The Purpose of the HQR Glossary is to ensure that all the terms covered in the Holistic Quantum Relativity Socratic Dialogue are succintly defined so that it becomes easy for new entrants to understand what a particular term means in HQR's context. The Glossary does not seek to become comprehensive in terms of every faith. It primarily aims at providing meanings for those concepts, abstractions, thoughts, observations and views in Spirituality which converge with modern Science and vice-versa.

Please feel free to suggest hitherto un-mentioned terms, balanced definitions & refinements that have been encountered in the HQR Socratic Dialogue thus far. We will modify the terms, add new ones and delete old ones as we get your invaluable feedback. As HQR integrates relevant terms from Physics, Computing & Mathematics to analogous terms from Oriental faiths of Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sant Mat, Shinto, Sikhism, Sufism, Taoism & Zoroastrianism as well as Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam & Judaism, the Union of Science & Spirituality's Glossary unfolds. Around 444 terms & rising! Please forgive errors and omissions in the interim, as this is work in progress. Your loving patience is much appreciated!

Definition of Holistic Quantum Relativity and Genesis

[First Draft provided by Harbhajan Singh, slightly changed, and presented... Please suggest modifications as this is work-in-progress with attendant errors and omissions]

The Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR) Socratic Dialogue seeks to integrate Modern Science -- particularly Physics, Computing and Mathematics -- with Spirituality. HQR is an effort to present humanity with the possibility of an indestructible and immutable spiritual dimension underpinning all changing phenomenon, long embrace by Great Spiritual Masters of various traditions in various Ages. When this truth is really understood it is hoped that it will provide humanity with much sought for Certainty, Eternal Reality and Truth.

The HQR Socratic Dialogue began with 13th century mystic poet Maulana Rumi’s poem “I Died as a Mineral.” In this poem, Rumi in effect says that he is the same one soul, which beginning from All Soul or God (spiritual dimension) takes various forms such as mineral, plant, animal, man, angel and will eventually again merge into It/Him.

This truth of Rumi was further seized upon by Harbhajan Singh, author of Self-Designed Universe. He stated that he has already written a similar paragraph to Rumi’ poem in his book (“Yesterday we were animals, a day before, plants, a couple of days before minerals….”), which actually shows all such forms evolving from a single Unified Force when it separates into four basic forces of gravity, electromagnetism, strong and weak. He further added that this happens because of every system having to go through four basic forces or interactions of physics relevant to its level in the course of it evolution.

Four basic forces or interactions brought physics, unified force and finally the Unified Force of Love (again spiritual dimension only in an other way of saying it) into the picture. They also showed that thanks to them all systems had four basic phases in their lives. This drew participants’ attention to four basic elements of earth, water, fire and air of the Greeks, as also to the supposed fifth element of akasha or sky of the Orientals. Efforts were made to integrate them also into the above picture of unification of forces.

The Socratic Dialogue’s open mindedness regarding the use of scientific findings in relation to arts and spirituality brought some people to say that it was pseudo-science, non-science, bad-science or even non-sense. This turned Socratic Dialogue to strike at the root of all boxed thinking and eventually towards the synthesis of science and spirituality via Holism.

Holism brought into focus its past in 19th century Hegelian philosophy. Which in fact too was an effort to unify science, art and spirituality of the times into one whole. Soon it was discovered that efforts at such holism were made in every cultural and religious tradition of the world and not only in western philosophy. This introduced many symbols in the form of figures, pictures, and diagrams such as triangles, pyramids and charkas, depicting such holism in various ways into the dialogue. Here Richard Thomas, Mieke Vander Poll, Syamala Hari, Keith Watson, Todd Ingram made their seminal contributions in thought and deed.

Unification of science and spirituality brought into focus the complete unification of science first, and in this regard Dr Avtar Singh, author of The Hidden Factor: An Approach for Resolving Paradoxes of Science, Cosmology and Universal Reality presented his newly developed concept of Holistic Relativity, which according to him unites science to Consciousness through the observable spontaneity in nature and thus solves all modern paradoxes of science, especially of quantum theory, such as dark energy, dark matter etc. Harbhajan Singh opined that if we were to take science along, we would have to take note of their present problems and efforts at uniting Quantum Theory and Relativity, that ignoring Quantum Theory will mean ignoring major part of present science and so it will not be advisable. This led DK Matai, the initiator and overall coordinator of the Socratic Dialogue to name this dialogue, or now rather the project based on it, as Holistic Quantum Relativity.

Given the open nature of the dialogue it was found that different people were presenting and understanding certain terms differently. This led to the need for developing a common glossary, which is continuing alongside the development of the HQR Socratic Dialogue.

After science, attention naturally turned towards masters of Spirituality as also of other fields. In came the Dialogue of Einstein and Tagore on Music, quotes of Einstein having bearings on science and mysticism and of His Holiness Master Kirpal on Unity of Man etc.

Dialogue once again turned towards science when it was found that certain key findings of hitherto neglected Quantum Theory such as Dr David Bohm’s work about the universe being made up of an “interconnected unbroken wholeness”, The Non-locality phenomenon related to Bells’s Theorem, and The Observer’s Effect implying that consciousness underlies all reality, led one to believe that we were advancing towards a holotropic state, strikingly resembling timeless spiritual concept of all reality being the manifestation of one infinite singularity, various named as Creative Principle, Self-Designing Source, Supra-Universal Consciousness, Divine Principle or God.

Harbhajan Singh summed up that universal evolution in fact comprised two parts, the one, described by the Quantum Theory in which the universe gets wound up or entangled into forces – Einstein’s spooky action at a distance - and the other, described by the Relativity Theory, in which the universe gets unwound or disentangled; that thus, Quantum Theory describes a universe contracting from many to One while Relativity theory describes a universe expanding from One to many, and so, it was no wonder that Quantum Theory was leading us to the Holotropic state, a state of Oneness. He furthered opined that it may be good for us to help science further explore the Quantum Theory rather than prematurely discard it in favour of Holistic Relativity.

Holistic Quantum Relativity Background

For those who wish to understand the genesis of this Socratic Dialogue on IntentBlog in detail, which has led to the preliminary efforts towards Holistic Quantum Relativity (HQR), please visit the following strings in sequence:

1. Maulana Rumi: 2007 is his 800th Anniversary!

2. Unified Force, Sub-nuclear Physics & Love of Rumi

3. Holistics: Embracing Science, Art and Spirituality!

4. Complex Holistics: Hegel's Logic, Spirit and Mind

5. Simple Holistics: Hegel Triangles & Unified Pyramid

6. Holistic Pyramid, Sahasrara, Sri Yantra, Creation

7. Holistic Relativity: Spiritual Planes & Consciousness

8. Holistic Quantum Relativity: Spirituality and Science

9. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary

10. Holistic Quantum Relativity Evolution on IntentBlog

11. HQR: Tagore Einstein: Science, Spirituality & Music

12. HQR: Albert Einstein Quotes on Spirituality

13. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Nature of Thought

14. HQR: HH Master Kirpal -- Indira Gandhi & Quotes

15. HQR: Quantum Physics -- The Holotropic State

16. HQR: Bringing All Together & Another Perspective

17. HQR: Quantum Computer, Einstein's Spooky Action

18. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.2

19. Holistic Quantum Relativity Project: Glossary v0.3

Similar information in a more accessible format is available from The Alliance for a New Humanity's Global Wiki Project

Terms utlised in Holistic Quantum Relativity

Adwaita or Advaita: Non-duality between the observer and the observed.

AHARMAN: (also spelled as Ahriman): The Evil God perpetually at war with the Good God, Ahura-Mazda or Ormuzd, the Supreme Creator as given in the Zen-davasta of the Zoroastrians.

Air: Fourth Element.

AJNA or AJNA CHAKRA: Focal point behind and between the eyes, seat of the soul during waking state.

AKASH BANI : Voice from the heaven. fig. the Audible Sound Current, the creative life-principle, sustaining everything in the universe; same as Udgit of the ancients, the holy Word of the Christians, the Barg-i-Asmani or Kalma of the Mohammedans, and the Naam or Shabda of the Sikhs.

Akasha: "Non-visible." Sky, Inner sky, or ether. A broad term referring to the "fifth element" (earth, water, fire, air and sky), perceived as the rarified space or fluid plasma that pervades the universe. Even more subtly, akasha names the inner mind or superconscious stratum. It is through psychic penetration into the akasha that great cosmic knowledge is gathered and the entire circle of time, past, present and future can be known.

AKATH or AKATH KATHA: What cannot be adequately described; fig. the mystic sound principle: the wordless Word, the God-in-expression power, or the Music of the soul.

All-pervasive: Diffused throughout, or existing in every part of the universe, beyond universe and supra-universe.

AMAR DAS, Guru (Ministry 1553-74): Third in succession to Nanak.

ANAMI : The Nameless One without attributes. Same as Maha Dayal, Nirala and Soami.

ANANDA : Ecstasy or bliss.

Anava: The ego, sense of "I" and "mine," ignorance; separation from God. Denotes a sense of finitude and individuality. Derived from the word "anu" meaning an atom or something exceedingly small. One of the three malas or bondages: anava, karma and maya. Anava is the cause of the soul's mistaken sense of separation from God, and the last bond broken at union or Self-Realisation.

AND : The Third Grand Division in the creation, comprising of Trikuti and Sahansdal Kanwal, where subtle matter in the form of emotions and thoughts predominates and the spirit cannot but make use of them; a materio-spiritual region.

ANGAD, Guru (Ministry 1538-53): Second in succession to Nanak, original name being Bhai Lehna. Nanak recognised in him his worthy successor, with a claim to his spiritual riches (Lehna), in preference to his own sons. Nanak styled him 'Angad,' i.e., one cast in his own mould and filled by his own light, as a veritable part of his own being.

ANHAD or ANHAD BANI: Sound that is unending and knows no limits; fig. Audible Life-Current originating the Divine Will, endlessly carrying on the work of creating and sustaining the universe; interchangably used with An-hat meaning 'Unstruck,' as it is automatic and not instrumental.

ANTISH KARAN: inner four-petalled lotus of the mind, symbolic of four mental faculties: chit (memory), manas (feeling mind), buddhi (thinking intellect) and ahamkar (the self-assertive ego).

APRA VIDYA: Knowledge of the material world (observation and experiment) through senses, comprising of religous rites and rituals, formulas and formularies, fasts, vigils, pilgrimages as opposed to 'pra', the awareness of the spiritual world, the knowledge of which lies beyond senses and which is quite independent of them.

Aranayaka: Any of several Sanskrit religious and philosophical treatises, closely connected with the Brahmanas and Upanishads, and intended to be read by hermits in the quiet of the forest. [Sanskrit Āra-yakam, from neuteral singular of āranyaka-, pertaining to the forest, from āranya-, from aranyam, foreign land, wilderness, forest, from arana-, distant, foreign; see al- in Indo-European roots.]

ARJAN or ARJAN DEV, Guru (Ministry 1581-1606): Fifth in the line of succession to Nanak, compiled the Adi Granth (Guru Granth Sahib), the Bible of the Sikhs containing hymns of praise to God from the writings of all the Saints whether Hindus or Muslims, that he could lay his hands upon, besides his own compositions.

ASANA : A generic term denoting any posture in yogic discipline for self-development.

Asana: "Seat or posture." Positions or postures used in hatha yoga and meditation; the third stage of the ashtanga (eight-limbed) yoga system codified in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and discussed in numerous other scriptures. Padmasana ("lotus" or cross-legged pose) is a famed example, though many other postures exist which balance the energies of mind and body, promoting both health and serenity. Asana may also refer to the mat or place on which one sits during meditation. An important dimension of Natha sadhana.

Ascetic: A person who leads a life of contemplation and rigorous self-denial for religious purposes.

Ashram: "A place or state of striving." Holy sanctuary -- physical or virtual; abode or residence of a sadhu, saint, ascetic or guru who is engaged in spiritual instruction. May be a simple place where a guru and his disciples reside, a monastery or a communal institution with schools, guest houses, publishing facilities, charitable enterprises, etc.

Ashrama dharma: That dharma (way of righteousness) which expresses the natural unfoldment of the body, mind and emotions through four stages of life: student, householder, elder advisor and solitaire.

ashrama: Any of the four stages into which a person's life is divided according to Vedic teachings.

ASHTANG YOGA : An eight-fold path of yogic discip-line as developed by Patanjali, the reputed founder of yoga or the path of union of the soul with the Over-soul .

Ashtanga yoga: "Eight-limbed union." The classical raja yoga system of eight progressive stages or steps as described in numerous Hindu scriptures including various Upanishads, the Tirumantiram by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali. The eight limbs are: restraints (yama), observances (niyama), postures (asana), breath control (pranayama), sense withdrawal (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and contemplation (samadhi).

Astikya: "Faith." Among the traditional niyamas, or ethical practices, of ashtanga yoga, astikya is faith in God, Gods, guru and the path to enlightenment.

Astral body: "Body of the stars." Sometimes known as the emotional body, the astral body is the third most dense of the five interpenetrating bodies or sheaths (known in Sanskrit as koshas), through which the soul functions. The five bodies are: physical (annamayakosha), pranic (pranamayakosha), astral (manomayakosha), mental (vijnamayakosha) and causal (anandamayakosha). The astral body functions in the astral plane or Second World (Devaloka).

Astral plane: The subtle, non-physical plane or Devaloka, the second of three primary planes or worlds, or lokas, which include the Bhuloka (First World, or physical plane) and the Sivaloka (Third World, or causal plane).

Astral: "Of the stars." Belonging to the subtle, non-physical dimension of the Second World or Plane. "Astral forces" exist in the Second World but can be felt psychically in the First, ie, the Physical Plane.

Atma: Sanskrit for soul, including the individual soul body and its essence, in contrast with the outer self of individuality and personality with which a person commonly identifies.

Aum: Mystic syllable of Hinduism, identified in the Upanishads as standing for the whole world and its parts, including past, present and future, as well as for Paramatma, the Self of all things. "Aum" is the seed sound, the one undifferentiated primal vibration from which all manifestation issues forth. Associated with Lord Ganesha. Pronounced: "ah" "oo" "mm."

Aura: A subtle, luminous energy field radiating within and around the human body as far as 3-7 feet. That part of the aura which surrounds the head is often represented by artists as a nimbus or halo to depict saints and enlightened beings. Though awakened souls have more brilliant and pure auras, everyone has an aura. Seen psychically, the aura is filled with many colors which are reflections of the thoughts and emotions active in the nervous system and change according to the person's state of mind.

Austerities: Practices of strict self-discipline & self-denial.

Awareness: Individual consciousness, perception, knowing. In the teachings of Saiva Siddhanta Church, awareness describes the soul's ability to sense, see or know. When awareness is aware only of itself and of no object, it merges into Pure Consciousness, Satchidananda.

BABA: A reverential prefix, added to the name of a holy man of merit and renown, like the English prefix Rev. before clergymen.

BANG-I-ASMANI: The Call from heaven. fig. Kalma a holy Word.

BANI : Scriptural texts. fig. the holy Word or Naam

Bhagavad Gita: A portion of the Mahabharata, having the form of a dialogue between the warrior hero Arjuna and his charioteer, the Avatar of Vishnu, Lord Krishna, in which a doctrine combining Brahmanical and other elements is evolved by way of a discourse presented as "The Blessed One's Song."

Bhai Gurdas has given a beautiful description of it in his Kabits and Swaiyas Nos. 140, 141, 213, 265, 269, 270 and 294. Kabir has also referred to Till, in his Dohas or couplets. Tulsi Sahib, tells us that mystery of God is revealed only when one penetrates behind the Til.

BHAJAN : One of the three Sadhans (disciplines) in self-realisation and God-realisation and stands for attuning one's self with the Audible Life Stream.

Bhakta: A devotee (same as bhaktar).

BHAKTI : Worshipful devotion to the God-Man.

BHAKTI YOGA : One of the three important systems of Yoga: Jnana (The path of knowledge), Bhakti (the Path of devotion) and Karam (the path of action)

Bhakti: Devotion; the expression of love for and surrender to God.

Bhuloka: The physical world perceived through the five senses. Also called the First World or Plane.

BIBLE: The holy scriptures of the Christians, comprising of 66 books: 39 in the Old and 27 in the New Testament.

BRAHM GIANI: The knower of Brahm (the Universal Mind), the creator of Brahmand: the cosmos.

Brahmachari: An unmarried man and spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes religious disciplines, including sadhana, devotion, service and teaching, and who may be under simple vows.

Brahmacharini: An unmarried, female spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes certain disciplines, often relating to devotion, service and teaching children, and who may be under simple vows.

Brahmachariya: "Godly conduct." Brahmachariya, among the ethical restraints known as the yamas, means sexual purity--the restraint of lust and other aspects of the instinctive nature. In its strictest application, brahmachariya is celibacy, complete sexual abstinence, as practiced by monastics and advised for all persons prior to marriage. Thus, the first phase of life, until age twenty-five, is called the brahmachariya ashrama, a time of studentship and transmutation of sexual energies into intellectual and spiritual concerns. In a broader sense, householders practice the sexual purity of brahmachariya by remaining faithful in marriage.

Brahman: A name for God or Supreme Deity in the Vedas. Descriptions of Brahman include the Transcendent Absolute, the All-Pervading energy, as well as the Supreme Lord or Primal Soul. Brahman is thus equivalent to God Siva in one or all three perfections.

BRAHMAND: Second Grand Division in creation, below Sach Khand. It is a spiritual-material plane of the Universal Mind and subject to decay and dissolution.

BUDDHA: More correctly 'The Buddha': 'the awakened' or 'the enlightened'; title of prince Siddhartha, often called Gautama; the founder of Buddhism.

Buddhism: The religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha. He refuted the idea of man's having an immortal soul and did not preach of any Supreme Deity. Instead he taught that man should seek freedom from greed, hatred and delusion, and enlightenment through realizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths are: the fact of suffering, the origin of suffering, the annihilation of suffering, and the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path comprises: Right Views, Right Aspirations, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Meditation. Buddhism migrated out of India, the country of its origin, and now enjoys a following of roughly 300 million, mostly in Asia.

BUDDHI: Thinking and reasoning faculty: intellect. One of the three constituent parts that go to form a rational being: body, mind and intellect, the last being the discriminating faculty that reasons out right from wrong,

Chakra: "Wheel." A center of force and consciousness located within the inner bodies of man. Nerve plexes, ganglia and glands corresponding to principle chakras are located in the physical body, situated along the spinal cord from the base into the cranial chamber. Seven principle chakras, psychically seen as colored and multi-petalled lotuses, are commonly described, though many more exist.

CHAKRAS: Six ganglionic centres in the bodily system by controlling which one attains mastery over various processes going on in the body: e.g. physiological, psychological and respiratory etc. Since these centres are in the form of small wheels or lotus, these are called chakras.

CHHANDOGYA UPANISHAD: Based on Sama-Veda, explains the sacred syllable OM, (Udgita or Pranava), i.e. Brahma, the intelligent cause of the universe.

CHID-AKASH : Pure mind-essence wherefrom mental vibrations arise and assume the form of feelings, thoughts and actions.

CHIT OR CHITA : Lake of the mind wherein are stored all kinds of impressions in the form of memories, it is one of the four facets of manas: Chit, Mana, Budhi and Ahankar.

CHITR: One of the two recording angels: the other being Gupt; keeping a record of the deeds of each person (manifested acts and unmanifested latencies and thoughts).

CHRIST: (Gr. Christos, the Annointed one). Title given to Jesus, the founder of Christianity, as being the Messiah or Lord's Annointed of the ancient Hebrew prophecy.

Concentrated meditation: A type of meditation which may infuse a new type of life (Jia or inner awareness) in the heart of the meditator.

Conscience: The inherent knowledge or sense of right and wrong. Our conscience is the innate wisdom of our soul, along with all we have learned from our past lives.

Conscious mind: The everyday, thinking state of mind. We function in the conscious mind during most of our waking hours. One of the five states of mind: conscious, subconscious, sub-subconscious, sub-superconscious & superconscious.

Conscious: Aware, sentient, able to feel and think; the ordinary waking state.

Consciousness: Short form for Supra-Universal Consciousness.

consciousness: Perception, awareness, apprehension. There are many layers or levels of consciousness ranging from the ordinary, every-day consciousness of our body and mind to omniscient states of superconsciousness, the ultimate Truth being Supra-Universal Consciousness. Consciousness aware only of itself is Pure Consciousness. Basic consciousness and soul are essentially the same. The soul which has begun functioning in an individual (begun entanglement) is basic consciousness, consciousness when not functioning in an individual is soul. When unaware, both are the same as spirit.

Creed: An authoritative formulation of the beliefs of a religion or a community. A creed is meant to summarize the specific teachings or articles of faith, to embody and thus protect and transmit the beliefs. Creeds have arisen historically when a religion was transplanted from its country or region of origin to a new culture.

DADU (1544-1603): Brahman sage of Ahmedabad, rejected the Vedas and Qoran; thought of Siva, Vishnu and Brahma as deified men; denounced caste and priestcraft and taught worship of One God, the Creator Preserver of all.

Dana: "Giving." A traditional niyama, ethical practice, dana is charity, giving creatively without thought of reward, including tithing and feeding the poor.

Dark Energy: A hypothetical form of energy that permeates all of space and has strong negative pressure causing the observed expansion of the universe. Compare Kal Niranjan.

Dark Matter: Matter which is not directly observed and has unknown composition. It does not emit or reflect enough electromagnetic radiation to be detected directly, but its presence can be inferred from gravitational effects on visible matter. Compare Kal Niranjan.

DARSHAN : To have a view of the Master's form with loving devotion, within or without.

DASAM DWAR or DASAM DUWAR: Region between Brahmand and Par Brahmand, both of which form the second Grand Division in creation, plane of Universal Mind consisting of Pure Spirit and subtle form of matter varying degrees; here the pilgrim-soul, by a dip in Amritsaar (the sacred pool within), is washed clean of impurities regaining its pristine purity, becoming hansa or a royal white swan.

Daya: "Compassion." Among the traditional yamas, moral restraints, daya is conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.

DAYAL : Merciful or compassionate. It is one of the attributes of God.

Deity: "God." Can refer to the image or murthi installed in a temple or to the Mahadeva whom the murthi represents.

Deva: "Shining one." A Second World being living in the higher astral plane.

Devaloka: The higher Second World, wherein souls take on astral or mental bodies; deep within the First World.

Devotee: A person strongly dedicated to something or someone, such as to a God or a guru. Often used interchangeably with disciple, though the latter term generally implies a deeper commitment.

DHARAM RAI : King-Judge; The Lord of the Astral world who judges all by their actions: the law being as you sow, so shall you reap. But those who take refuge at the feet of a Perfect Master easily escape from the pinching effect of this Law.

DHARM : The term is derived from the Sanskrit root 'Dhir' meaning that which supports or upholds some-thing. (Here of course the world systems on all levels of existence).

Dharma: Divine law; the law of being; defined broadly as the way of righteousness or "that which holds one's true nature." The fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny. To "follow dharma" means to act in accordance with divine law.

Dhriti: "Steadfastness, constancy." Among the traditional yamas, dhriti is overcoming non-perseverance, fear, indecision and changeableness, keeping the mind and emotions steady through all circumstances.

DHUN-ATMAK: Music of the soul.

DHUN: Reverberation of the sound principle in creation, Music of the spheres.

DHYAN: From Dhi. (Skt. Dhi). Concentration, particularly the holy Shabd; communion with the Word.

DHYANIS: Devotees who go into ecstasy with the musical chants of cymbals.

Divine Mother: See Shakti.

Earth: First Element

Ego: The "i" thought and the center of various basic interactions as we evolve. Sum total of our personality, beliefs, experiences, memories, wishes and desires. It (also called self) represents the character(s) progressively surrendering through which, we reach our fundamental identity of indestructible Self or Soul as one with the All-Encompassing One or God.

Egotism, Egotistical: Characteristic of those having an inflated idea of their own importance. Characteristic of false pride or having an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

EK-ANKAR: The Unmanifest-Manifested, God-in-expression power, the holy Word, the primal manifestation of Godhead by which and in which all live, move and have their being and by which all find a way back to Absolute God.

Electron: A stable subatomic particle in the lepton family having a rest mass of 9.1066 × 10^-31 kg and a unit negative electric charge of approximately 1.602 × 10^-19 Coulombs.

Emanation: To "flow out from." In Saiva Siddhanta philosophy, God Siva creates and is His creation. Siva's creation of the world from Himself is described in scripture as being similar to "sparks issuing forth from fire" or "a web from a spider." This vision of cosmic creation contrasts with other views such as "creation out of nothing" (Judeo/Christian), or non-creation--a view in which reality is permanent and always existing (Meykandar Saiva Siddhanta and other dualist and pluralist schools).

Entanglement: Aan intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim. The act of entangling. The state of being entangled. Something that entangles; snares; involvement; complication. To twist together or entwine into a confusing mass; snarl. To complicate; confuse. To involve in or as if in a tangle. eg Entanglement for this life happened in previous lives, entanglement for the next life may happen in this life. Similarly, entanglement for this cycle of evolution of universe happened in previous cycles, entanglement for the next cycle may happen in this cycle. In the context of universal evolution, unified force's coupling to various gross to subtle forms of matter and through them to various basic interactions. Thus, when it couples to the molecular level and above, it gets entangled into gravitational interactions; when to the atomic level, it gets entangled into electromagnetic interactions; when to nuclear level or to nucleons, it gets entangled in strong interactions; and finally, when it couples to sub-nuclear level, it gets entangled to weak interactions. At human level it may be taken as awareness or consciousness's coupling to/absorption into physical body, emotional body, causal (mind/thoughts) body and finally subtler emotional body or spiritual body. Evolution is the result of this coupling/entanglement, which causes mutations in bodies through evolutionary surges (Design Part), and the respective body's reaction/response to adapt to them (Darwinian Part). See Evolution.

Essence - That which cannot be described with or is beyond words / language and labels because it is the sum of the parts, ie, detail. An essence can only be experienced and is an intangible existence.

Ether: Word used most often to translate akasha. Most subtle of the five elements (earth, air, water, fire and ether) which make up the physical universe. Invisible essence which pervades all form and all other elements. In a broader sense etheric refers to the non-physical spheres (as in "inner ethers").

Evolutionary Leap: A phenomenon caused by soul or spirit when it acts as evolutionary force and makes any system make a quatum jump to its next energy orbit or interaction centre. Thus it makes an electron of an atom to jump to its next energy orbit (in which case it is also called free energy of an atom or energy entrapped in an atom); and it makes Kundalini Shakti or Energy in humans to jump to the centre of next basic energy interaction or Chakra. See Entanglement.

Evolutionary Surge: See Evolutionary Leap.

Faith: Confidence or trust in a person, concept, abstraction or thing: faith in another's ability. Belief that is not based on traditional proof. Belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of spiritual schools of thought. Belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit. A system of religious belief: the Christian faith; the Jewish faith. The obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise or engagement. The observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance. In theology: the trust in God and in His promises as made through a Master and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

Fire: Third Element.

First World: The physical universe of gross or material substance in which phenomena are perceived by the five senses.

Free Will: That which sees and understand things as they are, ie, free from causality (independent of the past or future)

GAGGAN : The upper portion that crowns the Trikuti (the second plane on the spiritual path). it is the place where all kinds of latencies are stored np.

Ganesha: A Mahadeva or great God created by Lord Siva to assist souls in their evolution. The elephant-faced Patron of Art and Science, first Son of Siva, Remover of Obstacles.

GITA : Bhagvad Gita: (Skt. Song of the Lord, the Adorable One or the Blessed One): forming part of the great epic of Mahabharata, in the nature of a dialogue of Plato or the book of Job. Dissertation by Krishna on the duty of the Kshatriya to fight a righteous war against injustice, no matter what the odds.

GOBIND or GOVIND: Lord of the universe; here Lord Krishna, the eighth avtar of Vishnu, the creator and sustainer of the three realms: physical, astral and instrumental.

GOBIND SINGH, Guru (Ministry 16761708): A soldier-saint ranking as tenth in succession to Nanak, brought about the transformation of Sikhs (mere disciples) into Singhs (militant lions), a martial race for the defense of the country against injustice and tyranny of the rulers, and gave the new institution the name of Khalsa: the brotherhood of the pure, by a form of baptism, called Khanda-di-Pahul or 'Baptism of the Sword.'

God: Beyond definition, timeless, infinity. The creator and observer or witness to all disguised as everything else.

Gods: Mahadevas, "Great Beings of Light." Extremely advanced beings existing in their self-effulgent soul bodies in the Astral plane. Originally created by , as all souls are, Gods have evolved to a constant superconsciousness as they govern, advance and assist all worlds. Gods are genderless, neither male nor female, but pure kundalini-energy beings.

GOSPEL: 'Glad Tidings' preached by Christ and his apostles. 'Good news' (of salvation), Anglo-Saxon 'God,' and 'spell,' a narrative, or 'God-story' of Revelation.

Grace: The free and unmerited favour or beneficence of God. Benevolence and love. Central religious concept denoting God's innate quality of giving and caring for creation. Grace is both general and specific. In the general or cosmic sense, functions of veiling and revealing are termed grace -- like a dutiful parent guiding the growth of a child, concealing that which the child is not prepared to face and revealing or teaching that which it needs to know to progress in life. In the specific or microcosmic sense, grace may be defined as receiving a gift from God, often as a result of spiritual striving or as a response to the devotee's love. It is bestowed upon those who are consistent in their spiritual discipline, bhakti and devotion, though what is attained by grace cannot be attained by any other means. For example, by his own efforts a yogi can obtain great control over his mind, but the final Self-Realization can only occur through the grace of the Guru.

GRANTH SAHIB : The holy Bible of the sikhs compiled by Guru Arjan. It contains the songs of all the fore-runners in the realm of Spiritually, irrespective of the caste or vocation of their authors.

Gravity Nullification Model (GNM): The model integrates consciousness into a simplified mathematical model of general relativity theory to resolve outstanding paradoxes of quantum mechanics, relativity, and cosmology theories. GNM forms the basis of the Holistic Relativity theory as part of the overall HQR Project. GNM was propounded by Dr Avtar Singh.

Grihastha: Householder; family man or woman. The period of human life after the brahmachariya ashram (studentship period) is over, the individual establishing a career, home and family.

GUNA : Quality or attribute which constitutes a motor-power for all our deeds and actions according to one's inherent nature.

Gunas: "Qualities." Metaphysically, the gunas are fundamental cosmic qualities of nature. The three gunas are tamas (inertia, density, the force of contraction, resistance & dissolution), rajas (stimulative, restlessness, activity; the expansive energy of growth and movement) and sattva (quiescence, rarified, translucent, pervasive, reflecting the light of pure consciousness).

GUR-BANI: cf. Bani, Scriptural texts as given by the Gurus in Granth Sahib, not to be confused with Gur-ki-Bani, the holy Sound Current made manifest by a competent Master (Guru), as a means to attain the highest spiritual realm from where it emanates.

GURMAT: Path of the Guru, both as he preaches without and the one that is revealed within, by following which one reaches the true eternal home of God.

GURU DEV : Radiant Form of the Master that meets a disciple as his spirit ascends above body-consciousness.

Guru Ram Das, in this context, says: "Mind wanders away every second as it has not entered the Til."

Guru: "Remover of darkness;" guide. A teacher. Though it can connote a teacher of any subject, guru usually denotes a spiritual teacher or master.

Gurudeva: "The shining spiritual being who is the destroyer of darkness of ignorance." Part of the name of His Holiness Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. An affectionate, yet respectful term used to address the guru or spiritual master.

GURU: in Hinduism, a spiritual teacher or preceptor, treated with the deepest respect and greatest reverence; one who lights up the Way Godward; a torch-bearer on the way back to the mansion of the Lord.

HAFIZ (1320: -1389 A.D.): A great Persian Saint-poet born at Shiraz. Hafiz is the pen name which means 'one who knows Koran by heart'. His real name was Shams-ud-Din Mohammed which means 'Sun of the Religion founded by Prophet Mohammed'. Hafiz enjoys great popularity among the Muslims and Hindus alike both as a saint as well as a poet.

HARMUZD : (also spelled as Ormuzdj) The Good God or Ahura-Mazda who in the oldest scriptures is the supreme creator being opposed by the Evil God, Ahriman as given in Zendavesta. the scriptures of Zoroaster.

HATHA YOGA : A form of yoga dealing with the control of the body and bodily activities as the means of stilling the mind. The process of deintoxication and rejuvenation is done by means of six purificatory acts called Shat Karma, like Neti and Dhoti etc. It is considered as a methodical approach to the attainment of the highest in yoga: Raja Yoga. 'Hatha' literally means will-power or indomitable will to do a thing, howsoever uncommon it may be. Etymologically 'Ha' represents the sun and 'tha' stands for the moon. Hence Hatha Yoga aims at coordinating the warm and cold aspects of sun and moon respectively by working through Ida and Pingla.

Hatha yoga: "Sun/moon yoga." Ha and tha are the sun and moon nerves ending in the nasal region of the head. They correspond to the pingala and ida nadis--mental and emotional currents--flowing up, in a crisscross pattern, the sides of the kundalini nadi: sushumna. Through breath control--ha is inbreath, tha is outbreath--and the manipulation of the physical/astral bodies through specific series of asanas (postures) and mudras (bodily positions), the ida and pingala currents are perfectly balanced and the yogi functions in his sushumna (kundalini) nadi. The yogi is then prepared for deep meditation, following raja yoga, or kundalini yoga under the guidance of a guru. Besides its spiritual benefits, hatha yoga results in purification of the subconscious mind and robust physiological health contributing towards longevity. Hatha yoga is an ancient Natha Sampradaya science--

HAZUR : A venerable form of address applied to persons of distinction in any grade of life.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty: It is a mathematical limit on the accuracy with which it is possible to measure the smallest possible physical properties there are to know about a physical quantum system at the nano- and sub-nano- level or related phenomenon.

Hinduism: Often known as the Sanatana Dharma or eternal faith, or the Vaidika Dharma, the religion of the Vedas. The most ancient religion in the world; the only religion not founded by man. Encompasses a broad spectrum of religious philosophies ranging from pluralistic theism to absolute monism. There are three main sects: Saivism, Vaishnavism, Saktism--and liberal, non-sectarian forms, such as the Smarta Sampradaya.

Holistic Quantum Relativity: A theory which seeks to integrate spirituality with modern science.

Holotropic State: Holotropic means "moving toward wholeness." [Origin: Greek "Holos" = whole and "Trepein" = moving in the direction of]

Holy Kural: Another name for the ethical and moral scripture Tirukural ("Holy couplets''), written by Saint Tiruvalluvar on dried ola leaves over 2,000 years ago near present-day Madras, South India. Saint Tiruvalluvar was a householder and a weaver by profession. His Tirukural or Holy Kural, written in the Tamil language, embodies a treasury of knowledge on conduct, human experience and Hindu dharma. In 1,330 verses, its advice ranges from household finance to affairs of state, from the bravery of warriors to the budding love of adolescents. Today the Holy Kural is widely studied as a guide to the practical application of religion in daily life. Acclaimed the "Tamil Dharma Shastra," it forms a cornerstone of virtuous living for millions of Hindus. It is a primary scripture of Saiva Siddhanta Church, whose members study it and refer to it often and apply its timeless wisdom to their lives.

Hri: "Remorse." One of the traditional niyamas of ashtanga yoga, hri is being modest and expressing shame upon committing a misdeed.

Ida: Inner body nadi current, pink in color, that flows downward ending on the left side of the body. This current is feminine in nature, radiating a physical, emotional energy.

identical with the totality of observed phenomena and that reality does not exist in the absence of observation", and the well known statement of Bohr "There is no Quantum World. There is only an Abstract Quantum description."

Illusion: See Maya.

Illusory Universe: See universe.

Instinctive: In a religious context, instinctive and instinctiveness are used to describe the lower animal instincts of human nature--for example: greed, hatred, anger, fear, lust, and jealousy.

Intellect: The ability to reason or understand; power of thought; mental acumen. An intellectual is a person who has great mental abilities and intelligence. Such persons usually have control over their instinctive nature, but may not be awakened to their higher intuitive nature.

Isvarapranidhana: "Devotion to God." Cultivating devotion through daily worship and meditation, the fifth of five niyamas listed by Sage Patanjali in his 2,200-year-old Yoga Sutras. Isvarapranidhana is essentially the equivalent of Isvarapujana (worship), the corresponding niyama listed in the Sandilya Upanishad and other texts which include ten niyamas rather than five.

Isvarapujana: "Worship of the Lord." Isvarapujana is worship, especially ritual worship known as puja in which devotion is expressed toward an image of the Deity. It is also internal worship, or meditation and is a traditional niyama of ashtanga yoga.

its first historical appearance being on the famous Pasupati seal from the 6,000 year-old Indus Valley empire. Hatha yoga is propounded in the Saiva Agamas, Tirumular's Tirumantiram and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It was made famous by Gorakhnath of the Adinatha lineage in the 10th century C.E. From India, hatha yoga was exported to China and Tibet.

JAIMAL SINGH (1839: 1903 A.D.): A soldier-saint initiated into the sacred teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga by Soami Ji Maharai of Agra, who deputed Him to carry on His Mission in the Punjab so as to repay, in some measure, the debt the world owed to Guru Nanak who came from the Punjab and whose teachings had imbibed and influenced Soami Jo Maharaj. Baba Jaimal Singh Ji in his turn, left his spiritual mantle on Hazur Baba awan Singh Ji.

JAP JI : A prologue to Guru Granth Sahib provided by Nanak, outlining the basic tenets of his teachings, by practising which one gets an insight into the philosophy of spiritual awakening as a prelude to Jia-Dan (infusing life impulse itself).

JAP or JAPA: intense repetition with the tongue of thought of God's name, losing one's individuality in the act.

Japa: "Recitation." Japa is the spiritual practice of devotedly repeating a mantram (sacred, mystic syllables), often while counting the repetitions on a mala, or rosary. Japa may be done silently or aloud. Sometimes known as mantram yoga, it is one of the ten niyamas (spiritual practices) of ashtanga yoga, serving to quiet the mind prior to meditation.

JI-A suffix added to personal names as a mark of respect.

JNANA YOGA : See Bhakti Yoga.

JYOTI : Divine Light.

KAAL (or Kal) : Time, wherein all the embodied souls live, move and have their being, until disrobed of the physical raiment, by disease, decay, and dissolution, called 'death,' a final change in the level of consciousness.

KABIR (1440-1518 A.D.): A great Indian Saint and contemporary of Guru Nanak. The modern age of Sant Mat wherein the Science of Surat Shabd Yoga is openly taught and first-hand experience given may be said to have begun with Kabir Sahib.

Kadavul: An ancient Tamil name of Lord Siva; "He who is both immanent and transcendent."

Kal Niranjan: Time Invisible. Creator of Illusory Universe (Brahmand) with three planes -- Causal (Karan), Astral (Suksham) and Physical (Sthul). Controls human being via the mind.

Kal: Time, controller of the mind.

Kali Yuga: "Dark Age." The Kali Yuga is the fourth age in the repetitive cycle of four phases of time the universe passes through. It is comparable to the darkest part of the night, as the forces of ignorance are in full power and many of the subtle faculties of the soul are obscured.

KALMA : A Koranic term that stands for Word in the Bible, Nad in the Hindu scriptures and Naam as termed by the Masters, all of which denote the Audible Life Stream pulsating in the entire creation, visible and invisible.

KARM BHUMI: (Karrn Kshetra). Field of actions and reactions. fig. the earth plane in which individuals freely sow seeds with a free-will and reap the fruits of their own actions .

KARMA - The term denotes a highly complex system of actions and reactions weaving a ceaseless chain of cause and effect resulting from a thoughtless thought, an inadvertently uttered word or an unintended deed, for each of these has a potential to fructify, not only in this lifetime but even in lives to come; though one may in blessed forgetfulness, fail to find the link and call it a mere 'chance.'[ "Wheel of Life" in the book section, is an entire book on the subject of karma]

KARMA YOGA : See Bhakti Yoga.

Karma: Sanskrit word meaning "deed or act;" more broadly describing the principle of cause and effect. Also, the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and all previous lives.

KHALSA: The brotherhood of the pure in Sikhism. cf. Gobind Singh.

KRISHNA: In Hindu mythology, eighth avtar or incarnation of Vishnu; the author of Bhagwad Gita, a valuable dissertation in defence of a righteous war, considered from different angles.

KRIYA YOGA : A form of Karma Yoga having its own limitations like so many other forms of Yoga.

Kshama: "Patience." Kshama is the restraint of intolerance with people and impatience with circumstances. It is among the ten yamas.

KUNDALINI : A serpentine power that lies coiled up at the far end of the spinal cord and is awakened by the Yogi, through various kriyas which when roused up helps to cross the various bodily centres leading up to Sahsarar or the thousand-petalled Lotus behind the eyes which is the goal of all the yogis. It is because of this that sometimes it is designated as Kundalini Yoga.

Kundalini Energy: "Serpent power," the primordial cosmic energy in every individual which lies coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine and rises up the sushumna nadi. Through yoga it is awakened and made to rise up the chakras to the crown or sahasrara chakra. It is a fundamental energy of the soul that activates all the levels of the soul, from lowest to highest, fitting it for enlightenment. An energy that is the very principle of life by which the whole human being lives. So every expression of human life, the lower and the highter planes, is a divine expression.

LAKSHMI: Goddess of wealth, particularly the wealth of Divine virtues, sought by seekers after Truth preparatory to listening to the Divine Song, coming from the 'Veena of Saraswati' singing forever the 'Song of Divine Wisdom' in the soul of each, and heard only when one destroys all vices by propitiating goddess Kali and develops virtues through the grace of Lakshmi.

Liberation: Moksha; release from samsara (the round of births and deaths).

Logic: The non-arithmetic operations performed by a computer, such as sorting, comparing and matching, that involve yes-no decisions.

Loka: Habitat, region or plane of existence. A place of a particular level of vibration and associated beings, Gods, devas or men. Three primary lokas (Bhuloka, Devaloka and Sivaloka) and fourteen sub-classifications of the cosmos are designated in Hindu scripture.

Love or Unifying Love: That which loves and connects with everything unconditionally.

MAHA DAYAL : Literally the most compassionate: the term is synonymous with the Nameless One, without attributes. It is the same as Anami, Nirala and Soami .

MAHA KAAL: cf. Kaal. The Great Time or eternity with its sway extending over three worlds: physical, subtle or astral and mental or instrumental, forming Brahmand and Par Brahmand wherein everything is subject to disease, decay and final disintegration, until spirit stands disrobed of all the enclosing sheaths or vestures of the body, mind and intellect, besides deep-rooted latencies, and shines forth in its pristine glory, conscious of itself alone, free from all bondage.

MAHA PRALYA: Grand dissolution wherein everything born of the universal mind merges in its source and fountainhead.

Mahadeva: "Great Deva" or "Great Shining One." A name of Siva. Also used to denote any of the multitude of Gods--Ganesha, Muruga, etc.

MAHAVIRA : Literally the great warrior who conquered his self by extreme austerities and penances; the founder of Jainism which like Budhism was yet another attempt at reforming the Brahmical supremacy based on rites and rituals.

MANA : Reflector of the mental vibration as they float to the surface, form the depths of the chit. Thus Mana or mind is said to preside at the council table and presents the picture whenever necessary to the intellect.

Manikkavasagar: "He whose utterances are ruby-like." 9th century Tamil saint who contributed to the medieval Saivite renaissance. He gave up his position as prime minister to follow a renunciate life, recording his aspirations, pathos and yogic realizations in his poetic scripture, Tiruvasagam.

MANSAROVER: (Hauz-e-Kausar). The fount of nectar in the third spiritual plane (Dasam Dwar), wherein the pilgrim-soul gets real baptism, when washed clean of all the impurities.

Mantra: A sacred mystic syllable, word or verse used in meditation and japa to quiet the mind, balance the inner bodies and attain other desired aims.

MAQAM-I-HAQ or MUKAM-I-HAQ: (Sach Khand). The abode of Truth; the First Grand Division in creation, a purely spiritual region with spirtuality reigning in its entirety and so eternally the same, beyond the sway of Dissolution and Grand Dissolution.

Marga: "Path" or "way." Spiritual path.

MASNAVI or MATHNAWI: A long spiritual poem by Jalal-ud-Din Rumi (1207-73), greatest of the Sufi poets of Persia, am ardent disciple of the illustrious Shamas Tabrezi (the Sun of Spirituality), a perfect spiritual guide of his time. It is a wonderful masterpiece in Persian literature and describes the plight of the outcast soul from the day of first separation from God. The book is held in high reverence and its careful study is supposed to serve as a passport to heaven.

Mati: "Cognition, mind, will." Mati is the religious practice, niyama, of developing a spiritual will and intellect with a guru's guidance.

Matter: The coarsest form of Energy. All that can be perceived directly or indirectly by physical senses. Part of Maya.

MAULANA RUMI, Jalal-ud-Din (1207-73): The famous author of the greatest mystic poem called Masnavi or Mathnawi. He was just a school teacher (Maulvi) but under the powerful influence of his spiritual guide and preceptor, Shamas Tabrezi, he very soon rose to the eminent position of a great spiritual guide (Maulana) and became a teacher of mankind, in the higher (spiritual) values of life. Immediately on his death, he was worshipped as a Saint.

MAYA: (Skt. illusion or deception). A term frequently met in Upanishads, signifies the inscrutable and indescribable power inhering in the projections of the Ultimate Reality (e.g. human body), in all the forms in the material universe making them appear as real, when in fact they are but shadowy substances.

Maya: Illusion. The universe is an illusion because it is really made up of the one and only universal consciousness, but appears as so many. Mind, matter, the four forces are all part of Maya. Maya also stands for mystery. There are some fundamental questions such as why has this universe been created, and why is there the ignorance that prevents one from seeing that the universe is the same as Consciousness. There are no readily available observable and recordable answers; and all the mystery is attributed to Maya. Same as Four Forces of Energy (Shakti) including Four Forces, Matter and Mind. Considered an Illusion when understood in the context of the Unified Force.

Meditate: To think deeply and continuously. In yoga, meditation describes a quiet, alert, powerfully concentrated state wherein new knowledge and insights are awakened from within as awareness focuses one-pointedly on an object or specific line of thought. Meditation is the result of successful concentration; uninterrupted thought on a subject, leading to intuitive discovery. It is dhyana, the seventh of the eight limbs of ashtanga yoga.

Metaphorical: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to -- by way of analogy -- designate another, thus making an implicit comparison.

Metaphysics: "Beyond physics." The branch of philosophy that deals with first principles and seeks to explain the nature of reality and the origin and structure of the world. In recent times, metaphysics has come to include the study of phenomena such as reincarnation, astral travel, psychic people, chakras, auras, etc.

Mind: In a human (or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc. The medium through which we play the Ego's characters in the world. It contains thoughts, memories, and desires. The component in the individual of the Universal Consciousness. A subset of Kal Niranjan or Time Invisible who is resident in the Causal plane. The component in the individual of the Supra-Universal Consciousness is the spirit and of the Universal Consciousness is the mind.

MIRA: (B.C. 1504): A Hindu poetess of the Vaishnavite school. Wife of the Raja of Chitore. A devotee of Krishna.

Miracle: An extraordinary event interpreted to manifest divine or super-natural intervention in human world affairs.

Mitahara: "Little eating; moderate appetite." Mitahara is moderation in diet, avoiding over-indulgence. In the spirit of mitahara, one should not eat meat, fish, fowl or eggs, and avoid all foods which are not beneficial to physical, emotional and mental well-being. Mitahara is among the yamas, ethical restraints, of ashtanga yoga.

MOHAMMED (C. 570-632), Mohomed or more con Mohammed (Arb. the Praised One): The last prophet his age and the founder of Islam called Mohammedaanism after him. Shocked by the prevailing idolatory of Meccans, he sought to work for the reformation of his people both in religion and social order. The religion Mohammed is known as 'Islam' (Arb. resignation entire submission to the Will of God) and the adherents thereto speak of themselves as 'Muslims' (the believers)

Moksha: Liberation from samsara, the round of births and deaths.

Monastic: Monk or nun. Derives from the Greek word monazein, meaning "to be alone." Monasticism includes strict personal discipline and religious practice for the purposes of self-purification, unfoldment and service to others. This is a different word from monistic, the adjective form of monism (the doctrine that Reality is a one whole without independent parts).

MONDUK UPANISHADS: Upanishads (Skt.) esoteric mysterious teachings, forming the most spiritual portion of the Vedas, the philosophical treatises offered by ancient forest-dwelling Rishis to their disciples. Monduk Upanishad is one of about 100 such texts, dealing with problems like origin of the Universe, character of Godhead, nature of the human soul and its relationship to matter and spirit.

Muladhara chakra: The chakra located at the base of the spine and governing memory, time and space. The first of seven nerve plexes or centers of force and consciousness in the psychic nerve system of man, located along the spinal column from its base to the cranial chamber.

MURSHID-i-KAMIL : Muslim term which stands for Perfect Master

Muruga: "Beautiful one." A Mahadeva, Ganesha's younger brother, created by God Siva to assist souls in their evolution, especially through the practice of yoga.

NAAM: The Creative Power-of-God, variously called Vak-Devi, Sruti or Sraosha by ancients, Nad or Akash Bani by Hindus, the holy Word by Chnstians, Kalma or Kalam-i-Qadim by Muslims, and Naam or Akhand Kirtan by Sikh Gurus. Being an emanation from the Supreme Being, it reveals the Divine Will to man.

NAD BIND UPANISHAD: One of the ancient texts dealing with the glory of Nad or the Sound Current. It prescribes the spiritual exercises that give power to the yogins to hear Anhad (Omkar or Onkar) sound of Brahma's first manifestation, within one's own self. its realisation gives knowledge and power to create as it is the only creative principle working in the cosmos.

Nadi: Psychic nerve channel; the network, traditionally said to number 72,000, of subtle energy fibers that form the nervous system of the inner body. These nadis interconnect the chakras. The sushumna, ida and pingala are the three main nadis.

Nakshatra: One of 27 principle asterisms (star clusters, also called Lunar Mansions) in the Hindu system of astrology. Usually refers to one's birthstar. In this sense, a person's nakshatra is determined by drawing a straight line from the earth through the moon at the exact time of birth and noting the group of stars the line points toward. The nakshatra is an important factor in determining the characteristics of an individual.

Namasivaya: "Adoration (or homage) to Siva." The supreme mantra of Saivism, known as the Panchakshara or "the five letters." Embodying the essence of Saiva Siddhanta, it is found in the center of the central Veda (the Yajur) of the original three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) . The meanings of the five letters are: Na is the Lord's veiling grace; Ma is the world; Si is Siva; Va is His revealing grace; Ya is the soul. Namasivaya is a mystic chant which should be given by an authorized teacher.

NAMAZ: One of the five pillars of Islam: Allah (God), Namaz (prayer), Zakaat (charity), Roza (fast), and Haj (pilgrimage to Mecca): so that the faithful work on the straight path, undevious, direct and explicit. The Qoran abjures the faithful to 'be constant' in prayer, at least five times a day: on rising, at noon, in afternoon, after sunset and before retiring: if not oftener. The real Namaz consists in attuning oneself with Ism-i-azam or the Great Name.

NAMDEV: A householder sage of Pandarpur, born in1480, disciple of Guru Giandev, held in great esteem by the people; earned his living by printing calico and spent all his time im worshipful devotion.

NANAK (1469-1539): The founder of Sikhism, born in the village of Talwandi, near Lahore in the Pumjab. A scion of a Khatri family, he had close associations with Kabir and like his great contemporary, he preached monotheistic faith, compounded out of Hindu and Muslim elements and as such, was equally acclaimed and admired by both.

Nanotechnology: The science and technology of building electronic circuits, engines and physical devices from single atoms and molecules.

NARAYANA : Lord, the title of Vishnu.

Natha Sampradaya: "Lineage of Masters." Natha means lord or master, one who has mastered the intricacies of his inner and outer bodies and realized Parasivam. Sampradaya means an established oral teaching tradition or lineage. The Natha Sampradaya is the oldest Saivite sampradaya existing today, currently consisting of two lineages: the Nandinatha lineage and the Adinatha lineage. Historically, the Natha Sampradaya first appears with Sat Guru Nandinatha and his disciples, including Tirumular, who powerfully articulated the Natha teachings in his Tirumantiram. Gurudeva Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and his devotees are of this Nandinatha lineage of the Natha Sampradaya, the Siva Yogaswami Guru Paramparai being one stream of this ancient lineage.

Nature: Universe with all its phenomena. The sum total of the forces at work throughout the universe. Another name for Maya. The forces and processes that produce and control all the phenomena of the material world including things and sentient beings – micro-organisms, plants, animals and humans.

Newtonian Physics: Three physical laws which provide relationships between the forces acting on a body and the motion of the body in fixed or absolute (as opposed to relative) space and time, first formulated by Sir Isaac Newton. Compare Relativity.

NIDA-E-ASMANI: The Sound coming from Arsh-a-mu'ala or the high heaven. cf. Akash Bani.

NIRALA : indescribably wonderful. Same as Anami, Maha Dayal, Soami, the Lord of the entire creation.

NIRANKAR: The Formless or Imageless. One without attributes (God-in-abstraction).

NIRVANA : Literally blowing out; state to which a Buddhist aspires as the best attainable.

Niyama: "To unleash." The niyamas are ethical and religious practices which release or cultivate refined, soul qualities. These observances comprise the third limb of the ashtanga ("eight-limbed") yoga system codified in numerous Saivite scriptures including the Sandilya and Varuha Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Sri Gorakhnath, the Tirumantiram (circa 200 BCE) by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras (circa 200 BCE) of sage Patanjali. There are ten yamas and ten niyamas in all, though Patanjali listed only five yamas and five niyamas in his classic work, & these have become widely known. Along with the yamas (restraints), the niyamas provide guidelines for ethical, moral life and lay the foundation for yoga. The ten niyamas are: 1) santosha (contentment), 2) tapaha (austerity), 3) dana (charity), 4) astikya (faith), 5) Isvarapujana (worship), 6) mati (cognition), 7) Siddhantasravana (scriptural study), 8) hri (remorse), 9) vrata (sacred vows) and 10) japa (recitation). Note that Sage Patanjali's niyamas are saucha (purity, which other texts list as a yama), santosha, tapaha, svadhaya (scriptural study) and Isvarapranidhana (worship).

Non-locality: A theory which states that all events, things, and phenomena in the universe are interconnected at the non-manifest level and it is not possible to treat widely separated systems or events as independent. The non-locality phenomenon suggests that occurrences on one side of the Universe can instantly effect 'matter' on the other side of the Universe. Non-locality has profound implications for the prevailing world view of reality in that it clearly demonstrates the inter-connectedness between all matter in the Physical Universe and the illusory nature of Space and Time, something that those who have had some sort of deep spiritual experience are already well aware of.

Nothing: No thing; not anything. Nothingness. A thing that does not exist. A person or thing considered of little or no importance.

Nothingness: Non-existance, Insignificance, Unconsciousness.

NUKTA SWEDA or NUKTA-E-SAVEDA: (Til or Teesra [or Tisra] Til). Sufi term for 'Shiv Netra' or 'Divya Chakshu' (the third eye) as known among the Hindus and 'Single Eye' as termed in the Gospels. It is this point behind and in between the eyes wherein the soul-currents are gathered-in by concentration; for rising into higher spiritual planes. (2) Til: it literally means the mustard seed. Here it is used for the ganglion between and behind the two eyes. Hindus call it Shiv Netra or the Third Eye. In the Gospel it is termed as Single Eye. The Sufis call it Nakta-i-Saveda. It is the seat of soul in man. It is the first stage where the soul collects itself and is enabled to rise in the higher spiritual planes.

Observer's Paradox: Refers to the phenomenon where the the observation of an event or experiment is influenced by the presence of the observer/investigator, ie, it is dependent upon the consciousness of the observer/investigator. Same as Quantum Measurement.

Outside: The outer side or part, ie, exterior. Outward appearance. Any area not inside or within.

PAHUL: Baptism by sword, introduced by Guru Gobind Smgh, to transform the meek Sikhs into a militant force to fight against injustice and tyranny of the rulers.

PANCH SHABD: Five-worded Word comprising five harmonies, each coming from the five planes on the Way to the kingdom of God. (2) The Word-of-words (Ism-e-azam) or the King-of-words (Sultan-ul-Azkar); whereby one reaches the Kingdom of God.

Pancha nitya karmas: "Five constant duties." A traditional regimen of religious practice for all Hindus: 1) dharma (virtuous living), 2) upasana (worship), 3) utsava (observance of holy days), 4) tirthayatrai (pilgrimage) and 5) samskaras (observance of sacraments, known as samskaras, such as rites of birth, first feeding, marriage, etc.). While dharma and upasana are daily obligations, utsava, tirthayatrai and samskaras are periodic.

Panchakshara Mantram: "Five-lettered chant," the most sacred Saivite mantram, "Namasivaya."

PANDIT: (Skt. Pandita, a learned man). A teacher, usually a Brahman, learned in religious, legal and social lore.

PAR BRAHMAND: The upper part of the Second Grand Division (Brahmand) where spirit predominates over matter, unlike in the lower part (Dasam Dwar), where both are at par.

Paradox of time and evolution: Time, although widely used in physics as an independent parameter, cannot be proven to have a physical existence. Time is often inferred as the increasing entropy reflecting the changing (evolutionary) state of a material entity that can be observed or measured, eg, the time evolution of quantum states for unstable particles. See Kal Niranjan.

PARAM SANT: A veritable Sant: a title bestowed upon Saints of very high order having access to the Nameless Region.

Paramatman: In Hindu theology, Paramatman is the Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul or Spirit (also known as Supersoul or Oversoul) in the Vedanta and Yoga philosophies of India. Paramatman is one of the aspects of Brahman or Universe: "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan." Also known as the divine self or the one object, Paramatman is situated in the heart of every individual jiva or spirit in the macrocosm. Rigveda and Upanishads compare Atman and Paramatman to two birds sitting like friends on a tree (body). Atman eats its fruits (karma) and Paramatman only observes his friend as a witness (sākşhī) of his actions.

Parasivam: "Transcendent Siva." Siva's Absolute Reality. That which transcends time, form and space and defies description; the Self-God.

PARVATI: (Skt. Parbati, one living on a parbat or mountain, fig. soul). Consort of Siva, for both dwell togethether on the mount of transfiguration (Kailash) behind and between the eyes; meditation at this focal point leads to the opening of Shiv-netra, the third eye, symbolically depicted horizontally in the middle of forehead. The goddess a symbol of devotion to Siva (the annihilator of vices); as Lakshmi and Saraswati are symbols of wealth (of Divine virtues) and learning, the secret essential nature Self respectively.

Patanjali: A Saivite siddhar who codified the ancient practice of ashtanga yoga into the pithy and potent aphorisms of the Yoga Sutras. Lived around the 2nd century b.c.e.

Penance: An act of devotion, self-denial or discipline undertaken to soften or nullify the reaction to one's past actions; "self-inflicted karma." Consciously relieving the karmic burden of wrongful actions by undergoing physical or mental hardships and challenges. Examples of penance are performing 108 prostrations in the temple, fasting and performing kavadi (carrying heavy and elaborate structures on shoulders for long distances).

Perception: The mental grasp of objects, personalities and events through the senses. Tthe knowledge accumulated by perceiving. Can lead to insight or intuition and also the reverse.

Phenomenology: A philosophy or method of inquiry, based on the premise that reality consists of objects and events as they are perceived or understood in human consciousness and not of anything independent of human consciousness.

philosophic training and propound a lofty, non-dual realization as the destiny of all souls.

PIARAS: (Five Piaras). The institution of the beloveds of God, created by Guru Gobind Sngil when five persons out of the congregation responded to his call to offer their life as sacrifice to the goddess Shakti. He called them the Khalsas or the Brotherhood of the pure ones, vouchsafing that whenever five Khalsas would gather in His name, they will know and feel His presence amongst them. Christ too declared: For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt. 18: 20). Similarly, the Society of Friends (Quakers) hold that holy spirit is poured out on two or three gathered together in Christ's name.

PIND: Physical body upto the focal eye-centre, behind and between the eyes.

Pingala: Inner-body nadi current, blue in color, that flows upward, ending on the right side of the body. This current is masculine in nature, radiating an intellectual, mental energy.

PRAG-RAJ: Confluence of the rivers Ganges, Jamuna and the subterranean Saraswati, the most sacred place of pilgrimage. fig. it refers to the confluence within, of the Ida, the Pingla and the Sushmana, the three channels as they join together at the sacred pool of Amrit-saar (Aab-e-Hayat), Here the pilgrim-soul, free from trappings, gets completely purified and shines in its own radiance.

PRALABDH KARMA : Destiny or fate with which one comes into the world and over which one has no control. These have to be undergone with smiles or tears as one may like for there is no escape from them. Also Karma

PRALAYA: General dissolution of the universe, as opposed to individual disintegration, to which all material things, constituted as they are by divergent elements, dissolve.

Prana: Vital energy or life principle; literally, "vital air," from the root an, "to breathe." Prana in the human body manifests further in five primary modifications, known as the vayus or "vital airs or winds:" prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana, each governing crucial bodily functions, and five auxiliary vayus: naga, kurma, krkara, devadatta and dhananjaya. Usually prana refers to the life principle, but it is sometimes used in a broader sense to mean energy, power or the animating force of the cosmos.

PRANAS: Vital airs pervading in the entire bodily system and controlling the various physiological processes: (1)perceiving, receiving and accepting impressions and things from without; (2) rejecting and throwing away that which the subjective life does not want or does not like to retain; (3) helping the digestive system building flesh, bones and blood; (4) controlling the circulatory blood system, and (5) lifting the mind and intellect to higher and nobler flights in the realm of pure consciousness of the spirit. 'Pranas' are distinct from 'swasas' or 'breathings', the grosser manifestation thereof.

Pranayama: "Life-force restraining." Science of controlling prana (life force or vital energy) through breathing techniques which dictate the lengths of inhalation, retention and exhalation; prepares the mind for deep meditation and develops psychic abilities. Fourth stage of ashtanga yoga.

Pranic: Adjective form of prana, the vital energy which permeates the universe. Living forms are most charged with prana, but inanimate forms have their own low-level prana energies as well.

Priest: A person whose function is to make sacrificial offerings and perform other religious rites for the benefit of devotees. In Hinduism, priests are servants of God and the Gods. They do not personally stand between God & the devotee.

PSALMS: A book of Old Testament comprising 'song of praise' by David.

Psychic: "Of the soul or psyche." Non-physical, pertaining to the soul. Also the quality of being attuned to or adept at the more subtle psychic, or soul, faculties and energies. One who is so attuned, such as a medium or an accomplished yogi. Psychic faculties include such extra-sensory perceptions as clairvoyance, clairaudience, precognition, psychometry and others.

Puja: Agamic rite of worship performed to the murthi (home or temple image) to invoke the Deity and establish a psychic connection with Him in the inner worlds. During puja, the officiant (pujari) recites various chants praising the God and beseeching His blessings, while making numerous offerings in accordance with established traditions. These include water, sandalpaste, holy ash, flowers, unbroken rice, incense, light (the flame of oil, ghee or camphor lamps) and special food preparations. On special days additional offerings are made, and as part of the puja, abhishekam or ritual bathing of the Deity is often performed as well. The items blessed during the ceremony, known as prasadam or sacraments, are distributed to the attendant devotees after the rite. Puja is also performed to one's guru.

PUNJABI: Gurmukhi script as introduced by Guru Anga fig. people of the Punjab.

PURANAS: (Skt. old or of former times). A body of Indian sacred writings (18 in number) which followed the Vedas, containing legendary account of the creation, destruction and re-creation of the universe, the genealogy, the gods, besides a mass of encyclopaedic information mostly in the form of parables. Of these, the Bhagvat and the Vishnu Purana are the most venerated.

Pure Consciousness: Pure Consciousness is Consciousness conscious of itself: In which one's awareness transcends/goes beyond anything, anybody, any world outside, out there. In it one's awareness rather comes back to oneself in all and all in oneself.

Purusha dharma: Man's proper pattern of conduct; observances, vocational and spiritual options available to a man that will most advance him in a given lifetime. The pattern for a woman is known as sthree dharma.

Purusha: Male person in mundane usage, as in purusha dharma. When used metaphysically, however, purusha refers to the soul, neither male nor female.

QAZIS - the Muslims learned in religious law and theology.

Quanta: Plural of Quantum.

Quantum Computing: It makes direct use of distinctively quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data.

Quantum Measurement: Same as Observer's Paradox.

Quantum Mechanics: The branch of Quantum Physics that accounts for matter at the atomic level; an extension of statistical mechanics based on Quantum Theory.

Quantum Theory: A physical theory that certain physically measurable properties occur only in discrete amounts (Quanta).

Quantum: The smallest natural unit that appears in our cosmos.

QURAN: (Arb. Qur'an, the reading). The sacred book of th Mohammedans; the Bible of Islam written in chaste Arabic as revealed to the prophet by Gabriel.

RADHA SOAMI: lit. the Lord of the soul. It was by this title that Rai Saligram when in ecstatic moods, used to address his spiritual Mentor, Soami Shiv Dayal Singh Ji as a living spouse (Soami) of his soul (Radha), signifying inwardly the union of his soul with the Sound Current as revealed to him by Soami Ji, a living embodiment of the holy Word. Now mostly used as a form of salutation like Radha Krishna or Sita Rama.

RAJ YOGA : The royal road to integration. The path implies a scientific approach Godwards and is best suited to persons gifted with scientific mind and scientific outlook, both within and without. A Raj yogi does not take things for granted or accept them on blind authority, scriptural or otherwise, it being the path of self experiment in the laboratory of the mind.

Raja yoga: "Royal (or kingly) yoga." The eight-limbed ashtanga yoga as defined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

Rajasic: Having the quality of rajas, the second of the three gunas or fundamental cosmic qualities of nature as described in the Samkhya system--tamas (inertia), rajas (activity) and sattva (illumination, purity). The rajaguna is said to be the driving power animating the other two gunas. It is the stimulative, restless, expansive energy of growth and movement. (Literally, "sphere of mist or clouds," in the Veda distinguished from svar, "sphere of light.")

RAM DAS, Guru (Ministry 1574-81): Fourth Guru in the line of succession to Nanak.

RAMAKRISHNA (1836-86): The sage-priest of the goddess-Mother Kali at Dakshineswar, near Calcutta. By his constant devotion, he made the Divine Mother manifest to himself. Next, he plunged into the yoga of meditation in every way conceivable and realised the Absolute Brahma, the attributeless Allah and Christ the Master-yogi, establishing the synthetic value of all religions which is his greatest contribution to the spirit of his age, for he virtually laid the foundation for a living Harmony of Religions and a common Fellowship of Faiths.

RAMA: The seventh incarnation of Vishnu and the hero of the great epic Ramayana (Adventures of Rama).

RAVIDAS: The cobbler-saint of India, who earned his living by mending people's old and worn-out shoes, and spent all his time in meditation. Among his followers were personages, like Raja Pipa, the Rajput princess Meera and others.

realism: A tendancy to face facts as observed and be practical. In art or literature, the portrayal of people or things as they really are.

Reality: What exists. Same as absolute Truth. It is independent of who is observing it, from where, and when. Unchanging, eternal foundation for all of creation. Can be thought of as the “The Canvas”. Can also mean that which is born of nature undivided and experienced without thought or mind. Some might describe to be the void/nothing and it’s contrast, total awareness/being.

reality: What is observed by an observer (human or mechanical); reality does not exist if it is not observed. Reality depends upon both the observer and the observer's state. Hence the reality observed by one need not be the same as the reality observed by another. Changing, shared experience, that is agreed upon by observers, often considered to be Maya / Illusion when contrasted with Reality. Can be thought of as the “The Paint”. Can also mean that which is fabricated by man with labels. eg, A lion in a forest is a reality to a person who went to the forest and observed it. It is not a reality to anyone else who did not go to the forest. If it looks like a dog to one who is just entering the forest and quite far from the lion then that person's reality is dog. Another example of dependency of reality on the state of the observer frequently quoted in Adwaita is: what is observed in a dream is very real while dreaming it but not real once the person wakes up. The entire external world simply does not exist for the one who is asleep. The Theory of Relativity is consistent with this definition of reality because in Relativity, the space-time measurements of the same world-event differ when measured by sticks and clocks in relative motion. In spite of all the paradoxes within Quantum Mechanics and its conflicts with Relativity, the philosophical foundations of QM are consistent with this definition of reality from Adwaita. This is seen from the Copenhagen interpretaion "reality is

realities: They are different from truth in that each reality represents only a small part of the truth. reality is relative to the observer’s state of the mind and can vary in space and time. A common mistake one makes is to assume that a relative reality is the truth. Realities are many, but truth is one. Truth has no Duality (or relativity), which is property of unconsciousness or inanimate matter (body). Duality exists for matter because matter is bounded in space and time. Anything that is bounded has a boundary that separates it from the wholesome unitary consciousness causing the duality or relativity in Einstein’s words. Since matter (body) is bounded in space and time, it is afflicted with time (birth & death) and evolution, and hence it represents a relative reality that changes in space/time as opposed to the truth, which is eternal and omnipresent. For example, evolution is a relative reality for the material body but not for consciousness, the truth. Truth never evolves, realities do.

Reincarnation: "Re-entering the flesh," describing the process of individual souls experiencing an orderly sequence of lives. Reincarnation provides the means for the soul to mature, and ends when all karmas have been resolved and Self-Realization has been attained. This is known as Moksha or Liberation.

Relative Permanence: Dependent or interconnected permanence (of visible and invisible worlds).

Relativity (Einstein’s theory): The theory in Physics that space and time as well as mass and energy are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts.

Relativity: A state of connectedness or dependence in which the existence or significance of one entity is solely dependent on that of another.

RIDHI: Ridhis and Sidhis usually go together and stand for miraculous or supernatural powers of 18 kinds that one may acquire by developing the mind-force but such powers prove a positive hindrance in the way of spiritual growth and development.

Rig Veda: Oldest of the four Veda Samhitas (collections): Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. Organized into ten mandalas (group patterns) of salutary and prayerful hymns, the Rig portrays a monistic Supreme Being-as-Cause-and-Lord-of-all cosmology, describes a pattern of dharma towards righteous and prosperous living in tune with the Gods. This scripture also details yogic disciplines leading to realization of the Absolute.

Rishi: An old and venerated sage or seer, often a visionary who sees beyond the present time. Often refers to the sages, many of whom were householders, who codified dharma thousands of years ago in India.

RISHI: in Hinduism, an inspired poet or sage. The hymns of the Vedas were revealed to the seven Rishis: the Sapt Rishis: referred to as Prajapabs (the highest among the people), being born from the mind of Brahma.

RUHANI SATSANG : A gathering of purely spiritually minded persons. Satguru Kirpal Singh Ji, constituted it as a Common Forum for the meeting of representatives from all religions, who believe in the efficacy of the Science of Soul as panacea for all the ills of the world.

RUMI (Jalal-ud-Din Rumi): (1207-1273 A.D.): Greatest of the Sufi poets of Persia; the author of many odes in praise of his Master, Shamas-i-Tabrez. His monumental work, the immensely long 'Spiritual Masnavi' is a collection of ethical precepts, illustrated from Koran, and the sayings of Mohammad.

SACH KHAND: Realm of Truth, the First Grand Division in the creation, which is purely spiritual in essence and hence eternally the same, and beyond the sway of grand dissolution.

SACHI BANI: The True (eternal and unchangeable) Sound-Current, the life-impulse in all creation.

Sacrament: A rite that conveys a spiritual blessing. Used to translate samskara, any of the various temple or home ceremonies performed by a priest, such as name-giving, first feeding, beginning of formal study, marriage, death, etc. Sacrament also names the various sacred items passed out after a puja, such as holy ash, kumkum and holy water.

Sacred: In various schools of faith, sacred or "holy", objects, places or concepts are believed by followers to be intimately connected with God or Divinity and are thus greatly revered. For example, some schools of faith consider the Earth sacred, while Roman Catholics consider the transubstantiated host sacred. Reverence is the "deep respect and veneration for some thing, place, or person regarded as having a sacred or exalted character." [From Latin: Sacer meaning untouchable.]

SADH or SADHU: A disciplined soul with inner access as far as Par-Brahm. His greatness and glory extend beyond the trigun-atmic spheres or realms.

SADHAN -Spiritual discipline for subduing the mind and the senses as preliminary to self-unfoldment.

Sadhana marga: Sadhana means "leading straight to the goal," and marga means "path" or "way." Coined by Siva Yogaswami to describe the way he urged serious aspirants to follow--a path of intense effort, spiritual discipline and consistent inner transformation.

Sadhana: "Effective, leading straight to the goal." The practice of spiritual disciplines such as meditation, japa, fasting, austerity, yoga and humble service. The goal of sadhana is to harness and transmute the instinctive/intellectual nature, allowing progressive unfoldment into the superconscious realizations and innate abilities of the soul.

SAHANSRAR-: The region of the thousand-petalled lotus with thousands of lights in a pyramidical formation. It is lower astral plane where subtle matter predominates and as such is very tricky and treacherous.

Sahasrara: "Thousand-petals." Seventh chakra, located in the cranial chamber of the soul body. It is composed of 1,008 petals indicative of the God-powers of the Satchidananda state in which this chakra is awakened and fully functions.

SAHIB --The Supreme Being, the Overlord of all. As a suffix it is usually added after the names of saints, as a mark respect, as Kabir Sahib, Paltu Sahib and Tulsi Sahib.

SAINT JOHN: Christian apostle, reputed author of the four Gospel, three Epistles and the Book of Revelation in the New Testament. His Gospel is a manual of Christianity identifying Jesus with the Logos or the Word.

Sakti: See Shakti.

Samhita: A collection of sacred devotional hymns in Sanskrit constituting one of the four Vedas. From Sanskrit Samhita, collection, from feminine past participle of samdadhati, he puts together, collects: sam, together; same as sem- in Indo-European roots + dadhāti, he puts; same as dhē- in Indo-European roots.

Sampradaya: "Tradition." Sampradaya can be understood in two ways. First, it refers to an oral tradition of teaching, such as a Guru of an established lineage verbally passing on eternal truths to his sishiya. Second, it refers to an established historical lineage, a living stream of tradition or theology within Hinduism.

Samskara: "Impression." The imprint or traces left in the mind after an experience, whether in this or previous lives. Root impressions, especially from profound events, which mould character and guide actions. Also denotes ceremonial purification: one of a number of religious ceremonies performed at psychological moments through the Hindu's life, such as first-feeding, marriage, etc., and various ceremonies performed to restore something to its original purity.

SANCHIT KARMA : All the unfructified karmas lying to the credit of individuals from time immemorial in the shape of vasnas or latencies which from time to time help in the process of reincarnation.

SANGAT: A holy congregation or a religious brotherhood fig. communion of the spirit with the holy Word.

Sankara: Also Samkara or Shankara. A name for Siva meaning "causing prosperity, auspicious, beneficent." Also the name of the 9th century monk, Adi Sankara, preeminent Guru of the Smarta Sampradaya. He is most noted for his non-dualistic Vedanta, for strengthening eclectic worship, ratifying 10 orders of sannyasins and writing prolific scriptural commentary.

Sanskrit: "Well-made, perfected." The classical sacerdotal or religious language of ancient India, considered an excellent vehicle of divine communication. Employed today as a religious, literary and scholarly language, but not generally used as a spoken language.

SANT MAT : Literally, the path of the Masters. It is elastic in essence free from the rigidity of religious doctrines and dogmas. Attunement of the soul with the Life Principle within each individual through the agency of a perfect Living Master who is the alpha and omega on this Path.

SANT: One with an access to the purely spiritual Realm: the Sach Khand (the First Grand Division in creation). It is the highest rank in the spiritual heirarchy.

Santosha: "Contentment, peace." Santosha names the practice, or niyama, of seeking joy and serenity in life, perceiving the perfect state of balance and perfection in God's creation.

SAR BACHAN : Literally, the sayings about the eternal Truth. Metaphorically it is the name given to the utterences both in prose and verse of Soamiji Maharaj of Agra who expounded Sant Mat in the present era.

SARASWATI--Hindu goddess of eloquence and learning of the highest spiritual type. (2) As a compound word it consists of Sar and Swa; 'sar' meaning the essence (essential nature) and 'swa' the self. Mother Saraswati generally represented as playing her veena and singing eternally the song of Divine Wisdom in the soul of each. (3) As consort of Brahma, she is credited with the inven ion of Sanskrit language and letters. (4) As a suffix, it is added after the names of learned Rishis well-versed in t essential knowledge of the self, like Rishi Dayana Saraswati.

SASTRAS: Name given to the sacred religious and legal textbooks of the Hindus.

Sat Guru: "True remover of darkness." A spiritual preceptor of the highest attainment, one who has realized the ultimate Truth and is able to lead others securely along the spiritual path.

SAT NAAM: Name given to the Primal Sound Current (Ek-Ankar) as emanating from Sat Purush, the first manifestation of the Absolute God, an imageless abstraction without attributes.

SAT PURUSH: The presiding God-Power (the first and foremost manifestation of the Absolute God) in Sach Khand, the First Grand Division in the creation, a purely spiritual realm.

SAT SANGAT: A congregation devoted to search for Sat or Truth eternal. On the earth-plane, it is presided over by a God-man who is moved by the Holy Ghost in thoughts, words and deeds. On the inner plames, it is the union with the Power-of-God, practically effected by a Master-Saint, by contacting the soul with the Light and Sound of God, the primal manifestations of Godhead.

Sat: Pure being or existence.

Satchidananda: "Truth, Supra-Universal Consciousness, Bliss." Divine Mind -- Universal Consciousness -- and simultaneously the Super-Conscious mind of each individual soul. It is perfect love and omniscient, omnipotent consciousness, the fountainhead of all existence, yet containing and permeating all existence.

SATGURU: A Sant commissioned to teach the inner path to the seekers after Truth and to grant them contact with the saving life-lines within. Every Satguru is basically a Sant, but every Sant cannot be a Satguru unless and until the Sat-Power in him commands him to take up the work of leading the world weary souls back to the true eternal Home of God (Sach Khand).

sattvic: "Of illumination, purity, truth." Sattva is the most subtle of the three gunas or fundamental cosmic qualities of nature as described in the Samkhya system--tamas (inertia), rajas (activity) and sattva (illumination, purity). The sattvaguna is rarified, translucent, pervasive, reflecting the light of pure consciousness.

SATVIC : Pertaining to Satva Guna or attributes like tranquility or equipoise of the mind. The term also applies to diet that is conducive to bring about the above qualities.

Satya: "Truthfulness." Among the traditional yamas, ethical restraints, satya means to refrain from lying, deception or betraying promises and confidences.

Saucha: "Purity." Saucha means to avoid impurity in body, mind and speech, and is one of the traditional yamas, ethical restraints, of ashtanga yoga. (In Sage Patanjali's list of five yamas and five niyamas, saucha is among the niyamas.)

SAWAN SINGH (1858: 1948 A.D.): The Great Master who succeeded Baba Jaimal Singh Ji Maharaj at Beas.

Schrödinger Equations: Describe the space- and time-dependence of Quantum Mechanical systems.

SEHAJ YOGA : Literally, it means an easy path leading to Sehaj or equipoise. Usually used as synomyn with Surat Shabd Yoga or Yoga of the Sound Current which can easily be performed by all alike, old or young.

Self: Same as Self-God or Supra-Universal Consciousness. The creature awareness, producing the "I AM IN ALL and ALL ARE IN ME" behind all Being and every point of view, undivided, formless and infinite in nature.

self: The personal ego, one's individual identity or personality in contrast with the Divine Self. The creature ego, individual, sense of separation, divided, with form, and finite in nature.

SHABD - Sound Current vibrating in all creation. It can be heard by the inner ears. It is termed by Mohammedans as Bang-i-Asmani and among the Hindus as Shruti, variously known as Nad, Word, Naam, Bang-i-Ilahi, Sarosha and the like.

SHABD-BANI - The Eternal Sound or Music going on within each living creature for It is the very life-principle sustaining all that is, visible and invisible.

SHAITAN (Satan): The god of evil residing in each individual as mind.

Shakti: Energy over time or Power. Energy. the creative, dynamic aspect of the Godhead of the Causal, Astral and Physical planes, ie, universe. Another form of Maya, ie, Matter, or Illusion. Popularly envisioned in the feminine form as a Goddess. Denotes impersonal forces such as Iccha (Desire), Kriya (Action) and Jnana (Knowledge), three Shaktis wielded by Shiva. Divine Mother: The female principle or organ of generative power, the consort or Shakti of Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva, variously known as Ashtangani (Eight limbed), Devi, Durga, Kali, Shakti, etc.

SHAMAS TABREZ: The illustrious mystic of Tabrez in Persia, the spiritual mentor of Maulana Jalal-ud-Din Rumi.

SHAREY MARG : The path of expansion based upon scriptural texts which enjoins performance of rites and rituals, strict adherance to doctrines and dogmas, sacrifices and worships of all kinds on the plane of the senses. Such practices, good in themselves, do not and cannot grant liberation to the soul.

Shishiya: A pupil or disciple, especially one who has proven himself and has formally accepted a Sat Guru as his guide in spiritual instruction.

SHIV DAYAL SINGH JI, Soami (1818-1878): Seth Shiv Dayal Singh Ji of Agra, popularly known as Soami Ji Maharaj who, in the modern age, revived the teachings of ancient Masters including those of the later times like Kabir and Nanak; with emphasis on the Surat Shabd Yoga or Yoga of the Sound Current providing way back to the Kingdom of God from where this creative life-principle descended.

SHIV NETRA: The eye of Shiva, the third eye behind and between the eyes of flesh, providing an access to the higher planes within. It is symbolically shown in the middle of the forehead.

SHIVA or SIVA: The 'blessed one,' the third member of Trimurti of Hinduism. He is Mahadeva, the 'great god' but primarily the Destroyer or Rudra, 'the terrible,' he destroys all that is born of evil and as destruction is but a prelude to fresh creation and the so-called death gateway to new life, he is worshipped as a creative expression of the Supreme Being, the one great god, (Mahadeva).

SHRUTI: (Skt. revelation). That portion of the Vedic scriptures which was directly revealed to the ancient Rishis.

Siddhantasravana: "Hearing the final conclusions; scriptural study." Among the niyamas of ashtanga yoga, Siddhantasravana is the practice of studying the scriptures and listening to the wise of one's lineage.

SIDHIS: Yogic powers of supernatural character.Also: SIDH: A sect of the yogins, who claim to possess supernatural powers, by means of yogic discipline. SIDHAS: Higher disciplined souls endowed with supernatural powers.

Sikh: Same as shishya.

SIKH: lit. a disciple, one engaged in learning higher truths life. fig. a sect mainly living in the Punjab and the adjoining areas, forming a brotherhood based on religious ideas and traditions as propounded by Guru Nanak, on the simple creed: Oneness of God and Brotherhood Man.

SIMRAN: Constant remembrance of a person, place or thing of one's liking. By habit, all are doing simran of of one kind or another: of our relatives and friends, riches and possessions, or name and fame, all of which are of a temporary nature, and give just a flicker of pleasure which more often than not is tinged with sorrow. Saints enjoin the Simran of the God-power revealed by a God-man, a veritable source of eternal happiness.

Singularity: A point in space-time at which gravitational forces cause matter to have infinite density and infinitesimal volume, and space and time to become infinitely distorted. Big Bang is one such singularity.

SITA: The heroine of the great Indian epic, the Ramayana; the lovely and loving wife of Rama. lit. the word signifies 'a furrow,' as she personifies the goddess of agriculture and fruit-culture for she is supposed to have sprung from a furrow and ultimately disappeared into a furrow.

Siva: "The Auspicious One." God Siva is all and in all, the one without a second, the Supreme Being and only Absolute Reality. He is both immanent and transcendent.

Sivaloka: Siva's "loka"--habitat, region or level of existence. Known as the causal plane or Third World, the Sivaloka is the abode of Siva, the Mahadevas and highly advanced souls. It exists deep within the Second World.

Sky: Fifth Element. See Akasha.

Soul and Spirit: Soul and Spirit are essentially the same. The only difference is in their being attached or unattached to any individuality. Unattached soul is spirit, attached spirit is soul. Attached to individuals, spirit is soul, attached to Universe as a whole it is Soul (with capital S). There is no such difference between spirit and Spirit, though one may make so when using in the context of an individual or Universe.

Soul: Soul is the spirit put in ritual by sense, emotion, thought in an individuality. It is the principle of individual life. It is the atman of the Vedas. It is the sum of the matrix of a continuum of experience and its resulting essence. Within each of us is a soul, a great spiritual potential created in God's image and likeness. Though attached it is also regarded as separate from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part. The spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul. The disembodied spirit of a deceased person. A human being's real self, person. The animating principle; the essential element or part of something. The inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc. Part of God; the divine source of all identity and individuality. See Spirit.

Space-Time: The fabric of the universe; the 4-dimensional coordinate system (3 dimensions of space and 1 of time) in which physical events are located.

Spirit: Unattached Soul or the Soul at the unified level is Spirit. The spirit is an immortal and spiritual body of light, eternal, uncreated and identical with the Supra-Universal Consciousness. It animates life and reincarnates again and again as individualized soul until all necessary karmas are created and resolved and its essential unity with the Supra-Universal Consciousness is realized. This Spirit acting as soul -- not the body and mind with which we now identify -- is our real self. The subtlest form of Energy. The component in the individual of the Supra-Universal Consciousness is the spirit or soul and of the Universal Consciousness is the mind. The attached spirit, also called soul, gives the sense of being and being conscious. It is different from the physical body and mind yet binds them both into one unit. See Soul.

Spiritual Equivalence: To be defined.

Spirituality: The quality or fact of being spiritual -- incorporeal or immaterial, ie, non-Maya or non-Materialistic nature or state of being. Predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc; Spiritual tendency or tone.

Spotaneity Phenomenon: The individual act of will, happening or arising without apparent external cause or observable force.

SRAOSHA: The Gathas of Zendavasta make mention of two divinities- Atar (fire) and Sraosha (lit. obedience: obedience to the Law of Life or the God-in-action power, i.e. His Divine Will as revealed by the Sound Current within).

SRITIS: (Skt. that which is remembered as opposed to Sruti which is revealed). The Hindu term for inspiration or inspired writings which include such works as the two great epics and the puranas.

ST. AUGUSTINE (354-430): Christian Saint and one of the four great fathers of the Latin or Roman church.

Sthree dharma: Conduct, observances, vocational and spiritual patterns that will most advance a woman in a given lifetime. The parallel pattern for a man is known as purusha dharma.

Subconscious mind: The phase of mind beneath ordinary consciousness. Known as chitta in Sanskrit. The storehouse, the reflection of all previous experiences. All the past experiences of the soul (whether remembered consciously or not), unresolved karma and involuntary physiological processes lie in the subconscious mind. Negative areas of the subconscious mind can be detrimental to a person's spiritual and emotional well-being. Such can be discovered or resolved through meditation, penance, sadhana, temple worship, grace, etc.

Sub-nuclear physics : Elementary Particle Theory

SUFI: A Muslim mystic. (Arb. Suf, 'wool' originally ascetics who wore coarse wool, symbolic of their having renounced all the comforts of life). The earlier Sufis were indeed ascetics rather than mystics, more of saints than seers. Mysticism as such grew and developed in Persia and not in the Arabian desert. Pantheistic unitarianism is the essential characteristic of Sufism. It signifies a person with a pure heart.

SUKHMANA or SUSHMANA NADI: The subtle central nadi (the fire channel) in between the Ida and Pingla on either side of it, the one representing the moon-influence and the other the sun-influence. The way-in for the soul-currents when collected at the eye-focus lies through Sukhmana. Of all the astral tubes, these three are the most important. Sushmana for functioning of bioenergy and the other two for co-ordinating and controlling voluntary and involuntary functions of the human body.

SULTAN-UL-AZKAR : Meditation on Ism-i-Azam (the Highest Name), deemed by Muslim mystics as the highest form of prayer (zikr).

SUMER: The golden mountain which the pilgrim-soul comes across in its spiritual journey.

Superconscious mind: Satchidananda, the Divine Over Mind of God and of all souls, for "there is only one mind." The superconscious mind is "the mind of light," of omniscient knowing, omnipresent awareness, pure consciousness, truth and love. Within the individual, it is one of the five states of mind: conscious, subconscious, sub-subconscious, sub-superconscious and superconscious. The intuitive or knowing state of mind; "the mind of light." From another perspective, the superconscious is one of the three phases of the mind: instinctive, intellectual and superconscious.

Super luminous inflation: The Inflation Theory, developed by Alan Guth, Andrei Linde, Paul Steinhardt, and Andy Albrecht, proposes a period of extremely rapid (exponential) expansion of the universe leading to the Big Bang expansion, during which time the energy density of the universe was dominated by a cosmological constant term that later decayed to produce the matter and radiation that fill the universe today.

Superposition: The superposition principle is the addition of the amplitudes of waves from interference.

Supra-Consciousness: Same as Supra-Universal Consciousness. Same as Satchidananda.

Supra-Universal Consciousness: It represents unity (yoga) or oneness (Ek Onkar), has no boundary, and hence no relativity or duality. That is the reason it cannot be seen or measured. What can be seen or measured explicitly, such as the matter, is constrained in space/time separated with a boundary, and hence, measurable or observable. What sees cannot be seen, just like the eye cannot see itself. Consciousness is the observer itself and so it cannot be seen or measured, but can be experienced by being conscious or aware. In which one's awareness goes beyond any boundaries. Thus in its sweep come both universe, beyond universe and Universe.

SURAT : Attention or individual consciousness

SURAT SHABD YOGA - the yoga or union of the Surat (soul) with Shabd (Sound Current) ; also called Sehaj Yoga because it can easily be practiced by all, young or old; strong or infirm.

Svadhyaya: "Self-study." The study of truth, especially through religious scripture. The fourth of five niyamas, or ethical practices, listed by sage Patanjali in his 2,200-year-old Yoga Sutras. It is essentially the equivalent of Siddhantasravana, the corresponding practice listed in the Sandilya Upanishad and other texts which include ten niyamas rather than five.

Swami: "He who knows himself." Title for a Hindu holy man, usually a sannyasin.

Synchronicity: A term coined by Jung to designate the meaningful coincidence or equivalence (a) of a psychic and a physical state or event which have no causal relationship to one another. Such synchronistic phenomena occur,
for instance, when an inwardly perceived event (dream, vision, premonition, etc) is seen to have a correspondence in external reality: the inner image of premonition has "come true"; (b) of similar or identical thoughts, dreams, etc occurring at the same time in different places. Neither the one nor the other coincidence can be explained by causality, but seems to be connected primarily with activated archetypal processes in the unconscious. See Synchronism.

Synchronism: This simply means the simultaneous occurrence of two events. Compare with Synchronicity.

Tamasic: "Of darkness or inertia." Tamas is the most crude of the three gunas or fundamental cosmic qualities of nature as described in the Samkhya system--tamas (inertia), rajas (activity) and sattva (illumination, purity). The tamaguna is the quality of denseness, inertia, contraction, resistance and dissolution.

Tapaha: The performance of purificatory spiritual disciplines, sadhana, penance, tapas and sacrifice; one of the niyamas, practices, in the ashtanga yoga system. Tapaha is from tapas, meaning "heat," or "fire," indicating the inner fire of transformation kindled by ascetic practices.

Tapas: "Heat" or "fire." Denotes religious austerity, intense meditation, penance, bodily mortification or special observances. Connotes spiritual purification and transformation as a "fiery process" which "burns up" impurities, ego, illusions and past karmas that obstruct God-Realization.

TAYUMUM: An easy process of cleansing the hands by rubbing them with sand, before going in for meditation in desert places that suffer from lack of water: the object being just to wash the hands clean of all the affairs ofthe world.

TEG BAHADUR, Guru (Ministry 1664-76): Son of Gul Hargobind, but ninth in the line of succession to Nanak. Captained the Sikhs during the tumultuous times of Aurangzeb, was beheaded in Delhi where now stands Gurdwara Sisganj in commemoration of his martyrdom.

Temple: A place of worship of God or Gods. (An ancient Jewish term, later adopted by various religions.) Hindus revere their temples as sacred, magical places in which the three worlds most closely commune--special structures built according to Agamic specifications to channel the subtle spiritual energies of inner world beings. The temple's subtle or psychic atmosphere is maintained through regular worship ceremonies (puja) invoking the Deity who uses His installed image (murthi) as a temporary body and channel for His blessings. Also known as koyil (or kovil).

TENNYSON, Alfred Lord (1809-92): First Baron, a famous English poet with faith in God, immortality, and the 'on far off divine event to which the whole creation moves'. As a lyrist, he ranks with the highest in English poetry.

Third World: The causal plane or Sivaloka.

Three pillars of Saivism: The guru, the temple and the sacred scriptures. Each of these is considered a distinct and necessary part of Saivite Hinduism.

TIL: (Tisra Til). cf. Nukta Sweda.

Tirthayatrai: "Traveling to a holy place." Pilgrimage. Among the pancha nitya karmas ("five constant duties") of Hindus, tirthayatrai is a devout journey to a temple or other sacred site, near or far. It is a time when spiritual matters are one's central concern, and worldly matters are set aside or placed before the Deity for assistance.

Tirukural: "Holy couplets." See: Holy Kural.

Tirumantiram: "Holy mantrams." The Natha Sampradaya's oldest Tamil scripture; written circa 200 B.C.E. Earliest of the Tirumurai, 12 essential canons of Saiva Siddhanta. Authored by Sivajnani Tirumular, the Tirumantiram comprises the essential teachings of the Saiva Agamas and is prized as a confluence of Siddhanta and Vedanta (meaning the original conclusions of the Vedas, not the later interpretation of Sankara's Mayavada Vedanta). It contains many esoteric teachings on kundalini yoga and spiritual unfoldment towards the enlightened state.

Tirumular: Siddhar, sage and yogi of the Natha Sampradaya who came from the Himalayas (circa 200 b.c.e.) to Tamil Nadu where he composed the 3,000-plus hymns of the Tirumantiram, tenth (but earliest) of the twelve Tirumurai. In this scripture he recorded the tenets of Saivism in concise and precise verse form, drawing upon his own realizations and the teachings of the Saiva Agamas and the Vedas.

Tirumurai: "Sacred (or holy) book." Twelve-book compendium of writings of Saivite saints. The first seven are known as Devarams. Of these, books 1-3 are the hymns of Saint Tirujnana Sambandar. Books 4-6 are hymns of Saint Appar. These latter two Saints lived in the 7th century. Book 7 contains the hymns of Saint Sundarar (9th century). The eighth book contains the two works of Saint Manikkavasagar (9th century): Tiruvacagam and Tirukovaiyar. Book 9 is the Tiruvisaippa and Tiruppalandu, which together comprise the works of nine saints. The Tirumantiram by Tirumular (200 b.c.e.) is the 10th book. The 11th book is a compilation of 10 saints. The 12th book is the Periyapuranam by Saint Sekkilar (11th century).

Transmutation: Changing a gross force into a finer one. Metaphysically, transmutation refers to changing or transforming the sexual/instinctive energies into intellectual and spiritual ones, and thereby bringing oneself into the higher nature.

TRATAK: A yogic exercise for developing the gazing faculty by putting a black-spot on a paper at a distance, in front of the eyes and then steadily looking at it without blinking, until the blackness transforms into whiteness by the concentrated spiritual rays proceeding from within. It may be done on the tip of the nose or in between the eyes, as one may like, for developing concentrated attention as a means to meditation.

TRIKUTI: The upper part of the Third Grand Division of the creation, called 'And,' the sphere of Maya wherein matter predominates over spirit: a materio-spiritual plane, including Sahasara, the lower portion of it as well. The karmic law of transmigration works in full swing in this region as in the gross material region.

Truth: The truth is what does not change in space and time. The truth is Supra Universal Consciousness, the expansive energy in the so-called empty space in the universe as well as in every atom that is causing the expansion of the observable universe (giving life to the universe and living things in it) and keeping the observable universe and atom (unit of body) from collapsing. Faith is not the truth; it is only a positive attitude towards truth. It is not faith but this supra universal consciousness energy that is keeping things from collapsing due to gravity, moving, and alive in the universe. Supra Universal Consciousness represents the wholesome energy of the universe that is eternal (beyond time, never born never to die) and omnipresent (beyond space). There is no duality (good/bad, day/night, birth/death etc.) in Supra Universal consciousness. It is a total free will representing the universal laws of the entire creation including Supra-Universe and universe. It is pure existence that always has been there (never born or created) and will always be there (never die). Truth entails the cosmic law. It is beyond evolution. See reality, realities, Reallity.

TULSI or TULSI SAHIB (1763-1843): Shama Rao Peshwa, the elder brother of Baji Rao Peshwa. Renouncing all worldly ambitions for spiritual enlightemnent, he settled at Hathras as Tulsi Sahib: author of Ghat Ramayana, the inner version of the great epic; passed his spiritual mantle on to Soami Ji Maharaj of Agra who greatly venerated his mentor from quite an early age when he came under his influence.

TUN-TUN: An onomatopeic word for the sound of a big bell or a gong when struck with a mallet: the sound that one hears within on the spiritual path, resembling that of a huge bell as is found in the central dome of temples or in a church belfry, symbolic of thc inner Sound.

Turing Machine: An hypothetical computing device capable of storing information and responding to computational questions, used in mathematical studies of computability.

TURIYA PAD: The fourth stage of Consciousness, above the consciousness of the waking state, the semi-consciousness of the dream state and lack of consciousness in the deep sleep state. It is a yogic awareness at the supra-mental level that comes when the senses are at rest, the mind is in a state of vacuum and the intellect is at a stand-still.

UDGIT or UDOGEE - The other-worldly Music coming from the realms beyond the mind and the senses.

Unfoldment: A making known or laying open to view, especially in stages or little by little. Often used in the phrase "spiritual unfoldment" to mean the gradual uncovering of our soul or spiritual qualities through consistent religious practice, meditation and grace.

Unification (of science and spirituality): To identify common ground in the understanding of science and spiritualism and to enhance their present approaches by reconciling any apparent differences and inconsistencies and adopting the "better" aspects of the other approach so that both the scientist and spiritualist communities can benefit in achieving their own purpose.

Unification: The process of unifying or uniting, ie, union. The state or condition of being unified

Universal Consciousness: In which one is aware of the whole evolving universe -- physical, astral and causal planes -- as one.

universe: A transient and finite universe (Illusory Universe or Brahmand) which evolves from the Universe (True Universe) with Big Bang and ends in it with Big Crunch. It is like the wave on and seen as different from the sea of energy, from which its begins and into which it vanishes.

Universe: Universe (True Universe) is defined as including everything there is including the universe and Beyond Universe, with the exception of the true creator "God", as such there may be. In scientific language it may be called as always there in steady state.

Upanishads: "Sitting near devotedly;" the name of the final portion of the Vedas; divinely revealed to rishis who thus expounded the ultimate nature of God, soul and world and answered the philosophical queries of devotees.

UPANISHADS: cf. Monduk Upanishad.

Upasana: "Sitting near." Worship or contemplation of God. One of the pancha nitya karmas ("five constant duties") of Hindus. Upasana is to be performed daily without fail.

Utsava: "Festivity." Utsava is the Sanskrit word for religious festival or holy day. It also names the discipline of observing holy days including festivals in the home and temple as part of one's yearly religious pattern. Utsava is one of the pancha nitya karmas.

VEDA: (Skt. Divine knowledge). The most sacred of the Hindu scriptures, some dating back to 1,000 or 2,000 years B.C., before the Aryans left their original homes beyond the Himalayas. As they were orally revealed by Brahma to the ancient Rishis, they are known as Sruti, 'what is heard.' There are four Samhitas or collections: (1) Rig, the Veda of praise; (2) Yajur, the Veda of prayer and sacrificial formulae; (3) Sam, the Veda of tunes and chants; and (4) Atharva, the Veda of the Atharvans, the officiating priests at the sacrifices.

Vedas: "Wisdom." Composed 1500-500 b.c.e., four companion scriptures--Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva--consisting of roughly 20,000 Sanskrit verses that form Hinduism's primary scripture (along with the Agamas). Transmitted to man from God Siva and the Gods through the superconscious faculties of the rishis, the Vedas are sruti, "that which is heard." Because the mystic knowledge described in the Vedas cannot be experienced through man's intellect, these scriptures are considered superconscious wisdom. Originally, the Vedas were passed down orally, only taking written form centuries after their inception. Each Veda is comprised of four sections: Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads. The Samhitas and Brahmanas detail a transcendent/immanent Supreme Being cosmology and a system of worship through fire ceremony and chanting to establish communication with the Gods. The Aranyakas and Upanishads outline the soul's evolutionary journey, provide yogic/

VINA: A stringed instrument of music, also the melodious music-sound of the instrument itself.

VISHNU: Sccond of the Hindu triad of divinities, a benevolent deity with Lakshmi as his consort, god of plenty and prosperity, credited with the work of sustaining the universe.

Vow: A solemn promise, oath or pledge, especially one made to God, dedicating oneself to an act, service or way of life. Hindus take vows, vratas, for many reasons, both mundane and divine.

Vrata: "Vow." A religious oath. Vratas are personal promises to perform certain disciplines over a period of time, such as fasting, specific japa repetitions, worship or meditation, to enhance one's spirituality, establish self-discipline, invoke divine blessings and often to atone for misdeeds. Certain vratas are long-term, such as the brahmachariya vrata, the traditional promise to remain celibate until marriage or, in the case of the sannyasin, for life. As one of the traditional niyamas (practices) of ashtanga yoga, vrata means to fulfill religious vows, rules and observances faithfully.

Water: Second Element.

WAZU: Among thc Muslims, the washing of the important parts of the body like face, hands and feet, just as Panj-ashnani among the Hindus, necessitated perhaps by scarcity of water in drought-affected areas, or when one is too ill to have a full-bath.

Witness: The eternal awareness that views/perceives all experience.

Word: The One Vibration of which All That Is - Supra-Universe, Universe, One, Nature - is comprised of.

Yajur Veda: "Wisdom of sacrifice." Second great Veda that contains, both in poetry and prose, the hymns and formulas chanted during ritual. This work is divided into 40 chapters of 1,975 stanzas, about 30% of which are repetitions of the Rig Veda.

Yama: "To rein, or restrain." The yamas are ethical restraints which check or curb the base, instinctive nature. These abstentions comprise the second limb of the ashtanga ("eight-limbed") yoga system codified in numerous Saivite scriptures including the Sandilya and Varuha Upanishads, Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Sri Gorakhnath, the Tirumantiram (circa 200 BCE) by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sutras (circa 200 BCE) of sage Patanjali. There are ten yamas and ten niyamas in all, though Patanjali listed only five yamas and five niyamas in his classic work, and these have become widely known. Along with the niyamas, ethical practices, the yamas provide guidelines for ethical, moral life and are the foundation for yoga. The ten yamas are 1) ahimsa (noninjury), 2) satya (truthfulness), 3) asteya (nonstealing), 4) brahmachariya (sexual purity), 5) kshama (patience), 6) dhriti (steadfastness), 7) daya (compassion), 8) arjava (honesty), 9) mitahara (moderate appetite) and 10) saucha (purity). Note that the yamas as listed by sage Patanjali's are ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmachariya and aparigraha.

YAMA: The Hindu Pluto or king of the nether world: the world of spirits; a Judge-god administering justice untampered by mercy, according to the inexorable law of karma: As ye sow, so shall ye reap, with sway extending to Pitrilok or the region of the Pitris (manas) can neither create nor destroy spirits, but perpetually keeps them in bondage of matter and mind of varying forms and patterns, as one deserves