BLOSSOM INTO LIFE: Experiencing Living Enlightenment🔗

Adi Shankara Enlightened master from India who lived only 32 years in the eighth century CE. Greatest exponent of the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta or non-dualism, whose movement restored glory to the declining vedic tradition and Hinduism during that period. Shankara established the Hindu order of monks which continues unbroken till today.

Agamya The actions one constantly does out of free will after taking birth on planet Earth. These are not born out of true desires but from desires borrowed from society, by looking at others.

Aham Brahmasmi Literally means 'I am god.' Aham means 'I am'; Brahman means 'god' or 'supreme being'. The statement refers to the essence of the soul which is ever identical to god.

Ahankar The false identification of the pure inner self with the outer world; a form of ego that makes you project a false identity of you to the outer world.

Ajapa japa Chanting a sacred chant invol-untarily.

Ajna chakra The sixth energy center located between the eyebrows. Means 'command' or 'will' in Sanskrit. This chakra is blocked by one's own ego.

Akbar Moghul emperor.

Anahata chakra Subtle energy center in the heart region related to love.

Anal-Haq I am the Truth. Said to have been constantly uttered by the Sufi master Mansur, who was hanged to death for this sacrilege.

Ananda Literally means 'that which cannot be reduced'.

Anima Anima siddhi is one of the eight yogic powers, referring to the power of decreasing one's body size to that of a minute particle.

Annamalai Swamigal Disciple of Ramana Maharishi in the temple town of Tiruvan-

Iccha shakti Energy of desire. The other two are kriya shakti, energy of action and gnana shakti, energy of knowledge.

Isa vasya Upanishad One of the major and oldest vedic scriptures.

Ishwara Supreme.

Jagat Universe.

Jain Follower of the religion of Jainism.

Jalaluddin Rumi 13th century Persian Sufi poet..

Janma marana chakra Cycle of birth and death.

Japa Repetition of a mantra or sacred syllable either silently or loudly.

Jataraagni Inner fire that sustains life.

Jeeva sually the imperishable spirit that dwells in all living beings.

Jeevan mukta A person who achieves liber-ation from the cycle of birth and death during one's lifetime.

Kabir Mystic devotional poet of India.

Kalpataru Boon-giving tree.

Kalpataru darshan A meditation darshan program of Nithyananda.

Kamandalu Water pot carried by Hindu monks.

Kapha One of the three doshas or attributes of the body in Ayurveda. Energy related to the elements of water and earth. Kapha is struc-ture and lubrication.

Kapilavastu Kingdom where enlightened master Buddha was born.

Karma The vedic concept of one's freewill actions deciding one's destiny.

Karma bandha Bound by one's actions, since they are performed with vested interests.

Karma mukta Free of one's actions, because they are performed without attachment.

Karma yoga The path of Self Realization by fulfilling one's responsibilities without attach-ment.

Karurar South Indian mystic saint upon whose immortal remains, the temple at Tanjore is believed to have been built.

Kathopanishad One of the major Upan- ishad or scriptures that features the interac-tion between Yama, Hindu god of death and a young boy Nachiketa.

Keertans Devotional songs.

Konganavar Hindu saint and disciple of Bogar, upon whose immortal remains, Tirupati temple is said to have been built.

Koshas Five energy sheaths around the physical body. Described in detail in the vedic text, Taittreya Upanishad.

Krishna Enlightened master from India who delivered the Truths of the Bhagavad Gita.

Kriya Action.

Kriya shakti Energy of action. Other two energies are energy of desire and energy of knowledge.

Kshana Interval between two thoughts.

Leela Divine play, especially that of Krishna.

Madhyapantha 'Middle Path' prescribed by enlightened master Buddha. It represents the power of witnessing that causes one to be in moderation without being pushed and pulled into extremes of emotions.

Madurai Temple town in south India. A major pilgrim center with the temple to Meen-akshi and her consort Sundareshwara, an aspect of enlightened master Shiva.

Mahabharata The Hindu itihasa or epic whose central characters are the five Pandava princes, their hundred Kaurava cousins and enlightened master Krishna.

Mahamantra Humming meditation that energizes the anahata chakra and taught as part of Nithyananda's Life Bliss Programs.

Mahavira Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th and last tirthankara or enlightened one, and established the tenets of the religion of Jainism, founded in India and now practiced by millions worldwide.

Mamakar Inner ego that constantly says that you are smaller than what you think you are.

Manas Mind.

Manipuraka chakra Subtle energy center located near the navel region, related to the emotion of worry.

Mantra Literally means 'that which shows the way'. Sacred syllables that have a powerful positive vibrational effect.

Maya Literally 'That which is not'. The concept that life is but a dream, however real it may seem while being experienced.

Meenakshi The goddess at Madurai in south India. She is said to be a saint upon whose immortal remains, the temple has been built.

Meerabai Princess of Chittor, a devotee of Krishna, mystical poetess and singer, ill-treated by her husband for her devotion to Krishna.

Milarepa Tibetan Yogi and disciple of Tibetan Buddhist teacher Marpa.

Mithyananda Someone who represents and teaches impermanent happiness.

Mudra Signs formed with hands during yoga practices, especially meditation, to distribute and seal energy within the body.

Mukti Liberation through Self Realization

Muladhara chakra Subtle energy center at the root of the spine, related to the emotions of greed and lust.

Muruganar A disciple of enlightened master Ramana Maharishi and Tamil poet who composed many verses about Ramana.

Nalanda A great Buddhist center of learning in modern day Bihar in India comprising a university and library.

Namaskar Hindu custom of greeting. Means 'I bow to you'.

Namo Homage, refers to masters and deities as in Om namo narayanaya, with reference to Vishnu.

Nataraja Enlightened master Shiva in the dancing form in the temple of Chidambaram in south India.

Nayanmars Tamil devotee saints of enlight-ened master Shiva, 63 in number, whose life stories are told in the book Periya Puranam.

Nirvana Liberation through Self Realiza-tion.

Nithya ananda Eternal Bliss.

Nithya Dhyaan Meditation developed by Nithyananda as the daily meditation for his followers.

Nithya mukta Eternally liberated person.

Nithya Yoga Nithyananda's teachings of yoga based on the body language of Patanjali, taught by his teachers.

Nithyam Eternal.

Nithyananda Spurana Eternal flowering of bliss.

Om The sacred syllable and symbol that represents creation in Hinduism.

Parabrahma Supreme Being.

Paramahamsa Literally means Supreme Swan. Title bestowed on enlightened beings.

Paramahamsa Yogananda An enlightened master well known for his book Autobiography of a Yogi. He founded Self Realization Fellow-ship movement in USA in 1920.

Patanjali A sage of ancient India and author of Yoga Sutras, which is considered the founda-tion of the system of yoga.

Periya Puranam A Tamil classic by Sekkizhar on the lives of the 63 Nayanmars, the devotee saints of enlightened master Shiva.

Poornima Fullmoon day.

Prana Life energy or life force.

Pranayama Breath control, one of the eight limbs of the Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali.

Prarabdha Mindset and desires that we bring into this world when we are born.

Pratyahara Fifth limb of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga referring to turning away from sensory inputs.

Puja Hindu ritual worship.

Rajas One of the three gunas or attributes of nature. Attribute of aggression.

Rama Prince of the kingdom of Ayodhya in the Indian epic Ramayana.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Enlightened master from West Bengal in India. His chief disciple was Swami Vivekananda.

Ramana Maharishi Enlightened master, based in Tiruvannamalai in South India. He taught the method of Self-inquiry, asking oneself, 'Who am I?', as the path to Self-realization.

Ramanuja Founder of the Vishishtadvaita or modified duality principle. Along with Adi Shankara and Madhva, considered to be one of the three great teachers of Hindu philosophy.

Ramayana Hindu itihasa or epic about prince Rama. The original version was written by poet sage Valmiki.

Rishis Vedic sages

Sadasoham I am always Brahman. I am always conscious.

Sadhana Spiritual practice.

Sahaja Spontaneous divine joy.

Samskara Engrams or deeply engraved memories.

Sanchita Bank of accumulated karmas from which we choose to bring into this birth a few as prarabdha karma.

Sangha Community.

Sankalpa Vow or promise.

Sannyas Renunciation.

Sannyasi One who has renounced, a monk.

Satori High state of consciousness.

Satsangs Gatherings for prayer, meditation and spiritual purpose.

Sattva One of the three gunas or attributes of nature. Attribute of passive action.

Shakti The supreme female principle, Cosmic Mother.

Shakti Dharana A meditation taught by Nithyananda to all Nithya Spiritual Healers.

Shanmukhi Mudra Mudra in which eyes, ears, nose and mouth are covered while medi-tating.

Shastra Weapon

Shirdi Sai Baba An enlightened master worshipped by Hindus and Muslims alike. Lived in Shirdi near Nasik in India.

Shiva Enlightened master from India. The word shiva literally means 'causeless auspiciousness'.

Shiva Sutras A collection of teachings of Shiva in epigram form as techniques. Includes Vignana Bhairava Tantra, Guru Gita, Tiru Mandiram etc.

Shraddha Saburi Sincere commitment and perseverance. The essence of Shirdi Sai Baba's teachings.

Siddhis Yogic powers that arise during spir-itual journey.

Sufism Mystical dimension of Islam.

Sutra Spiritual techniques offered in epigram form.

Swadhishthana chakra Spleen energy center between base of spine and navel. Blocked by fear.

Swami A honorific term used for a sannyasi, a monk.

Swami Sri Yukteshwar Giri Master of enlightened master Paramahamsa Yogananda.

Taittreya Upanishad One of the major Upanishads or scriptures that explains the concepts of the five elements and five koshas or energy sheaths.

Tamas One of the three gunas or attributes of nature. Attribute of inaction.

Tantra Ancient tradition of achieving enlightenment through spiritual techniques or practices, meditations and ritual worship.

Tapas Spiritual penance.

Tathata Suchness.

Tirupati Famous temple to Vishnu as Venkateshwara or Balaji in Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Transcendental Meditation™ Meditation technique popularized by Mahesh Yogi.

Turiya Fourth state of consciousness in which there are no thoughts and only awareness.

Upanishad Scriptures that form the essence of the ancient texts of the Vedas. Literally means ‘sitting with the master’. There are eleven main Upanishads that have been commented on by enlightened master Adi Shankara.

Vak Energy behind speech.

Vali Monkey King in the Hindu epic Ramayana who is killed by prince Rama.

Vanaprastha sannyas The third stage of life according to the vedic tradition, where the wife and husband lead the rest of their married life in spiritual activities in pursuit of the ultimate Truth.

Vasana Mindset.

Vedas Ancient scriptural texts explaining the deep spiritual Truths. There are four main Vedas – Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. These texts explain about the performance of sacrifice and consist of stories and chants. The Vedas are considered to be revelations of the Truths that happened to the mystics and seers.

Veera Bravery.

Vishnu Sustainer in the Hindu Trinity of gods.

Vivekachoodamani Enlightened master Adi Shankara’s philosophical work.

Vivekananda Primary disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Founder of the Ramakrishna Order. 19th century Eastern mystic considered a key figure in spreading awareness of Hinduism and Yoga in Europe and America.

Yaksha Demigod who according to Hindu mythology guards wealth.

Yama Hindu god of death and justice.

Yama The first limb of Ashtanga Yoga comprising observance of the five principles of satya(truth), ahimsa(non-violence), asteya(non-stealing), aparigraha (minimal possessions) and brahmacharya (celibacy).

Yamuna A holy Indian river associated with enlightened master Krishna.

Yantra device, usually a metal plate that is energized, used in spiritual practices.

Yoga Literally means ‘uniting’ of body-mind-spirit.

Yoga Sutras The book on yoga authored by enlightened master Patanjali.

Yudhishtra The eldest of the five princes of the Pandava family in the Indian epic Mahabharata.

Yukti Clarity to know what needs to change and what needs to be accepted.

Zen Japanese Buddhist practice. Derived from dhyana, meditation.

Zen koans Riddles given as techniques in Zen to aid Self Realization.