Omphaloskepsis

Omphaloskepsis

Omphaloskepsis is contemplation of one's navel as an aid to meditation.[1]

The word comes from Greek omphalos (navel) + skepsis (act of looking, examination). Similar words are "omphaloskeptic" (one who engages in the practice) and "omphaloskeptical" (related to contemplation of one's navel).

Actual use of the practice as an aid to contemplation of basic principles of the cosmos and human nature is found in Indian yoga and sometimes in the Eastern Orthodox Church.[2] Some consider the navel to be "a powerful chakra of the body".[3][4]

However, phrases such as "contemplating one's navel" or "navel-gazing" are frequently used, usually in jocular fashion, to refer to self-absorbed pursuits.[5] This criticism is often leveled at professions interested in themselves: movies about Hollywood, for example, or television shows about television writers.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, p. 865
  2. ^ Udo Becker, The Continuum Encyclopedia of Symbols (Continuum International 2000 ISBN 9780826412218), p. 210
  3. ^ Royal L. Craig, Whispers beyond the Edge (Xlibris 2010 ISBN 9781450079723), p. 99
  4. ^ Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, Yantra Yoga (Snow Lion 2008 ISBN 9781559393089), p. 15
  5. ^ E.R. Lyn, Abbreviations Acronyms Glossary for American Readers (CreateSpace 2009 ISBN 9781442178953), p. 490

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • omphaloskepsis — (n.) 1925, from OMPHALO (Cf. omphalo ) + Gk. skepsis, from skeptesthai to reflect, look, view (see SCOPE (Cf. scope) (n.1)). Also omphaloscopy (1931), and used in the sense of navel gazer were omphalopsychic (1892), omphalopsychite (1882) …   Etymology dictionary

  • omphaloskepsis — noun Etymology: New Latin, from Greek omphalos + skepsis examination more at spy Date: 1925 contemplation of one s navel as an aid to meditation; also inertia 2 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • omphaloskepsis — /om feuh loh skep sis/, n. contemplation of one s navel as part of a mystical exercise. [ < Gk omphal(ós) OMPHALOS + o O + sképsis act of looking] * * * …   Universalium

  • omphaloskepsis — noun Contemplation of or meditation upon ones navel. Act we must; for we cannot sit rapt in educational omphaloscepsis while youngsters grow up and become the fathers and mothers of the next generation. See Also: omphalomancy, omphalomesenteric,… …   Wiktionary

  • omphaloskepsis — n. thinking deeply while looking at the navel (stomach) as an aid to meditation …   English contemporary dictionary

  • omphaloskepsis — om·pha·lo·skep·sis …   English syllables

  • omphaloskepsis — /ɒmfəloʊˈskɛpsəs/ (say omfuhloh skepsuhs) noun (ironic) excessive introspection; navel gazing. {Greek omphalos navel + skepsis the act of viewing; from a stereotyped view of meditation practices as involving staring at one s navel} …  

  • omphaloskepsis — noun literally, the contemplation of one s navel, which is an idiom usually meaning complacent self absorption • Syn: ↑navel gazing • Hypernyms: ↑self absorption * * * ˌäm(p)fəlōˈskepsə̇s noun ( es) Etymology …   Useful english dictionary

  • Omphalopsyque — Un omphalopsyque (Omphalospsychus, omphalopsyches ; du grec ancien ομφαλός, omphalos, « nombril » et ψυχή, psychè, « âme ») est un moine orthodoxe du mont Athos (ou bogomile) pratiquant la prière hésychaste[1] de l… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Shawni — Da’ud ibn Tamam ibn Ibrahim al Shawni, also known as Da’ud ibn Ibrahim al Shawni and also simply Shawni is the pseudonymous author of chiefly religious and philosophical literature. Born, according to various sources, between 1963 and 1969,… …   Wikipedia

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