Spiritual Glossary

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1 Gaudapada 'Adi Sankara's' teacher's teacher ('Parama Guru'). Amongst the great Masters, who had unfolded the subtle nuances of 'Advaita Vedanta' (Advaita = Non-dual, Vedanta = Philosophy as in Upanishads) Gaudapada, perhaps stands the tallest. Master Gaudapada had the distinction of having been the teacher's teacher (Parama Guru) of great Adi Sankara. The "British-made" Indian history of ancient India (Bharat) chronicles, suiting the need of the British Crown, Adi Sankara in the period of 8th century A.D. Whereas, there is ample documented evidence available to place Adi Sankara in the 5th century B.C.! The historians are not looking into this very crucial point of Indian history in the modern India, with the seriousness that it deserves. They are very much contented to carry on and repeat their "Master's Voice" (British-made Indian history). Freedom from British yoke, has not yet liberated them from the hangover for things of "foreign" origin. Department of History in the Universities all over India, are headed and run by intellectually most dishonest educationist. These academicians lack both competence and initiative, to take up this long pending corrective step.
In the ancient India, there has been an infallible system of calculating the time period, through the method of astronomical data, by way of recording the position of constellations of stars at the moment of a particular event. To grasp these intricacies, the modern-day historians need to learn the science of astronomy and astrology, above all the language of Sanskrit. All these tasks are a nightmare for them, so very conveniently they dub this ancient methodology, very much valid even today, as "Mythology"!? They are happy to re-cycle the "British-made" Indian history, ad nauseam.
Thus, if Adi Sankara is dated 5th century B.C., then his Master's Master Gaudapada lived and explored the subtle realms of Ultimate TRUTH, which is Non-duality (Advaita), more than 2500 years before, from today! Unlike Western Psychology, which is just about two hundred years old and has no roots in the fertile ground of philosophy, the field of Psychology in India has been an integral part of religious philosophy. The practitioners of psychology in ancient India were not mere shallow analyst of symptoms. They were highly evolved Beings, called as SEER, in the art and science of LIFE in its entirety. Gaudapada, was one such exceptionally a great Master!
The magnum opus contribution of Gaudapada, is the sustentative and explanatory commentary he wrote for one of the most difficult to understand Upanishad, 'Mandukya - Upanishad'. Adi Sankara was the great resurrecter of 'Sanathana -Dharma' of Hindu religion in general and 'Advaita - Vedanta' in particular. He could accomplish such a daunting undertaking only due to the sound preparatory work done by Master Gaudapada. Gaudapada established through his thoroughgoing reasoning and analysis that the ULTIMATE REALITY is NON-DUAL (Advaita). He went even further to establish that this non-dual absolute state which is unborn, immutable and all pervading cannot undergo any modification due to its blemishless purity (Uttama Satya). Hence, what appears as creation in actual fact, has not really taken place! This is his remarkable 'Ajativada' (Theory of No creation) ! Though these may sound highly far-fetched for an ordinary human being to comprehend, Master Gaudapada had come down to our level to teach us conclusively through reasoning, how our sense of individuality is only an illusion.
Irrespective of any exception, the whole humankind forever undergoes daily the experience of three states of consciousness by way of 'Waking, Dreaming and Deep-sleep'. Human self-identity universally goes through, a sequence of experience due to involuntary play of consciousness from waking to dreaming and deep-sleep. One-third period of our lifetime is spent in sleep, which fortunately also includes dreaming. Gaudapada makes use of this intimate daily experience of each one of us and points out very appropriately as follows: The self-identity during our waking state, 'Waker', is not present during the dream state. The 'Dreamer' of the dream state cannot be present during waking state. The experience of waking state is as much valid as the experience of dream state. The sorrow of waking state cannot produce sadness in the dream state. The fulfillment of a dream state cannot bring happiness in the waking state. Both these states of experience while being valid in their respective state, they also stay limited to their respective domain. Both these limited self-identities of 'Waker' and 'Dreamer' are completely lost during the 'Deep-sleep' state. The state of experience in deep-sleep is a state of 'Not-Knowing'. That is, there is no identity present in the deep-sleep to claim that, 'I Do Not Know'!
This play of three states is happening repeatedly and unfailingly. There is no instance that a person comes out of deep-sleep and cannot recognize himself, in the realm of limited waking state identity. This is the evidence for the fourth state of consciousness, which while containing and supporting the play of three states of consciousness, by itself, it does not get caught in any self-identity. The all-supporting fourth state of Consciousness, is beyond both the limited identification of waking and dreaming and as well the dark ignorance of deep-sleep state. Thus, this is the pure Consciousness, totally FREE of identity limitation. This is the essential nature of all of us, who are presently out of primordial ignorance are suffering by assuming limited self-identity (Persona) . In Latin language the word 'Persona' also means 'Mask', 'Character'. Thus, the identity of a 'Person' we "feel" about ourself, is as good as a 'Mask' and a character in a drama. In short, the whole game of self-identity is totally make-believe notion. This is only being continued out of ignorance. Master Gaudapada, with an overflowing compassion for the suffering humanity, most conclusively proved to us the whole CATCH hidden in the ordeal of self-identity. This is sure to make all of us to wake up from our ignorance and become unconditionally FREE!
Let peace and fullness be the order of our life. Let us express our humble gratitude to Master Gaudapada!

2 Gnyani One having knowledge that is reflected in his conduct.

3 Grace This is one of the most enticing oriental words in the field of religion and spirituality. It is termed enticing because, most people assume that without much of initiative and diligence on their part, something mystical will "descend" into them and bring positive features in their life! They term it as 'Grace descending'! In reality, the state of the recipient of grace has to be free from personal will and volition, but has to be with initiative and diligence. This seems a paradox. In actuality, water flows from the higher to a lower level, things fall from higher place to a lower point. There is also yet another factor playing a key role in conveying 'forces' from higher potential to the lower potential, i.e., 'Resistance'. Notwithstanding the realm of physical forces, in the domain of 'Consciousness' this factor of Resistance plays the pivotal role. As the mode of movement in the physical realm is 'Conveyance' (transfer), in the level of 'Consciousness' the mode of movement is by 'Communion'. Let us not overlook the fact that 'Communication' is a very limited facility, which at best can mechanically transfer informative data. This cannot bring transformation in the recipient. Data based accumulated knowledge is denoted by the Vedic culture as 'Lower-knowledge' ('Apara-Vidya'). In respect of spiritual realization, Vedanta views that the lower-knowledge is in fact only 'Ignorance' ('Avidya')!
Communion is the only path for GRACE to reach us. Communion is not a routine religious ceremony, carried out with a deadened spirit. This is an inner state of 'availability'. The only hurdle in this path is one's sense of EGO. The 'ego-eddy' of humankind is the worst "resistor" for the transmission of 'Grace'. When a true sense of humility floods our BEING, the ego-hurdle gets dissolved, thus the state of availability with complete sense of inward openness happens. LIFE always brings before us opportunities, which is known as 'Grace'. Each such opportunity is a lesson to learn the TRUTH, which is hidden from our view due to our egoistic outlook. Even the hardest hitting lesson in our life, is not able to uproot our ego. Thus the rain of grace, which each day brings into our life, gets evaporated by the searing heat of our ego-desert. It can also be said that, for most of us, 'Grace' is like a un-encashed check! Hence, it is very essential to pay attention to the fact that, while there is really no dearth for 'Grace' in LIFE, not all of us are able to BE the worthy recipients! Initiative free of will and diligence free of volition, can surely transform us into worthy recipients.

4 Grahastha HOUSEHOLDER. A householder's existence is full of attachments, fears, desires, greed, jealousy, sense of insecurities and above all a chilling sense of loneliness (Alienation), not withstanding all modes of relationships. Pairs of opposites such as good and bad, virtue and sin, divine and profane, attraction and revulsion, friend and foe operate and influence imperceptibly a Grahastha's (Householder) daily life. It is indeed quite fair to point out here, that in anyone's life if the above-mentioned snags are operating, he/she is indeed a householder!

5 Guru This word in the Sanskrit language is evolved as follows. a) 'Gu'=Darkness, 'Ru'=Remover. i.e. 'The remover of darkness' is Guru b) Also `Gu'=The cave (Heart), 'Ru'=To lead i.e. The one who leads the ignorant beings to one's 'Heart' (Consciousness) is Guru.
Ordinarily, Guru refers to a religious preceptor (guide), leading a novice through a prescribed method to attain inner peace and fulfillment. 'Guru' can also refer to the non-verbal inspiration, which the very process of 'LIFE' (birth, growth, decay and death), imparts to each human being. BUT, we seldom pay heed to this perennial source of inspiration. Hence, the need for a human facilitator, a Guru.