Higher Consciousness Society

HCS Study Program Spiritual Discussion Chapter 1 (Free)

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HCS Monthly Spiritual Gatherings

Glossary
ALL THAT IS	Term for the omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent Being often called God.
Arahata	A teacher in Eckankar, Radhasoami, and related teachings.
Ashram	A Hindu word used by many paths to refer to a retreat for spiritual teaching.
Bourchakoum	Eckankar term for the "eagle eyed adepts," the Living Eck Master, members of the Vairagi Order.
Charged Words	Words (e.g., Mahanta, Eck, Sugmad) considered to carry great spiritual energy because of the idea forms and states of consciousness they represent.
Chela	A student studying spiritual subjects under a master.
Cosmogony	The study of the origin of the universe(s).
Cosmology	The study of the structure and nature of the universe(s).
Darshan	An Eckankar ceremony involving meeting the Master outwardly and being recognized by him; also a meeting with him on the inner and traveling with him. Each is thought to bring enlightenment.
DREAM	DREAM, the -- The act of creation of the universes by THE ONE.
Eck	Word used by Paul Twitchell to refer to many things, but mainly to spirit.
Eckankar	Organization created and founded by Paul Twitchell in 1965.
Focus unit	A controlled unit of time in which thoughts are centered on a particular idea or word.
God-soul	Term for the timeless spiritual aspect of each of us that exceeds and oversees that aspect known as "soul." Each is responsible for the eternal spiritual unfoldment of every sentient being.
Great Work	Term for the efforts of highly spiritually-developed persons who aid others in recognizing the innate spirituality within and the illusion of worshipping or depending on intermediaries for our return to the ONE.
High Initiate (HI)	Eckankar term for a member who has received the fifth initiation or higher.
Hylozoics	A doctrine that all matter is animated, used especially in the work of the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras. Also a term applied to a system of thought that explains all life, physical or mental, as derived from matter.
Law of Cause and Effect	The spiritual law that holds that we face the consequences of our actions, good and bad.
Law of Duality	The spiritual law that all things contain both positive and negative aspects simultaneously.
Law of Karma	(See Law of Cause and Effect.)
Law of Love	The spiritual law that holds that love is the energy that unites and guides the universe and is synonymous with sprit.
Law of Polarity	The spiritual law that holds that events, both positive and negative, good and bad, can evolve into apparent opposites, depending on the choices we make.
Law of Spirit	The spiritual law that holds that an intelligent and creative force is at work to guide and help us.
Law of Unity	The spiritual law that the universes were created by THE ONE. It is the basis for all other laws.
Living Eck Master	Eckankar term for the outer form of its spiritual leader.
Mahanta	Eckankar term for the inner form of its spiritual leader.
Mahdis	A Fifth Initiate in Eckankar
Mantra	An utterance, word, or phrase whose vibration helps to transcend the physical and have a range of experiences from soothing relaxation (as in TM) to travels in the inner worlds of God.
Master Principle	We are responsible for determining our state of consciousness, which shapes the outcomes, or effects, in our lives. "The greatest power that I possess is the power to decide what I will think next. From this decision my future is constructed."
Master Technique	The moment-by-moment monitoring of our consciousness, which helps us to shape outcomes in our lives. It is based on the control use of focus units that concentrate our thoughts on a particular idea.
Moloch	A pagan God of Middle-Eastern Antiquity; a dishonest practice of religion with the people, controlled by priestcraft.
Nine Silent Ones (Council of Nine, Spiritual Council)	Beings of the inner world mentioned by Paul Twitchell, encountered at length by Graham Forsyth. They are responsible for carrying out many tasks necessary for the operation of the inner and outer universes.
RESA	Regional Eck Spiritual Advisor.
Rod of ECK Power	The symbol of the power of the word of God. Eckankar claims it is given to that being chosen by the Sugmad (God) as It descends and enters into the new Living Eck Master.
Secret words (charged words)	Words used in inner travel to test the authenticity of beings encountered there as well as the validity of such travels and is unique to each person in Eckankar.
Soul	The spiritual component of each sentient being that operates a body in the physical and other inner bodies as part of the pattern of spiritual unfoldment.
Spirit	The force or energy that created and sustains the universe. It is the substance that guides, provides for, protects, and instructs each soul on its journey to higher consciousness.
Spiritual Exercises	Another expression for the practice of meditation or contemplation. They also use mantras, recitations, and visualization. St. Ignatius Loyola popularized the term, though it was practiced in Yoga well before him. Eckankar later appropriated the term as its own.
Sugmad (SUGMAD)	A word for God created by Paul Twitchell and used in Eckankar.
THE ONE	A name for the creative source of the universe, God, ALL THAT IS.
Upanishads	Writings from the last section of a collection of Hindu scriptures called the Vedas.
Yuga	Sanskrit for yoke, pair, race of men, age of the world; one of the four ages of a Hindu world cycle, each shorter and less righteous than the predecessor.