Yoga Glossary A–C |
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| A–C D–H I–N O–R S–Z |
- Ahamkara:
- 'I maker' or ego (the self we identify with).
- Ahimsa:
- Non-harming; one of the five attributes of yama (moral observance).
- Analysand:
- A person undergoing psychoanalysis.
- Ananda:
- Bliss or joy.
- Aparigraha:
- Greedlessness or non-grasping; one of the five moral disciplines of yama.
- Asana:
- Pose or posture (yoga exercises)—see eightfold path.
- Asteya:
- Non-stealing; one of the five attributes of yama (moral observance).
- Avidya:
- Ignorance.
- Bodymind:
- Is used to describe the body, mind and spirit as an integrated whole.
- Buddhi:
- The higher or discerning mind (buddhi is the feminine form of buddha [the awakened one].
- Brahmacarya:
- Chastity; one of the five attributes of yama (moral observance).
- Candra:
- Moon.
- Chakra:
- Energy centres—there are seven main chakras (read more about chakras and download the chakra chart PDF [86 KB]).
- Citta (Cit [root]):
- Mind or consciousness.
- Citta-vrtti-nirodha:
- Sutra 1:2 describing the main goal of yoga—restraint of the modifications of the mind is yoga or yoga is the control of ideas in the mind.
- Clarity or Clarity of Mind:
- Is used herein to describe an individual's ability to see life from a rational perspective. It denotes a clear method of thought, unaffected by impulsive desires or compulsive instincts and free of excessively moralistic programming. In this sense, the 'seer' is now the objective observer of his/her own thoughts.
- Conditionality:
- The word 'conditionality' is used to describe anything that influences the individual to adopt particular beliefs and practices without fully understanding the reason for their own thought processes and behaviour. This implies a lack of awareness with regard to responses ie: conditional or programmed responses. It is a Buddhist term that basically means 'conditional thoughts that arise from events that then condition further thoughts and events'.
- Control (or controlling):
- Directing or taking charge of, eg 'controlling the ideas in the mind'—directing our thought processes.
- Constructivist:
- Not to be confused with the mathematical term, constructivism is a term used by Albert Ellis to describe a human being's ability to construct their own mental disturbances or mental reality. Ellis suggests that human being are not only disturbed by external influences they also contribute internally to maintaining dysfunctional thinking, feelings and doings.