Upaya Dictionary

upaya: (Sanskrit) "Means."

A term used in Kashmir Saivism to describe the means to move from individual into universal consciousness. anavopaya: "Individual, or limited means." Also called kriyopaya, the way of ritual worship, hatha yoga, concentration and yogic breathing. shaktopaya: "Way of power." Active inquiry through mental effort, emphasizing control of awareness, japa and meditation. shambhavopaya: "Way of Shambhu (Siva)." Also called ic�hopaya, "Way of will." Seeing Siva everywhere; surrender in God. anupaya: "Nomeans." Not really a means, but the goal of the first three upayas - the transcendent condition of Siva Consciousness. The spontaneous realization of the Self without effort. Also called pratyabhijna upaya, "way of recognition."

See: Kashmir Saivism.

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

Upaya: "Means-to-ends ability," or "useful means," one of the ten perfections (paramitas) of Mahayana Buddhism; upaya typically involves the use of differing (and sometimes inferior) approaches to enlightenment.

 (See also: Upaya , Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

Upaya:

Upaya ("means"): in Buddhist yoga, the practice of compassion (karuna); cf. prajna

(See also: Upaya ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Kashmir Saivism: (Sanskrit) In this mildly theistic and intensely monistic school founded by Vasugupta around 850, Siva is immanent and transcendent. Purification and yoga are strongly emphasized.

Kashmir Saivism provides an extremely rich and detailed understanding of the human psyche, and a clear and distinct path of kundalini-siddha yoga to the goal of Self Realization. The Kashmir Saivite is not so much concerned with worshiping a personal God as he is with attaining the transcendental state of Siva consciousness. Sadhana leads to the assimilation of the object (world) in the subject (I) until the Self (Siva) stands revealed as one with the universe. The goal- liberation- is sustained recognition (pratyabhijna) of one's true Self as nothing but Siva.

There are three upaya, or stages of attainment of God consciousness: anavopaya (yoga), shaktopaya (spiritual discrimination), shambhavopaya (attainment through the guru's instruction) and anupaya, or "no means" (spontaneous realization without effort). Kashmir Saivite literature is in three broad divisions: Agama Shastras, Spanda Shastras and Pratyabhijna Shastras. Today various organizations promulgate the esoteric teachings. While the number of Kashmir Saivite formal followers is uncertain, the school remains an important influence in India.

See: Saivism, upaya.

(See also: Kashmir Saivism , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

anupaya: (Sanskrit) "Without means." A term used in Kashmir Saivism to mean spontaneous Self Realization without effort. See: upaya.

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

anavopaya: (Sanskrit) "Minute or individual means." See: upaya.

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

Shambhavopaya: (Sanskrit) "Way of Shambhu (Siva)."

See: upaya.

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

Lotus Sutra (saddharma-pundarika): An early Mahayana Buddhist text (composed between 100 BCE and 200 CE) which emphasizes the means-to-ends ability (upaya).

 (See also: Lotus Sutra , Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

Paramita: Literally "perfections"; Mahayana Buddhism notes 10 perfections of the ideal bodhisattva: giving (dana), morality (sila), patience (ksanti), vigor (virya), contemplation (dhyana), wisdom (prajna), means-to-ends ability (upaya), resolution (pranidhana), strength (bala), and knowledge (jnana).

 (See also: Paramita , Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

shaktopaya: (Sanskrit) "Way of power."

See: upaya.

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

Prajna:

Prajna ("wisdom"): the opposite of spiritual ignorance (ajnana, avidya); one of two means of liberation in Buddhist yoga, the other being skillful means (upaya), i.e., compassion (karuna)

(See also: Prajna ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Artha-pancaka - Sri Ramanuja’s views on the following five subjects

1) sva-svarupa (the constitutional nature of the individual self) ,

2) para-svarupa (the constitutional nature of the individual self in relation to other living beings) ,

3) upaya-svarupa (the means of achieving the highest goal of life - bhakti) ,

4) purusartha-svarupa (the highest goal of life) and

5) virodhi-svarupa (the hinderances to spiritual life).

(See also: Artha-pancaka , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

upaya: (Sanskrit) "Means."

A term used in Kashmir Saivism to describe the means to move from individual into universal consciousness.

�      anavopaya: "Individual, or limited means." Also called kriyopaya, the way of ritual worship, hatha yoga, concentration and yogic breathing.

�      shaktopaya: "Way of power." Active inquiry through mental effort, emphasizing control of awareness, japa and meditation.

�      shambhavopaya: "Way of Shambhu (Siva)." Also called ic�hopaya, "Way of will." Seeing Siva everywhere; surrender in God.

�      anupaya: "Nomeans." Not really a means, but the goal of the first three upayas - the transcendent condition of Siva Consciousness. The spontaneous realization of the Self without effort. Also called pratyabhijna upaya, "way of recognition."

See: Kashmir Saivism.

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

upaya: (Sanskrit) "Means."

A term used in Kashmir Saivism to describe the means to move from individual into universal consciousness.  anavopaya: "Individual, or limited means." Also called kriyopaya, the way of ritual worship, hatha yoga, concentration and yogic breathing.  shaktopaya: "Way of power." Active inquiry through mental effort, emphasizing control of awareness, japa and meditation.  shambhavopaya: "Way of Shambhu (Siva)." Also called ic�hopaya, "Way of will." Seeing Siva everywhere; surrender in God.  anupaya: "Nomeans." Not really a means, but the goal of the first three upayas - the transcendent condition of Siva Consciousness. The spontaneous realization of the Self without effort. Also called pratyabhijna upaya, "way of recognition."

See: Kashmir Saivism.

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

Expedient means (Skillful means, Skill-in-means, Upaya)

Refers to strategies, methods, devices, targetted to the capacities, circumstances, likes and dislikes of each sentient being, so as to rescue him and lead him to Enlightenment. "Thus, all particular formulations of the Teaching are just provisional expedients to communicate the Truth (Dharma) in specific contexts." (J.C. Cleary.)

"The Buddha's words were medicines for a given sickness at a given time," always infinitely adaptable to the conditions of the audience.

 (See also: Expedient means (Skillful means, Skill-in-means, Upaya) , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

The term Hinduism is most elastic. It includes a number of sects and cults, allied, but different in many important points. Hinduism has, within its fold, various schools of Vedanta; Vaishnavism, Saivism, Saktism, etc. It has various cults and creeds. It is more a League of Religions than a single religion with a definite creed.

A map over the different sects and cults in Hinduism.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Sects: Hinduism - A Fellowship Of Faiths And A Federation Of Philosophies - about Hindu Sects and Cults