Dictionary of common Sanskrit spiritual words
satya - shiShya

satya

true, real; satyam – truth. Also one of the yama-s – truthfulness, sincerity.

saucha

purity of mind, integrity. One of the five niyama-s in Raja yoga.

savikalpa

(referring to samadhi) still “with” doubts about one’s identity with the one Self. See nirvikalpa, samadhi, vikalpa.

shabda

scriptural or verbal testimony. See pramana, nyaya prasthana, prasthana-traya, sruti, smriti.

shakha-
chandra-
nyaya

the rule of the moon on a bough. Relates to the situation where one thing (the moon) is effectively pointed out by its relationship to something else (the bough).

shakti

power, strength (especially in connection with a deity).

shama

literally tranquility, absence of passion but more usually translated as mental discipline or self-control; one of the shamAdi ShaTka sampatti or “six qualities” that form part of Shankara’s chatuShTaya sampatti. See chatushtaya sampatti, shamadi shatka sampatti.

shamadi shatka sampatti

the six qualities that form part of Shankara's chatuShTaya sampatti. These are shama, dama, uparati, titikShA, samAdhAna and shraddhA.

Shankara

8th Century Indian philosopher responsible for firmly establishing the principles of Advaita. Though he died at an early age (32?), he commented on a number of major Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahmasutras, as well as being attributed as the author of a number of famous works, such as Atmabodha, Bhaja Govindam and Vivekachudamani.

Shankaracharya

The title given to one of the four teachers (see acharya) following the tradition in India established by Shankara (see Shankara). He set up four positions, North, South, East and West, to be held by realized men, who would take on the role of teacher and could be consulted by anyone having problems or questions of a spiritual nature.

shanti

peace, tranquility.

sharana

protection, refuge, asylum. Also used in the context of ‘surrender’.

sharira

one’s body (divided into gross, subtle and causal aspects); literally “that which is easily destroyed or dissolved.”

shastra

order, teaching, instruction; any sacred book or composition that has divine authority.

shastriya anumana

inference based upon the material contained in the scriptures.

shloka

a stanza (verse), usually from the scriptures. Pedantically, it refers to a specific meter.

shraddha

faith, trust or belief (in the absence of direct personal experience) - the student needs this initially in respect of what he is told by the guru or reads in the scriptures; one of the “six qualities” that form part of Shankara’s chatuShTaya sampatti. See chatushtaya sampatti, shamAdi shhaTka sampatti.

shravana

listening to the teachings (of such works as the Upanishads) unfolded by the guru; first of the three key stages in the classical spiritual path. See also manana, nididhyasana.

shreyas

the ‘good’ as opposed to the ‘pleasant’; most excellent, best, auspicious.

shrotriya

someone (usually a brAhmaNa) who is well-versed in the scriptures.

shruti

refers to the Vedas, incorporating the Upanishads. Literally means “hearing” and refers to the belief that the books contain orally transmitted, sacred wisdom from the dawn of time. See nyaya prasthana, pramana, smriti.

shubhecha

good desire; the initial impulse that start us on a spiritual search. shubha means “auspicious,” “good (in a moral sense)” and ichChA means “wish,” “desire”.

shuddhi

cleansing, purification as in chitta-shuddhi, purification of the mind.

shudra

the fourth and lowest of the traditional four castes in India, their purpose said to be to serve the three higher castes.

siddhanta

final end or purpose; conclusion of an argument.

sisya

pupil, scholar, disciple.