Glossary of Esoteric Concepts
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M
N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
A
Age -- World cycle,
approximately 2,150 years, determined by the relation of the
earth, sun and constellations of the zodiac.
Ageless Wisdom -- An ancient body of spiritual
teaching underlying all the worlds religions as well as all
scientific, social and cultural achievements. First made
available in writing to the general public in the late 1800s by
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and in this century by Alice A. Bailey,
Helena Roerich, and Benjamin Creme.
Ajna center -- The energy center (chakra) between the eyebrows.
Directing center of the personality. Its correspondence on the
physical level is the pituitary gland.
Angel of the Presence -- The Soul
- standing on its own plane in the Presencce of Divinity - by its
Light dispels illusion, reveals that which is hidden, and accepts
the integrated personality as its vehicle of expression.
[opposite = Dweller on the Threshold]
Antahkarana -- An invisible channel of
light forming the bridge between the physical brain and the soul,
built through meditation and service.
Antichrist -- Energy of the Will aspect of God,
in its involutionary phase, which destroys the old forms and
relationships, for example at the end of an age, to prepare the
way for the building forces of the Christ Principle. Manifested
in Roman times through the emperor Nero and in modern times
through Hitler and six of his associates.
Ashram -- A Masters group. In the
Spiritual Hierarchy there are 49 ashrams, seven major and 42
subsidiary, each headed by a Master of Wisdom.
Astral body -- The emotional vehicle of an
individual.
Astral plane -- The plane of the emotions,
including the polar opposites such as hope and fear, sentimental
love and hate, happiness and suffering. The plane of illusion.
Avatar -- A spiritual Being who descends
in answer to mankind's call and need. There are human, planetary
and cosmic Avatars. The latter would be called `Divine
Incarnations'. Their teaching, correctly apprehended and
gradually applied by humanity, expands our understanding and
presents the next step forward in humanity's evolutionary
development.
Avatar of Synthesis -- A great cosmic Being who
embodies the energies of Will, Love, Intelligence and another
energy for which we have as yet no name. Since the 1940s He has
been sending these energies into the world, gradually
transforming division into unity.
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B
Buddha -- Last Avatar of the age
of Aries. Previous World Teacher who manifested through the
Prince Gautama around 500 BC. The Embodiment of Wisdom, He
currently acts as the `Divine Intermediary' between Shamballa and
Hierarchy. Buddhists expect their next great teacher under the
name Maitreya Buddha.
Buddhi -- The universal soul or mind;
higher reason; loving understanding; love-wisdom. The energy of
love as the Masters experience it.
Buddhic plane -- Plane of divine intuition.
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C
Causal
body -- The
vehicle of expression of the soul on the causal plane. The
receptacle where consciousness of ones evolutionary point of
development is stored.
Causal plane -- The third of the four higher
mental planes on which the soul dwells.
Chakras -- Energy centers (vortices) in the
etheric body related to the spine and the seven most important
endocrine glands. Responsible for the co-ordination and
vitalization of all the bodies (mental, astral and physical) and
their correlation with the soul, the main center of
consciousness. There are seven major chakras and 42 lesser ones.
Christ -- A term used to designate the head
of the Spiritual Hierarchy; the World Teacher; the Master of all
the Masters.
Christ Consciousness -- The energy of the
Cosmic Christ, also known as the Christ Principle. Embodied for
us by the Christ, it is at present awakening in the hearts of
millions of people all over the world. The energy of evolution
per se.
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D
Deva -- Angel or celestial
being belonging to a kingdom in nature evolving parallel to
humanity, and ranging from sub- human elementals to super-human
beings on a level with a planetary logos. They are the `active
builders', working intelligently with substance to create all the
forms we see, including the mental, emotional and physical bodies
of humanity.
Dweller on the Threshold -- "...is
illusion-glamour-maya, as realized by the physical brain and
recognized as that which must be overcome. It is the bewildering
thoughtform with which the disciple is confronted when he seeks
to pierce through the accumulated glamour of the ages and find
his true home in the place of light." [opposite = Angel
of the Presence]
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E
Esotericism -- The philosophy of the
evolutionary process both in man and the lower kingdoms in
nature. The science of the accumulated wisdom of the ages.
Presents a systematic and comprehensive account of the energetic
structure of the Universe and of mans place within it. Describes
the forces and influences that lie behind the phenomenal world.
Also, the process of becoming aware of and gradually mastering
these forces.
Etheric Body -- The energetic counterpart of the
physical body, composed of seven major centers (chakras) and 49 minor centers, a
network which connects all the centers, and infinitesimally small
threads of energy (nadis) which underlie every part of the
nervous system. Blockages in the etheric body can result in
physical illnesses.
Etheric Planes -- Four planes of matter finer than
the gaseous-physical. As yet invisible to most people.
Evil -- Anything which impedes
evolutionary development.
Evolution -- The process of spiritualization
of matter; the way back to the Source. The casting aside of the
veils of delusion and illusion leading eventually to cosmic
consciousness.
Evolutionary Arc -- Term applied to the
latter half of the evolutionary process. It marks the ascent or
return of Spirit to its emanating source, plus the gains of the
evolutionary process. [opposite = Involutionary Arc]
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F
Forces of Light (Forces of Evolution) --
The Spiritual Hierarchy of our planet. Planetary center of
Love-Wisdom.
Forces of Darkness (Forces of Evil, Forces of
Materiality) -- The involutionary or materialistic forces which
uphold the matter aspect of the planet. When they overstep their
role and impinge upon the spiritual progress of humanity, they
are designated as evil.
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G
Glamour --
"Mental illusion when intensified by desire, occurring on
the astral plane. (Emotional attachment to forms - distracts
attention away from reality.) Glamour has been likened to a mist
or fog in which the aspirant wanders and which distorts all that
he sees and contacts, preventing him from ever seeing life truly
or clearly or the conditions surrounding him as they essentially
are... He is deceived by the appearance and forgets that which
the appearance veils. The emanatory astral reactions which each
human being initiates ever surround him and through this fog and
mist he looks out upon a distorted world."
[dissipated by Illumination]
World
glamour -- the sumtotal of human ignorance,
fear and greed--can dissipate through the clear, inclusive
thinking of those in whom the soul (Christ) principle is
awakening. Glamour results from a negative emotional focus; the
dissipation of glamour depends on "illumined thinking".
God (see also Logos) -- The
great Cosmic Being who ensouls this planet, embodying all the
Laws and all the energies governed by those Laws, which make up
everything that we see and cannot see.
Great Invocation -- An ancient formula,
translated by Hierarchy for the use of mankind to invoke the
energies which will change our world. Translated into many
languages, it is used daily by millions of people.
Guru -- A spiritual teacher.
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H
Hierarchy -- See Spiritual
Hierarchy.
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I
Illumination -- the Light of the Soul
(dissipates glamour).
Illusion -- Mental
fixation upon an idea - exclusive of the whole thus not seen in
its reality - leads to misinterpretation of the phenomenal world.
-- "Illusion is the power of some menntal thoughtforms, of
some ideal, and some concept - sensed, grasped and interpreted in
mental form - to dominate the mental processes of the individual
or of the race and consequently to produce the limitation of the
individual or group expression."
[dispelled by intuition]
Imam
Mahdi -- The
prophet whose return is awaited by some Islamic sects in order
that he can complete the work started by Mohammed.
Incarnation -- Manifestation of the soul as a
three-fold personality, under the Law of Rebirth.
Initiation -- A voluntary process
whereby successive and graded stages of unification and
at-one-ment take place between the man or woman in incarnation,
his/her soul, and the divine Monad or spark of God. Each stage
confers on the initiate a deeper understanding of the meaning and
purpose of God's Plan, a fuller awareness of his/her part in that
Plan, and an increasing ability to work consciously and
intelligently towards its fulfillment.
Inspiration -- The influence of thought and
strong feelings upon actions for good. In-breathing of spirit.
[devitalizes maya]
Intuition -- Immediate perception or
understanding of truth. The knowingness inherent in the
Consciousness of the Christ sees the totality [dispelled illusion]
Involution -- The process whereby
spirit descends into matter, its polar opposite.
Involutionary Arc -- Term applied to the
first part of the evolutionary process. It covers the "path
of descent," or the coming down of spirit into progressively
denser matter until the lowest point is reached, the point of
densest concretion. [opposite = Evolutionary Arc]
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J
Jesus -- Master of Wisdom and
disciple of the Christ. Allowed the Christ to work through him
during the period from his baptism through the crucifixion. In
the coming time, He will play a major role in reinspiring and
reorienting the whole field of Christian religion.
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K
Karma -- Eastern name for the Law of Cause
and Effect. The basic Law governing our existence in this solar
system. Every thought, every action that we have and make sets
into motion a cause. These causes have their effects, which make
our lives, for good or ill. Expressed in biblical terms: As you
sow, so shall you reap.; in scientific terms: For every action
there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Krishna -- A great Avatar who appeared
around 3,000 BC and served as the vehicle of manifestation for
the Lord Maitreya during the age of Aries. By demonstrating the
need to control the astral/emotional nature, Krishna opened the
door to the second initiation. Hindus expect a new incarnation of
Krishna at the end of Kali Yuga, the dark age.
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L
Law
of Cause and Effect (Law of Action and Reaction) -- See
Karma.
Law of Rebirth -- See Reincarnation.
Logos -- God. The Cosmic Being who
ensouls a planet (Planetary Logos), a solar system (Solar Logos),
a galaxy (Galactic Logos) and so on to infinity.
Lord of the World -- See Sanat
Kumara.
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M
Maitreya -- The World Teacher for
the age of Aquarius. The Christ and head of the Spiritual
Hierarchy of our planet. The Master of all the Masters.
Man/Woman -- The physical manifestation of a
spiritual Monad (or Self), which is a single spark of the One
Spirit (God).
Manas -- Higher mind.
Mantram -- Formula or arrangement of words
or syllables which, when correctly sounded, invokes energy.
Masters of Wisdom -- Individuals who have
taken the 5th initiation, having passed through all the
experiences that life in this world offers and, in the process,
having acquired total mastery over themselves and the laws of
nature. Custodians of the Plan of Evolution and all the energies
entering this planet which bring about the fulfillment of the
Plan.
Maya -- "It
is essentially the energy of the human being as it swings into
activity through the subjective influence of mental illusion and
emotional glamour, or both in combination. [uncontrolled and
undirected energy - sweeps into and entangles one in wrong
activity] It is the vital unthinking emotional mess in
which the majority of human beings seem always to live."
[devitalized by inspiration]
Meditation
-- Scientific
means of contacting ones soul and of eventually becoming at-one
with the soul. Also the process of being open to spiritual
impression and thus to co-operation with the Spiritual Hierarchy.
Mental body -- The vehicle of the personality on
the mental planes.
Mental plane -- The plane of the mind where the
mental processes take place.
Monad/Self -- Pure Spirit reflecting the
triplicity of deity: (1) divine will or power (the Father); (2)
love-wisdom (the Son); (3) active intelligence (the Holy Spirit).
The spark of God resident in every human being.
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N
New Group of World Servers -- On the physical plane,
without any exoteric organization, ceremonials, or outer form,
there is integrating - silently, steadily and powerfully - a
group of men and women who will supersede eventually the previous
hierarchical effort. They are of all races; they speak all
languages; they embrace all religions, all sciences and all
philosophies. Their characteristics are synthesis, inclusiveness,
intellectuality and fine mental development. They own to no
creed, save the creed of Brotherhood, based on the One Life..
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O
Occult -- Hidden. The hidden
science of energy (see Esotericism).
Overshadowing -- A voluntary co-operative process
in which a Masters consciousness temporarily enters and works
through the physical, emotional and mental bodies of a disciple.
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P
Permanent
atoms -- The
three atoms of matter -- physical, astral and mental -- around
which the bodies for a new incarnation are formed. They retain
the vibratory rate of the individual at the moment of death,
guaranteeing that the energetic evolutionary status thus far
achieved will be carried over into successive lives.
Personality -- Three-fold vehicle of the soul on
the physical plane, consisting of a mental, an emotional (astral)
and a physical-etheric body.
Physical plane -- The lowest vibrational states of
substance, including: dense physical, liquid, gaseous and etheric
matter.
Plane -- A level of existance.
Planetary Logos -- See Sanat Kumara.
Pralaya -- A non-mental, non-astral,
non-material state of existence somewhere between death and
rebirth, where the life impulse is in abeyance. An experience of
perfect peace and unending bliss prior to taking the next
incarnation. Corresponds to the Christian idea of paradise.
Prana -- The Vital Fluidic
Principle (required for the maintenance of physical form
existence) which is received and distributed via the etheric web
throughout the entire system.
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Q
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R
Rays
-- The seven
streams of universal divine energy, each the expression of a
great Life, whose interaction at every conceivable frequency
creates the solar systems, galaxies and universes. Movement of
these energies, in spiraling cycles, draws all Being into and out
of manifestation, coloring and saturating it with specific
qualities and attributes.
Reincarnation (Law of Rebirth) -- The
process which allows God, through an agent (ourselves) to bring
Itself down to Its polar opposite -- matter -- in order to bring
that matter back into Itself, totally imbued with the nature of
God. The Law of Karma draws us back into incarnation until
gradually, through the evolutionary process, we reveal more truly
our innate divinity.
Ring-pass-not -- limit of the sphere of
influence.
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S
Sanat Kumara -- The Lord of the World; the
etheric-physical expression of our Planetary Logos who dwells on
Shamballa. A great Being, originally from Venus, who sacrificed
Himself to become the personality vehicle for the ensouling deity
of our planet 18.5 million years ago. The nearest aspect of God
that we can know.
Self/Monad -- The divine spark within every
human being.
Self-realization -- The process of
recognizing and expressing our divine nature.
Shamballa -- A center of energy; the major
center in the planet. It is located above the Gobi Desert on the
two highest etheric planes. From it and through it flows the
Shamballa Force -- the energy of Will or Purpose. It corresponds
to the crown center (chakra).
Sheaths -- Veils of substance
which hide the inner Reality. The three forms of substance
(mental, astral, and etheric bodies) in which the soul envelops
itself in order that it may express on the material plane.
Solar Logos -- Divine Being ensouling our solar
system.
Soul (Ego, Higher Self, inner ruler,
Christ within, Son of Mind, Solar Angel ) -- The linking
principle between Spirit and matter; between God and His form.
Provides consciousness, character and quality to all
manifestation in form. -- The human being is essentially and
inherently divine. The soul is the means whereby mankind evolves
a consciousness of divinity, redeems gross matter and liberates
the pure flame of spirit from the limitation of form.
Spirit -- the sum-total of the energies --
the life force -- animating and vitalizing an individual. Also
used, more esoterically, to mean the Monad which reflects itself
in the soul.
Spirit of Peace or Equilibrium -- A cosmic Being who
assists the work of Maitreya by overshadowing Him with His
energy. He works closely with the Law of Action and Reaction, to
transform the present chaotic conditions into the opposite state
in exact proportion.
Spiritual -- The quality of any activity which
drives the human being forward towards some form of development
-- physical, emotional, intuitional, sociaal -- in advance of his
present state.
Spiritual Hierarchy (White Brotherhood,
Society of Illumined Minds) -- The Kingdom of God, the Spiritual
Kingdom or the Kingdom of souls, made up of the Masters and
initiates of all degrees and whose purpose is to implement the
Plan of God. Planetary center of Love-Wisdom.
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T
Transmission
Meditation --
A specialized form of group meditation and service in which the
members offer their energy centers (chakras) as instruments for
stepping down the energies emanating from the Spiritual Hierarchy
of Masters. It provides the planet with a pool of energy more
accessible and useful to humanity. Also a potent method of
personal spiritual development.
Triangles -- Groups of three people who link
up each day in thought for a few minutes of creative meditation.
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U
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V
Vehicle -- The form by means of
which higher beings find expression on the lower planes. The
physical, astral and mental bodies, for instance, form the
vehicles of the soul on lower levels.
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W
World
Teacher -- The
head of the Spiritual Hierarchy in any given cycle. The Master of
all the Masters.
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X
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Y
Yoga
-- Union of
the lower nature with the higher. Different forms and techniques
to gain control of the physical, astral or mental bodies.
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Z
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Sources:
- Share International - Title: Glossary of Esoteric Terms
- A Treatise on
Cosmic Fire - by Alice Bailey/DK
- Glamour: A World
Problem - by Alice Bailey/DK
- Additional entries
included by this webauthor
Also see -
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