The Path Dictionary

Map

The interpretation depends on whether you are following a map to a particular destination and you feel good about it, or whether you are trying to follow a confusing chart. A confusing chart may indicate that you lack a clear sense of direction in your everyday life or are in the midst of changing long term plans. Following a good map in your dreams suggest that you are feeling confident in your current path and pursuits.

Source: Dream Lover Incorporated, http://www.dreamloverinc.com

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

Yana (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root ya to go]

Path, road, vehicle; there are two recognized paths of action in nature, the pratyeka-yana (the path of each one for himself) and the amrita-yana (the immortal vehicle or path of immortality). There are also two schools of philosophy in India using this term: the Hinayana (the lesser, inferior, or defective vehicle) and the Mahayana (the greater or superior vehicle).

This contrast is an exoteric rather than an esoteric one. It is a recognition of the fact that the religion of Gautama Buddha has separated into two general paths of action; but both the Hinayana and the Mahayana are recognized because known to possess each one its own particular value in training. The combination of the two is what one might call the esoteric path.

The Hinayana is that portion of the esoteric path in which the mystic traveler takes the lower passional and elemental sides of himself into strict discipline and self-control, the while following certain simple rules of day-to-day procedure; whereas the Mahayana aspect includes rather the training of the spiritual, intellectual, and higher psychic parts of the human constitution, such as is brought about by a profound study of philosophy, of the truths of nature, the mystical side of religion, and the higher parts of kosmic philosophy -- all these collected together around the heart of the Mahayana which is mystical study and aspiration.

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

LABYRINTHS

A labyrinth (pronounced LAB-ear-inth) is an ancient symbol that relates to wholeness. It combines the imagery of the circle and the spiral into a meandering but purposeful path. The labyrinth represents a journey to one's own center and back again out into the world. Labyrinths have long been used as meditation and prayer tools. A labyrinth is an archetype with which one can have a direct experience. People can walk it. It is a metaphor for life's journey. It is a symbol that creates a sacred space and place and takes one out of the ego to "That Which Is Within." 

People often confuse the words "labyrinth" and "maze", thinking they are the same. A maze is like a puzzle to be solved. It has twists, turns, and blind alleys. It is a left-brain task that requires logical, sequential, analytical activity to find the correct path into the maze and out. A labyrinth, however, has only one path and one course. The way in is the way out. There are no blind alleys. A Labyrinth's path leads one on a circuitous path to the center and out again. 

Many are attracted to the labyrinth as a healing tool because it deepens self-knowledge and empowers creativity. Walking the labyrinth clears the mind and gives insight into the life journey. It calms those in the throes of transition, and helps us to see life in the context of a path. It urges actions and stirs creative fires. To those who are in sorrow, it gives solace and peace. The walk is different for everyone, as they bring only themselves to the labyrinth. Each person comes in uniqueness, and often departs with a greater sense of connectedness. All age levels can experience the labyrinth. Parents can carry babies, and caregivers can assist those in wheelchairs.

(See also: LABYRINTHS , Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Quitting

Quitting is an action that all of us are tempted by at one point in life or another. Whether it is home life, work, or planet earth in general, quitting may feel like the best choice. Virtually everyone has days when selling your possessions and buying a one-way plane ticket somewhere sounds good. However, quitting is rarely about quitting altogether, but rather not wanting to continue under the current circumstances. Quitting is often elective as well. The quitter doesn't want to face the consequences of resigning from life, but rather to avoid the requisite hassles of participating in it.

In dreams, we are often granted the latitude to quit without having to experience consequences. Rather, we can simply eliminate unpleasant facets of life in its troubling condition. This is wonderful, as quitting dreams illuminates our most draining emotional conflicts in waking life.

Often we quit things in life because we cannot conceptualize solutions to our problems. However, in dreaming, our quitting usually points to the solution to the problem. All of us have what we consider to be feasible and unfeasible solution choices. In dreaming, there are more choices. What you quit from and gravitate towards may be showing you resolution potentials you had not previously considered.

For example, if you dream of quitting your job, what you do next in your dream could be a symbol for a vocational path that holds more reward potential for you. Sipping margaritas on the beach is not very lucrative. However, being a travel agent is a reasonable career path.

If you quit your family in a dream, this may be a sign that you need to disengage for a while from significant others. This is not the same as physical separation. Rather, it means that you may need to back away from your usual emotional patterns to find a better modus operandi for relationships.

Quitting life in a "Stop the world, I want to get off" type of statement may indicate that you are tired of trying. This may indicate that either life truly is uncooperative to you or that you need to assess how you address situations in life. It may be that there are self-destructive patterns at work that are undermining your ability to function.

What facet of your waking life is most dissatisfying? Is there a correlation with what you quit in your dream?

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

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

YOGA

Means union, or the yoking together of body and spirit. It is one of the more ancient methods of healing and of raising consciousness. It is a powerful tool to attain illumination, and like India herself (from whence this comes), there are many levels of expression. Yoga is a general term for many different types of practices.

The West is already familiar with Hatha Yoga, the practice of physical postures. However, there are more: Kriya Yoga includes breathing techniques, Tantric Yoga recognizes and aligns with the sexual energy, in the most profound awareness that sexual and spiritual are one, Bhatkti Yoga accentuates the path of devotion, Raja Yoga or the Royal Path, Kundalini Yoga also uses breathing techniques, and is concerned with the sacred energy of the spine, and so on. In each one, there is a profound technique of ancient knowledge, which can help you find what you are seeking on your life path.

(See also: YOGA , Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Aryasatyani (Sanskrit). The four truths or the four dogmas, which are

(1) Dukha, or that misery and pain are the unavoidable concomitants of sentient (esoterically, physical) existence;

(2) Samudaya, the truism that suffering is intensified by human passions;

(3) Nirodha, that the crushing out and extinction of all such feelings are possible for a man "on the path";

(4) Marga, the narrow way, or that path which leads to such a blessed result.

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

Antahkarana (Sanskrit) (from antar interior, within + karana sense organ)

Interior organ or instrument; defined variously as the seat of thought and feeling, the thinking faculty, the heart, mind, soul, and conscience. In Vedanta philosophy, it is looked upon as a fourfold inner instrument or intermediary between spirit and body, with mind being the go-between or bridge.

One could say that there are several antahkaranas in the human septenary constitution: one for every path or bridge between any two monadic centers. Man is a unity in diversity, and the antahkaranas are the links of vibrating consciousness-substance uniting these various centers (cf OG 5).

Blavatsky describes it as "the path that lies between thy Spirit and thy self, the highway of sensations, the rude arousers of Akankara" (the sense of egoity); and that when the two have merged into the One and the personal sacrificed to self impersonal, then the antahkarana vanishes because no longer useful as a functioning bridge between the two. Further, the antankarana is "the lower Manas, the Path of communication or communion between the personality and the higher Manas or human Soul. At death it is destroyed as a Path or medium of communication, and its remains survive in a form as the Kamarupa -- the 'shell' " (VS 56, 88-9).

Antahkarana also has the general sense of an intermediary between something or someone that is low to one that is high. Every messenger of truth and light is an antahkarana between the Masters of Wisdom and mankind. Likewise every great and good man or woman is an antahkarana between humanity and the spiritual essence of his or her own inner god. A person living in the noblest and loftiest part of his being, becomes such a bridge between the spiritual realm he is in touch with and all other entities and things contacted by him which belong to human life.

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

Dream Interpretation Light

The light is a sign that you are raising your consciousness through awareness. Light always symbolizes a guiding force. Dreaming of light could be that you are on the right path, or soon you will find out which path to take. Seeing a candle light means that you need to look inside and be more reflective and reverent. Seeing a light in the distance foretells happiness and good times in the future.

Source: Dream-Land, http://www.dream-land.info

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

Compassion (from Latin com with + pati to bear, suffer)

Sympathetic understanding; the feeling of one's unity with all that is, resulting in an "intimate magnetic sympathy with all that is." (OG)

"Canst thou destroy divine compassion? . . . Compassion is no attribute. It is the LAW of laws -- eternal Harmony, Alaya's SELF; a shoreless universal essence, the light of everlasting Right, and fitness of all things, the law of love eternal.

"The more thou dost become at one with it, thy being melted in its BEING, the more thy Soul unites with that which IS, the more thou wilt become Compassion Absolute.

"Such is the Arya Path, Path of the Buddhas of perfection" (VS 69-70).

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

Sadhana - the method one adopts in order to obtain a specific goal is called  sadhana. Without sadhana one cannot obtain sadhya, the goal of one’s practice. There are many different types of sadhana corresponding to various goals. Those who desire material enjoyment adopt the path of karma as their sadhana. Those who desire liberation adopt the path of jnana as their sadhana. Those who aspire for the eternal loving service of Sri Krsna adopt the path of bhakti as their  sadhana. The sadhana of bhakti refers to spiritual practices such as hearing, chanting, and so on.

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

pada: (Sanskrit)

1)    "A step, pace, stride; footstep, trace."

2)    "The foot (of men and animals); quarterpart, section; stage; path." Names the major sections of the Agamic texts and the corresponding stages of practice and unfoldment on the path to moksha.

According to Saiva Siddhanta, there are four padas, which are successive and cumulative; i.e. in accomplishing each one the soul prepares itself for the next. (In Tamil, Saiva Siddhanta is also known as Nalu-pada, "four-stage," Saivam.)

á      charya pada: "Good conduct stage." Stage one, learning to live righteously, serve selflessly, performing karma yoga. It is also known as dasa marga, "path of the slave," a time when the aspirant relates to God as a servant to a master. Traditional acts of charya include cleaning the temple, lighting lamps and collecting flowers for worship. Worship at this stage is mostly external.

á      kriya pada: "Religious action; worship stage." Stage of bhakti yoga, of cultivating devotion through performing puja and regular daily sadhana. It is also known as the satputra marga, "true son's way," as the soul now relates to God as a son to his father. A central practice of the kriya pada is performing daily puja.

á      yoga pada: "Stage of union." Having matured in the charya and kriya padas, the soul now turns to internalized worship and raja yoga under the guidance of a satguru. It is a time of sadhana and serious striving when realization of the Self is the goal. It is the sakha marga, "way of the friend," for now God is looked upon as an intimate friend.

á      jnana pada: "Stage of wisdom." Once the soul has attained Realization, it is henceforth a wise one, who lives out the life of the body, shedding blessings on mankind. This stage is also called the San Marga, "true path," on which God is our dearest beloved. The Tirumantiram describes the fulfillment of each stage as follows. In charya, the soul forges a kindred tie in "God's world" (salokya). In kriya it attains "nearness" (samipya) to Him. In yoga it attains "likeness" (sarupya) with Him. In jnana the soul enjoys the ultimate bliss of identity (sayujya) with Siva.

See: pada, jnana, nirvani and upadeshi.

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

A Theosophical definition of Chela :

Chela

(Cela) An old Indian term. In archaic times more frequently spelled and pronounced cheta or cheda. The meaning is "servant," a personal disciple attached to the service of a teacher from whom he receives instruction. The idea is closely similar to the Anglo-Saxon term leorning-cneht, meaning "learning servant," a name given in Anglo-Saxon translations of the Christian New Testament to the disciples of Jesus, his "chelas." It is, therefore, a word used in old mystical scriptures for a disciple, a pupil, a learner or hearer. The relationship of teacher and disciple is infinitely more sacred even than that of parent and child; because, while the parents give the body to the incoming soul, the teacher brings forth that soul itself and teaches it to be and therefore to see, teaches it to know and to become what it is in its inmost being  - that is, a divine thing.

The chela life or chela path is a beautiful one, full of joy to its very end, but also it calls forth and needs everything noble and high in the learner or disciple; for the powers or faculties of the higher self must be brought into activity in order to attain and to hold those summits of intellectual and spiritual grandeur where the Masters themselves live. For that, masterhood, is the end of discipleship  - not, however, that this ideal should be set before us merely as an end to attain to as something of benefit for one's own self, because that very thought is a selfish one and therefore a stumbling in the path. It is for the individual's benefit, of course; yet the true idea is that everything and every faculty that is in the soul shall be brought out in the service of all humanity, for this is the royal road, the great royal thoroughfare, of self-conquest. The more mystical meanings attached to this term chela can be given only to those who have irrevocably pledged themselves to the esoteric life.

See also: Chela , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

San Marga: (Sanskrit) "True path."

The straight spiritual path leading to the ultimate goal, Self Realization, without detouring into unnecessary psychic exploration or pointless development of siddhis. A San Margi is a person "on the path," as opposed to a samsari, one engrossed in worldliness. San Marga also names the jnana pada.

See: pada, sadhana marga, samsari.

(See also: San Marga , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Twelve Steps (12-Step path, 12-Step program, 12-Step way): Theistic system that advances recovery from various addictions and compulsive behaviors. It involves meditation and prayer.

The 12-Step path of Alcoholics Anonymous emphasizes cultivating a relationship with one's conception of God, a Higher Power, a Creative Force, or a Oneness in the Universe.

(See also: Twelve Steps , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Teacher : Dream Interpretation Dictionary - Teacher

Teacher - A symbol for your higher self (spiritual or creative). Insights that show you the way on your path.

(See also: Dream Interpretation, Dream Dictionary, Meaning of Dreams, Dream Interpretation Teacher , Dream Dictionary Teacher )

Bodhi-Tao

Bodhi-path: The way or path to the Supreme Enlightenment of Buddhahood.

 (See also: Bodhi-Tao , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

The ten Sepheroth

(emanations)

• Kether. Crown - Top of Head
• Hochma. . wisdom -Right Brain
• Binah. . Understanding - Left of Brain
• Hesed. . March - Right Arm
• Pechad. . Strength- Left Arm
• Tefereth. . Beauty-Heart
• Nezah. . Victory-Right of Pelvis
• Hod. . Glory-Left of Pelvis
• Yesod. . Foundation-Genitals
•  

The sephiroth form the central image of Kabbalistic meditation, the Sephirothic Tree of Life, which describes the path of descent from the divine to the material realm, and the path of ascent to the highest level of spirituality.

Each sephirath is a level of attainment in knowledge, corresponding to energy centers in the body, and is also divided into four interlocking sections or 'Worlds', which constitute the cosmos:

• emanation (Atziluth),
• creation (Briah),
• formation (Yetzirah), and
• action or making (Assiyah).

Through contemplation and meditation, similar to Eastern yogic disciplines, the Kabbalist ascends the tree of life.

The sephirot also comprise the sacred, unknowable, and unspeakable personal name of God: YHVH (Yahweh), the Tetragrammaton. So sacred is the Tetragrammaton that other names, such as Elohim and Jehovah, are substituted in its place in scripture.

A more systematic presentation of the basic doctrine is contained in Moses Cordovero's Pardes rimmonim (Garden of Pomegranates, 1548). Kabbalah was a major influence in the development of Hasidism and still has adherents among Hasidic Jews.

The Kabbalah, with its amulets, incantations, demonology, seals, and letter and number mysticism, had a profound influence on Western magical tradition. The Tetragrammaton especially was held in great awe for its power over all things in the universe, including demons.

(See also: The ten Sepheroth , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Subramuniyaswami: Current and 162nd satguru (1927-) of the Nandinatha Sampradaya's Kailasa Parampara. He was ordained Sivaya Subramuniyaswami by Sage Yogaswami on the full-moon day of May 12, 1949, in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, at 6:21 pm. This was just days after he had attained nirvikalpa samadhi in the caves of Jalani. Yogaswami, then 77, ordained the 22-year old yogi with a tremendous slap on the back, saying, "This will be heard in America," and conferring upon him the mission to bring the fullness of Saivism to the West. Local devotees called the initiation a coronation.

That same year, while still in Sri Lanka, Subramuniyaswami founded the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order and Saiva Siddhanta Church at the Sri Subramuniya Ashrama in Alaveddy. Returning to America, he spent the next six years preparing for his teaching mission through intense sadhana and tapas. He began actively teaching in 1957 when he founded the Himalayan Academy. In 1970, he established his international headquarters and monastery complex, Kauai Aadheenam, on Hawaii's Garden Island of Kauai. Five years later, he designated a portion of the 51-acre holy site as the San Marga Sanctuary, future site of Iraivan Temple, carved of white granite stone in Bangalore, India. To spearhead a growing Hindu renaissance, he founded Hinduism Today in 1979, an international monthly, full-color magazine acclaimed the world over as the the greatest advent in Hindu publishing this century. In August of 1986, the World Religious Parliament in New Delhi honored Subramuniyaswami as one of five Hindu spiritual leaders outside of India who had most dynamically promoted Sanatana Dharma in the past 25 years. He was given the title Jagadacharya, "World Teacher." In 1995 the Parliament bestowed on him the title of Dharmachakra for his remarkable publications. In April of 1988, he was selected to represent Hinduism at the five-day Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders for Human Survival, held in England at Oxford University, and again in Moscow from January 11 to 15, 1990; and in Brazil, June 5­7, 1992. At Chicago's historic centenary Parliament of the World's Religions in September, 1993, he was elected to the Presidents' Assembly, a core group of 25 men and women representing the world's faiths. In late 1996 Gurudeva transformed "Hinduism Today" to a magazine, a quantum leap that extended its global reach and impact in Hindu communities. In 1997 he responded to President Bill Clinton's call for religious opinions on the ethics of human cloning and spearheded the 125th anniversary and diaspora pilgrimage of Sri Lanka's Sage Yogaswami. In Kerala, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad honored him as "The Hindu Voice of the Century." Throughout that same year he was a key member of Vision Kauai, a small group of indigenous and political leaders meeting to fashion the island's future based on ethical values.

Over the years Subramuniyaswami has written hundreds of tracts and books, which have been distributed in the tens of thousands in many languages. Especially in the 1980s, he lectured worldwide and established the worship in numerous Hindu temples. Gurudeva teaches the traditional Saivite Hindu path to enlightenment, a path that leads the soul from simple service to worshipful devotion to God, from the disciplines of meditation and yoga to the direct knowing of Divinity within. His insights into the nature of consciousness provide a key for quieting the external mind and revealing to aspirants their deeper states of being, which are eternally perfect, full of light, love, serenity and wisdom. He urges all seekers to live a life of ahimsa, harmlessness towards nature, people and creatures, an ethic which includes vegetarianism. From his ashrama in Hawaii, Gurudeva continues to follow his satguru's instruction to bring Saivism to the Western world by teaching others to "know thy Self by thyself" and thus "see God Siva everywhere." Through the ordained swamis of the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order, he trains young men in the ancient path of brahmacharya, enlightenment and service to humanity. Over 30 full-time monks, along with extended family groups in eight countries, have joined to fulfill this parampara's mission to further monistic Saiva Siddhanta and Hindu solidarity.

The name Subramuniya is a Tamil spelling of the Sanskrit Shubhramunya (not to be confused with Subramanya). It is formed from shubhra meaning "light; intuition," and muni, "silent sage." Ya means "restraint; religious meditation." Thus, Subramuniya means a self-restrained soul who remains silent or, when he speaks, speaks out from intuition.

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

A Theosophical definition of The Path :

The Path

Universal nature, our great parent, exists inseparably in each one of us, in each entity everywhere, and no separation of the part from the whole, of the individual from the kosmos, is possible in any other than a purely illusory sense. This points out to us with unerring definiteness and also directs us to the sublime path to utter reality. It is the path inwards, ever onwards within, which is endless and which leads into vast inner realms of wisdom and knowledge; for, as all the great world philosophies tell us so truly, if you know yourself you then know the universe, because each one of you is an inseparable part of it and it is all in you, its child.

It is obvious from this last reflection that the sole essential difference between any two grades of the evolving entities which infill and compose the kosmos is a difference of consciousness, of understanding; and this consciousness and understanding come to the evolving entity in only one way  - by unwrapping or unfolding the intrinsic faculties or powers of that entity's own inner being. This is the path, as the mystics of all ages have put it.

The pathway is within yourself. There is no other pathway for you individually than the pathway leading ever inwards towards your own inner god. The pathway of another is the same pathway for that other; but it is not your pathway, because your pathway is your Self, as it is for that other one his Self  - and yet, wonder of wonders, mystery of mysteries, the Self is the same in all. All tread the same pathway, but each man must tread it himself, and no one can tread it for another; and this pathway leads to unutterable splendor, to unutterable expansion of consciousness, to unthinkable bliss, to perfect peace.

See also: The Path , Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul

A spiritual dictionary of the 280 most common words in Hinduism. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.

Popular archives related to Alternative Health

Ayurveda, Chakra, Aura, Kundalini, Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Spiritual Growth, Medical Astrology, Essential Oils, Body Mind and Soul, Yoga, Mudras, Yoga Positions, Feng Shui, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Spiritual Healing, Relaxation, Physical Health, Vibrational Healing, Healing Music, Color Healing, Emotional Health, Health and Healing, Health Foods, Health Man, Fruitarian Diet, Happiness, Inner Child, Flower Essences for Healing, Highly Sensitive Person

Alternative Health Dictionary

Below are the archives for the 4269 dictionary entries related to alternative health. The great advantage with this dictionary is that each word is linking to an archive with

1. explanations of the word from several sources

2. articles related to the word, where the phrase is used in its natural context.

Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary

Alternative Health Dictionary - A, Alternative Health Dictionary - B

Alternative Health Dictionary - C, Alternative Health Dictionary - D

Alternative Health Dictionary - E, Alternative Health Dictionary - F

Alternative Health Dictionary - G, Alternative Health Dictionary - H

Alternative Health Dictionary - I, Alternative Health Dictionary - J

Alternative Health Dictionary - K, Alternative Health Dictionary - L

Alternative Health Dictionary - M, Alternative Health Dictionary - N

Alternative Health Dictionary - O. Alternative Health Dictionary - P

Alternative Health Dictionary - Q, Alternative Health Dictionary - R

Alternative Health Dictionary - S, Alternative Health Dictionary - T

Alternative Health Dictionary - U, Alternative Health Dictionary - V

Alternative Health Dictionary - W, Alternative Health Dictionary - X

Alternative Health Dictionary - Y, Alternative Health Dictionary - Z

Archives related to Alternative Health

Health Care, Womens Health, Mental Health, Health and Beauty, Health and Fitness, Sexual Health, Health Food, Woman Health, Man Health, Alternative Medicine, Health Medicine, Health Problems, Holistic Health, Holistic Health Care, Holistic Health Therapy, Holistic Medicine, Holistic Therapies, Natural Health, Spiritual Health, Mental Health, Spirituality and Health

Map over all archives. See also: Sacred Space, Sacred Places, Power Places, Enlightenment, Spiritual Growth, Meaning of Dreams, Yoga, Mayan Calendar, 2012, Spiritual Awakening, Lucid Dreaming, Chakra and Consciousness.

Read more here: » Site Map: Site Map Archives P-S