Glossary

A

Ahamkara

Pride, ego.

Ahimsa

Non-violence.

Alasya

Laziness.

Anandamaya kosha

The sheath of bliss, the innermost of the five sheaths.

Antaranga

The inner quest: pranayama and pratyahara.

Antaratma

The innermost quest, the quest of the soul: dharana, dhyana and samadhi.

Aparigraha

Freedom from possessiveness.

Asana

Posture.

Asteya

Non-stealing.

B

Bahiranga

The outer, or external, quest: yama, niyama and asana.

Bhakti marga

The path of devotion.

Brahmacharya

Restraint, often understood as celibacy.

Buddhi

Intelligence.

C

Chitta

Consciousness, which includes the mind, the intellect and the ego.

Chitta vritti

The movements, or fluctuations, of consciousness.

D

Dharana

Concentration: attention held on one point.

Dhyana

Meditation: attention flowing without a break.

Dukha

Misery, pain.

E

Ekagra

Single-pointed concentration.

G

Ghatavastha

The intermediate stage of practice.

Guru

One who helps us gain knowledge.

Guru-shishya parampara

The tradition in which a teacher passes knowledge on to a student.

H

Hatha yoga

Self-realisation through discipline.

I

Ishvara pranidhana

Surrender to God.

J

Jnana marga

The path of knowledge.

K

Kaivalya

Emancipation, eternal freedom.

Karma marga

The path of selfless service, without thought of reward.

Klesha

Trouble, affliction.

Kosha

A sheath: one of the five layers of a person.

M

Manas

The mind.

Manomaya kosha

The mental or emotional sheath.

N

Nadi

A channel through which energy flows in the subtle body.

Nirodha

Restraint, stilling.

Nispattiavastha

The state in which body, mind and self become one.

Niyama

Disciplined personal conduct.

P

Parichayavastha

The third stage of practice, when intelligence and body become one.

Pramada

Carelessness.

Prana

Vital energy, the life force.

Pranamaya kosha

The sheath of vital energy.

Pranayama

The regulation of breath.

Pratyahara

Drawing the senses of perception inward.

R

Rajasic

The vibrant quality of nature.

S

Sadhana

Disciplined practice.

Samadhi

Absorption, self-realisation: the last of the eight limbs.

Samshaya

Doubt.

Samyama

Integration.

Santosha

Contentment.

Sarvanga sadhana

Holistic practice that brings body, mind and self together.

Sattvic

The luminous quality of nature.

Satya

Truth.

Saucha

Cleanliness, purity.

Svadhyaya

Self-study.

T

Tamasic

The inert quality of nature.

Tapas

Practice with discipline, devotion and effort.

V

Vijnanamaya kosha

The sheath of intellect.

Vyadhi

Physical ailment.

Y

Yama

Ethical codes for daily life: how we conduct ourselves towards others.

Yoga Sutras

The aphorisms on the practice of yoga attributed to Sage Patanjali.