Definitions of terms used in our Spiritual Discussions

Definition - What does God mean?

God, in the context of yoga philosophy, is described in the Yoga Sutras as a "special Self" that is untouched by afflictions and karmas. Because the supreme aim of yoga is to attain freedom from karma and afflictions such as ignorance, ego and attachment, God is believed to exist in the realm of perfect consciousness.

The Yoga Sutras describe God as wholly omniscient and the teacher of all teachers. Most yoga philosophy interprets this as an inner teacher. Spiritual practice makes it possible to connect with this teacher, who then helps in the attainment of freedom from karmic bonds.

Yoga explains God

Let's start by acknowledging that defining God is a nearly impossible task as there are so many points of view. There have been many books written on this subject, not to mention lifetimes spent on the task of defining God.

There are many religions that believe in a god; but, in yoga, this higher being and higher purpose is sought as a way to leave behind the physicality of life and reconnect one to nature and Self. For many, to practice yoga is a form of uniting with God. In yoga, God is referred to as the Deva, which is known in the Sanskrit language in the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita as the real Self or the Seer.

According to yoga philosophy, we also interpret God as Consciousness or that consciousness leads to God. Finally, in yoga, the individual and God are believed to be one.

The Sanskrit word Chaitanya means ‘consciousness’, 'spirit'  'intelligence' or 'sensation'. It is the pure Consciousness or the cosmic intelligence, the consciousness that knows itself and also knows others

Kutastha Chaitanya

What is Kutastha Chaitanya?

Kutastha chaitanya is a Sanskrit term considered by some to be synonymous with Christ Consciousness. Kutastha means “that which is unchanged” and Chaitanya means “Consciousness.”

The concept refers to the idea that consciousness is universal and common in all things. This purity of Consciousness is what makes all things one. The common consciousness is the witness of the mental vrittis, or modifications and workings of the mind, but it is not affected by these. The mind is different for each individual and, for most people, is said to limit them from experiencing Kutastha Chaitanya.

In the state of Kutastha Chaitanya, the entire universe is experienced and felt as one by the yogi: there is no longer any separation between the individual and Universal Consciousness.

Another way of considering Kutastha Chaitanya is by considering it to be the consciousness of God, which is projected onto and present in all of creation. This is related to the Christian concept of Christ being the purest reflection of God the Father as manifest in the physical realm.

Yogis believe that Christ, along with Krishna and other avatars manifest the oneness with God. Some teachers say that Kutastha Chaitanya can be perceived through meditation as an image when looking through the spiritual eye (point between the eye brows). This image is said to appear first as on orange ring, followed by a blue ring, with a small five-pointed white star in the center.

Another way of saying this is that the energy of the inner or astral world can be perceived as the orange ring, the causal world (or Kutastha Chaitanya) is represented by the large blue center and the white star symbolizes the Infinite Cosmic Consciousness. The intention of meditation is to enter this white star and experience oneness with God, Cosmic Consciousness.

Cosmic Consciousness

What does Cosmic Consciousness mean?

Cosmic Consciousness is a term often used to denote a higher or particularly spiritual level of awareness and consciousness.

This type of awareness may be associated with an experience of “knowing God," or of transcending the five senses and finding a hidden consciousness or reality which is beyond the perceivable world. For many people, the journey to experiencing Cosmic Consciousness involves practices such as yoga, meditation, prayer and acts of faith.

In Cosmic Consciousness, the human mind is elevated beyond the awareness of the personality self and the ego, and enters a place of oneness and unity with the universe. Finding this unity is one goal of yoga practice.

Yoga explains Cosmic Consciousness

When Cosmic Consciousness is reached, the individual moves from believing in the oneness of the universe to having a direct knowledge of that fact. This level of consciousness requires letting go of the superficial ego os sense of separeteness.

Some claim that reaching this awareness requires a person to retreat from the noise of the outside world and seek solitude in order to develop a heightened awareness of their own mental state and that of those around them. This is not required, one can reach higher states of awareness in the midst of living in the world.

In 1901, Richard Maurice Bucke -- a Canadian psychiatrist -- wrote a book about Cosmic Consciousness, in which he defined it as the highest of three levels of consciousness found in living beings:

Simple consciousness, which both mankind and animals possess;

Self-consciousness, which includes thought, reason, and imagination and that mankind possesses; and

Cosmic Consciousness, which is a higher and more spiritual consciousness than most ordinary people possess.

For Bucke, Cosmic Consciousness included a spiritual understanding that there is eternal life and that God is the whole universe. He saw all things as being interconnected, a part of the cosmic consciousness. A popular meditation and spirituality figure in the West, Deepak Chopra has postulated that the concept of Cosmic Consciousness may be related to the hidden dimensions of quantum mechanics.

A spiritual yoga practice can help an individual move closer to attaining Cosmic Consciousness. Practices that open the third eye and crown chakras are particularly helpful in reaching this goal.

Self

What does Self mean?

The Self is what makes someone an individual; it is the essential being of a person, the awareness of one’s own inner being. One of the aims of yoga is to become more self-aware or able to distinguish between one’s inner life and thoughts, as well as connect with the higher or true Self.

Yoga explains Self

There are two parts to the Self. The first is the lower Self, or ego, which consists of the temporary body, the five senses, changing thoughts and opinions. The second is the higher or true Self, and is the essential core of a person that is unchanging.

Yoga practitioners desire to connect with and know the true Self in order to distinguish that which is unchanging and spiritual from that which is temporary and physical. When an individual is connected with the Self through their yoga practice, he is able to recollect who hey truly is.

Yoga

What does Yoga mean?

Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. It became popular in the West in the 20th century. The word, yoga, comes from “to yoke.” Thus, yoga is the practice that aims to join the mind, body and spirit. The ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve liberation.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and, over the years, many different interpretations have developed about what yoga means. Each different type of yoga has its own emphasis and practices.

Yoga explains Yoga

In the West, yoga is most often associated with the physical practice of asanas (physical exercises), particularly stretching exercises to build flexibility and relax the body. Yoga asanas can also build strength, coordination, balance and stamina. However, this is only one aspect of yoga as asana practice is just one of the "eight limbs" of yoga as listed in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, a key sacred text on the philosophy of yoga. These eight limbs are:

    Yama - Five abstentions (or outer observances)

    Niyama - Five inner observances

    Asana - Meaning “seat” and referring to the physical posture needed for meditation

    Pranayama - Controlled or suspended breath

    Pratyahara - Withdrawal of the senses

    Dharana - Single pointed concentration

    Dhyana - Meditation

    Samadhi - Liberation

There are many different paths of yoga, including Bhakti yoga, Karma yoga and Jnana yoga, and rajas yoga, but all are rooted in the yamas and niyamas, and have the same goal of samadhi (oneness).

Yoga is thought to be therapeutic for many physical and mental conditions. Studies have been carried out demonstrating its effectiveness as a treatment for back pain, stress and schizophrenia, to name a few.

Yoga explains Self-Love

Practicing yoga postures and meditation can be considered a form of Self-love. Through regular, mindful yoga practice, practitioners are taking the time to connect with themselves and, thus, to respect the inner Self. This definition can be broadened so that other aspects of a yogic lifestyle, like eating a nourishing diet, reducing stress levels and sleeping well, are also examples of practicing Self-love.

Some consider Self-love to be the most important yogic principle because the more someone practices ahimsa (harmlessness) toward themselves, the more they are able to refrain from harming others, intentionally or otherwise. Others say that the violence done by people to the external world is only a manifestation of the inner violence they inflict upon themselves. Thus, in order to make positive contributions to the external world, it is necessary to start with Self-love.

Self-love is also closely linked to the concepts of surrender and acceptance of one's self in the present moment, which may be cultivated through mindful practices such as yoga and meditation.

Mindfulness

What does Mindfulness mean? Mindfulness is the practice of being deliberately aware from moment to moment of one’s conscious experience. It is the state of tuning in to the stream of consciousness as it flows and staying in the present moment with this awareness.

Mindfulness is an important part of yoga and meditation. Greater mindfulness can be cultivated through yoga and especially through meditation practices. This has been linked both historically and in modern scientific studies to improved well-being and mental health.

Yoga explains Mindfulness

Mindfulness can be considered a process of waking up to the present moment. The practitioner’s focus shifts from memories of the past and plans about the future to what is happening right now. However, the practice of mindfulness is not only about being aware of the present moment, but also about the quality of that awareness. When developing mindfulness, the practitioner tries to purposefully bring his/her attention to the present moment and cultivate an attitude of acceptance and non-judgment.

Most of the time, when not practicing mindfulness, the mind is in a fleeting state of initial awareness. Usually, once the mind is aware of something, it begins thinking about it, weaving a narrative around it, labeling it and judging it. When mindfulness is practiced, the practitioner begins to extend that fleeting moment into a prolonged state of awareness.

Because mindfulness is an objective and non-judgmental process, it is closely linked to other yogic concepts of acceptance and surrender. A person can still experience thoughts, feelings and difficult states of mind; but, through mindfulness, these experiences can become less threatening. They simply become something else to be aware of and be accepted without resistance or grasping.

Inner Self,

What does Inner Self mean?

The inner Self is an individual’s personal, internal identity, one that is distinct from identities defined by external, social forces and relationships. It is closely linked to a person’s values, beliefs, goals and motivations.

The term also implies a level of authenticity not associated with external identities and labels; it is the “true Self.” Many refer to the inner Self as the soul, particularly in spiritual contexts. Meditation and yoga practices have been used for thousands of years as a way to tune into the body and access and align with the inner Self.

Yoga explains Inner Self

The inner self is a state of consciousness that can be accessed through meditation and introspection, which promote greater self-awareness and acceptance. Yoga philosophy views each person's core self as perfect, but aims to help bring awareness to negative patterns or thoughts that may not be serving a person's higher purpose. Yoga is the process of cleaning the mind of all the things that keep the true inner Self from shining through.

Enlightenment

What does Enlightenment mean? Enlightenment is a state of awakened understanding. It can be described as the transcendence of suffering and desire in order to obtain spiritual liberation (moksha). To be enlightened is to be freed from the tyranny of the mind and to experience deep spiritual peace, presence and wholeness.

The state of enlightenment is important in Hindu, Buddhist and yogic philosophy. According to the teachings of yoga, enlightenment is the goal of all meditation and yogic practices, physical, mental or spiritual.

Yoga explains Enlightenment

Explanations of enlightenment vary depending on the tradition. In Buddhism, enlightenment is usually seen as an awakening to the absolute Truth, which releases the enlightened individual from the cycle of reincarnation.

In Hinduism, it is described as a divine, transcendent experience. Sometimes it is described as a sudden, transformative moment of awakening and other times it is seen as a more gradual process of being liberated from the bondage of the mind.

In terms of paths to enlightenment, different schools of yoga and philosophy prescribe different routes. For instance, classical Advaita Vedanta promotes Jnana yoga as a way of attaining enlightenment through spiritual study, whereas Bhakti yoga pursues enlightenment through devotion and the worship of God.

Many yogis and teachers agree that enlightenment is not really a state that we have to reach because, in a sense, we are all already enlightened. Therefore, the goal of the spiritual journey is to uncover what is already there. Enlightenment means revealing or remembering what our true, original nature is.

Moksha, liberation during one's lifetime.

What does Moksha mean? Moksha is the concept of ultimate freedom and liberation that releases one from the life-death cycle and from the limitations of a worldly existence. To reach the state of moksha is to attain absolute freedom, peace and oneness with the Divine.

Moksha is similar to the Buddhist concept of nirvana. The terms are often used interchangeably; however, Hindus believe nirvana is the state a person enters into after achieving moksha.

Yoga explains Moksha

The concept of moksha is closely tied to self-acceptance and the consciousness of oneness with all existence. Once a person reaches this state, he/she has found freedom, peace and bliss.

There are different methods, or paths to moksha. In yoga, one may follow the path of Jnana, Bhakti, Karma and/or Raja yoga to achieve this absolute freedom. In addition, the relatively new Moksha yoga, also known as Modo yoga, may offer yet another path for one's spiritual practice. This is a form of hot yoga in which a cardiovascular-based sequence of poses in a heated room is designed to strengthen and stretch the body while quieting the mind.

Causal World

Definition - What does Causal World mean?

According to certain schools of yogic philosophy, Self-realization is achieved when a yogi transcends the three realms of existence. These are the material world, the astral world and, finally, the causal world. The causal world is the realm beyond the material and astral worlds. It is the world of thoughts and ideation, where consciousness resides once it has transcended the other two.

Once a yogi's consciousness enters the causal world, they have no need for a gross physical body and become beings of pure light. They have understood that both the physical and astral worlds are simply manifestations of thoughts within the causal world. It is said that someone who has entered the causal world can use their thoughts to do anything someone in the physical world can do instantly. They are only limited by thought itself.

Yoga explains Causal World

The causal world is considered to be a blissful realm, transcending even thoughts of heaven. The causal world is sometimes referred to in Hindu teachings as Brahmaloka.

To exist in this plane, a soul will have complete awareness that they are a being of light. Although every other aspect of the self is retained, the manifestation of the physical body and the material environment become insignificant. Consciousness does not need any physical form in this existence.

Once someone has transcended the causal plane, they will have broken the cycle of rebirth and karma. In this state of being, they are in complete and eternal union with God, or Brahman.

Astral World

Definition - What does Astral World mean?

The astral world, or astral plane, is said to exist between the elemental (or physical) and the mental (or causal) worlds. It is from the astral world that some believe we emerge when we are born and where we return when we die.

One benefit to connecting with the astral world is said to be that it is where our true nature can be recognized. This can provide a tool for freeing us from the suffering of the material world. Some even say that in the astral world, all of the causes of disease and suffering are revealed, allowing for healing.

Yoga explains Astral World

Many think of the astral world as a place that people reside after death. While there, they take on an astral body. However, others say that they can gain awareness of the astral world during their lifetimes. This may come through sleep and dreaming, or via anesthetics, drugs or other mind altering events.

It is said that people with more refined thoughts are more likely to be able to travel from the physical world to the astral world. In going deeper into the astral world they may gain insights that benefit those around them and humanity in general.

According to some theosophical teachings, the astral world has seven dimensions, which link with esoteric views that there are seven types of matter: solid, liquid, gaseous, etheric, super-etheric, atomic and sub-atomic.