Appendix III 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).
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 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 un-
manifested 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 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).
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.
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’.
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.
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. ‘that-
ness’).
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 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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A simple man, Maharaj was a householder and petty storekeeper in Bombay where he lived, and died in 1981 at the age of 84. He had not been educated formally but came to be respected and loved for his insights into the crux of human pain and the extraordinary ludicity of his direct discourse. Hundreds of diverse seekers travelled the globe and sought him out in his unpretentious home to hear him. To all of them he gave hope that “beyond the real experience is not the mind, but the self, the light in which everything appears... the awareness in which everything happens.”
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