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Yoga Dictionary of Quotes ©
Compiled by R. John Allcorn


T - Z

Tadasana (Mountain Pose):
good for viewing Nature

Tamas:
See "Gunas"

Tanha - Buddhism:
"Includes not only desire for, and attachment to, sense-pleasures, wealth and power, butalso desire for, and attachment to, ideas and ideals, views, opinions, theories, conceptions and beliefs." (34, 30)

Tantra (Yoga):
“Tantra is a vast science in which every method of expanding the conscious experience has been explored.” (6, p13)
“A scientific system whereby man can improve the structure and quality of his body and mind, and through which he can transform his ailing personality.” (6, p14)
“The legend behind the existence of tantra yoga is that it was created and taught to mankind by the Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, known as the Destroyer, ranks with Lord Brahma, the Creator, and Lord Vishnus, the Maintainer, as one of the three great Gods of Indian religious teaching. the tantra yoga given by Shiva provides the means whereby a man can transcend himself and attain a state of being unified with and equal to that of God, the Absolute, Himself.” (6, p21)

Tapas:
Tapas is “the practice of asanas and pranayama, that is, the physical and breathing exercises of yoga.” (1, p13)
Tapas is “something we do to keep us physically and mentally healthy. It is a process of inner cleansing: we remove things that we do not need.” (1, p80)
“Tapas refers to the activity of keeping the body fit. Literally it means to heat the body and, by doing so, to cleanse it.... Earlier I discussed asanas and pranayama as means by which we can keep ourselves healthy. Another form of tapas is paying attention to what we eat.” (1, p101)
Tapahs is the reduction of “both physical and mental impurities.” (1, p165) “Tapas are practices such as asana and pranayama that can help us to remove blocks and tensions, both physical and mental.” (2, p137)
“Tapas...is heat or glow. Through tapas, the solar spirit shines brightly through its physical body, which is our sun....Tapas is any practice that pushes the mind against its own limits; the key ingredient of tapas is endurance...voluntary self challenge as a means to spiritual growth.” (11, p28)
“Tapas begins with temporarily or permanently denying ourselves a particular desire.... The Bhagavad Gita (17.14-16) speaks of three kinds of tapas: austerity of body, speech, and mind.” (11, p29)

Tapasvin:
“The early name for yogin is tapasvin, practitioner of tapas, or voluntary self challenge as a means to spiritual growth.” (11, p28)

Theravada - Buddhism:
"Hinayana or ‘Small Vehicle’ is no longer used in informed circles." "Could be translated as ‘the School of the Elders." "Regarded as the original orthodox Buddhism in followed in Ceylon, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Chittagong in East Pakistan." (34, xii)

Tipitaka - Buddhism:
"Universally accepted by scholars as the earliest extant records of the teachings of the Buddha. (34, xi)

Trataki:
“The practice of gazing at an object.... Two categories: bahiranga (outer) and antaranga (inner)” (6, p118)

Triangle Pose:
Trikonasana

Trikonasana (Triangle Pose):
Trikonasana [I - middle school gym class triangle] - “Hold breath out while swiveling.” The spine and the nerves are massaged, the entire nervous system is gently stimulated and the muscles of the lower back are stretched. Sufferers from nervous depression thus benefit. The asana massages the abdominal organs and thereby improves the appetite and digestion and is also helpful for removing constipation by stimulating the peristaltic contraction of the intestines.” (6, pp66-67)
Trikonasana [II - Internally Supported Triangle] - Lean-to foot at “90 degrees and for this particular variation of the triangle keep the left foot facing straight to the front...being careful not to allow the right hip to swing to the rear any more than you have to.” [Don’t support yourself on your leg etc] (9, pp256-259)
Trikonasana [III - Externally Supported Triangle] - Lean-to foot at “90 degrees and for this particular variation of the triangle keep the left foot facing straight to the front...being careful not to allow the right hip to swing to the rear any more than you have to.” Grip lean-to thigh firmly. “Then end, sliding the right hand down the thigh and leg.” (9, 259-260)
Trikonasana [IV - Forward Bend Triangle] - “Stand straight, feet together. Exhaling 3 seconds touch toes. Head and neck up, spine horizontal, eyes fixed on nose. Maintain pose 6 seconds. Inhale 3 seconds returning to starting position.” (8, p5)
Trikonasana [V - Classic] - The triangle is a unit of three energy lines: one from the base of the spine to the soles of the feet; another from the base of the spine to the crown of the head; and from fingertips to fingertips.” A good visualization for this is to visualize the body sandwiched between two panes of glass. Stretches and strengthens the ribs and diaphragm and facilitates fuller breathing.” (4, p15)
Trikonasana [VI - Revolving Triangle] - “The revolving triangle is an extremely complex posture which involves forward bending with the lower extremities in a partial splits position plus an additional twist of the trunk to the rear.” [Lean-to foot at 90 degrees and other foot at 60degrees, that is, medially] “Twist to the [lean-to leg] so that you are facing over your [lean-to] thigh...bend forward from the hips with the arms stretched out to the sides.” [bring the arm that is anterior to the hips to the leg, ankle or floor, initiating] a spinal twist so that you are facing the rear....look up at the outstretched hand.” (9, 263-267)

Trishna:
“The thirst after life, what the Buddhists call Tanha and Trissa.” (24, p101)

Turiya:
"The elusive fourth level of human consciousness... the witness of all the other states, the integral awareness that links the other three levels [awake, dreaming, dreamless sleep] together,,,. It’s simply God (33, 196)

TuriyaTrishna:
From the Lakshmi Tantra: “the fourth state.... Your whole being is completely tranquil. Your mind and senses are as still as if you actually were asleep, yet you remain fully awake.” (12, p64)

Uddiyana bandha (Stomach lock):
Perform Jalandhara bandha and contract the abdominal muscles, pulling them upward...pregnant women should not practice this asana...relief from constipation, indigestion, worms, and diabetes.” (6, p93)
“Satyananda recommends uddiyana bandha, in conjunction with agnisar krya [rapid breath] and jaladhara bandha as a method to awaken the manipura. (6, p120)

Ujjayi pranayama (Glottal breathing or “Psychic Breath”[6, p84]):
Contract glottis, fold back tongue “so that the underside is pressed against either the back of the hard palate or, preferably, the soft palate.” Breathe like “the gentle snoring of a sleeping baby. There should be no sensation of breathing through the nostrils, only through the throat.” Calms the mind and nervous system. Good for reducing heart beat, blood pressure, and as an “excellent aid to meditational practices.” [6, p84-85]

Upa Pranas:
See “prana”

Upaya:
See “4 Stages of Spiritual Practice” above

Upanashads:
Part of the Vedas (6, p 131)

Vaikhari (cf Vaikhari, Madhyama, Pashyanti, Para):
“Ordinary, verbal speech, the kind we all hear and use daily, is an expression of kriya shakti, the power of action. You speak in vaikhari when you focus on deeds past, present activities, exploits to come.... Vaukhari lies within the purview of the conscious mind.” (13, p70)

Vairagya:
“Vairagya, dispassion or non-attachment.” (24, p107)

Vajrasana:
Seated meditative posture. “Sit on heels, knees pointing forward” (6, p111)

Vedas:
“The oldest canonical literature of Hiduism (6, p 131)

Vicara anugata samadhi:
Concentration on a thought such as a mantra [Vicara] which leads to or is followed by [anugata] samadhi [full, sustained concentration] (23, 47)

Vipassana - Buddhism:
There are 2 forms of meditation: Samadhi or "mental concentration" and Vipassana or "True Buddhist ‘meditaion’, [in which] the essential thing is mindfulness or awareness (sati), attention or observation (anupassana)." This includes focused breathing and "walking meditation." (34, 69)

Vipras (those who tremble):
See "Rishi"

Vishnu:
“Hinduism has further personified the three functions or aspects of Ishwara as Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Brahma represents the divine unction of creation, Vishnu preservation, and Shiva dissolution.” (2, p 132)
“The legend behind the existence of tantra yoga is that it was created and taught to mankind by the Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, known as the Destroyer, ranks with Lord Brahma, the Creator, and Lord Vishnus, the Maintainer, as one of the three great Gods of Indian religious teaching. the tantra yoga given by Shiva provides the means whereby a man can transcend himself and attain a state of being unified with and equal to that of God, the Absolute, Himself.” (6, p21)
“Lakshmi’s divine husband who represents bhava, pure consciousness.” 912, p62

Vishuddhi Chakra:
See “Chakras”

Vitarka anugata samadhi:
Concentration on a physical object [Vitarka] which leads to or is followed by [anugata] samadhi [full, sustained concentration] (23, 47)

Vratas:
“Resolutions.” [like “new Year’s resolutions but unbreakable] The purpose of which is to “adjust their karmic balance.” (14, 78)
“If you have committed an act you feel guilty about, a vrata may be undertaken to expiate the wrongdoing.” (14, 80) [NOTE: vratas can also be used to build good karma]

Yamas:
“The yamas or restraints are divided into five moral injunctions, aimed at destroying negative human characteristics. They are traditionally practiced and developed through self-discipline. the injunction is to practice the yamas in word, thought and deed.” (7, p79)

Yoga:
(1) Union with God
(2) A prescribed path of spiritual life. The various yogas are, therefore, different paths to union with God. Karma Yoga is the path of selfless, God-dedicated action. (2, P39) [footnote] “Be even-tempered in success and failure; for it is this evenness of temper which is meant by yoga.” (2, p40)

Yoga Upanishads:
“A group of the Upanishads...clearly composed at a much later date [than the rest of the Upanishads], probably in the 6th century A.D. or later.” (6, p131)

Yoga mudra:
“Psychic union pose” - [Lotus + forward bend] - “Concentrate on the manipura chakra” [#3 navel] - “This asana massages the abdominal organs and helps to counteract malfunctions there, including constipation and indigestion.” (6, pp56-57)

Yogi:
A yoga practitioner who has reached “some level of enlightenment as when Krishna says to Arjuna, “Become a Yogai.” (L.M., 1/8/05)

Yogic Breathing:
See “Complete Yogic Breath”


CONTACT: R. John Allcorn, M.A., E-RYT
727-463-5975
allcorn@tampabay.rr.com

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