- Glossary of spirituality-related terms (S)
This glossary of spirituality-related terms is based on how they commonly are used in Wikipedia articles. This page contains terms starting with S. Select a letter from the table of contents to find terms on other pages.
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Sacrament : A Christianrite that mediatesdivine grace . Among many Protestants, the word "mediates" would mean only that it is a visiblesymbol , reminder or manifestation of invisible divine grace.:Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, theOriental Orthodox ,Assyrian Christians , members of theAnglican ,United Methodist , andOld Catholic traditions, theIndependent Catholic Churches and Lutherans hold that sacraments are not mere symbols, but rather, "signs or symbols which effect what they signify", that is, the sacraments in and of themselves, rightly administered, are used by God as a means to communicate grace to faithful recipients.:Christianchurch es andsect s are divided regarding the number and operation of the sacraments, but they are generally held to have been instituted byJesus . Sacraments are usually administered by theclergy to a recipient or recipients, and are generally understood to involve visible and invisible components. The invisible component (manifested inwardly) is understood to beGod 's grace working in the sacrament's participants, while the visible (or outward) component entails the use of water, wine, or oil that is blessed or consecrated.*
Sacrifice : (from a Middle English verb meaning 'to make sacred', from Old French, fromLatin sacrificium : sacer, sacred; sacred + facere, to make) Commonly known as the practice of offering food, or the lives of animals or people to the gods, as an act ofpropitiation orworship . The term is also usedmetaphor ically to describe selfless good deeds for others.*
Sadhana : Spiritual exercise by aSadhu or a Sadhaka to attain a desired goal. The goal of sadhana is to attain some stage, which can be eithermoksha , liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara ), or a particular goal such as the blessing by a deity through his or her appearance before the Sadhaka at the end of the limited Sadhana. Sadhana can involvemeditation ,puja to a deity, namasmarana (sometimes with the help of ajapa mala ),mortification of the flesh or unorthodox practices such as in a smashana sadhana on a cremation ground. Each type of Yoga entails its own type of sadhana. To embark on a sadhana, aguru is required to give one the necessary know-how and the seed for the future result, in the form of somediksha , initiation, which he or she has received from his or her guru.*
Saint : Generally refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous andholy . It can be applied to both the living and the dead and is an acceptable term in most of the world's popular religions. The Saint is held up by the community as an example of how we all should act, and his or her life story is usually recorded for the edification of future generations.:The process of officially recognizing a person as a Saint, practiced by some churches, is calledcanonization , though manyProtestant groups use the less formal, broader usage seen in Scripture to include all who are faithful as saints.*
Salvation : Refers to deliverance from undesirable state or condition. Intheology , the study of salvation is called soteriology and is a vitally important concept in several religions.Christianity regards salvation as deliverance from the bondage ofsin and from condemnation, resulting in eternal life withGod .*
Samadhi : A term used in Hindu and Buddhist yogic meditation. Samadhi is also theHindi word for a structure commemorating the dead (aking to a tomb, but without remains).*
Sanskara : A term used inHinduism meaning imprints left on the subconscious mind by experience in this or previous lives.*
Sant Mat : Anesoteric religious movement active in theUnited States ,Europe ,Latin America , and especiallyIndia . Sant Mat shares a lineage withSikhism and contains elements of thought found inHinduism , such askarma andreincarnation . Sant Mat also contains elements found inSufism . Although origins of Sant Mat are not very well known, followers believe that it wasKabir who have revived the Sant Mat tradition. The tradition has inspired and influenced a number of other religious groups and organizations.:The spiritual path is also referred to as the Science of the Soul or ‘Sant Mat ’, meaning ‘teachings of the saints’. More recently it has been described as "The Way of Life" or "Living the Life of Soul." It incorporates the pursuit of a personal and private path of spiritual development in the common tradition of mystics past and present, from a variety of cultures, times and religions. There are no rituals, no priestly class, no mandatory contributions nor compulsory gatherings. This leaves the followers free to observe and pursue the religion they were born into if they feel so inclined, and preserves social customs while engendering a deeper and broader perspective.*
Satguru : (or Sadguru) Means trueguru (Sanskrit सदगुरू sat=true), literally: true teacher. The title means that his students havefaith that the guru can be trusted and will lead them tomoksha , enlightenment orinner peace . It is based on a long line of Hindu philosophical understandings of the importance of knowledge and that the teacher, guru, is the sacred conduit to self-realization. :A popularetymology claims that the word guru comes from गुरु, "Gu"=darkness; "Ru"=light inSanskrit , literally the one that takes you from darkness to light. Nowadays, in India, every teacher is called guru. In the West, its usage has extended into anyone who makes religious or philosophical statements and has followers because of this. In further extension it means simply expert. :* InHinduism guru is used interchangeably with satguru. Traditionally the title "guru" is used in the context of a relationship between a teacher and a student, rather than an absolute. SeeGuru-shishya tradition .:* InSikhism , Satguru is one of the many names forGod .:* InSurat Shabd Yoga , one who initiates followers into the path often is referred to as a Satgurtu or Sat Guru.*
Satori : (悟 Japanese "satori"; Chinese: wù - from the verb,Satoru ) AZen Buddhist term for enlightenment. The word literally means "to understand". It is sometimes loosely used interchangeably withKensho , but Kensho refers to the first perception of the Buddha-Nature or True-Nature. The kensho experience may not hold as further training is still necessary by the Monk or Lay. Satori on the other hand refers to the lasting experience. Think of when a baby first walks, after much effort, it stands upright, find its balance and walks a few steps, then falls (Kensho).*
Self-realization : Inyoga , self-realization is knowledge of one's true self. This true self is also referred to as the atma to avoid ambiguity. The term "self-realization" is a translation of the Sanskrit expression atma jnana (knowledge of the self or atma). The reason the term "realization" is used instead of "knowledge" is that "jnana" refers to knowledge based on experience, not mere intellectual knowledge.:As discussed in the article onyoga , while the goal of self-realization is the same in all yoga paths, the means used to achieve that goal differ. For example, inhatha yoga , self-realization is said to be achieved when the serpent force orkundalini rises through theshushumna nadi to thesahasrara chakra . The following terms are related to self-realization or atma jnana:moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death);samadhi (Supreme or Divine Bliss).*
Seven Virtues : Derived from thePsychomachia , an epic poem written byPrudentius (c. 410). Practicing thesevirtue s is alleged to protect one against temptation toward theSeven Deadly Sins . The "Seven Virtues" considered by theRoman Catholic church are those ofhumility ,meekness , charity,chastity ,moderation ,zeal andgenerosity . These are considered to be the polar opposite of theseven deadly sins , namelypride ,wrath ,envy ,lust ,gluttony ,sloth andgreed .*
Shabd : (or Shabda) Literally means “sound” or “word” in Sanskrit. Esoterically, Shabd is the “Sound Current vibrating in all creation. It can be heard by the inner ears.” Variously referred to as the Audible Life Stream, Inner Sound, Sound Current or Word in English, the Shabd is the esoteric essence ofGod which is available to all human beings, according to the teachings ofEckankar , theQuan Yin Method ,Sant Mat andSurat Shabd Yoga . :Adherents believe that aSatguru , orEck Master , who is ahuman being, has merged with the Shabd in such a manner that he or she is a living manifestation of it at its highest level (the “Word made flesh”). However, not only can the Satguru can attain this, but all human beings are inherently privileged in this way. Indeed, in Sant Mat the raison d’être for the human form is to meditate on the Sound Current, and in so doing merge with it until one’s own divinity is ultimately realized.*
Shamanism : Refers to the traditional healing and religious practices ofNorthern Asia (Siberia ) andMongolia . By extension, the concept of shamanism has been extended in common language to a range of traditional beliefs and practices that involve the ability to diagnose, cure, and sometimes cause human suffering by traversing theaxis mundi and forming a special relationship with, or gaining control over, spirits. Shamans have been credited with the ability to control the weather,divination , the interpretation of dreams,astral projection , and traveling to upper and lower worlds. Shamanistic traditions have existed throughout the world since prehistoric times.*
Shinto : (神道 "Shintō") (sometimes called Shintoism) A nativereligion ofJapan and was once itsstate religion . It involves the worship of "kami ", which can be translated to mean gods,spirit s of nature, or just spiritual presences. Some kami are local and can be regarded as the spirit or genius of a particular place, but others represent major natural objects and processes, for example,Amaterasu , theSun goddess . The word Shinto was created by combining twokanji : "神" "shin" meaning god (the character can also be read as "kami" in Japanese) and "道" "tō" meaningTao ("way" or "path" in aphilosophical sense). Thus, Shinto means "the way of the gods.":After World War II, Shinto lost its status ofstate religion ; some Shinto practices and teachings, once given a great deal of prominence during the war, are no longer taught nor practiced today, and some remain largely as everyday activities without religious connotations likeomikuji (a form ofdrawing lots ).*
Shunyata : (Śūnyatā, शून्यता (Sanskrit , Pali: sunnata), or "Emptiness") A term for an aspect of theBuddhist metaphysical critique as well as Buddhistepistemology andphenomenology . Shunyata signifies that everything one encounters in life is empty of soul, permanence, and self-nature. Everything is inter-related, never self-sufficient or independent; nothing has independent reality. Yet shunyata never connotesnihilism , which Buddhist doctrine considers to be a delusion, just as it considersmaterialism to be a delusion.*
Sikhism : (Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖੀ) A religion based on the teachings of tenGuru s who lived primarily in 16th and 17th centuryIndia . It is one of the world's major religions with over 23 million followers. "Sikhism" comes from the word "Sikh", which in turn comes from its Pali word "sikho", which means "the searcher of Truth". :The two core beliefs of Sikhism are: :* The belief in oneGod . The opening sentence of the Sikh scriptures is only two words long, and reflects the base belief of all who adhere to the teachings of the religion: ੴ - Ek Onkar:* The teachings of the Ten Sikh Gurus (as well as other accepted Muslim and Hindu self-realized persons) as enshrined in theGuru Granth Sahib .:The Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh scripture, and Guru Khalsa Panth, the community of initiated Sikhs, are both jointly considered the eleventh and final Sikh Guru. Sikhism departs sharply from certain social traditions and structures ofHinduism andIslam (such as thecaste system andpurdah , respectively). Sikhphilosophy is characterised by logic, comprehensiveness, and a "without frills" approach to both spiritual and material concerns. Its theology is marked by simplicity.*
Simple living : (also known as voluntary simplicity or voluntary poverty) Alifestyle considered by its adherents to be an alternative to Westernconsumerism . Adherents claim various reasons for pursuing this lifestyle, such as personalhealth , ecological or spiritual motivations. The term "downshifting" is often used to describe the act of moving toward a lifestyle based on voluntarysimplicity . Many who practice simple living subscribe to theaxiom "less is more."*
Simran : 'Simran' takes its root from the word 'Smaran,' (from Sanskrit) a noun which means: remembering or contemplating on the highest - that which should be valued in memory, in general. It teaches that: everything changes, & inner and outer purity naturally happen. Smaran does not project about restriction through God or religion. It shows that remembering the highest aspect of life that one has seen will eventually open up what's important to an individual.*
Soul : The soul, according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is the "ethereal substance" —spirit (Hebrew:"rooah " or "nefesh ") — particular to a unique livingbeing . Such traditions often consider the soul both immortal and innately aware of its immortal nature, as well as the true basis forsentience in each living being. :The concept of the soul has strong links with notions of anafterlife , but opinions may vary wildly, even within a given religion, as to what happens to the soul afterdeath . Many within these religions and philosophies see the soul as immaterial, while others consider it possibly material.*
Spirit : The English word spirit comes from theLatin "spiritus", meaning breath. Inreligion andspirituality , the respiration of the human being has for obvious reasons been strongly linked with the very occurrence of life. A similar significance has been attributed to humanblood . "Spirit" has thus evolved to denote that which separates a living body from a corpse, but can be used metaphorically (she performed the piece with spirit or she put up a spirited defence) where it is a synonym for such words as 'vivacity'.*
Spiritism : A religious and philosophic doctrine established in France in the mid 19th Century byAllan Kardec . The term was coined by him as the specific name of the doctrine he was about to publish but, given the fact that the word was created from roots taken from the common language, it was soon incorporated into the normal use and has been used to name other doctrines as well, though the authentic Spiritists protest against this usage.: During the late 19th century, many well educated people fromEurope and theUnited States embraced Spiritism as a logical explanation of themes related to the Christian Revelation. However, most of the initial enthusiasm receded. But in some places the work of a few dedicated preachers managed to achieve a solid foundation — more notably, in Brazil, and to a certain extent in thePhilippines . InBrazil , more than 2 million people declare themselves Kardecist spiritists, according to the lastIBGE census data, which makes Brazil the largest Spiritist country in the world. Spiritism has influencedsyncretism s like BrazilianUmbanda and VietnameseCaodaism .:Spiritism is not to be confused withspiritualism . Its use with that meaning is regarded as pejorative by both Spiritualists and Spiritists. Uncapitalised, the word, in English, is an obsolete term foranimism and other religious practices involving theinvocation ofspiritual beings , includingshamanism .*
Spiritual evolution : Thephilosophical /theological/esoteric idea that nature and human beings and/or human culture evolve along a predetermined cosmological pattern or ascent, or in accordance with certain pre-determined potentials. Predeterminism of evolution concept is also complemented with the idea of a creative impulse of human beings, known as epigenesis.:Within this broad definition, theories of spiritual evolution are very diverse. They may be cosmological (describing existence at large), personal (describing the development of the individual), or both. They can be holistic (holding that higher realities emerge from and are not reducible to the lower), idealist (holding that reality is primarily mental or spiritual) ornondual (holding that there is no ultimate distinction between mental and physical reality). All of them can be considered to be teleological to a greater or lesser degree.*
Spiritualism : May refer to a variety of modern religious ideologies, primarily active in theUnited States andEurope . Central tenets of Spiritualistliturgy anddogma are the beliefs and practices of mediumship which purports to be evidence of the continued existence of an individual'sspirit orsoul afterdeath . The origin of Spiritualism is commonly considered to be theModern Spiritualist movement of the 19th centuryUnited States .*
Spirituality : In a narrow sense, is a concern with matters of thespirit , however that may be defined; but it is also a wide term with many available readings. It may include belief insupernatural powers, as inreligion , but the emphasis is on personal experience. It may be an expression for life perceived as higher, more complex or more integrated with one'sworldview , as contrasted with the merely sensual.*
Sufi whirling : The practice of Sufi whirling (or Sufi spinning), is a twirlingmeditation that originated among the ancientIndia n mystics and Turkish Sufis, which is still practiced by theDervish es of theMevlevi order. Following a recommended fast of several hours, Sufi whirlers begin with hands crossed onto shoulders and may return their hands to this position if they feel dizzy. They rotate on their left feet in short twists, using the right foot to drive their bodies around the left foot. The left foot is like an anchor to the ground, so that if the whirler loses his or her balance, he or she can think of their left foot, direct attention towards it and regain balance back.*
Sufism : (Arabic تصوف tasawwuf) A mystictradition ofIslam , which is based on the pursuit of spiritual truth as a definite goal to attain. In modern language it might also be referred to as Islamic spirituality or Islamicmysticism . Whilefiqh focuses on the legal aspects of Islam , Sufism focuses on the internal aspects of Islam, such as perfecting the aspect of sincerity offaith and fighting one'sego . Sufi practitioners are organized into a diverse range of brotherhoods and sisterhoods, with a wide diversity of thought. Sufi orders ("tariqa s") can beShi'a ,Sunni , both or neither.*
Supplication : (also known as petitioning) The most common form ofprayer , wherein a person asks asupernatural deity to provide something, either for that person who is praying or for someone else on whose behalf a prayer of supplication is being made. One example of supplication is theCatholic ritual ofnovena (from "novem", the Latin word for "nine") wherein one repeatedly asks for the same favor over a period of nine days. This ritual began inFrance andSpain during theMiddle Ages when a nine day period of hymns and prayers led up to aChristmas feast, a period which ended with gift giving. InIslam , the Arabic word "du'a" is often used for supplication. "Du'a" may be made in any language, although there are many traditional Islamic supplications in Arabic, Persian and Turkish.*
Surat Shabd Yoga : (or Surat Shabda Yoga) A form of spiritual practice that is followed in theSant Mat and many other related spiritual traditions. As a Sanskrit term, "surat" means "soul ," "shabd " means "word" and "yoga " means "union." The term "word" means the “Sound Current,” the “Audible Life Stream” or the “Essence of the Absolute Supreme Being,” that is, the dynamic force of creative energy that was sent out, as sound vibration, from the Supreme Being into the abyss of space at the dawn of theuniverse 's manifestation, and that is being sent forth, through the ages, framing all things that constitute and inhabit the universe.:The etymology of "Surat Shabda Yoga" presents its purpose: the "Union of the Soul with the Essence of the Absolute Supreme Being." Other expressions for Surat Shabda Yoga include Sehaj Yoga (an easy path leading to Sehaj or equipoise) The Path of Light and Sound, The Path of the Saints, The Journey of Soul, and The Yoga of the Sound Current.
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