Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Buddhist Yoga
Within the various schools of Tibetan Buddhism yoga likewise holds a central place, though not in the form presented by Patanjali or the ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Common Themes
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Common to most forms of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - The Word Yoga
The word "yoga" - from the Sanskrit root yuj ("to yoke") - is generally translated as "union" or "integration." This may be understood as...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia - Yoga
Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a me...   » Read the article

Article - Laya Yoga: The Essence Of All Religion - Laya Yoga
 Laya Yoga - The Essence Of All Religion Yoga is the essence of every religion and is that what all religions have in common. If a ...   » Read the article

Article - Yoga: Serve, Love, Meditate, Realize - The Inner Teachings Of Yoga
 The word "yoga" often brings to mind a classroom of students attired in exercise clothing attempting to stretch their bod...   » Read the article

Article - Buddhist Philosophy
Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC). Buddhist philos...   » Read the article

Article - Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga - Lesson I (of Xi )
Karma Yoga Lesson I What the West thinks of Eastern Yogi methods; History of Karma Yoga Buddhist and Jain views thereof; Their Law of Ka...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samadhi: Encyclopedia - Samadhi
Samadhi is a term used in Hindu and Buddhist yogic meditation. Samadhi is also the Hindi word for a cenotaph, a structure commemorating t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tantra: Encyclopedia - Tantra
Tantra (Sanskrit: loom), tantric yoga or tantrism is any of several esoteric traditions rooted in the religions of India. It exists in Hi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Philosophy: Encyclopedia - Hindu Philosophy
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Hindu philosophy (one o...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Yoga: Encyclopedia - History Of Yoga
The history of Yoga spans from four to eight thousand years ago to the current day. From hints of it's practice in pre-vedic times, the f...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Asana: Encyclopedia - Asana
Asana is Sanskrit for "seat". It is no accident that this word be chosen to describe the "posture" of Yoga. The idea of the "seat" in thi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Philosophy: Encyclopedia - Buddhist Philosophy
Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC). Buddhist philos...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Indian Philosophy: Encyclopedia - Indian Philosophy
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic The term Indian philoso...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samsara: Encyclopedia - Samsara
In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and other related religions, samsara or saṃsāra refers to the concept of reincarnation or rebirth in In...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Mimamsa: Encyclopedia - Mimamsa
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic The main objective of t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia - Meditation
Meditation like yoga originated in Vedic Hinduism many centuries ago, it was much later adopted into a wide variety of practices of relig...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Enlightenment: Encyclopedia - Enlightenment
Enlightenment may refer to: Enlightenment (concept), a concept in mysticism, philosophy and psychology For the Hindu religious concept ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Causal Realm: Encyclopedia - Causal Realm
The causal realm or causal body is, according to mystical and religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Surat Shabd Yoga, Theos...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samkhya: Encyclopedia - Samkhya
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Samkhya, also Sankhya, ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yogaswami: Encyclopedia - Yogaswami
Jnanaguru Yogaswami of Jaffna was Sri Lanka's most renowned contemporary spiritual master (1872-­1964), a Śivajnani and a natha siddhar...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vaisheshika: Encyclopedia - Vaisheshika
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Vaisheshika, also Vaise...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vicara: Encyclopedia - Vicara
Vicara means the way mind maintains attention toward any object. It first referred to hinduist yoga, later to buddhist meditation. Vica...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yogin: Encyclopedia - Yogin
In contemporary English yogin is an alternative rendering for the word yogi, a human being who is committed to the practise of yoga, usua...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Dvaita: Encyclopedia - Dvaita
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Dvaita, a school of Ved...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Nyaya: Encyclopedia - Nyaya
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Nyaya (pronounced as "n...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Esotericism: Encyclopedia - Esotericism
Esotericism refers to knowledge suitable only for the advanced, privileged, or initiated, as opposed to exoteric knowledge, which is publ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Amrita: Encyclopedia - Amrita
In Hindu mythology and Buddhist mythology, Amrita is the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality. The word itself literally mean...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vitakka: Encyclopedia - Vitakka
Vitakka (pāli) , both in hinduist yoga and buddhist meditation , means the action of taking care of any object : God, one's body, t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kum Nye: Encyclopedia - Kum Nye
Kum Nye is a Tibetan Buddhist movement practice, somewhat in the tradition of Yoga Tai Chi. It is very hardworking and based on very slow...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Vishishtadvaita: Encyclopedia - Vishishtadvaita
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic Vishisthadvaita is a qu...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samadhi: Encyclopedia Ii - Samadhi - The Hindu Tradition
Samadhi (IPA: [sɑ ma dʰi] is Sanskrit term for the practice which produces complete meditation (among "normal" one). According to Vyasa...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samsara: Encyclopedia Ii - Samsara - Cycle Of Rebirth
In most Indian philosophical traditions, including the orthodox Hindu and heterodox Buddhist and Jain systems, an ongoing cycle of birth,...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Tantra - Tantric Practices
Because of the wide range of groups covered by the term "tantra", it is hard to describe tantric practices definitively. The basic practi...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yantra Yoga: Health And Healing Dictionary On Yantra Yoga
Yantra Yoga (Tibetan Yantra Yoga, Yantra Tibetan Yoga): Tibetan Buddhist variation of hatha yoga. The benefits of practicing Yantra Yo...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Om Yoga: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iii On Om Yoga
Om Yoga: A practice that combines Buddhist meditation with an emphasis on alignment and fluidity.   (See also: Om Yoga ,Yoga, ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samadhi: Encyclopedia Ii - Samadhi - The Buddhist Tradition
Samadhi, or concentration of the mind, is the second of the three parts of the Buddha's teaching: sila or conduct, samadhi or samatha (co...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yantra Yoga: Alternative Health Dictionary On Yantra Yoga
Yantra Yoga (Tibetan Yantra Yoga, Yantra Tibetan Yoga): Tibetan Buddhist variation of hatha yoga. The benefits of practicing Yantra Yo...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upaya: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iv On Upaya
Upaya:   Upaya ("means"): in Buddhist yoga, the practice of compassion (karuna); cf. prajna   (See also: Upa...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Karuna: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iv On Karuna
Karuna:   Karuna ("compassion"): universal sympathy; in Buddhist yoga the complement of wisdom (prajna)   (Se...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bodhisattva: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iv On Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva:   Bodhisattva ("enlightenment being"): in Mahayana Buddhist yoga, the individual who, motivated by compa...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Buddhist Philosophy: Encyclopedia Ii - Buddhist Philosophy - Introduction
Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jain Buddhist Logic From its inception, Bud...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Creation Within Various Belief Systems
Some creation beliefs are part of a named system of beliefs and are labeled as such below. Some creation beliefs seem to be better charac...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Creation Within Various Belief Systems
Some creation beliefs are part of a named system of beliefs and are labeled as such below. Some creation beliefs seem to be better charac...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Prajna: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iv On Prajna
Prajna:   Prajna ("wisdom"): the opposite of spiritual ignorance (ajnana, avidya); one of two means of liberation in ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samsara: Encyclopedia Ii - Samsara - Saṃsāra In Hinduism
In some types of Hinduism, Saṃsāra is seen as ignorance of the True Self, Brahman, and thus the soul is led to believe in the reality ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Cakra Or Chakra: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iv On Cakra Or Chakra
Cakra or Chakra:   Cakra or Chakra ("wheel"): literally, the wheel of a wagon; metaphorically, one of the psycho-ener...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samsara: Encyclopedia Ii - Samsara - Saṃsāra In Jainism
In Jainism, karma, anuva (ego) and the veil of maya are central. In Jainism, liberation from samsara is called moksha or mukti. ... See...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samsara: Encyclopedia Ii - Samsara - Samsara In Surat Shabda Yoga
In Surat Shabda Yoga, the purpose is to realize the individual's True Self (Self-Realization), True Essence (Spirit-Realization) and True...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Samsara: Encyclopedia Ii - Samsara - Saṃsāra In Buddhism
Samsara - Saṃsāra in Nikaya Buddhism. Whereas in Hinduism some being (ātman, jiva, etc.) is regarded as being subject to Saṃsāra...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Tantra - History Of Tantra
Legend ascribes the origin of Tantra to Dattatreya, a semi-mythical Hindu yogi and the assumed author of the Jivanmukta Gita ("Song of th...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Tantra - New Age Tantra Or Neo Tantra
New Age appropriations of tantra usually disregard requirements involving guruparampara and ritual conduct, though they otherwise adopt m...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Tantra - Tibetan Tantra
In Tibetan Buddhism tantra (also known as Vajrayana) plays a central role, and is universally acknowledged as constituting the highest te...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Tantra - Tantra In The Modern World
Tantra is used in the West, as a general term which relates to sexual practice as a spiritual evolutionary scheme. There are in fact many...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tantra: Encyclopedia Ii - Tantra - Hindu Tantra
Tantra exists in Vaisnava, Shaiva, and Shakta forms, among others. Extolled as a short-cut to self-realization and spiritual enlightenmen...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Samkhya: Spiritual Yoga Dictionary Iv On Samkhya
Samkhya:   Samkhya ("Number"): one of the main traditions of Hinduism, which is concerned with the classification of ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia Ii - Meditation - Frequency And Duration
These vary so much that it is difficult to venture any general comments. On one extreme there exist monks and nuns whose whole lives are ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia Ii - Meditation - Purposes And Effects Of Meditation
The purposes for which people meditate vary almost as widely as practices. Meditation may serve simply as a means of relaxation from a bu...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia Ii - Meditation - Types Of Meditation
According to Bogart (1991) and Perez-De-Albeniz & Holmes (2000) the different techniques of meditation can be classified according to...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia Ii - Meditation - Overview
In the late nineteenth century, Theosophists adopted "meditation" to refer to various spiritual practices drawn from Hinduism, Buddhism, ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia Ii - Meditation - Physical Postures
Different spiritual traditions, and different teachers within those traditions, prescribe or suggest different physical postures for medi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia Ii - Meditation - Meditation In Context
While meditation focuses on mental or psycho-spiritual activity, this is of course only one of several spheres of human existence; and we...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Meditation: Encyclopedia Ii - Meditation - Health Applications And Clinical Studies Of Meditation
In the recent years there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological effects of meditation (Venk...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Namaste: Encyclopedia Ii - Namaste - Origins
"Namaste" is sometimes used in the context of practicing Yoga as a greeting or goodbye, generally taken as an expression of good will. Na...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Tantra: New Age Spiritual Dictionary On Tantra
tantra Meditative sexual union, female active, male passive, in Hindu tantra; male active, female passive, in Buddhist tantra. Tantra...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Hindu Philosophy: Encyclopedia Ii - Hindu Philosophy - Hindu Philosophy: The Six Main Schools Of Thought
The philosophic and theological diversity of Hinduism is limitless, being nurtured by the fundamentally eclectic and liberal universalism...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Esotericism: Encyclopedia Ii - Esotericism - Esotericism In Popular Culture
Paulo Coelho's novel The Alchemist involves a spiritual interpretation of alchemy. Umberto Eco has written fiction with esoteric themes, ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Esotericism: Encyclopedia Ii - Esotericism - Scope
Many religious movements in various parts of the world claim to possess a higher, truer, or better interpretation of the wider religion o...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sighra, Sighraga: Spiritual Theosophical Dictionary On Sighra, Sighraga
Sighra or Sighraga (Sanskrit). The father of Moru, "who is still living through the power of Yoga, and will manifest himself in t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Limits To The Ontology Of Creation
While many scenarios are proposed by religion and science to identify 'first cause' and the origin of creation (ontology), there are some...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Creation Myths
Origins beliefs commonly refer to creation myths — mytho-religious stories which explain the beginnings of the universe as a deliberate...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Science-based Beliefs
Science, strictly speaking, deals only with observable phenomena. Anything that cannot be observed (either directly or indirectly) is, by...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Creation Ex Nihilo
Creation ex nihilo (Latin: out of nothing) is at odds with our everyday experiences, in that nothing spontaneously comes into (or vanishe...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Religious Creation Beliefs
Several religions have creation stories, some of which account for the existence and present form of the Universe by the act of creation ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Origin Belief: Encyclopedia Ii - Origin Belief - Limits To The Ontology Of Creation
While many scenarios are proposed by religion and science to identify 'first cause' and the origin of creation (ontology), there are some...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Esotericism: Encyclopedia Ii - Esotericism - Etymology
Esoteric is an adjective originating in Hellenic Greece under the domain of the Roman Empire; it comes from the Greek esôterikos, from e...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Esotericism: Encyclopedia Ii - Esotericism - Nuances
Esotericism largely overlaps with occultism which simply means "hidden knowledge." However, in the 20th century many esotericists avoid t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Esotericism: Encyclopedia Ii - Esotericism - Esoteric Themes
What, in a nutshell, does "esotericism" teach? No possible answer could do justice to the myriad groups which are subsumed under this nam...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Esotericism: Encyclopedia Ii - Esotericism - Historical Sketch
Esotericism is not a single tradition but a vast array of often unrelated figures and movements. Nevertheless, the following may be helpf...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Brahmacharya: Encyclopedia Ii - Brahmacharya - Modern Brahmacharis
Most Hindu, Buddhist and Jain monks are brahmacharis, having taken the vow for life, commiting themselves to work of religious service an...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sighra, Sighraga: Spiritual - Theosophy Dictionary On Sighra, Sighraga
Sighra or Sighraga (Sanskrit) Swiftly moving; the father of Maru, "'who is still living through the power of Yoga, and will manif...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Siddha Siddhanta: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Siddha Siddhanta
Siddha Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) Siddha Siddhanta, also called Gorakhnatha Saivism, is generally considered to have come in the lineage of...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Theories Put Forward To Explain The Phenomenon
Reincarnation - A theory of reincarnation. A belief in reincarnation does not discount the existence of heaven, hell, or a final judgme...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tara Buddhism: Encyclopedia Ii - Tara Buddhism - Tara As A Tantric Deity
Tara as a focus for tantric deity yoga can be traced back to the time period of Padmasambhava. There is a Red Tara practice which was giv...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yogaswami: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Yogaswami
Yogaswami: (Tamil) "Master of yoga."   Sri Lanka's most renowned contemporary spiritual master (18721964), Sivajnani a...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Common Variations In The Belief
In recalling past lives, there are a number of variations that need to be examined, which are important to its adherants. In the Urantia ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research
The most detailed collections of personal reports in favor of reincarnation have been published by Dr. Ian Stevenson in works such as Rei...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Objections To Reincarnation
Objections to metempsychosis include: that personal identity depends on memory, and we do not remember our previous incarnations. An answ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Indriya, Deha Sanyama: Spiritual Theosophical Dictionary On Indriya, Deha Sanyama
Indriya or Deha Sanyama (Sanskrit). The control of the senses in Yoga practice. These are the ten external agents; the five senses whi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Shoko Asahara: Encyclopedia Ii - Shoko Asahara - Aum Shinrikyo: The Doctrine
The doctrine of Aum Shinrikyo is based on original Buddhist sutras (scriptures), known as the Pali Canon. Besides the Pali Canon, Aum Shi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Overview
Belief in reincarnation is an ancient phenomenon; in various guises humans have believed in a future life since the Ancient Egyptians, pe...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Tapasya: Encyclopedia Ii - Tapasya - Buddha And Mahavira
The meditation undertaken by Siddhartha Gautama and Mahavira, the founders of Buddhism and Jainism respectively, earns them the exalted s...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Hindu Yoga
Yoga - Bhagavad Gita. Main article: Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita famously distinguishes several types of "yoga", corresponding to ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Yoga And Tantra
Yoga is often mentioned in company with Tantra. While the two have deep similarities, most traditions distinguish them from one another. ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Yoga And Religion
In the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain traditions, the spiritual goals of yoga are seen as inseparable from the religions of which yoga f...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Diversity Of Yoga
Over the long history of yoga, different schools have emerged, and there are numerous examples of subdivisions and synthesis. It is commo...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Origins
Images of a meditating yogi from the Indus Valley Civilization are thought to be 6 to 7 thousand years old. The earliest written accounts...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Notable Yogis
History is replete with Yogis that have inspired people for many generations. Yogini Meera from the Bhakti tradition, Shankaracharya from...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yoga: Encyclopedia Ii - Yoga - Yoga Practice And Intention
Modern yoga practice often includes traditional elements inherited from Hinduism, such as moral and ethical principles, postures designed...   » Read the article