Sanskrit P

Question 1

Parama-atman or paramatman (“supreme self”)

Answer 1

the transcendental Self, which is singular, as opposed to the individuated self (jiva-atman) that exists in countless numbers in the form of living beings

Question 2

Parama-hamsa, paramahansa (“supreme swan”)

Answer 2

an honorific title given to great adepts, such as Ramakrishna and Yogananda

Question 3

Patanjali

Answer 3

compiler of the Yoga Sutra, who lived c. 150 C.E.

Question 4

Pingala-nadi (“reddish conduit”)

Answer 4

the prana current or arc ascending on the right side of the central channel (sushumna-nadi) and associated with the sympathetic nervous system and having an energizing effect on the mind when activated; cf. ida-nadi

Question 5

Prajna (“wisdom”)

Answer 5

the opposite of spiritual ignorance (ajnana, avidya); one of two means of liberation in Buddhist yoga, the other being skillful means (upaya), i.e., compassion (karuna)

Question 6

Prakriti (“creatrix”)

Answer 6

nature, which is multilevel and, according to Patanjali’s yoga-darshana, consists of an eternal dimension (called pradhana or “foundation”), levels of subtle existence (called sukshma-parvan), and the physical or coarse realm (called sthula-parvan); all of nature is deemed unconscious (acit), and therefore it is viewed as being in opposition to the transcendental Self or Spirit (purusha)

Question 7

Prakriti-laya (“merging into Nature”)

Answer 7

a high-level state of existence that falls short of actual liberation (kaivalya); the being who has attained that state

Question 8

Prana (“life/breath”)

Answer 8

life in general; the life force sustaining the body; the breath as an external manifestation of the subtle life force

Question 9

Pranayama (from prana and ayama, “life/breath extension”)

Answer 9

breath control, the fourth limb (anga) of Patanjali’s eigthfold path, consisting of conscious inhalation (puraka) retention (kumbhaka) and exhalation (recaka); at an advanced state, breath retention occurs spontaneously for longer periods of time

Question 10

Prasada (“grace/clarity”)

Answer 10

divine grace; mental clarity

Question 11

Pratyahara (“withdrawal”)

Answer 11

sensory inhibition, the fifth limb (anga) of Patanjali’s eightfold path

Question 12

Puja (“worship”)

Answer 12

ritual worship, which is an important aspect of many forms of yoga, notably bhakti yoga and Tantra

Question 13

Puraka (“filling in”)

Answer 13

inhalation, an aspect of breath control (pranayama)

Question 14

Purana (“Ancient [History]”)

Answer 14

a type of popular encyclopedia dealing with royal genealogy, cosmology, philosophy, and ritual; there are eighteen major and many more minor works of this nature

Question 15

Purusha (“male”)

Answer 15

the transcendental Self (atman) or Spirit, a designation that is mostly used in Samkhya and Patanjali’s yoga-darshana