Glossary
Adhar
Support.
Adhi-Yoga The Supreme Yoga (adhi, above, supreme + yoga).
Ahimsa Harmlessness, abstaining from hurting others in thought, word or deed, (negative participle a, un + himsa, killing, hurting).
Akash The void, ether as an element of space, sky, (a, to + kasha, appearance).
Ananda Bliss, happiness, (a, to + nand, to rejoice).
Anirvachaniya Indescribable, (negative part. a, un + vachaniya, from vach, word, expression).
Antahkarana The psyche, mind, (antar, internal + karana, sense organ). Mind in a collective sense, including intelligence (buddhi), ego (ahamkara) and mind (manas).
Anubhava Direct perception, experience, cognition, (anu, after + bhav, to happen). The experience that is attained at the end of an action, perception, feeling or thought is anubhava. In all experiences there is no experiences other than ‘I’. Thus all anubhava leads to the I-principle — ‘I am’. Atma,
Atman The Supreme Self, the individual soul, (atm, belonging to oneself). Atman is beyond all the three gunas of Prakriti. It is not the atman that acts but only Prakriti.
Atma-Bhakti Worship of the Supreme, (atman + bhakti, from bhaj, to worship, adore).
Atma-Prakash The light of the Self. Atmaram Rejoicing the Self, (atrna, the self + ram, raman, to enjoy). 542 I AM THAT Avatara Incarnation, (ava, off, down, avataran, descent).
Avyakta The unmanifested, (neg. part. a, un + vyakta, manifest). Opposite — ‘vyakta’. Bhajan Devotional practice, prayer (bhaj, to adore).
Bhakti Devotion, adoration, (bhaj, to adore). Hence ‘Bhakta’, a devotee. Bhoga, Bhogi Experience of worldly joys and sorrows, (bhuj, to enjoy, to endure). ‘Bhogi’, one involved in worldly joys and sorrows. ‘Bhoga Marga’, the path of worldly pursuits joys and sorrows. Brahma One of the gods of the Hindu trinity: Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. (brh, to increase. Brahma creates, increases). Brahmacharya Continence, religious studentship with celibacy. Brahmacharya in its wider sense stands not only for abstinence from sexual indulgence, but freedom from craving for all sensual enjoyments. Brahman The Absolute, the Ultimate Reality, whose characteristics are — absolute existence (sat), absolute consciousness (chit) and absolute bliss (ananda). According to Sankaracharya Brahman, the Absolute, has five different phases: Hiranyagarbha, the Cosmic Self, Ishvara, the personal god in the form of an Avatar, Jiva, the individual soul, Prakriti, the perishable Nature and Shakti, the creative power. Brahmasmi I am the Supreme, (Brahman, the Supreme + asmi, I am, as, to be) ‘I am’ (asmi) represents the pure awareness of self-existence and is therefore the expression of pure consciousness or the Purusha. When this pure consciousness gets involved in matter the pure ‘I am’ changes into ‘I am that’, ‘I am so-and so’. Buddhi Intelligence, reflection of the real in the mind, (bodhati, to discern, to know). Buddhi is that faculty which enables the mind to perceive objects in the phenomenal world. As long as buddhi is functioning through the medium of the mind it is not possible to know pure consciousness. (budh, to wake up, observe). Chetana Consciousness, inner awakening (chit, to perceive). Chidakash Brahman in its aspect of limitless knowledge, the expanse of awareness, chit, to perceive + akash, expanse, sky). Variously used for consciousness, individual as well as universal. Chidananda Consciousness-Bliss, the joy of spirit, (chit, to perceive + ananda, joy). Chidaram Joy of consciousness, (chit, to perceive ram, to enjoy). Chit Universal Consciousness, (chit, to perceive). Chitta Individual consciousness, (chit, to perceive). Chitta is of the nature of consciousness, which is immaterial but is affected by matter. It may be described as a product of both, consciousness and matter, or Purusha and Prakriti. Chitta comprises all the levels of mind, the lowest of which is manas. Deha Physical body. Deha-Buddhi The intellect that makes one identify the Self with the physical body. Digambara Naked, one clothed in the directions of the sky, (dish, dik, quarter or direction of the sky + ambar clothes). Gnana Knowledge, specially the higher knowledge derived from meditation. Mostly spelt as ‘jnana’ (jna, to know), Gnani (Jnani), the knower. Gnana is the realization of the unity of all things in Brahman. Gunas Attributes, qualities. In Samkhya philosophy the three attributes of the Cosmic Substance (Prakriti) are: Illuminating (sattva), activating (rajas) and restraining (tamas). Guru Spiritual teacher, preceptor. Jagrat-Sushupti Awakened-sleep, (jagri, to be awake, watchful, attentive + sushupti, sleep). Jiva, Jivatman The individual soul, (jiv, to live). According to Vedanta jiva comes into being as a result of the false identification of the atman with body, senses and mind. Atman + doership is jiva. Kalpana Imagination, fancy. Karma Action, specially responsible action, good or evil, (karma, to do, perform); karma is of three kinds: sanchita (accumulated from previous APPENDIX III 543 544 I AM THAT births), prarabdha (portion of the past karma to be worked out in the present life) and agami (the current karma the result of which will fructify in future). Karana Cause, the primary cause invariably antecedent to a result, the unmanifested potential cause that in due course, takes shape as the visible effect, the material cause of the universe. Karana is cosmic energy in potential form. Lila Play, sport, the cosmos looked upon as the divine play. Lila does not represent the Absolute truth of the Brahman. It is only the partial truth, which is not different from untruth. For example, ice may be described by some as water and as vapour by others. Both statements are only partially true. Mahadakash The great expanse of existence, the universe of matter and energy, (mahat, great + akash, sky). Maha-Karta The great doer, (maha, great + karta, doer, kar, to do). Mind is the great doer, for it is ever busy, ever engaged in something or the other. Maha-Mantra The great incantation. (see Mantra). Maha-Maya The Great Illusion, Unreality, (maha, great + maya, illusion). Maya is the illusive power that veils the Reality. The nature of Maya is to delude. Maya is the totality of all mental projections. Maha-Mrityu The final dissolution, the great death off all creation. Maha-sattva The Supreme Harmony, (maha great + sattva, being, harmonious existence). Maha-Tattva The Great Reality, Supreme Consciousness, (maha, great + tattva, reality, true essence). Maha-Vakya The sublime pronouncement, (vach, word, sound, expression, vakya, speech, sentence, what is spoken, Maha-vakya — maha, great, sublime + vakya, sentence, pronouncement). Four Upanishadic declarations, expressing the highest Vedantic truths, are known as Mahavakyas. They are: Prajnanam Brahman (consciousness is Brahman), Aham Brahmasmi (I Am Brahman), Tat Tvam asi (That Thou Art) and Ayam Atma Brahma (the Self is Brahman). Mana, Manas The mind, understanding. (man, to think). Manas is the thinking faculty, the faculty of discrimination. In Nyaya philosophy manas is regarded as a 545 substance distinct from Atman, soul. Manana Meditation, reflection, (man, to think). Mantra Incantation, hymn, an instrument of thought, ideal sounds visualized as letters and vocalized as syllables (man, to think + agential suffix tra). Mantra is a group of words whose constant repetition produces specific results. Marga Path. Moksha Emancipation, liberation from worldly existence, (muc, to loosen, to free). ‘Mukta’, a liberated person. Moksha-Sankalpa Determination to be free from the false, moksha, emancipation + sankalpa, determination). Mumukshattva Right desire, which consists of earnestness to know the Ultimate Principle and thereby to attain liberation. In Vedanta one of the four qualifications of the seeker of the Truth, viz. right discrimination (viveka), right dispassion (vairagya), right conduct (sat-sampat) and right desire (mumukshatva). Mumukshattva is intense longing for liberation. Neti-Neti Not this; not this, the analytic process of progressively negating all names and forms. (nama-rupa) of which the world is made, in order to arrive at the eternal, Ultimate Truth. Nirguna The Unconditioned, without attributes, (nir, without + guna, attribute). Nirvana Final dissolution, extinction of the flame of life (nis, out + vana, blown — root va, to blow). Hence emancipation from matter and re-union with the Supreme Spirit (Brahman). ‘Nirvani’, the seeker of Nirvana. Nirvikalpa Free of ideation, without modifications of the mind, (nir, without + vikalpa, doubts; ideation, fancy). Nisarga Natural, innate, inborn. Nivritti Liberation from worldly existence, renunciation, (nir, without + vritti, from vart, to turn, revolve, the mode of life). Parabrahman The Supreme Reality, (para, beyond + Brahman, Ultimate Reality). APPENDIX III 546 I AM THAT Paramakash The great expanse, the timeless and spaceless Reality (param, highest, most distant, greatest + akash, the void). Hence the Absolute Being. Paramartha The sublime truth (para, beyond + artha, purpose, true knowledge). Pragna Un-selfconscious knowledge, cognitive consciousness, pure awareness. Also written as ‘prajna’ (prajin, wise, pra, high + jna, to know). Prajna stands for higher consciousness. Prakriti The Cosmic Substance. the original uncaused cause of phenomenal existence, which is formless, limitless, immobile, eternal and all-pervasive, (pra, before, first + kar, to make). It is also called ‘Avyakta’. Pralaya Complete dissolution, when the cosmos merges into the Unmanifested Absolute of the Supreme Reality, (pra, before + laya, extinction). Prana The breath of life, vital principle, (pra, before + ana, breath). Prarabdha Destiny, what is begun as an undertaking, (pra, prak, before + abdham, addhi, reservoir). Hence the store of sanchita karma (karma of past lives) that has become the destiny in the present life. Pravritti Continued activity, predilection towards worldly life, (pra, before + vritti, mode of life). Premakash Brahman in its aspect of limitless love, (prem, love + akash, expanse, sky). It is another name for Chidakash, but it lays stress on the love aspect and not on the knowledge aspect. Love is the expression of the Self through the heart. Premakash is the heart + I am — I am the heart. Puja Worship, adoration (pu, puyati, puta to purify). Purna Full, complete, absolute, infinite — used for Brahman. Purusha The Cosmic Spirit, the eternal and efficient cause of the universe that gives appearance of consciousness to all manifestations of matter (prakriti). The bondage of Purusha in matter is due to ‘I’ — consciousness born of Chitta-vrittis, which give rise to innumerable desires. Rajas Motivity, activity, energy, (ra(n)j, to be coloured, affected, moved). One of the three constituents of the Cosmic Substance (sattva, rajas and tamas) without which the other two could not be manifest. In Yoga-egoism. 547 Sad-Chit The transcendental condition of the universal potentiality, (sat, being + chit, consciousness). Sadanubhava Experience of the Everlasting Reality, (sada, always + anubhava, experience. Sadashiva The perpetual beatitude, ever prosperous, (sada, always + shiva, gracious, auspicious). Saccitananda The Ultimate Principle with the three attributes in absolute perfection (sat, being + chit, consciousness + ananda, bliss). Sadguru The true spiritual teacher (sat, true, transcendental being + guru, teacher). Sadhana The practice which produces success ‘Siddhi’, (sadh, to go straight to the goal, to be successful). Sadhu An ascetic, (sadh, to go straight to the goal). Saguna Manifested condition with the three ‘gunas’ — sattva, rajas and tamas. The Supreme Absolute conceived of as possessing qualities like love, mercy etc., as distinguished from the Undifferentiated Absolute of the Advaita Vedanta. Samadhi Superconscious state, profound meditation, trance, rapturous absorption, (sam, together + a, to + dhi, placing, putting together). A practice or Yoga in which the seeker (sadhaka) becomes one with the object of his meditation (sadhya), thus attaining unqualified bliss. Samadhi is of five types: savikalpa, visualizing a sense object (usually an ideal or a god) in the dualistic sphere; nirvikalpa, beyond all doubts, names and forms; nissankalpa, all desires cease coming up in the form of ‘sankalpa’, nirvrittik, even involuntary mentations (vrittis) cease; nirvasana, even the instinctive upsurge of ‘vasanas’ is stilled. Samskara Mental impression, memory (sans, together + kara, action; to put together). Also called vasana, residual impression. Samvld True awareness. Sat The transcendental aspect of the Ultimate Principle in active condition, (participle of root as, to be). Opposite — ‘asat’. APPENDIX III 548 I AM THAT Sat-Sang Association with the true and the wise people, (sat, true, wise + sang, association). Sattva Being, existence, true essence, (sat, being + abstract formative tva) In Yoga the quality of purity or goodness. ‘Sattvic’, pure, true. Sattvanubhava Experience (anubhava) of the true harmony of the universe (sattva, being). Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram The true, the good, the beautiful — satyam (abstract from sat, true), Shivam (Shiva, auspicious, propitious), sundaram (sundar, beautiful). Satyakama He who longs for the Sublime Truth, (satya, truth, Brahman + kama, kamana, desire). Shiva One of the gods of the Hindu trinity — Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the destroyer. Shiva actually means auspicious, propitious. Destruction of the cosmos by the god Shiva is a propitious act, for destruction precedes creation. Shiva is absolute love of the ‘I-principle’ in a man. As a destroyer He brings about the total annihilation of the human ego. Shravana Hearing of the scriptures, the act of hearing. Siddha The realized person, one who has attained perfection, (sadh, to go straight to the goal, to be successful). Smarana Remembrance, mental recitation. Soham I am He (so, he + aham; I am). Sutratma The connecting link between all beings, (sutra, thread, string + atma, soul). The string-like supporter of the manifested worlds, hence the Pure Consciousness which is the substratum of all beings. Maharaj uses the word for the accumulated karma from life to life. Swarga The celestial regions. Swarupa One’s own form, nature, character, (sva, one’s own + rupa, subtle element of form). Tamas Darkness, inertia, passivity. One of the three constituents (gunas) of the Cosmic Substance, viz., sattva, rajas and tamas. 549 Tat-Sat That is the truth (tat, that + sat, truth, Being, Reality’. The sacred text is ‘Om Tat Sat’ in which Brahman is identified by each of the three words. Tattva The true essence, Reality, (tad, tat, that + tva, abstract suffix, i.e. ‘thatness’). Turiya The superconscious state of samadhi, (turiya, fourth) the fourth state of soul in which it becomes one with Brahman, the highest awareness. Turiyatita Beyond the highest awareness (turiya + atita, gone beyond). Tyaga Renunciation. Tyaga is the renunciation of the fruits of all works, i.e. the tyagi should perform karma with detachment and with no desire for results Uparati Rest, repose, tolerance and renunciation of all sectarian observances, (upa, towards, under, down + rati, rest, repose, from root ram, to make content). In Vedanta one of the six acquirements (sat-sampat): viz. sama, tranquillity; dama, self-restraint: uprati, tolerance; titiksha, endurance; sraddha, faith and samadhana, equipoise. Vairagya Absence of worldly desires, (vi, apart without + raga, desire). Indifference to the unreal and transitory. Hence complete absence of any attraction towards objects which give pleasure. Vishnu One of the gods of the Hindu trinity — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Viveka Discrimination, right discrimination between the true and the false, the real and the unreal, (vi, away, without + veka from root vic, to sift, sever, separate). Viveka is an expression of the spiritual consciousness hidden behind the mind. Viveka leads to vairagya. Vyakta Manifest matter, the evolved Nature, (vi, apart, away, without + akta, passive participle of anj, to anoint). Hence evolved, annointed product. Opposite ‘Avyakta’. Vyakti Person, the outer self. Vyaktitva Personality, Iimited self-identification with the body. Yoga One of the six systems of the Hindu philosophy (from yuj, to yoke or join). Yoga teaches the means by which the individual, spirit (jivatma) can be APPENDIX III 550 joined or united with the Universal Spirit (Paramatma). The Yoga system is believed to have been founded by Patanjali. Yoga-Bhrashta One who has fallen from the high state of Yoga. Yoga-Kshetra The field for Yoga, the physical body in a philosophical sense (kshetra, field). Yoga-Sadhana Spiritual practices of Yoga. Yogi One who practises Yoga.
Adhi-Yoga The Supreme Yoga (adhi, above, supreme + yoga).
Ahimsa Harmlessness, abstaining from hurting others in thought, word or deed, (negative participle a, un + himsa, killing, hurting).
Akash The void, ether as an element of space, sky, (a, to + kasha, appearance).
Ananda Bliss, happiness, (a, to + nand, to rejoice).
Anirvachaniya Indescribable, (negative part. a, un + vachaniya, from vach, word, expression).
Antahkarana The psyche, mind, (antar, internal + karana, sense organ). Mind in a collective sense, including intelligence (buddhi), ego (ahamkara) and mind (manas).
Anubhava Direct perception, experience, cognition, (anu, after + bhav, to happen). The experience that is attained at the end of an action, perception, feeling or thought is anubhava. In all experiences there is no experiences other than ‘I’. Thus all anubhava leads to the I-principle — ‘I am’. Atma,
Atman The Supreme Self, the individual soul, (atm, belonging to oneself). Atman is beyond all the three gunas of Prakriti. It is not the atman that acts but only Prakriti.
Atma-Bhakti Worship of the Supreme, (atman + bhakti, from bhaj, to worship, adore).
Atma-Prakash The light of the Self. Atmaram Rejoicing the Self, (atrna, the self + ram, raman, to enjoy). 542 I AM THAT Avatara Incarnation, (ava, off, down, avataran, descent).
Avyakta The unmanifested, (neg. part. a, un + vyakta, manifest). Opposite — ‘vyakta’. Bhajan Devotional practice, prayer (bhaj, to adore).
Bhakti Devotion, adoration, (bhaj, to adore). Hence ‘Bhakta’, a devotee. Bhoga, Bhogi Experience of worldly joys and sorrows, (bhuj, to enjoy, to endure). ‘Bhogi’, one involved in worldly joys and sorrows. ‘Bhoga Marga’, the path of worldly pursuits joys and sorrows. Brahma One of the gods of the Hindu trinity: Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. (brh, to increase. Brahma creates, increases). Brahmacharya Continence, religious studentship with celibacy. Brahmacharya in its wider sense stands not only for abstinence from sexual indulgence, but freedom from craving for all sensual enjoyments. Brahman The Absolute, the Ultimate Reality, whose characteristics are — absolute existence (sat), absolute consciousness (chit) and absolute bliss (ananda). According to Sankaracharya Brahman, the Absolute, has five different phases: Hiranyagarbha, the Cosmic Self, Ishvara, the personal god in the form of an Avatar, Jiva, the individual soul, Prakriti, the perishable Nature and Shakti, the creative power. Brahmasmi I am the Supreme, (Brahman, the Supreme + asmi, I am, as, to be) ‘I am’ (asmi) represents the pure awareness of self-existence and is therefore the expression of pure consciousness or the Purusha. When this pure consciousness gets involved in matter the pure ‘I am’ changes into ‘I am that’, ‘I am so-and so’. Buddhi Intelligence, reflection of the real in the mind, (bodhati, to discern, to know). Buddhi is that faculty which enables the mind to perceive objects in the phenomenal world. As long as buddhi is functioning through the medium of the mind it is not possible to know pure consciousness. (budh, to wake up, observe). Chetana Consciousness, inner awakening (chit, to perceive). Chidakash Brahman in its aspect of limitless knowledge, the expanse of awareness, chit, to perceive + akash, expanse, sky). Variously used for consciousness, individual as well as universal. Chidananda Consciousness-Bliss, the joy of spirit, (chit, to perceive + ananda, joy). Chidaram Joy of consciousness, (chit, to perceive ram, to enjoy). Chit Universal Consciousness, (chit, to perceive). Chitta Individual consciousness, (chit, to perceive). Chitta is of the nature of consciousness, which is immaterial but is affected by matter. It may be described as a product of both, consciousness and matter, or Purusha and Prakriti. Chitta comprises all the levels of mind, the lowest of which is manas. Deha Physical body. Deha-Buddhi The intellect that makes one identify the Self with the physical body. Digambara Naked, one clothed in the directions of the sky, (dish, dik, quarter or direction of the sky + ambar clothes). Gnana Knowledge, specially the higher knowledge derived from meditation. Mostly spelt as ‘jnana’ (jna, to know), Gnani (Jnani), the knower. Gnana is the realization of the unity of all things in Brahman. Gunas Attributes, qualities. In Samkhya philosophy the three attributes of the Cosmic Substance (Prakriti) are: Illuminating (sattva), activating (rajas) and restraining (tamas). Guru Spiritual teacher, preceptor. Jagrat-Sushupti Awakened-sleep, (jagri, to be awake, watchful, attentive + sushupti, sleep). Jiva, Jivatman The individual soul, (jiv, to live). According to Vedanta jiva comes into being as a result of the false identification of the atman with body, senses and mind. Atman + doership is jiva. Kalpana Imagination, fancy. Karma Action, specially responsible action, good or evil, (karma, to do, perform); karma is of three kinds: sanchita (accumulated from previous APPENDIX III 543 544 I AM THAT births), prarabdha (portion of the past karma to be worked out in the present life) and agami (the current karma the result of which will fructify in future). Karana Cause, the primary cause invariably antecedent to a result, the unmanifested potential cause that in due course, takes shape as the visible effect, the material cause of the universe. Karana is cosmic energy in potential form. Lila Play, sport, the cosmos looked upon as the divine play. Lila does not represent the Absolute truth of the Brahman. It is only the partial truth, which is not different from untruth. For example, ice may be described by some as water and as vapour by others. Both statements are only partially true. Mahadakash The great expanse of existence, the universe of matter and energy, (mahat, great + akash, sky). Maha-Karta The great doer, (maha, great + karta, doer, kar, to do). Mind is the great doer, for it is ever busy, ever engaged in something or the other. Maha-Mantra The great incantation. (see Mantra). Maha-Maya The Great Illusion, Unreality, (maha, great + maya, illusion). Maya is the illusive power that veils the Reality. The nature of Maya is to delude. Maya is the totality of all mental projections. Maha-Mrityu The final dissolution, the great death off all creation. Maha-sattva The Supreme Harmony, (maha great + sattva, being, harmonious existence). Maha-Tattva The Great Reality, Supreme Consciousness, (maha, great + tattva, reality, true essence). Maha-Vakya The sublime pronouncement, (vach, word, sound, expression, vakya, speech, sentence, what is spoken, Maha-vakya — maha, great, sublime + vakya, sentence, pronouncement). Four Upanishadic declarations, expressing the highest Vedantic truths, are known as Mahavakyas. They are: Prajnanam Brahman (consciousness is Brahman), Aham Brahmasmi (I Am Brahman), Tat Tvam asi (That Thou Art) and Ayam Atma Brahma (the Self is Brahman). Mana, Manas The mind, understanding. (man, to think). Manas is the thinking faculty, the faculty of discrimination. In Nyaya philosophy manas is regarded as a 545 substance distinct from Atman, soul. Manana Meditation, reflection, (man, to think). Mantra Incantation, hymn, an instrument of thought, ideal sounds visualized as letters and vocalized as syllables (man, to think + agential suffix tra). Mantra is a group of words whose constant repetition produces specific results. Marga Path. Moksha Emancipation, liberation from worldly existence, (muc, to loosen, to free). ‘Mukta’, a liberated person. Moksha-Sankalpa Determination to be free from the false, moksha, emancipation + sankalpa, determination). Mumukshattva Right desire, which consists of earnestness to know the Ultimate Principle and thereby to attain liberation. In Vedanta one of the four qualifications of the seeker of the Truth, viz. right discrimination (viveka), right dispassion (vairagya), right conduct (sat-sampat) and right desire (mumukshatva). Mumukshattva is intense longing for liberation. Neti-Neti Not this; not this, the analytic process of progressively negating all names and forms. (nama-rupa) of which the world is made, in order to arrive at the eternal, Ultimate Truth. Nirguna The Unconditioned, without attributes, (nir, without + guna, attribute). Nirvana Final dissolution, extinction of the flame of life (nis, out + vana, blown — root va, to blow). Hence emancipation from matter and re-union with the Supreme Spirit (Brahman). ‘Nirvani’, the seeker of Nirvana. Nirvikalpa Free of ideation, without modifications of the mind, (nir, without + vikalpa, doubts; ideation, fancy). Nisarga Natural, innate, inborn. Nivritti Liberation from worldly existence, renunciation, (nir, without + vritti, from vart, to turn, revolve, the mode of life). Parabrahman The Supreme Reality, (para, beyond + Brahman, Ultimate Reality). APPENDIX III 546 I AM THAT Paramakash The great expanse, the timeless and spaceless Reality (param, highest, most distant, greatest + akash, the void). Hence the Absolute Being. Paramartha The sublime truth (para, beyond + artha, purpose, true knowledge). Pragna Un-selfconscious knowledge, cognitive consciousness, pure awareness. Also written as ‘prajna’ (prajin, wise, pra, high + jna, to know). Prajna stands for higher consciousness. Prakriti The Cosmic Substance. the original uncaused cause of phenomenal existence, which is formless, limitless, immobile, eternal and all-pervasive, (pra, before, first + kar, to make). It is also called ‘Avyakta’. Pralaya Complete dissolution, when the cosmos merges into the Unmanifested Absolute of the Supreme Reality, (pra, before + laya, extinction). Prana The breath of life, vital principle, (pra, before + ana, breath). Prarabdha Destiny, what is begun as an undertaking, (pra, prak, before + abdham, addhi, reservoir). Hence the store of sanchita karma (karma of past lives) that has become the destiny in the present life. Pravritti Continued activity, predilection towards worldly life, (pra, before + vritti, mode of life). Premakash Brahman in its aspect of limitless love, (prem, love + akash, expanse, sky). It is another name for Chidakash, but it lays stress on the love aspect and not on the knowledge aspect. Love is the expression of the Self through the heart. Premakash is the heart + I am — I am the heart. Puja Worship, adoration (pu, puyati, puta to purify). Purna Full, complete, absolute, infinite — used for Brahman. Purusha The Cosmic Spirit, the eternal and efficient cause of the universe that gives appearance of consciousness to all manifestations of matter (prakriti). The bondage of Purusha in matter is due to ‘I’ — consciousness born of Chitta-vrittis, which give rise to innumerable desires. Rajas Motivity, activity, energy, (ra(n)j, to be coloured, affected, moved). One of the three constituents of the Cosmic Substance (sattva, rajas and tamas) without which the other two could not be manifest. In Yoga-egoism. 547 Sad-Chit The transcendental condition of the universal potentiality, (sat, being + chit, consciousness). Sadanubhava Experience of the Everlasting Reality, (sada, always + anubhava, experience. Sadashiva The perpetual beatitude, ever prosperous, (sada, always + shiva, gracious, auspicious). Saccitananda The Ultimate Principle with the three attributes in absolute perfection (sat, being + chit, consciousness + ananda, bliss). Sadguru The true spiritual teacher (sat, true, transcendental being + guru, teacher). Sadhana The practice which produces success ‘Siddhi’, (sadh, to go straight to the goal, to be successful). Sadhu An ascetic, (sadh, to go straight to the goal). Saguna Manifested condition with the three ‘gunas’ — sattva, rajas and tamas. The Supreme Absolute conceived of as possessing qualities like love, mercy etc., as distinguished from the Undifferentiated Absolute of the Advaita Vedanta. Samadhi Superconscious state, profound meditation, trance, rapturous absorption, (sam, together + a, to + dhi, placing, putting together). A practice or Yoga in which the seeker (sadhaka) becomes one with the object of his meditation (sadhya), thus attaining unqualified bliss. Samadhi is of five types: savikalpa, visualizing a sense object (usually an ideal or a god) in the dualistic sphere; nirvikalpa, beyond all doubts, names and forms; nissankalpa, all desires cease coming up in the form of ‘sankalpa’, nirvrittik, even involuntary mentations (vrittis) cease; nirvasana, even the instinctive upsurge of ‘vasanas’ is stilled. Samskara Mental impression, memory (sans, together + kara, action; to put together). Also called vasana, residual impression. Samvld True awareness. Sat The transcendental aspect of the Ultimate Principle in active condition, (participle of root as, to be). Opposite — ‘asat’. APPENDIX III 548 I AM THAT Sat-Sang Association with the true and the wise people, (sat, true, wise + sang, association). Sattva Being, existence, true essence, (sat, being + abstract formative tva) In Yoga the quality of purity or goodness. ‘Sattvic’, pure, true. Sattvanubhava Experience (anubhava) of the true harmony of the universe (sattva, being). Satyam-Shivam-Sundaram The true, the good, the beautiful — satyam (abstract from sat, true), Shivam (Shiva, auspicious, propitious), sundaram (sundar, beautiful). Satyakama He who longs for the Sublime Truth, (satya, truth, Brahman + kama, kamana, desire). Shiva One of the gods of the Hindu trinity — Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the preserver and Shiva, the destroyer. Shiva actually means auspicious, propitious. Destruction of the cosmos by the god Shiva is a propitious act, for destruction precedes creation. Shiva is absolute love of the ‘I-principle’ in a man. As a destroyer He brings about the total annihilation of the human ego. Shravana Hearing of the scriptures, the act of hearing. Siddha The realized person, one who has attained perfection, (sadh, to go straight to the goal, to be successful). Smarana Remembrance, mental recitation. Soham I am He (so, he + aham; I am). Sutratma The connecting link between all beings, (sutra, thread, string + atma, soul). The string-like supporter of the manifested worlds, hence the Pure Consciousness which is the substratum of all beings. Maharaj uses the word for the accumulated karma from life to life. Swarga The celestial regions. Swarupa One’s own form, nature, character, (sva, one’s own + rupa, subtle element of form). Tamas Darkness, inertia, passivity. One of the three constituents (gunas) of the Cosmic Substance, viz., sattva, rajas and tamas. 549 Tat-Sat That is the truth (tat, that + sat, truth, Being, Reality’. The sacred text is ‘Om Tat Sat’ in which Brahman is identified by each of the three words. Tattva The true essence, Reality, (tad, tat, that + tva, abstract suffix, i.e. ‘thatness’). Turiya The superconscious state of samadhi, (turiya, fourth) the fourth state of soul in which it becomes one with Brahman, the highest awareness. Turiyatita Beyond the highest awareness (turiya + atita, gone beyond). Tyaga Renunciation. Tyaga is the renunciation of the fruits of all works, i.e. the tyagi should perform karma with detachment and with no desire for results Uparati Rest, repose, tolerance and renunciation of all sectarian observances, (upa, towards, under, down + rati, rest, repose, from root ram, to make content). In Vedanta one of the six acquirements (sat-sampat): viz. sama, tranquillity; dama, self-restraint: uprati, tolerance; titiksha, endurance; sraddha, faith and samadhana, equipoise. Vairagya Absence of worldly desires, (vi, apart without + raga, desire). Indifference to the unreal and transitory. Hence complete absence of any attraction towards objects which give pleasure. Vishnu One of the gods of the Hindu trinity — Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Viveka Discrimination, right discrimination between the true and the false, the real and the unreal, (vi, away, without + veka from root vic, to sift, sever, separate). Viveka is an expression of the spiritual consciousness hidden behind the mind. Viveka leads to vairagya. Vyakta Manifest matter, the evolved Nature, (vi, apart, away, without + akta, passive participle of anj, to anoint). Hence evolved, annointed product. Opposite ‘Avyakta’. Vyakti Person, the outer self. Vyaktitva Personality, Iimited self-identification with the body. Yoga One of the six systems of the Hindu philosophy (from yuj, to yoke or join). Yoga teaches the means by which the individual, spirit (jivatma) can be APPENDIX III 550 joined or united with the Universal Spirit (Paramatma). The Yoga system is believed to have been founded by Patanjali. Yoga-Bhrashta One who has fallen from the high state of Yoga. Yoga-Kshetra The field for Yoga, the physical body in a philosophical sense (kshetra, field). Yoga-Sadhana Spiritual practices of Yoga. Yogi One who practises Yoga.
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