatively high status who alone use the organ of spiritual vision, for in them the pineal gland has become active and is to some extent physiologically enlarged; although in everyone else it is more or less nonfunctional, yet to some degree functional.

Hence the ushnisha represents that radiant crown of buddhic fire that surrounds the head of initiates when they are in deep samadhi or meditation. The initiate's head becomes surrounded with rays from the vital inner fire of the third eye, the spiritual organ of the brain, which likewise is the source from which radiates the spiritual, intellectual, and psychovital nimbus or aura surrounding the head -- known to the iconographies of every religion. These rays thus form a glory around the head and sometimes even around the entire body. "They stream upwards from the back of the head, often symbolically represented in the buddha-iconography as one single, lambent flame soaring upwards from and over the top of the skull. In this case you may perhaps find that the ushnisha is missing, its place being taken by this flame issuing from the top of the head, a symbolic representation of the fire of the spirit and of the aroused and active buddhic faculty in which the man is at the time" (Fund 493).

Many statues of buddhas and bodhisattvas possess certain peculiar headgear called crowns or ushnishas. Hence ushnisha is also used in the sense of turban, because this particular headgear, given to these statues, somewhat resembles a turban of spiral conical form, somewhat like the spiral shell of some snails.

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

Devapi (Sanskrit). A Sanskrit Sage of the race of Kuru, who, together with another Sage (Moru), is supposed to live throughout the four ages and until the coming of Maitreya Buddha, or Kalki (the last Avatar of Vishnu) ; who, like all the Saviours of the World in their last appearance, like Sosiosh of the Zoroastrians and the Rider of St. Johns Revelation, will appear seated on a White Horse. The two, Devapi and Moru, are supposed to live in a Himalayan retreat called Kalapa or Katapa. This is a Puranic allegory.

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

Ashram:

The dwelling place of a Guru or saint; a monastic retreat site where seekers engage in spiritual practices and study the sacred teachings of yoga.

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

Ecbatana. A famous city in Media worthy of a place among the seven wonders of the world. It is thus described by Draper in his Conflict between Religion and Science, chap. i, . .

" The cool summer retreat of the Persian Kings, was defended by seven encircling walls of hewn and polished blocks, the interior ones in succession of increasing height, and of different colours, in astrological accordance with the seven planets. The palace was roofed with silver tiles; its beams were plated with gold. At midnight in its halls, the sun was rivalled by many a row of naphta cressets. A paradise, that luxury of the monarchs of the East, was planted in the midst of the city. The Persian Empire was truly the garden of the world."

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

In 1922 the new nationalist regime abolished the Ottoman sultanate, and in 1924 it abolished the caliphate, the religious office that Ottoman sultans had held for four centuries. Thus, for the first time in Islamic history, no ruler claimed spiritual leadership of Islam. The withdrawal of Turkey, heir to the Ottoman Empire, as the presumptive leader of the world Muslim community was symbolic of the change in the government's relationship to Islam. Indeed, secularism or laicism (laiklik ) became one of the "Six Arrows" of Atatürk's program f ...

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Islam in Turkey, Islam in Turkey - Islam's history in Turkey, Islam in Turkey - Sufism and Folk Islam, Islam in Turkey - The Alevi, Islam in Turkey - Secularist Policies, Islam in Turkey - Retreat from Secularism, Islam in Turkey - Status of Religious Freedom

Read more here: » Islam in Turkey: Encyclopedia II - Islam in Turkey - Secularist Policies

He was born around 858 in Tur, Iran to a cotton-carder (Al-Hallaj means "cotton-carder" in Arabic). Al-Hallaj's grandfather may have been a Zoroastrian. His father lived a simple life, and this form of lifestyle greatly interested the young al-Hallaj. As a youngster he memorized the Qur'an and would often retreat from worldly pursuits to join other mystics in study. Al-Hallaj would later marry and make a pilgrimage to Mecca, where he stayed for one year, facing the mosque, in fasting and total silence. After his stay at the hol ...

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Mansur Al-Hallaj, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Life, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Views on Hallaj, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Works, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Beliefs and principles, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Mystical universalism, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Spiritual meaning of the pilgrimage to Mecca, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Re-interpretation of the tawhid and desire for unification with God, Mansur Al-Hallaj - Martyrdom, Mansur Al-Hallaj - References used, Mansur Al-Hallaj - External link

Read more here: » Mansur Al-Hallaj: Encyclopedia II - Mansur Al-Hallaj - Life

In the 1990s Sangharakshita began handing over spiritual and administrative responsibility for the FWBO and WBO to a group of senior men and women disciples. This transfer was completed by 2000. Since then Sangharakshita's health has declined, but the movement continues to thrive. Leadership was vested in the College of Public Preceptors, a group of men and women who take overall responsibility for ordaining new members. With over 1,000 members, and a continuing commitment to consensus decision-making, the order is now having to explo ...

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Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - The Western Buddhist Order, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Distinctive emphases of the FWBO, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Activities, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Practice, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Meditation, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Ritual, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Retreats, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Confession, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Right livelihood, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Communities, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Diversity, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - The FWBO post Sangharakshita, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Chronology, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Criticism of the FWBO

Read more here: » Friends of the Western Buddhist Order: Encyclopedia II - Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - The FWBO post Sangharakshita

The last third of Keyes' life took him deeply into spirituality and the personal growth arena. He was older than many of those around him and many of those he influenced. He spoke in a younger idiom than might be expected of one who was born in 1921, expressing many of his concepts using terms such as "uptight" and "headspace" that those of the time might have considered "hippie" in nature. In 1970, just shy of his 50th birthday, he traveled to the Esalen Institute in California and enrolled in two workshops there. He then returned to ...

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Ken Keyes Jr., Ken Keyes Jr. - Early years, Ken Keyes Jr. - Childhood and adolescence, Ken Keyes Jr. - College military service and a new family, Ken Keyes Jr. - Polio and quadriplegia, Ken Keyes Jr. - The first book, Ken Keyes Jr. - Resuming life, Ken Keyes Jr. - Divorce and remarriage, Ken Keyes Jr. - Awakening, Ken Keyes Jr. - Living Love years, Ken Keyes Jr. - Going west and the Living Love Center in Berkeley, Ken Keyes Jr. - Cornucopia in Kentucky, Ken Keyes Jr. - On retreat in Santa Cruz, Ken Keyes Jr. - Coos Bay Oregon and the Ken Keyes College, Ken Keyes Jr. - Final years, Ken Keyes Jr. - Influence and legacy, Ken Keyes Jr. - Published works, Ken Keyes Jr. - Autobiography, Ken Keyes Jr. - Nutrition, Ken Keyes Jr. - Personal growth, Ken Keyes Jr. - Politics and futurism

Read more here: » Ken Keyes Jr.: Encyclopedia II - Ken Keyes Jr. - Awakening

Because it draws on the whole of the Buddhist tradition there are a wide variety of practices current in the FWBO. Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Meditation. Many meditation practices are current within the FWBO. Sangharakshita has described the way he teaches meditation as having four phases, and the practices fall roughly into these four phases. The first two are, broadly speaking, calming or samatha practices, and the last two are insight or vipassana practices. Integration ...

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Friends of the Western Buddhist Order, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - The Western Buddhist Order, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Distinctive emphases of the FWBO, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Activities, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Practice, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Meditation, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Ritual, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Retreats, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Confession, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Right livelihood, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Communities, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Diversity, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - The FWBO post Sangharakshita, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Chronology, Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Criticism of the FWBO

Read more here: » Friends of the Western Buddhist Order: Encyclopedia II - Friends of the Western Buddhist Order - Practice

Monks join the monastery at six to nine years of age and are immediately placed under the discipleship of a headmaster. They learn to read chhokey, the language of the ancient sacred texts, as well as Dzongkha and English. Eventually they will chose between two possible paths: to study theology and Buddhist theory, or take the more common path of becoming proficient in the rituals and personal practice of the faith. The daily life of the monk is austere, particularly if they are stationed at one of the monasteries located high up in t ...

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Culture of Bhutan, Culture of Bhutan - Religion, Culture of Bhutan - National dress code, Culture of Bhutan - Men and women in society, Culture of Bhutan - Bhutanese names, Culture of Bhutan - Religious festivals, Culture of Bhutan - The monastery, Culture of Bhutan - Radio and television

Read more here: » Culture of Bhutan: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Bhutan - The monastery

Yogananda taught his students the need for direct experience of truth, as opposed to blind belief. He said that “The true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience. Intuition is the soul’s power of knowing God. To know what religion is really all about, one must know God.” (from The Essence of Self-Realization) To that end, he taught certain yoga techniques that he believed would help the student achieve Self-realization. He said that “Self-Realization is the knowing in all parts of body, mind, and soul that yo ...

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Paramahansa Yogananda, Paramahansa Yogananda - Life, Paramahansa Yogananda - Legacy, Paramahansa Yogananda - Kriya Yoga, Paramahansa Yogananda - Autobiography of a Yogi, Paramahansa Yogananda - Claims of bodily incorruptibility, Paramahansa Yogananda - Related links

Read more here: » Paramahansa Yogananda: Encyclopedia II - Paramahansa Yogananda - Legacy

The Mission of the Office of Campus Ministry at Loyola Marymount University is to build a dynamic community of faith that manifests the University's commitment to Christianity in the Roman Catholic tradition. Inspired by our Judeo-Christian foundation and our University's sponsoring religious orders, Campus Ministry seeks to work with all who join the University in its purpose to encourage learning, to be at the service of faith, and to promote justice. As old as the University, the Division of Campus Ministry was originally titled Un ...

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Loyola Marymount University, Loyola Marymount University - History, Loyola Marymount University - Campus, Loyola Marymount University - Academics, Loyola Marymount University - Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, Loyola Marymount University - College of Communication and Fine Arts, Loyola Marymount University - College of Business Administration, Loyola Marymount University - Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, Loyola Marymount University - School of Education, Loyola Marymount University - School of Film and Television, Loyola Marymount University - Organization, Loyola Marymount University - Sponsoring Religious Orders, Loyola Marymount University - The Society of Jesus, Loyola Marymount University - The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Loyola Marymount University - The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange, Loyola Marymount University - Athletics, Loyola Marymount University - Lion Mascot, Loyola Marymount University - Student Government, Loyola Marymount University - Executive Branch, Loyola Marymount University - Legislative Branch, Loyola Marymount University - Judicial Branch, Loyola Marymount University - Support Staff, Loyola Marymount University - Campus Ministry, Loyola Marymount University - Center for Service and Action, Loyola Marymount University - Service Organizations, Loyola Marymount University - Campus Greek Life, Loyola Marymount University - Notable alumni, Loyola Marymount University - Noted professors

Read more here: » Loyola Marymount University: Encyclopedia II - Loyola Marymount University - Campus Ministry

Spiritual Exercises - Some historically contextual aspects of the Exercises. The teachings conveyed via the exercises appear to reflect the prominent Catholic views of the 1500's, during which time they were written. Such teachings include support for the Crusades, prayers to Mary, unquestioning and absolute obedience to one's religious superiors, and an implied antagonism towards Islam. (One of the exercises describes the physical location of all evil in the world to be located "in the region of Babylon", whi ...

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Spiritual Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Typical methodology and structure of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Theological teachings of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Some historically contextual aspects of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Implied antagonism of Islam within the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Spiritual viewpoint of the Exercises, Spiritual Exercises - Modern applications of the Exercises

Read more here: » Spiritual Exercises: Encyclopedia II - Spiritual Exercises - Theological teachings of the Exercises

The goal of Summit University Press is to make the teachings of the Ascended Masters, as delivered through the messengers, available to all seekers. They have published many books over the years, among them are: "The Masters and Their Retreats" "The Chela and the Path" "Climb the Highest Mountain" "The Science of the Spoken Word" "The Human Aura" "Walking with the Master" "Community" "The Creative Power of Sound: Affirmations to Create, Heal and Transfo ...

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The Summit Lighthouse, The Summit Lighthouse - Summit University Press

Read more here: » The Summit Lighthouse: Encyclopedia II - The Summit Lighthouse - Summit University Press

In the New Testament kairos means 'the appointed time in the purpose of God', the time when God acts (e.g. Mark 1.15, the kairos is fulfilled'. It differs from the more usual word for time which is chronos (kronos). In the Eastern Orthodox Church, before the Divine Liturgy begins, the Deacon exclaims to the Priest, "Kairos tou poiesai to Kyrio" ("It is time [kairos] for the Lord to act"), indicating that the time of the Lit ...

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Kairos, Kairos - In theology, Kairos - In rhetoric

Read more here: » Kairos: Encyclopedia II - Kairos - In theology

The Navigators was founded in 1933 by Dawson Trotman, out of his experiences mentoring US Navy sailor Les Spencer. 135 men became Christians on Les Spencer's ship before it was sunk at Pearl Harbor. By the end of World War II, thousands of men on ships and bases around the world were learning the principles of spiritual multiplication. Since then The Navigators has grown into a worldwide organization with representation in most countries of the world. It acquired its current location at Glen Eyrie through Billy Graham's contacting Tro ...

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The Navigators organization, The Navigators organization - History, The Navigators organization - Glen Eyrie's use today

Read more here: » The Navigators organization: Encyclopedia II - The Navigators organization - History

Cohen’s original spiritual teaching, Evolutionary Enlightenment, is said to be unique for placing the traditional realization of enlightenment in the context of cosmic evolution. By awakening to the timeless "Ground of Being," Cohen maintains, human beings can liberate themselves from selfish motives, or ego, and learn to manifest what he calls the "Authentic Self." This self beyond ego is said to represent humanity at its most wholesome: creative, compassionate, and motivated by an "evolutionary impulse" that is "one with the big bang its ...

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Andrew Cohen, Andrew Cohen - Ideas, Andrew Cohen - Criticism, Andrew Cohen - Books by Cohen, Andrew Cohen - Books about Cohen, Andrew Cohen - Articles

Read more here: » Andrew Cohen: Encyclopedia II - Andrew Cohen - Ideas