Yoga Class Dictionary

Kundalini Awakening

Kundalini awakening or pranic awakening and its cross-tradition similars-the spontaneous spinal rockings known in Judaism as davening and in Sufisim as zikr; the "taken-over" gyrations of gospel "holy ghost" shaking and dancing and charismatic/pentacostal "mani-festations"; the Dionysian "revel"; QuakerismÕs and Shakerism's autonomic quaking and shaking; Tai Chi guided by chi itself; the shamanic trance-dance; BuddhismÕs and Raja-YogaÕs effortless "straight back" (uju-kaya) meditation; the yogically derived ecstatic belly-dance and Flamenco; and even the full-bodied, spontaneous Reichian "reflex"-literally embody the spiritual path.

Read more here: » Kundalini Awakening: Kundalini and Sahaja Yoga (Spontaneous Yoga)

Everyone has psychic abilities; in fact, we all have psychic experiences daily. Being psychic is not about having some "woo-woo" abilities that one can only be born with. Many of us simply do not have the words or labels to identify what we are experiencing as "psychic experiences."

Read more here: » Psychic Abilities: Psychic Abilities Unveiled

Celtic Marriage

This article is not just for those interested in the traditions of Celtic Marriage, it is also a look into the complex body of law that governed the ancient Celts.

For the ancient Celts, marriage was a very different thing than what we conceive of as "marriage" today. For them, marriage or handfasting as some know it was a form of contract that had several purposes. These included the protection of property rights, the care of progeny (children), and the rights of the individuals involved in the relationships themselves.

Read more here: » Ancient Celts: Celtic Marriage

Dharma - from the verbal root dhr meaning ‘to sustain’; lit. that which sustains;

1) the natural, characteristic function of a thing; that which cannot be separated from its nature;

2) religion in general.

3) the socio-religious duties prescribed in sastra for different classes of persons in the varnasrama system; one’s fixed occupation in relation to the highest ideals known to man.

Dharma is aspired for by persons who not only desire enjoyment in this world, but who hanker for something more, like Svarga. For this it is necessary to follow the religious codes outlined in sastra. By following the religious duties prescribed according to varnasrama, one can enjoy happiness in this life and attain Svarga. The performance of dharmika duties is foremost for such people, and therefore their purusartha (goal of life) is known as dharma.

There are many types of dharma. Stri-dharma (a woman’s dharma) refers to the duties, behaviour etc., that sustain the proper nature of a woman. Similarly, dharmas such as purusa-dharma, brahmana-dharma, sudra-dharma; and sannyasa-dharma, are described in dharma-sastras. Ultimately, however, dharma means the natural attraction of the part for the whole, the jiva for Krsna. All of these other dharmas are only related to this temporary body, therefore, in the midst of performing them, one must cultivate atma-dharma, the soul’s eternal occupation as servant of Krsna, so that one can reach the point, either now or tomorrow, of sarva-dharman parityajya, giving up all secondary dharmas and taking full shelter of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

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

Many of us take our dreams for granted, not realizing that the dream state is actually an expanded state of consciousness. Due to the fact that the ego lets go of a lot of the control it normally exercises during the day, we become more open to healing forces that help us to regain balance mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually as we dream.

Read more here: » Meaning of Dreams: Spiritual Guidance from dreams

Intuition and Psychic Energy: Where Do They Come From?

It is easier to train your senses to notice your intuitive impulses if you have an understanding of where those intuitive flashes originate. In every psychic development class I teach, I ask the students where they think psychic or intuitive feelings and impulses begin. Some answer, "from my subconscious mind." Others say, "from my Higher Self." Some believe, "it's dead people talking to you," or "your guides."

Read more here: » Intuition: Intuition and Psychic Energy - Where Do They Come From?

Brahmana:

Brahmana: a brahmin, a member of the highest social class of traditional Indian society; also an early type of ritual text explicating the rituals and mythology of the four Vedas; cf. Aranyaka, Upanishad, Veda

(See also: Brahmana ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

brahmana

A member of the most intelligent class among the four occupational divisions in the varnashrama social system.

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

Brahmin: A priest or scholar; a member of the most privileged of the four social classes of Hinduism.

(See also: Brahmin ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

A dictionary with common spiritual words from Hinduism and Sanskrit. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.

Buddhism: Basic Buddhist Dictionary

A basic dictionary of Buddhism terms. Please note that all words in grey like " Buddhism " are links to an archive with related articles.

The four main spiritual paths for God-realisation are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Karma Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament, Bhakti Yoga for a man of devotional temperament, Raja Yoga for a man of mystic temperament, and Jnana Yoga for a man of rational and philosophical temperament, or a man of enquiry.

Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, Lambika Yoga and Hatha Yoga, are other Yogas. Yoga, really, means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion with the Lord. Whatever may be the starting point, the end reached is the same.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Yoga: The Four Paths of Hindu Yoga

Chinese System of Food Cures: Anthology of dietary prescriptions set forth by Henry C. Lu, Ph.D. The appropriateness of specific foods for particular symptoms, conditions, and diseases is based on three classes of food attributes: flavor, energy, and movement.

The system associates flavors - pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, and salty - with different internal organs. Energies - cold, hot, warm, cool, and neutral - determine the ultimate effect of ingesting specific foods. Movement refers to the tendency of different foods to move in different directions in the body: outward, inward, upward, or downward.

(See also: Chinese System of Food Cures , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti is the slender silken thread of Prema or Love that binds the heart of a devotee with the Lotus Feet of the Lord. Bhakti is intense devotion and supreme attachment to God. It is the spontaneous outpouring of love towards God. It is pure, unselfish, Divine Love or Suddha Prema. Bhakti is sacred, higher emotion with sublime sentiment that unites the devotee with the Lord. It has to be experienced by the Bhaktas.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti Yoga Sadhana

A dictionary Of Commonly Used Sanskrit terms. From Tada to Yukta.

Please note that all words in grey, like "yoga", "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

To attain jitendriyata is to achieve full control over ones senses. This leads to what is called God-realisation. In this controlled state all pain and suffering cease permanently.

There are different paths to achieve this height: Gyan yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, hatha yoga, swara yoga, nada yoga, astanga yoga; all of these lead to the same goal of achieving communion with God. The shortest and most suitable path ordained in this Kali Yuga is bhakti yoga.

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Lasting Happiness Through Bhakti Yoga

Hinduism Lexicon on B

From backbiting to buddhi chitta.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on B

Riramsa - means the desire to taste Krsna for one’s own enjoyment, not for Krsna’s pleasure. If that riramsa is to please Krsna, then it comes in the category of kama and prema. Riramsa should be present in kamanuga, whether it is tat-tad-bhava-icchamayi or sambhogaicchamayi; riramsa is present in both. Riramsa is present in tad-tadbhava-icchamayi, but it is tasted when the gopis and Krsna meet together. And in sambhoga-icchamayi, the gopis are meeting with Krsna in order to please Him. Riramsa is also present in Kubja, but only to satisfy herself. Riramsa is not for one’s personal enjoyment in sambhoga-icchamayi and tat-tad-bhava-icchamayi.

If one has this riramsa toward Krsna and is practicing strictly according to vaidhi-bhakti then he will attain to the class of Krsna’s queens in Dvaraka. In vaidhi-bhakti one worships Laksmi-Narayana. Sadhakas who have riramsa towards Krsna will attain Krsna, but their kama will be of the nature of Dvaraka, so they will follow the mahisis (queens). Vaidhi means to be married by sastravidhi. In the vaidhi-bhava, one desires to have Krsna as one’s husband. One may desire the Krsna of Vraja, but there is no marriage in Vraja. Therefore, one cannot obtain Vraja bhava; instead, one will attain Dvaraka.

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

Bhakti Yoga-Classes Of Worship

At the lowest rung of the ladder of Bhakti Yoga comes the worship of elements and departed spirits. Next comes the worship of Rishis, Devas and Pitris. The third class includes those followers who worship Avataras like Sri Rama, Krishna, Narasimha. Next comes the class of Bhaktas who do Nirguna Upasana on Brahman devoid of attributes. This is the highest form of worship known as Ahamgraha Upasana or Jnana Yoga Sadhana.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Classes Of Worship in Bhakti Yoga

PARAMAHAMSA: The highest class of Sannyasins.

(See also: PARAMAHAMSA ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)