From A to Z
Concepts
Every Concept, every term explained inside one, and every glossary entry.
141 entries: 19 Concept pages, 48 terms and 74 glossary entries
By topic
Self and person (ātman · jīva)
4 Concepts
Mind: states and obstacles
citta
5 Concepts
Practice and progress
sādhana
4 Concepts
Values: yama and niyama
4 Concepts
Guṇa and temperament
2 Concepts
Looking for a term by another spelling? Search the site.
From A to Z
141 entries
A
Also spelled abhinivesa, Abhinivesha
Ahamkara अहंकारम् on DharmaWiki
Ahamkara is an indigenous Indian concept related to self and identity.
Also spelled ahimsa
Aila Gita ऐलगीता on DharmaWiki
A philosophical discourse from the Markandeya Purana about King Ila’s spiritual realization.
Aitareya Upanishad ऐतरेय उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad discussing the origin of the universe and the nature of consciousness.
Alabdhabhūmikatva अलब्धभूमिकत्व
Also spelled alabdhabhumikatva, Alabdhi, Alabdha-bhumikatva
Also spelled alasya
Also spelled Anvastitva
Also spelled angamejayatva, Anggamejayatva
Antahkarana Chatushtaya अन्तःकरणचतुष्टयम् on DharmaWiki
The fourfold inner instrument of the mind: Manas, Buddhi, Chitta, and Ahamkara.
Anubandha Chatushtaya अनुबन्धचतुष्टयम् on DharmaWiki
The fourfold requisites for studying Vedanta: subject, purpose, connection, and eligibility. Anubandha Chatushtaya (Samskrit: अनुबन्धचतुष्टयम्) literally means four connections, with which all shastras are begun with.
Aparoksha अपरोक्षम् on DharmaWiki
Direct, immediate knowledge, especially of the Self or Brahman.
Non-existence or illusion, often contrasted with Sat (absolute reality).
Also spelled asmita
Also spelled atma-bandhu, Atma Bandhu
Also spelled atma-ripu, Aatmaripu
The true self or soul, which is eternal and identical with Brahman.
Also spelled atman, Atma
Also spelled avidya
B
Bhagavad Gita भगवद्गीता on DharmaWiki
A sacred Hindu scripture, part of the Mahabharata, offering philosophical and spiritual guidance.
Devotional love and surrender to God, central to Bhakti Yoga.
Also spelled bhrantidarsana, Bhranti Darshan, Bhranti-darsana
Also spelled Brahmacharya
Brahman ब्रह्मन् on DharmaWiki
The ultimate, formless, and infinite reality in Hindu philosophy.
Brahmasutra ब्रह्मसूत्र on DharmaWiki
A foundational Vedantic text summarizing Upanishadic teachings.
Brahmatattva ब्रह्मतत्वम् on DharmaWiki
The essential nature or principle of Brahman.
Brahmavidya ब्रह्मविद्या on DharmaWiki
The knowledge of the absolute reality, Brahman.
Also spelled brahmavihara, Brahma Vihara
Brhadaranyaka Upanishad बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
One of the oldest Upanishads discussing self-knowledge and liberation.
C
Energy centers in the human body, crucial in yoga and tantra.
Chandogya Upanishad छान्दोग्योपनिषतद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad focusing on metaphysical concepts like Om and Brahman.
Chidakasha चिदाकाशः on DharmaWiki
The infinite space of pure consciousness.
Worry or contemplation, often seen as an obstacle in spiritual growth.
The mind-stuff responsible for memory and thought processing.
The different states of mind in Yogic psychology.
Also spelled citta-bhumi, Chittabhumis, Chitta Bhumis
D
Also spelled duhkha
Also spelled dvesa, Dvesha
E
Also spelled ekagra
F
G
Guna Traya Vibhaga Yoga गुणत्रयविभागयोगः on DharmaWiki
A chapter in the Bhagavad Gita explaining the three gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas).
I
Indian Concept of Self on DharmaWiki
The idea of self in Indian philosophy, often linked to Atman and Brahman.
Ishavasya Upanishad ईशावास्य उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad teaching the unity of all existence under Ishvara.
J
The material world, often considered transient and illusory.
Jijnasa जिज्ञासा on DharmaWiki
The desire to know, especially regarding ultimate reality.
The individual soul, bound by karma and illusion.
Also spelled jiva
Jivanmukta जीवन्मुक्तः on DharmaWiki
A liberated being who attains freedom while still alive.
Jnana Bhumikas ज्ञानभूमिकाः on DharmaWiki
The stages of knowledge leading to self-realization.
K
Also spelled kama
The law of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences.
Also spelled karta
Also spelled karuna
Katha Upanishad कठ उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad that narrates Nachiketa’s dialogue with Yama about the self.
Kena Upanishad केन उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad discussing the source of consciousness.
Anger, one of the obstacles to spiritual progress.
Krshna Upanishad कृष्णोपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad focusing on Lord Krishna’s divinity.
Also spelled ksipta, Kshiptha, Kshipta
L
M
Mahavakyas महावाक्यानि on DharmaWiki
The great Vedantic statements revealing Brahman-Atman unity.
Also spelled maitri, Maitra
Mandukya Upanishad माण्डूक्य उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad explaining the four states of consciousness.
Also spelled matsarya
Silence, often practiced as a form of spiritual discipline.
The illusion that veils the true nature of reality.
Liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Also spelled mudha, Muddha
Also spelled mudita
Mukhya Upanishads मुख्य उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
The principal Upanishads forming the foundation of Vedanta.
Mundaka Upanishad मुण्डक उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad emphasizing renunciation and self-knowledge.
N
Nachiketa नचिकेताः on DharmaWiki
The seeker in Katha Upanishad who inquires about the afterlife.
Narada Sanatkumara Samvada नारदसनत्कुमारयोः संवादः on DharmaWiki
A dialogue between Narada and Sanatkumara on spiritual knowledge.
Nihshreyasa निःश्रेयसम् on DharmaWiki
The highest good or ultimate spiritual goal.
Nishkama Karma निष्कामकर्म on DharmaWiki
Selfless action performed without attachment to results.
P
Also spelled panca klesa, Panch Klesha, Pancha Klesha, Panchklesha
Para Vidya पराविद्या on DharmaWiki
The higher knowledge of the ultimate reality.
Paroksha परोक्षम् on DharmaWiki
Indirect or inferred knowledge.
Also spelled prajna
Also spelled pramada, Pramad
Prashna Upanishad प्रश्न उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad answering fundamental spiritual questions.
Prasthana Trayi प्रस्थानत्रयी on DharmaWiki
The three foundational texts of Vedanta (Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahmasutra).
Also spelled prasvasa, Prashvasa
Pravrtti and Nivrtti प्रवृत्ति और निवृत्ति on DharmaWiki
Pravṛtti is worldly action; Nivṛtti is renunciation.
The cosmic self or pure consciousness.
Purushartha पुरुषार्थः on DharmaWiki
The four goals of human life: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
R
Also spelled raga
Also spelled rajasa karta, Rajasic Karta
Ramanujacharya रामानुजाचार्यः on DharmaWiki
A Vedantic philosopher who advocated Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism).
Relationship of Atman and Brahman on DharmaWiki
The philosophical inquiry into the connection between the individual soul and ultimate reality.
S
Spiritual discipline or practice.
Sadhana and Indian Psychology साधनं मनोविज्ञानं च on DharmaWiki
The psychological dimensions of spiritual practice.
Sadhana Chatushtaya साधनचतुष्टयम् on DharmaWiki
The fourfold qualifications for Vedantic study.
Sadhana in Sampradayas सम्प्रदायेषु साधनम् on DharmaWiki
Different approaches to spiritual discipline across traditions.
Sadhana Saptaka साधनसप्तकम् on DharmaWiki
The sevenfold path of spiritual discipline.
Also spelled samadhi
Also spelled samsaya, Sanshay
Sanskrit and Bharat संस्कृतं भारतञ्च on DharmaWiki
The connection between Sanskrit and Indian heritage.
Existence or absolute reality.
Also spelled sattvika karta, Sattvik Karta
Shadurmi षडूर्मिः on DharmaWiki
The six waves of human suffering (hunger, thirst, sorrow, etc.).
Shraddha श्रद्धा on DharmaWiki
Faith and devotion in spiritual pursuit.
Shraddha Traya Vibhaga Yoga श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगः on DharmaWiki
A chapter in the Bhagavad Gita classifying faith into three types.
Shravana श्रवणम् on DharmaWiki
Listening to spiritual teachings as a means of learning.
Shreyas and Preyas श्रेयः प्रेयः च on DharmaWiki
The distinction between the ultimate good and immediate pleasure.
Also spelled smrti, Smriti
Also spelled sraddha, Shraddha
Also spelled sthitaprajna, sthita-prajna
Also spelled styana, Steyan
Sukha and Ananda सुखानन्दश्च on DharmaWiki
The difference between worldly happiness and spiritual bliss.
Also spelled svasa, Shvasa
Svasthya स्वास्थ्यम् on DharmaWiki
Well-being or balance in body and mind.
T
Taittriya Upanishad तैत्तिरीय-उपनिषद् on DharmaWiki
An Upanishad exploring the nature of Brahman and bliss.
Also spelled tamasa karta, Tamasic Karta
Tattva-viveka Prakriyas in Vedanta वेदान्ते तत्वविवेक-प्रक्रियाः on DharmaWiki
Methods of discerning reality in Vedanta.
Also spelled triguna
U
Also spelled upa-viksepa, Upa-Vikshepa, Upa Vikshepa
The limiting adjuncts that obscure true knowledge.
Upanishads उपनिषदः on DharmaWiki
Philosophical scriptures exploring the nature of reality and self.
Also spelled upeksa, Upeksha
V
Vagambhrniya Sukta वागाम्भृणीयसूक्तम् on DharmaWiki
A hymn celebrating the power of speech and wisdom.
Also spelled viksepa, Vikshepa
Also spelled viksipta, Vikshipta
Also spelled virya, Viryam
The objects of perception or knowledge.
Also spelled vyadhi