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Manas (Mind)

The individual mind, having the power & faculty of attention, selection & rejection.

The ruler of the senses.

cf: manas chakra
ie: Manasika (of the Mind)

Mantra (Vedic hymn)

In meditation chanting of mantras is sometimes given to the beginner to steady his wandering mind & to keep him away from worldy desires.

Meditation - see Dhyana (Absorption)

Ojas (Vitality or Life/Immune Force)
Vitality, lustre, splendour. A physically perceivable indication of well being.

With reference to the disease AIDS (Auto Immune Definciency Syndrome), Ayurveda has ben known to vastly improve the patient's health. [cf: REFERENCE TBC]

4 Principles or Pillars of Ayurveda

The 4 main principles of Ayurvedic practice each have 4 important qualities.

• Physician:
efficient, possess perfect knowledge (of causes, symptoms, treatments and non-recurrence of disease)

• Drug:
fit to be used in many forms, possess many good properties, potent and suitable

• Attendant:
caring, clean, efficient and intelligent

• Patient:
obedient to physician, good memory, strong will and wealthy of character & fortune.

Panchamahabhutahs (5 Great Elements)

5 Gross Elements: Akasa (Ether), Vayu (Air), Tejas (Fire), Jala (Water) & Prthvi (Earth). Every living thing in the universe is made up from these 5 elements.

The above elements are part of the 9 Elements of the Universe, the other 4 of which are: Atman (Soul), Manas (Mind), Kala (Time) & Dik (Direction).

Prakrti (Cosmic Substance)

Nature, the original source of the material world.
Prakrti consists of the 3 Qualities: Sattva (purity), Rajas (activity) & Tamas (inertia).

cf: Gunas (Qualities)
cf: 3 Primary Forces of the Universe

Shakti (Power)

Energy, Capacity, Strength
Represents the power of consciouness to act.
Shakti is portrayed as the female aspect of the Ultimate Principle & deified as the wife of Shiva.
 

3 Primary Forces of the Universe

There are 3 basic forces in the universe, which are the 3 Qualities of Prakrti (Nature):

Sattva (Purity), Rajas (Activity) & Tamas (Inertia) 
which correspond with or represent the 3 elements:

Air, Fire & Water 
which correlate with the concepts:

Prana (Life), Jyoti (Light) & Prema (Love)
which are known as the 3 Primary Forces of the Universe.
These Qualities, or powers, relate to thermal processes and to the metabolism but also to physical and structural as well as vital and kinetic processes.[5]

These three primary forces are corresponding to the three elements of air, fire and water,[6] because from the five elements earth, fire, air, space and water only three are considered to be active, earth and space are viewed as passive powers.[7]
[© 2006 Thailin Thai Massage Berlin]

Prana (Life)

Breath, Respiration, Life, Vitality, Wind, Energy, Strength.
Prana also connotes the Soul.

The first Primary or active force is the Prana. This is the energy of life and also the primal breath, because all energy is considered to be a movement of inhalation and exhalation. All material energy is seen as a further development of the force of life itself. This force of life can even hide inside inanimate materials.

In the Vedas Indra, the dragonslayer and wielder of the thunderbolt, represents this power.[2] Prana is understood as a silent and invisible power that is incorporated in everything that exists.

Prana is in our food as well as in the water we drink and the air we breathe. Prana circulates inside and outside of our body as a complex network of life-power. The tradition of Yoga holds that we would not exist without this vital force. Thai-massage also relies on the theory of this energy and the invisible ways it takes to move through our body, called energy lines.

Pranayama

A breathing exercise, Pranayama is an essential ingrediant of yogic discipline, which may bestow a number of benefits other than mental & spiritual.

The exercise of Pranayama involves the control of the mind & of the whole of human consciousness, which is the basis of all cognition & awareness. [Menuhin, Y. 1981]

Pranayama is the root of spiritual knowledge, knowledge of the Self (Atma jnana). [Iyengar, B. K. S. 1981]

Prema (Love)

The third Primary Force is the power of cohesion, Prema, allowing the development of form and their consistency. In it the power of love is reflected because love is the force keeping everything together. The spirit of love is Soma, the nectar of immortality that offers delight and nourishment to all of us.[4]

Rajas (Energy)

Action, Passion, Emotion.

1 of the 3 Qualities of Prakrti.
[cf: Prakrti (Nature)]