Brief Introduction to common terms used in spirituality

This is one of the articles in a book I have written on spirituality. The book is available on Amazon.com.


The Spirit Of Spirituality

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As readers continue on their journey of spirituality, they are bombarded with various terms and unless they have an understanding of the term, they will not be able to savor the sweetness and the power of spirituality. I thought of listing here some of the most common terms.

1. Brahman or consciousness: This does not mean the Brahmin nor does it mean the three faced Brahma who is in mythology the creator of this world. Brahman means that universal life principle or consciousness which is the cause of everything. It is that supreme light that shines in each of us and illuminates our life. Brahman is without a beginning or an end.
2. Atman or soul: Brahman is at the macro level. Since Brahman is everywhere and is cause of everything, the element of Brahman found in each living entity should also have the same characteristics. This element of Brahman at a micro level is called Atman.
3. Manas or mind: The mind is that instrument through which we emote. Mind is that instrument to which all sensory organs send their inputs. Mind, by nature is restless and does not know right from the wrong.
4. Buddhi or intellect: The intellect is that instrument which can discriminate between right and wrong, unreal and real and is something that can decide. Ideally, the mind should be guided by the intellect.
5. Ahankara or the ego: This is that entity which causes each of us to feel that we are separate from one another and from the supreme source.
6. Gunas – The nature of every living entity is a combination of 3 elements – Rajas, Tamas and Sattva
7. Rajas – The quality that creates action, the need to do something, excitement. If uncontrolled, Rajas can lead to an entity causing harm to others.
8. Tamas – The quality that creates sloth, laziness, sleepiness etc. If uncontrolled, can cause a person to harm himself.
9. Sattva – The quality that creates righteousness, purity and ability to avoid excesses, ability to discriminate
10. Reincarnation: The act of an “ego” taking multiple births and deaths to fulfill any and all remaining binding desires.
11. Karma – The all-powerful universal force that ensures that whatever we sow, we reap. It is the cause of our birth and also is responsible for every situation we face.
12. Sanchita karma – the sum total of all the accumulated and unfulfilled desires over several births.
13. Prarabdha karma – that set of desires which result in the current existing body.
14. Purushartha – the ability to act using own intellect in the situation created by karma
15. Karma yoga – the ability to do every act as an obligation without expectation of any results
16. Bhakti yoga – the ability to live life with an attitude of gratitude
17. Jnana yoga – the ability to discriminate between real and unreal, the ability to discriminate between the “ego” and the “soul”
18. Moksha – the final state of one-ness where the ego realizes it is the soul and the same as “Brahman”, after which there is no birth/death cycle
20. As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.
    
    I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.
    
    
    1. My Humble Understanding  Of Spirituality
    
    
    My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality
    
    
    
    
    
    2. Attain Infinite Bliss
    
    Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide
    
    
    
    
    3. The Spirit Of Spirituality
    
    The Spirit Of Spirituality