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The Rudolf Steiner Archive

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The Foundations of Esotericism
GA 93a

Glossary of Indian-Theosophical Terms

Arhats
Adepts, initiates, occult teachers, Mahatmas or Masters.
Arupa
Without form.
Arupa plane
The higher regions of Devachan. Higher Spiritual World (R.S.)
Atma
The breath of life-spirit. The seventh and highest principle in man. Spirit Man. (R.S.)
Avidja
Non-knowledge.
Avitchi
Hell.
Bhava
Individual existence.
Bodhisattva
One whose being (sattva) is illumination (bodhi) pre-stage to Buddha-hood.
Buddhi
Theosophical: World-soul or World-mind and as 6th principle of the human being: Spiritual soul. Called by Rudolf Steiner Life Spirit.
Buddhi-Manas
Higher Manas in contradistinction to Lower Manas (Kama Manas). Higher Ego.
Chela
Occult pupil.
Causal body
According to Rudolf Steiner, the extract of the etheric and astral bodies which man bears from Earth-life to Earth-life and continually enriches.
Devachan
Spiritual World. See under Planes.
Devas
Spiritual Beings functioning on planes higher than the physical.
Dhyan-Chohans
Planetary Spirits, perfected human beings of earlier Rounds. — Oriental name for the Archai or Archangels.
Jara-marana
The Fall.
Jati
What before birth presses towards birth.
Kali Yuga
Yuga: age; Kali: dark.
Kama
General Astrality, i.e. substance of wishes and desires.
Kama-Manas
Earthly consciousness or Lower Manas, in contradistinction to Higher Manas (Buddhi-Manas). Also called by Rudolf Steiner, Intellectual Soul.
Kama-prana consciousness
General consciousness of life.
Kama-rupa
Astral Body, Body of Desires.
Kriya-shakti
The power of self-procreation.
Kundalini fire, kundalini light
Serpent-fire, Serpent force. Described by Rudolf Steiner in ‘How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds’ as ‘force active in Spiritual Perception’, and as ‘An Element of Higher Matter’.
Linga Sharira
Etheric body.
Lipikas
Also called Maharajas: Exalted spiritual beings connected with human destiny (Karma): Lords of Karma, who guide incarnation.
Maha-para-nirvana
Highest of the Seven Planes.
Manas
Literally, spirit. As human principle called by Rudolf Steiner, Spirit-Self.
Manvantara
Cosmic Day; seven rounds, a period of manifestation in contradistinction to period of dissolution or rest — Pralaya.
Mental World, Mental Plane
Devachan.
Nama-rupa
Distinction between name and form (subject and object).
Nidamas
The twelve Nidanas are the twelve Karma-forces which bring about incarnation. See Lecture 15.
Nirmanakaya
According to Rudolf Steiner an astral body so highly developed that at death no traces are left behind: Body of a Buddha-Being who has achieved perfection.
Para-nirvana plane
Lying still higher than the Nirvana Plane (See under Planes).
Pitris
Fathers or Fore-runners of Earth-men on Old Moon and Old Sun.
Planes
The Theosophical-Indian terminology for the seven planes, levels or worlds was already replaced by Rudolf Steiner as far as possible by German expressions in his Theosophy (1904) and in later lectures.
Theosophical Literature Anthroposophical Literature
Physical Plane The same, also: physical world, world of understanding
Astral Plane The same, also: Soul World or Land, Imaginative World, Elementary World
Devachan or Mental Plane The same, also Spirit Land, Spiritual World, World of the Harmony of the Spheres, World of Inspiration
Rupa-Devachan Lower Devachan, Lower Spiritual World, also Heavenly World
Arupa-Devachan Higher Devachan, Higher Spiritual World, World of true Intuition
Shushupti or Buddhi plane Buddhi plane, also World of Fore seeing
Nirvana plane Nirvana plane
Para-nirvana plane Nirvana plane
Maha-pari-nirvana plane Nirvana plane
This world above the World of Fore-seeing is of such a nature ‘that in accordance with truth and uprightness its name may not be given in European languages, for it would not do to choose just any name for what in Oriental languages is called Nirvana and which is higher than the World of Fore-seeing.’ Rudolf Steiner, Lecture, Berlin, 25 October 1909 in The Christ Impulse and the Development of the Ego-Consciousness. See also The Theosophy of the Rosicrucian, The East in the Light of the West, Macrocosm and Microcosm, >Man in the Light of Occultism, Theosophy and Philosophy.
Praja-patis
The Creative forces (from the point of view of embodiment).
Pralaya
Sleep condition; Existence during a Rest-period between two Manvantaras, also called a closed orbit.
Prana
General Life-principle; when poured into the physical body, spoken of as etheric body. Sometimes Life Ether.
Root Races
The seven main epochs or ages of the Fourth Globe or Condition of Form in Earth evolution: 1. Polarian, 2. Hyperborean, 3. Lemurian, 4. Atlantean, 5. Aryan or Post-Atlantean Root-Race; the following two epochs are always called the 6th and 7th Root-Races.
Rupa
Body, form.
Rupa Plane
Lower Devachan, Lower Spirit World. (R.S.)
Sanja
Perfection.
Sanskara
The organising tendency, desire.
Shad-ayatana
What the understanding makes out of a thing.
Shushupti plane
Buddhi plane. See under Planes.
Skandhas
According to Buddhistic reaching the five fundamental principles in every human being: body, sensation, thinking, will, consciousness. According to Rudolf Steiner virtually identical with Karma. See Lecture 17 of the Course.
Sparsha
Contact with existence.
Tat twam asi
‘That art thou’: Famous formula of the Vedas.
Trishna
Thirst for existence.
Upadana
Feeling of comfort in existence.
Vedana
Karmic results of feelings and sensations.
Vijnana
Consciousness. Understanding, intellectual knowledge.