Category: Glossary

The term bodhisattva refers to a sattva (meaning person) on a Buddhist path in pursuit of Bodhi (meaning Awakening).

In tradition of Mahayana, a bodhisattva is a person practicing the Paramita ( meaning Perfection) who aspires to be a Buddha in the future. Bodhisattva in this sense is seeking ANUTTARASAMYAKSAM BODHI (a complete and perfect awakening) through Prajna (meaning Wisdom). Perfect awakening is sought for the benefit of all sentient beings through Karuna (meaning Compassion).

A bodhisattva is a person who courageously seeks enlightenment not just for their own sake but for the benefit of the others human beings as well.

A bodhisattva is also named a mahasattva or “Great Being” because they are Mahayana practitioners that seek a complete awakening. They are equipped with all the necessary tools for achieving enlightenment — they have accumulated merits and wisdom. —and the quality of knowing how to act the right way in any given situation.

The path of the bodhisattva  is considered a higher stage than the path of any spiritual disciple and the path of the self-awakened buddha. The reason can be seen in the way they achieve enlightenment.

A Bodhisattva is destined to achieve enlightenment by dealing with their intellectual and emotional afflictions, while the other two paths try to achieve Nirvana which is a result of dealing with the emotional afflictions only.

Synonyms of bodhisattva are:

• mahasattva (great being)
• lsvara (lord)
• jinaputra (Buddha’s son)
• uttama dyuti (most splendid)
• maha punya (greatly meritorious)
• jinadhara (holding to the Buddha)
• vijetr (conqueror)
• dhimat (wise)
• jinankura (Buddha’s offspring)
• paramascarya (most marvelous)
• sarthavaha (caravan leader)
• krpalu (compassionate)
• vikranta (bold)
• mahayasas (of great glory)
• dharmika (righteous).

Bodhisattvas can belong to one of ten classes:

1. gotrastha (Bodhisattva who hasn’t yet reached purity)
2. avatirna (Bodhisattva who investigates the arising of the enlightened mind)
3. asuddhasaya (Bodhisattva who has not yet reached a pure intention)
4. suddhasaya (Bodhisattva who has reached a pure intention)
5. aparipakva (Bodhisattva who has not yet matured in the highest state)
6. paripakva (Bodhisattva who has matured in the highest state)
7. aniyatipatita (Bodhisattva who has not yet entered contemplation)
8. niyatipatita (Bodhisattva who has entered contemplation)
9. ekajatipratibaddha (Bodhisattva who is about to enter the supreme enlightenment)

The Bodhisattva Vow

The Bodhisattva vow simply means putting others before oneself. Even one’s own wellbeing for the sake of other sentient beings, even one’s own enlightenment.

In the effort to liberate order people, a Bodhisattva has to perfect six virtues or paramitas – discipline, patience, meditation, generosity, exertion, and transcendental knowledge.

Taking this vow implies, taking great responsibility on one’s shoulders. It means sacrificing one’s individuality and becoming completely open to the world.

Guanyin

Photo 1 by Dean Hochman

Photo 2 by Cliffano Subagio

The aspect of Bikram yoga that sets it apart from other yoga types is that this is practiced in a heated room. This yoga type consists of 26 yoga poses done in a heated room with a 105 degrees Fahrenheit temperature. This, of course, will cause the yoga doer to sweat a lot.

Each pose is done twice and sustained for a certain period of time. However, there are many reasons why people practice this kind of yoga.

The heat enjoyed by Bikram yoga doers makes the human body more flexible and agile. This is the common reaction of first-time doers of this type since they may find themselves doing poses that they were unable to do before.

Each pose is said to stretch the different muscles, joints, and ligaments of the human body. It also strengthens these different body parts. The body is also said to be more flexible when in a heated environment.

A person who is interested in practicing this type of yoga should remember to drink lots of water and fluids before and after the yoga sessions. This is because doing yoga in a heated room often leads to sweating a lot. The heat is also said to cleanse the body and aids a person in weight reduction and muscle development.

It frees your body of toxins and enhances blood circulation. People with chronic health problems or other ailments that practice this type of yoga claim that their health conditions have improved upon doing this type of yoga regularly.

The name “Bikram yoga’” comes from its founder Bikram Choudhury.

Photo by: Hernán Piñera

Adept is a person trying to advance enough on the path of spirituality to become a master.

In Magic, an adept should possess considerable magical knowledge (rituals, spells, divination, psychic powers). They should be initiated in the art of alchemy and possess power over the four elements.

In spirituality, an adept should strive to achieve enlightened consciousness.

A term closely related to the Adeptship is “the great work“. It takes a lot of time, if not multiple incarnations, to complete the process and become an Adept. Therefore this expression.

The secret knowledge is revealed to the Adept over time. Step by step, the Initiate will complete this great work in due time. They will then attain a perfect union between the body, soul, and spirit.

The origin of the word “adept” seems to be derived from Latin expression, adeptus, meaning “the one who has attained” (the secret of transmuting metals).[1]

Dr Claude Brodeur, PhD, say about the path of the Adept [2]:

This path is not for everyone. It is for those who have come to realize that an inner world exists. This world is as real as the world we see, hear, feel, and touch. This inner world far surpasses in importance the external world of manifestation.

Gnosis.org writes on the Hierarchy of Adepts [3], or the Great White Brotherhood of Spiritual Masters. In this sense, an Adept should be understood as a highly developed spiritual person.

Here is what the Sanctus Germanus website [4] says about the Adept of the Brotherhood:

To become a perfect adept takes long years, but at last he becomes the master. The hidden things become patent, and mystery and miracle flee from his sight forever. He knows how to guide force in this direction or that — to produce desirable effects. The secret chemical, electric or vital properties of plants, herbs, roots, minerals, animal tissue, are as familiar to him as the feathers of your birds are to you.

The Theosophical doctrine defines the process of Adeptship [5] as follows:

Adeptship is the identity of the innermost self of man with the innermost self of the universe, the Atma with the Paramatma, pseudo-individuality is dissolved. The Adept abides in perpetual experience of identity with Universal Spirit. This is Perfection, Nirvana or Salvation – liberation from illusion of separated individuality. This is the highest human attainment and the spiritual “purpose” of existence.

References

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adept

[2] https://zenol.tripod.com/adept.html

[3] https://gnosis.org/wise_men.htm

[4] https://www.sanctusgermanus.net

[5] https://www.teosofia.com

Photo by Moyan Brenn