Exam Sanskrit 2020 Flashcards
Abyasa and vairagya
These two terms go together - constant practice and non-attachment
Abyassa
Constant practice - spiritual practice, prescribed by Patanjali, controlling the mind
Ahamkara
In Sanskrit, “I-making” (akam=”I”, and kara = “make”); also translated as “ego,” or the attachment to ego; a key notion in Samkhya philosophy. Also thought to be the second stage of the development of prakriti, the original stuff of material nature, which evolves into the manifest world. It follows the stage of buddhi (intelligence, perception) in which purusha, once in a state of pure consciousness, i.e. without an object of contemplation, becomes focused on prakriti, and thus on existence outside of itself. From this awareness evolves the ahamkara, or ego-consciousness. It is thus the mistaken consciousness of personality or individuality. It is mistaken because purusha (or the soul/spirit) is incapable of acting; it is prakriti, or essential matter, which acts. Ahamkara in turn gives way to other stages of the transmigration of the soul.
Ardha
Half
Ardva
Downward
Asana
Postures
Attman
the individual soul
AUM
The sound of creation, the universe. The symbol of ultimate reality.
Avidya
Spiritual Ignorance; Obstructs the experience of Purusha; the confusion of the Seer (Purusha) with the seen (Prakriti)
Bandha
The bodies interior locks. bandhas a re employed to gain control of our energy system.
buddhi
higher mind
Chakra
energetic wheel
Chandra
Moon
Chitta
Mind/ mind-stuff. Refers to the mind in its totality- subconscious, conscious, and unconscious. It is separate from Prakriti and Purushu. It is the reflected consciousness of the Purusha on Prakriti. The direct experience of the Purusha provides the ultimate quest.
citta-vritti
“mind chatter,” or “monkey mind,” which as you might guess, refers to the tendency of our minds to flit about from one thought to the next.
Dhanura
Bow
Dharana
One pointed focus. Concentration.
Dhyana
Meditation
Energy, life force
Prana
Fire
Lives in the belly. Agni. We can burn what we do not need in the practice and let it go. It is purifying.
Gunas
The qualities of universal nature.
(three gunas of sattvas, rajas, tamas)
Come from Prakriti - sattva (lightness), rajas (activity), tamas (stability)
Hatha
Effort, force, exertion
Ida
- Left side
- Left nostril
- Right side of brain
- Moon/feminine/creative
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- Tamas
Jnana
by knowledge, knowing
Karmic debt
When you act to cultivate your purpose for being here you experience karmic uptake. When you act against your purpose for being here you experience karmic loss.
kumbhaka
retention of breath