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5 words found.

		Word	Meaning
1		Kaivalyam	The ultimate realized state in the realm of spirituality is 'Kaivalyam'. Sage Patanjali brings his magnum opus work on 'The Science Of YOGA' with a most comprehensive Sutra about 'Kaivalya'. "Kaivalya is that state of Self-realization in which the 'Purusa' (Spirit of pure Consciousness) gets established finally when the purpose of ITS long evolutionary unfoldment has been attained. In this state the 'Guna' (Tendencies) having fulfilled their purpose, recede to a condition of equilibrium and therefore the power of pure Consciousness can function without any obscuration or limitation". No verbal description can convey the state of unconditional absolute freedom. All that can be indicated is that, in one's daily existence, a general sense of resistance free living, profoundly positive co-operation, communing with others through peace and wisdom, will prevail. These qualities obviously indicate that the divisive factor of EGO, stands dissolved. The identity "in" such a person, is only functional and not psychological! This state of freedom from ego, is 'Kaivalya'
2		Karma	According to Jainism, Karma are a type of subtle particles that, when bonded with Atman, create bondage of Jiva with Atman. This Sanskrit word means both 'The effect of past actions' and also 'One's present daily activities'. This is the reason, 'Karma-Yoga' teaches us as to how one ought to think and act in the present moment of one's daily life. 'Nishkama Karma' is the WAY! If the daily life is lived, with wholesome thoughts and deeds, the accumulated effect of them in future would also be wholesome and peace-bearing. The wholesome quality cannot be the living reality in one's life, by merely adhering to social and religious tenets and values. Only when one's sense of ego steps-down from its present autocratic position, the thoughts and actions that emerge will naturally be wholesome. An abiding sense of humility and acceptance are the nature of such a person.
3		Karuna	One may think that the English equivalent to this word is 'Sympathy'. No, it is not. Sympathetic state is a dual state. Sympathy is a momentary reaction coming out of one's sense of pity. Whereas, 'Karuna' is 'Empathy', 'Compassion'. The full extent of agony and pain of the other can be felt emphatically. In empathy there is no scope for any distracting melodrama and pathos. Empathy ensures spontaneous and appropriate response, free from the egoistic sense of a Giver and Receiver. The great Karuna of Buddha is a well-known example. All true Masters have this divine quality.
4		Koham TO Soham	("Who Am I?' to 'I Am That!') Within these two magnificent Sanskrit words, the entire soul stirring spiritual journey is condensed and artistically presented to mankind. This is indeed the ultimate spiritual formula! But, a profound study is essential to fully imbibe the total significance of this 'Sutra' (formula). 'Koham' = 'Who Am I?' 'Soham' = 'I Am THAT!' The mother of all spiritual enquiry is to ask in a relentless quest as to, 'Who Am I?' The crisis in the human world is the crisis in human consciousness and nowhere else. This crisis is due to our ignorance about our 'Self-Identity". From our very birth, through growth, decay and finally death, we are harassed by a kaleidoscopic play of "Self-Identity". No aspect of our long list of self-identities, gives us a lasting satisfaction and abiding sense of peace. But, we seldom earnestly question the pageantry of self-identities passing through our mind. Many of us are not quick-witted enough, to subject ourself to such a self-questioning. Whereas, the genuine spiritual journey is said to have begun, only when an authentic question arises as a quest, 'Who Am I?' ('Koham'). This question of 'Who Am I?" is not really meant for weak-hearted and clay-footed. Most of us cannot hold out for long. Hastily, we adorn ourself with one identity or the other and get stuck-up with it! But, the enigmatic law of LIFE seems to be such; it just does not spare us to rest contented in distraction. Yes, an identity is indeed a distraction for 'Consciousness'. Hence, one's consciousness should be fully AWARE of any identity and its make-believe nature. As the distraction of identity has upset the neutral-poise of ATTENTION, dissatisfaction creeps in us and once again our window-shopping for identity begins. In the plethora of 'Identities' none of them are either superior or inferior. All of them bind one's 'Being' alike. Whereas, if one is steadfast in not getting head-on involved with any form of identity and has the swift ALERTNESS to perceive the transient quality of passing identities, only then, a so far unknown freedom dawns in our Being. This frees us from the very craving for seeking identities. When such an unlimited and unconditioned freedom floods our consciousness, one is truly TOGETHER with everything else simultaneously. A profound sense of harmony exudes from one's BEING. In this state, the BEING exclaims, 'SOHAM!' 'I AM THAT!' Here the word 'THAT' is not limited to a particular thing or an aspect. 'THAT' truly signifies 'EVERYTHING', the TOTALITY of Creative-process as a whole. What is of immense importance and significance is, there is a loss of stubborn sense of egoistic individuality, when such a wholistic SEEING happens. 'Koham' to 'Soham' is such a transmutative spiritual journey! *In the beginning one's inner state is egoistic 'AHAM" (I AM). *Then the quest of 'KOHAM' (WHO AM I?). *Finally 'SOHAM' (I AM THAT!), is the state of realization. "AHAM-KOHAM-SOHAM", is the WAY!
5		Kundalini Shakti	Secret and also sacred 'Serpent-Power' dormant in each human being is 'Kundalini Shakti'. The connecting door-way between biological energy and spiritual energy is quite subtle. For that matter, even the very "familiar" biological energy by itself has not yet been objectively seen by science. Only the effects of this energy are available for measuring by our gross devices. In like manner, electrical and magnetic energy forms are also not possible to be seen directly by us. Only their effects are measurable, to prove their existence. In the very same way, no one can dismiss by flippantly saying that 'Kundalini Shakti' is only a lot of hot air! In spite of astounding breakthroughs in the science of medical anatomy, there are still very many questions for which the specialists have to yet get answers. Even by employing the most advanced diagnostic mapping contraptions, some parts of human brain are still a mystery for neuro scientists. The advancements accomplished in the field of Endocrinology, still has not unraveled the entire mysterious biochemical significance of glandular inputs from Pineal and Thymus glands. What the specialists in this field know regarding this mystery, is abysmally peripheral and limited. They have hastily concluded that Thymus gland has no function in adult life and stays shrunken as an atrophied vestige. It is active only from infancy upto adolescence period. They will perhaps, never realize, that the emerging ego-sense as it hardens completely during adolescence, this Thymus gland which is called by occult science as 'Spiritual HEART', turns frigidly in-operative. As the psychological abnormalities flood our consciousness, this doorway to spiritual growth stays shut inaccessible. Apart from the missing link of hormones, in the autonomic nervous system of humankind there are 'Sympathetic System' consisting of 'PLEXUS', which have not been understood yet regarding their total functions. Occult science of many thousand years old explain 'Kundalini Shakti' with the help of seven CHAKRAS, which have a striking resemblance of these PLEXUS. The correspondence between them are shown as follows: 1) Muladhara = Spine-base (Genital regions), 2) Swadhishthana = Abdomen, 3) Manipura = Navel, 4) Anahata = Heart, 5) Vishuddha = Throat, 6) Ajna = Middle of eyebrows and 7) Sahasrara = Brain. In human being, of course also in every creature, the spiritual energy is present. Its manifestation to the full potential is possible in human beings, due to their highly refined nervous system and a most developed brain. Apart from the spiritual energy of 'Kundalini Shakti', the Indian science of YOGA also identifies 'Prana Shakti'. This is not just the same as breath. Though the inhaling and exhaling of breath upkeeps the 'Prana Shakti', over and above a sense of Consciousness is also attributed to this 'Prana'. 'Kundalini-Shakti' responds to highly vitalized 'Prana'. There are two quite opposite approaches, found in the traditional knowledge-system of 'The Science Of Yoga' to make the 'Spiritual-Heart' in a human being to come alive. One of this, is distinctly named as 'left-handed' approach. This system contains methods to shock the ego dominated human mind, to purge the values of pairs of opposites. Human ego-sense thrives by playing with pairs of opposites like: good and bad, beautiful and ugly, virtue and sin, cleanliness and filth, morality and immorality, attraction and revulsion etc. All the methods adopted in 'Vama-Marg' (Left-handed system), makes the ego face the oddity of ACTUALITY by compulsively going through undesirable experiences. It is indeed a bizarre approach. More often, as there is surely an element of brutal compulsion in this method, the Sadhak's can turn mentally morbid. Thus it can turn totally counterproductive and deepen the complexity of the ego-sense, which is already in a state of neurosis. Hence the left-handed way of 'Tantra', is indeed not quite popular, as an appropriate method for attaining 'Atma-Gnyan' (Self-realization). Always, only a very close knit group in great secrecy undertakes this approach! 'Samaya Marg', the right-handed approach (VEDIC, YOGIC, VEDANTIC, PURANIC) to Self-realization is the popular WAY. While Puranic method relies on Bhakti through total surrender (Devotional orientation), Vedic method relies on elaborate rituals to initiate the student's one-pointed attention to transcend the sense of separation (EGO). Yogic method is popularly known as 'HATA YOGA', which contains a very systematic science of awakening 'Kundalini Shakti' through accurately designed physical postures (Asana) accompanied by purifying and invigorating 'Prana' by 'Prana Yama'(Systematic breath control). Here too, the word 'HATA' indicates an emphasis on 'compulsion' and 'enforcement'. But at this juncture, an important fact has to be taken note of: That is, as per the wont of Egoistic disposition, human mind does not desire any challenge to its habitual outlook. It cannot tolerate any obstacle in its egoistic way of living. It hungers and thirsts only to continue its misadventure of image based 'Self-preservation". It abhors the TRUTH of Self-knowledge. Such a die-hard state deserves an element of 'Compulsion' in the initial stages of Sadhana. 'HATA YOGA' inculcates the much needed orientation through mental discipline and physical and pranic vitality. Mental and physical discipline and invigoration of breath brings suppleness in the otherwise brittle ego-sense. Only then, there is a substantial sense of humility in the human perceiving mode. It is ready to let go its conceit of individuality! The ultimate point of self-realization, nevertheless is in UNDERSTANDING. The human ego (Ahamkar) has to comprehensively realize its illusory state and thus SEE that the values and judgments that it had woven are equally fictional. The complete loss of isolating ego-sense, naturally integrates the microcosm into Macrocosm. The miraculous spontaneity of The Ultimate Absolute Substratum is ever, ' HERE and NOW'. The self-realized human being, comes into this flow of spontaneity. This is the time free auspicious moment when the 'Kundalini Shakti' expresses its full potential. This liberated state has no utilitarian purpose whatsoever, save peaceful existence! Only this TRUTH in view, a Seer cryptically pointed out that, "Kundalini Shakti is the natural-state, it cannot be organized!" ( "Ye Avastha hai, vevastha nahi hai.") Let us bear this fact in our attention.

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