Meditation Terminology

Meditation Terminology

ACTIVE MEDITATION- Also called Dynamic Meditation, this begins with a stage of activity sometimes intense and physical then followed by a period of silence. It involves conscious catharsis where one can express the inexpressible and then easily go into silence.

AKASH- Akash or ether or space is one of the five natural elements this entire world,animate,inanimate,is made of.It is the subtlest of the elements,and is the source of all the other elements.It interacts with other elements through its vibrations. Sound is the quality of ether, representing an entire spectrum of vibration.

ANTARATMA-  The inner self, residing in the heart.

APAN VAYU -Of the five primary pranas in the body, two pranas – prana vayu and apana vayu – are regarded as most important.These two forces or energies are opposed yet complementary. •               Apana Vayu operates from the base of the torso, in the rectum area, is a downward flowing energy, and has to do with eliminating or throwing off what is no longer needed.

ASTRAL BODY-According to Vedas(earliest Hindu Scriputres)we have three bodies: 1) Physical, 2) Astral & 3) Causal. The astral body is an exact replica of physical body. It looks just like physical body but is made of finer matter subtle in nature. It is a link between the nervous system and Cosmic reservoir of energy.It is seperated from physical body at death. It is also seperated during sleep, or in accidents, during anesthesia or under the influence of drugs and also during Meditation and samadhi states. Astral body has 72000 nadis (channels).It also has Chakras and energy centers.

AURA -An energy field which surrounds living beings. An aura is most often visible only to those born with the skill to see it, or those who developed this ability. A visible aura contains various colors and tells about the spiritual and emotional persona of the plant, human, or creature surrounded by it. However, an aura can also be felt, heard, or sensed through other means.

AVATAR -An avatar is a person who is fully god realized at birth and therefore needs no spiritual training. In Hinduism it is the manifestation of a deity in human or animal form.

BANDHA  -Bandha literally means obstruction/closure or lockIn yoga there are certain combinations of muscle contractions that are called Bhandas or Locks. Each lock has a function of changing blood circulation, nerve pressure and the flow of cerebral spinal fluid. They also direct the flow of psychic energy and prana into the main energy channels that relate to raising Kundalini energy. The Bhandas also concentrate the body’s energy for use in consciousness and self-healing.

BANDHAN -Bandhan is a technique performed at the beginning and end of each meditation session after raising Kundalini.

BHRAMARI  -It is a kind of Pranayam. Breathe in till your lungs are full of air. Close your ears with both the thumbs and eyes with the middle fingers of your hands on respective sides with little pressure. Press forehead with both the index fingers lightly. Close both the eyes. Then press eyes and nose bridge from the sides with the remaining fingers. Concentrate your mind on Ajna Chakra (between eye-brows) . Close your mouth. Begin slowly exhaling, making humming sound of a bee. With the practice of this Pranayama the mind becomes steady. It is beneficial in conditions like mental tension, agitation, high blood pressure, heart disease etc.

BODHISATTVA -This is a buddhist term. A bodhisattva is an enlightened being who having no further need to be reincarnated into the physical, decides to do so to help other acheive enlightenment.

BRAHMACHAYA -In Sanskrit, Brahma means ‘higher awareness’ and acharya means ‘to live in’. Brahmacharya therefore means to move, learn and live in higher awareness. But for the religious brahmacharya means complete control over sexual interactions. Therefore, brahmacharya should be understood in two different ways. The first one is to be immersed in higher awareness and the second is to abstain from all types of sexual interactions.

BUDDHISM -religion & philosophy founded in India in the 6th cent. B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Teaches practice of meditation, observance of moral precepts. Defines reality in terms of cause-and-effect, accepting the doctrine common to Indian religions of samsara, or bondage to the repeating cycle of births and deaths according to ones physical and mental actions.

CATCHES  -A catch occurs when the efficient functioning of the chakra is impaired. This blocks the passage of the Kundalini energy through that chakra to a higher level.

CHAKRAS -the seven vital energy centers of the body. The chakras extend from the base of spine to the crown of head. Located in the rectal area, near the genitals, behind the navel, at the heart, at the neck, between the eyebrows, and on the crown of the head. Each chakra corresponds to certain colors, emotions, organs, nerve networks, and energies.

CHAKRAS  -Chakras are energy centers in the body that look like spinning wheels. The word comes from the Sanskrit "cakra" meaning "wheel, circle", and sometimes also referring to the "wheel of life. Though there are a large number of chakras in the body, 7 of them considered predominant ( 1. Sahasrara 2. Ajna 3. Vishuddha 4. Anahata 5. Manipura 6. Swadhisthana and 7. Muladhara.) They allow energy to flow from one part of the body to another. The seven chakras are said by some to reflect how the unified consciousness of man (the immortal human being or the soul), is divided to manage different aspects of earthly life (body/instinct/vital energy/deeper emotions/communication/having an overview of life/contact to God).

               CONFUCIANISM

(551-479 BC). for more than 2,000 years the Chinese people have been guided by the ideals of Confucianism. Its founder was Confucius who tried to bring people to a virtuous way of life and a respect for the teachings of the wise men of older generations. Though Confucianism is called a religion, it is a system of moral conduct. Confucius did not talk of God but of goodness. He was centered on making people better in their lifetime, and his Analects are wise sayings similar to the Bibles’ Proverbs.

DHYANA -Sanskrit for meditation. Equivalent terms are jhāna in Pāli, chán in Chinese, and zen in Japanese.

DUALISM -in philosophy and theology, system that explains all phenomena in terms of two distinct and irreducible principles, e.g., ideas and matter (as in Plato, Aristotle, and modern metaphysics) or mind and matter (as in psychology). In theology the term refers to a concept of opposing principles, e.g., good and evil.

                

the limited sense of "I" that is identified with the body, mind, and senses; sometimes described as "the veil of suffering."

ENLIGHTENMENT -In Buddhism it is the awakening to the ultimate truth. In Hinduism it is a state of divine experience which is represented by Vishnu. regarded as the goal of all religion. In modern spirituality is represented as the end of suffering as one lives in this state fully in the present moment and any feeling of seperation has dissappeard.

FEEDBACK METHOD -In the feedback meditation method light sensations are used for self-guidance. Light signals confirm attention, keeping you on target. The feedback method is also known as "Straight Line Meditation."

FENG SHUI -an ancient Chinese practice of configuring home or work environments to promote health, happiness, prosperity. Feng shui consultants may advise clients to make adjustments in their surroundings, from color selection to furniture placement, to promote a healthy flow of chi, or vital energy.

GURU  -A spiritual master who has attained oneness with God and who is able both to initiate seekers and to guide them on the spiritual path to liberation. A true Guru is required to be learned in the scriptures and must belong to a lineage of masters.

HOLISTIC -Sometimes spelt wholistic. It means targeted to the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. Holistic medicine considers not only physical health but also the emotional, spiritual, social, and mental well-being of the person.

IDA AND PINGLA NADIS-The Ida and Pingala nadis are two of the three important channels in the body in the spine(the third being Shushumna),are often seen as referring to the two hemispheres of the brain. Pingala is the extroverted (Active), solar nadi, and corresponds to the right hand side of the body and the left hand side of the brain. Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi, and corresponds to the left hand side of the body and the right hand side of the brain (crossing occurs in the optical chiasma). These nadis are also said to have an extrasensory function, playing a part in empathic and instinctive responses. The two nadis are believed to be stimulated through different practices, including Pranayama.

INEFFABLE  -incapable of being expressed in words

JALANDHARA BHANDA  -It is basic Bhanda.It is translated as the Neck Lock. This Lock is practiced by contracting back on the neck and throat. The chin rests in or near the notch between the collarbones at the top of the breast bone. The head stays level without tilting forward. The spine in the neck straightens to allow the increased flow of pranic energy to travel freely into the upper glandular centers of the brain.

JAPA  -The process in which a devotee repeats the name of the God. The repetition can be aloud or just the movement of lips or in mind. This spiritual practice is present in the major religions of world. This is considered as one of the most effective spiritual practice.

KARMA -Basic concept common to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The doctrine holds that one’s state in this life is the result of physical and mental actions in past incarnations and that present action can determine one’s destiny in future incarnations. Karma is a natural, impersonal law of moral cause and effect.

KARMA -’KARMA" is a Sanscrit term for that Law known to Western thinkers as Spiritual Cause and Effect, or Causation. It relates to the complicated affinities for either good or evil that have been acquired by the soul throughout its many incarnations. These affinities manifest as characteristics enduring from one incarnation to another, being added to here, softened or altered there, but always pressing forward for expression and manifestation. And, so, it follows that what each one of us is in this life depends upon is what we have been and how we have acted in our past lives.

KI -Japanese word for the universal life force, synonymous with the Chinese term, Chi.

KINEMANTRA MEDITATION- KM is a meditation technique that combines meditation with the Psycho-Kinesiology. It is a still mental repetition of the personal mantra (vocal sound) that should help to relax and should be easier to learn than other mediation techniques.

KUNDALINI- Kundalini is a Sanskrit word meaning either "coiled up" or "coiling like a snake." It refers to the vast potential of psychic energy contained within us all,and lying dormant at the base of the spine. The concept of Kundalini comes from yogic philosophy of ancient India and refers to the mothering intelligence behind yogic awakening and spiritual maturation. Kundalini Yoga is a meditative discipline - or a system of meditative techniques and movements - within the yogic tradition that focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the body''s potential for maturation. The practice of Kundalini Yoga consists of a number bodily postures, expressive movements and utterances, characterological cultivations, breathing patterns, and degrees of concentration.

KUNDALINI ENERGY- The mothering subtle energy that is stored at the base of the spine in the "sacrum" bone. This energy can be awakened within us through the experience of Self-Realization.

LAYA YOGA -The term laya means among other things dissolution or absorption.The central concern of laya-yoga is liberation,which is defined as meditative absorption into the Absolute.This connection between dissolution and liberation in laya-yoga is consistent with orthodox Hindu cosmology, as the great cycles of the emergence, persistence and dissolution of the cosmos from, within and into the Absolute act as a model for spiritual practice.

LOTUS POSITION -It is a cross-legged sitting posture which originated in representations and meditative practices of Hinduism.

MANDALA-Sacred diagram used as an object of meditation, particularly in esoteric and Tibetan Buddhism.

MANTRA -in Hinduism and Buddhism, mystic word used in ritual and meditation. It is believed to have power to bring into being the reality it represents. Use of such mantras usually requires initiation by a guru, or spiritual teacher.

MEDITATION -Meditation is any technique which enables us to relax our body and our mind and, besides, to free our mind of unnecessary thoughts and brainactivity

MEDITATIVE STATE- Meditation is the journey towards Meditative State. Meditative State is the State one reaches in Meditation. Here he will be in No Thought and No Mind State. It is also called Nirmala Sthithi. From here one’s real Inner Journey starts. His Bramha Randra opens. He will receive abundant Cosmic Energy. With this, his Energy Body gets cleansed. Consequently he will obtain perfect Health. Further Third Eye gets activated, and ‘see’ various colors rotating around. After being in this State, Third Eye gets perfected. We ‘see’ crystal clear visions of this plane and other planes. We experience Astral Travel. We get understanding about our self. We understand we are not just body and mind, but we are Consciousness staying in body and mind. We ‘see’ past lives. We understand the cycle of birth, life, death and beyond. With these, Our perception changes. We will be healthy, happy and blissful at all times and situations. To attain this, please do Meditation.

METTABHAVANA- A meditation practice that develops loving kindness toward all sentient beings.

NADI -The word nadi comes from the Sanskrit root nad meaning "channel", "stream", or "flow",river. There are nearly 72,000 nadis in the body. Of these the three; Ida, Pingla, and Shushumna, which flow along the spine, are most important.

NADI SHODHANA-Literally it means nadi cleansing. This cleansing is done in various ways, especially through Pranayam. The best way of doing it by alternate nostril breathing.

NAULI- A very important hath yoga practice.In it the person slowly rotates the innards [intestines and stomach], like a whirlpool in a river, toward the right and toward the left.Its regular practice removes sluggishness of the gastric fire, stimulates digestion, and leaves a very agreeable feeling.

NETI-NETI - a chant or mantra, meaning "not this, not this". The purpose of the exercise is to negate conscious rationalisations, and other distractions from the purpose of a meditation.

NIRVANA -in Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, a state of supreme bliss; liberation from suffering and from samsara, one’s bondage to the repeating cycle of death and rebirth, which is brought about by desire. Nirvana is attainable in life through moral discipline and the practice of yoga, leading to the extinction of all attachment and ignorance.

NIRVIKALP SAMADHI- Nirvikalpa is the state of superconsciousness. There are no Vikalpas of any sort in this condition. This is the Goal of life. All the mental activities cease now. The functions of the intellect and ten Indriyas cease entirely. The aspirant rests now in Atman. There is no distinction between subject and object. The world and the pairs of opposites vanish completely. This is a state beyond all relativity. The aspirant gets knowledge of Self, supreme peace and infinite, indescribable bliss.

OM - OM is the orginal mantra, the root of all sounds and letters, and thus of language and thought. The "O" is generated deep within the body, and slowly brought upward joining with the "M" which then resonates through the entire head.

PASSAGE MEDITATION- Silent repetition in the mind of memorized inspirational passages from the world’s great religions.

PRANA- This Sanskrit term is derived from the verb root an =; ''to breathe'' + pra =; ''forth''.It is most obviously the air perceived in the mouth and nostrils which is the breath that sustains all life. Associated with this ''life breath'', though more subtle and pervasive, is prana as the principle of vitality that underlies and supports all natural processes. In the human being prana is thought to be responsible for maintaining physiological functions through the five major pranas or ''vital airs''.This Prana is the rising current, pervading the upper-half of the torso and responsible for drawing the life-breath into the body, mostly through the act of inhalation.

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PRANA -the yogic concept of a cosmic energy or life force, similar to the Chinese idea of chi, that enters the body with the breath. Prana is thought to flow through the body, bringing health and vitality. It is considered the vital link between the spiritual self and the material self.

PRANA VAYU- Prana, literally the "forward moving air," moves inward and governs reception of all types from the eating of food, drinking of water, and inhalation of air, to the reception of sensory impressions and mental experiences. It is propulsive in nature, setting things in motion and guiding them. It provides the basic energy that drives us in life.

PRANAYAMA-Breathing techniques

PUJA -A Puja is a collection of prayers to Hindu deities

SAMADHI  -Samadhi means, literally, "to place together". The goal of yogic practice is the absorption called samadhi. Real yoga begins with samadhi. Postures, breathing, concentration, meditation, ritual, or tantric lovemaking -;; these are just means to an end. End is Samadhi.

SAMADHI- A state in which the aspirant is one with the object of his meditation, the Supreme Spirit pervading the universe, where there is a feeling of unutterable joy and peace.

SAMANA VAYU -Literally it means the "balancing air,".It moves in the body from the periphery to the center, through a churning and discerning action. It aids in digestion on all levels. It works in the gastrointestinal tract to digest food, in the lungs to digest air or absorb oxygen, and in the mind to homogenize and digest experiences, whether sensory, emotional or mental.

SANDHYA - It is a Sanskrit term. It means joining together. It is specially used for those points of times in mornings and evenings when it is dawn or twilight time, when during sun-rise day and night are joint,or during sun-set when the two join. In scriptures these two times are said to be best for prayers and meditation. That is why in general parlance even these prayers are called Sandhyas.

SHITKARI- It is a Pranayam exercise. With tongue protruding a little between the lips, draw in the breath through the mouth with a hissing sound, retain, and then exhale through the nose. As a result the performer is never troubled by hunger, thirst, or fatigue. It also makes one charming and beautiful.

SHUSHUMNA- Most gracious of all the nadis, it is the body's great river, running from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, passing through each of the seven chakras in its course. It is the channel through which kundalini shakti (the latent serpent power) —and the higher spiritual consciousness it can fuel—rises up from its origin at the muladhara (root) chakra to its true home at the sahasrara (thousandfold) chakra at the crown of the head.

SPIRIT- Spirit or the Pure Self is a reflection of the Divine which is present within us. Our Heart Chakra is the seat of the Spirit.

SUBTLE BODY- The second of four bodies within a human being (the physical, subtle, causal, and supracausal bodies), which is experienced in the dream state.

SWARA YOGA- It is a branch of Yoga/meditation which focuses on the alternation of the breath in relation to human energy structures. Swara Yoga means the Yoga involving the sound of one’s breath. Swara Yoga emphasizes the analysis of the breath and pranic rhythms, while pranayama includes techniques to redirect, store and control prana.

TANDRA - The state of higher consciousness between sleeping and waking that is experienced in meditation.

TANTRA- Tantra is the original spiritual science first taught in India more than 7000 years ago. Tan is a Sanskrit root which signifies "expansion", and Tra signifies "liberation." Thus, Tantra is the practice which elevates human beings in a process in which their minds are expanded. It leads human beings from the imperfect to the perfect, from the crude to the subtle, from bondage to liberation.

TAOISM -philosophy and religion of China. Derived chiefly from the Tao-te-ching, a book ascribed to Lao-tze but probably written in the mid-3rd cent. B.C. Describes an ideal human condition of freedom from desire and of effortless simplicity, achieved by following the Tao [path], the spontaneous, creative, effortless path taken by natural events in the universe.

THIRD EYE- Third Eye is a powerful tool of the Self to 'see', 'hear' and to 'feel' other frequency realities. Third Eye is activated during Meditation and further perfected. Through Third Eye one can 'see' cristal clear visions of this frequency and other frequency

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION- Transcendental meditation is a relaxation technique derived from ancient Vedic tradition.

TRATAKA- It is also called Yogic gazing. It is a practice where the gaze is fixed on an object for some time and then that object is visualized clearly with the eyes closed, as an inner image at the eyebrow center. It removes several eyes disorders. It improves concentrative powers and mental resolve. It helps in disconnecting with the noise and distractions of the external world. It also develops the "third" eye - the seat of intuition or that associated with "psychic" powers.

TRATAKA - This refers to steady gazing. It is the process of looking at a particular object or gazing at a certain point without winking.

TRIMURTY- Trinity of Bramha, Vishnu, and Mahesh, the three Hindu gods,— Brahma, the creator;; Vishnu, the preserver;; and Shiva, the destroyer.

UDANA VAYU- Udana, literally the "upward moving air," moves upward and qualitative or transformative movements of the life-energy. It governs growth of the body, the ability to stand, speech, effort, enthusiasm and will. It is our main positive energy in life through which we can develop our different bodies and evolve in consciousness.

UDIYAN BANDH- Also known as diaphragm lock works,it with the solar plexus and the heart chakra. It is actually easier to apply this lock while holding the breath out. The diaphragm muscles are pulled in and up. Start by sucking in the solar plexus, pull the muscles toward the spine and then pull them up. The chest will expand and the spine will straighten. Diaphragm lock massages the heart muscle and causes the thymus to secrete. It is also used during chanting. Rhythmically applied, it enhances the effect of chanting.

UJJAYI- Ujjayi is a Pranayam exercise.It is often called the "sounding" breath or "ocean sounding". It involves constricting the back of the throat while breathing to create an "ah" sound -;; thus the various "sounding" names.To create this sound,one should exhale as if trying to fog a mirror. Ujjayi focuses the mind,increases mindfulness,and generates internal heat.

               VAYU (submitted by: vir)

Vayu means air.It is the gaseous form of matter which is mobile and dynamic.It stimulates, or gives birth to, the sense of touch;; therefore we find its physical influence pre-dominates in the skin which it farms and nourishes. Motion in any part of the body is due to the Vâyu centers of that part. It is naturally prevalent in the lungs and is regnant in the hands.

VEDA -Vedas is a collection of Hindu sacred scriptures.

VIBRATIONS -Once the Kundalini energy is awakened, vibrations can be felt on the palms of the hand, in the body and on top of the head.

VRITTI -Fluctuation or movement of the mind; thought.

VYANA VAYU -Vyana, literally the "outward moving air," moves from the center to the periphery. It governs circulation on all levels. It moves the food, water and oxygen throughout the body, and keeps our emotions and thoughts circulating in the mind, imparting movement and providing strength. In doing so it assists all the other Pranas in their work.

YANTRA- a yantra is a visual symbol used to "hold or restrain" the mind from wandering during meditation.

ZAZEN-In Zen Buddhism, (in Japanese it literally means "seated meditation") it is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind and experience insight into the nature of existence.

ZEN -A school of Mahayana Buddhism that asserts that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion and that is practiced mainly in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Also called Zen Buddhism.