The Rudolf Steiner Archive

The Foundations of Esotericism
GA 93a

Glossary of Indian-Theosophical Terms

Arhats

Adepts, initiates, occult teachers, Mahatmas or Masters.

Arupa

Without form.

Arupa plane

The higher regions of Devachan. Higher Spiritual World (R.S.)

Atma

The breath of life-spirit. The seventh and highest principle in man. Spirit Man. (R.S.)

Avidja

Non-knowledge.

Avitchi

Hell.

Bhava

Individual existence.

Bodhisattva

One whose being (sattva) is illumination (bodhi) pre-stage to Buddha-hood.

Buddhi

Theosophical: World-soul or World-mind and as 6th principle of the human being: Spiritual soul. Called by Rudolf Steiner Life Spirit.

Buddhi-Manas

Higher Manas in contradistinction to Lower Manas (Kama Manas). Higher Ego.

Chela

Occult pupil.

Causal body

According to Rudolf Steiner, the extract of the etheric and astral bodies which man bears from Earth-life to Earth-life and continually enriches.

Devachan

Spiritual World. See under Planes.

Devas

Spiritual Beings functioning on planes higher than the physical.

Dhyan-Chohans

Planetary Spirits, perfected human beings of earlier Rounds.—Oriental name for the Archai or Archangels.

Jara-marana

The Fall.

Jati

What before birth presses towards birth.

Kali Yuga

Yuga: age; Kali: dark.

Kama

General Astrality, i.e. substance of wishes and desires.

Kama-Manas

Earthly consciousness or Lower Manas, in contradistinction to Higher Manas (Buddhi-Manas). Also called by Rudolf Steiner, Intellectual Soul.

Kama-prana consciousness

General consciousness of life.

Kama-rupa

Astral Body, Body of Desires.

Kriya-shakti

The power of self-procreation.

Kundalini fire, kundalini light

Serpent-fire, Serpent force. Described by Rudolf Steiner in ‘How to Attain Knowledge of the Higher Worlds’ as ‘force active in Spiritual Perception’, and as ‘An Element of Higher Matter’.

Linga Sharira

Etheric body.

Lipikas

Also called Maharajas: Exalted spiritual beings connected with human destiny (Karma): Lords of Karma, who guide incarnation.

Maha-para-nirvana

Highest of the Seven Planes.

Manas

Literally, spirit. As human principle called by Rudolf Steiner, Spirit-Self.

Manvantara

Cosmic Day; seven rounds, a period of manifestation in contradistinction to period of dissolution or rest—Pralaya.

Mental World, Mental Plane

Devachan.

Nama-rupa

Distinction between name and form (subject and object).

Nidamas

The twelve Nidanas are the twelve Karma-forces which bring about incarnation. See Lecture 15.

Nirmanakaya

According to Rudolf Steiner an astral body so highly developed that at death no traces are left behind: Body of a Buddha-Being who has achieved perfection.

Para-nirvana plane

Lying still higher than the Nirvana Plane (See under Planes).

Pitris

Fathers or Fore-runners of Earth-men on Old Moon and Old Sun.

Planes

The Theosophical-Indian terminology for the seven planes, levels or worlds was already replaced by Rudolf Steiner as far as possible by German expressions in his Theosophy (1904) and in later lectures.

Theosophical Literature	Anthroposophical Literature
Physical Plane	The same, also: physical world, world of understanding
Astral Plane	The same, also: Soul World or Land, Imaginative World, Elementary World
Devachan or Mental Plane	The same, also Spirit Land, Spiritual World, World of the Harmony of the Spheres, World of Inspiration
Rupa-Devachan	Lower Devachan, Lower Spiritual World, also Heavenly World
Arupa-Devachan	Higher Devachan, Higher Spiritual World, World of true Intuition
Shushupti or Buddhi plane	Buddhi plane, also World of Fore seeing
Nirvana plane	Nirvana plane
Para-nirvana plane	Nirvana plane
Maha-pari-nirvana plane	Nirvana plane

This world above the World of Fore-seeing is of such a nature ‘that in accordance with truth and uprightness its name may not be given in European languages, for it would not do to choose just any name for what in Oriental languages is called Nirvana and which is higher than the World of Fore-seeing.’ Rudolf Steiner, Lecture, Berlin, 25 October 1909 in The Christ Impulse and the Development of the Ego-Consciousness. See also The Theosophy of the Rosicrucian, The East in the Light of the West, Macrocosm and Microcosm, >Man in the Light of Occultism, Theosophy and Philosophy.

Praja-patis

The Creative forces (from the point of view of embodiment).

Pralaya

Sleep condition; Existence during a Rest-period between two Manvantaras, also called a closed orbit.

Prana

General Life-principle; when poured into the physical body, spoken of as etheric body. Sometimes Life Ether.

Root Races

The seven main epochs or ages of the Fourth Globe or Condition of Form in Earth evolution: 1. Polarian, 2. Hyperborean, 3. Lemurian, 4. Atlantean, 5. Aryan or Post-Atlantean Root-Race; the following two epochs are always called the 6th and 7th Root-Races.

Rupa

Body, form.

Rupa Plane

Lower Devachan, Lower Spirit World. (R.S.)

Sanja

Perfection.

Sanskara

The organising tendency, desire.

Shad-ayatana

What the understanding makes out of a thing.

Shushupti plane

Buddhi plane. See under Planes.

Skandhas

According to Buddhistic reaching the five fundamental principles in every human being: body, sensation, thinking, will, consciousness. According to Rudolf Steiner virtually identical with Karma. See Lecture 17 of the Course.

Sparsha

Contact with existence.

Tat twam asi

‘That art thou’: Famous formula of the Vedas.

Trishna

Thirst for existence.

Upadana

Feeling of comfort in existence.

Vedana

Karmic results of feelings and sensations.

Vijnana

Consciousness. Understanding, intellectual knowledge.