One Term at a Time · 17
Jiva
जीव
Individual self.
The soul in each living being.
Definition: Swami Jyotirmayananda, Integral Yoga glossary
Swamiji on Jiva
Our summary of the lecture passage in the film below. These are our words, not Swamiji's.
Jiva is the individual self, the soul in each living being. In this Yoga Vasistha passage, on the teaching given to Prahlada, Swamiji makes it easy to picture. Think of many pots filled with water, each holding a reflection of the sun. Each reflected sun is a jiva. The soul's trouble is that it takes itself to be the reflection in one pot, and staying stuck there would be a terrible situation. Moving from one pot to another, from one body-mind complex to the next, is the better state, because it means the soul is evolving. Seen this way, he says, dying is your positive development. Then comes the further development. The reflected sun realizes, I am the sun. In the allegory it raises its head out of its pot and comforts all the other reflected suns: you are not confined to the jar, all of you are Brahman, and I am with all of you. The jiva was never really the reflection. It was always the light.
The reflected sun is the jīva, the soul.
One Term at a Time
One Sanskrit term at a time: a short definition, then Swamiji using the word in a lecture.
Start at the beginning: Vāsanā
- 01Vāsanāthe trace a desire leaves behind
- 02Vairāgyathe loosening of a grip
- 03Satsaṅgathe company you keep
- 04Vivekatelling the real from what only looks real
- 05Brahmanthe one reality behind every object
- 06Māyāwhy the world seems so real
- 07Jnanathe wisdom that sees through it
- 08Sadhanathe practice that carries you there
- 09Vicharaasking who you really are
- 10Ragathe pull toward what pleases you
- 11Dveshathe push away from what displeases you
- 12Samskarathe impression each like and dislike leaves on the mind
- 13Karmaaction and the result produced by action
- 14Gunathe three fundamental modes or qualities of nature
- 15Pranalife force; vital energy
- 16Samadhideep absorption in truth
- 17Jivaindividual self
- 18Chittamental process
- 19Japarepetition of mantra
- 20Dhyanameditation
- 21Muktiliberation
- 22Dharanaconcentration
- 23Atmasoul
- 24Bhavanafeeling
- 25Jnanithe wise one
- 26Sthita-prajnaone established in wisdom
- 27Aham brahmasmiI am Brahman
- 28Pranayamabreathing exercises
- 29Bhaktidevotion
- 30Sattwaa harmonious, focused state
- 31Rajasa restless, distracted state
- 32Tamasinertia
- 33Shravanalistening
- 34Mananareflection
- 35NididhyasanaVedantic meditation
- 36Tapasausterity
- 37Pratyaharawithdrawal of the senses
- 38Swadhyayastudy of scriptures
- 39Ishvara Pranidhanasurrender to God
- 40Shauchapurity
- 41Santoshacontentment
- 42Ahimsanon-violence
- 43Satyatruthfulness
- 44Asteyanon-stealing
- 45Brahmacharyacelibacy
What is The Four Paths?
Swami Jyotirmayananda's teaching on the four paths of yoga, in his own words, one short lesson at a time.
What it does for you
Swamiji teaches that the personality has four sides: action, emotion, will and reason. Each path cultivates one of them, and the course covers all four, so none is left out.
- Karma Yogaaction
unfolds one’s hidden potentialities
- Bhakti Yogaemotion
cultures the feelings and brings about emotional integration in the personality
- Raja Yogawill
allows one to develop a strong will and a controlled mind
- Jnana Yogareason
trains and renders the reason sharp and subtle
In order to succeed, all these four must be cultivated in a balanced and integrated manner.
Swami Jyotirmayananda, The Four Paths, Lesson 3
It is free and comes by email: a lesson every other day, 19 core lessons on action, devotion, meditation and wisdom, then 10 lessons called Going Deeper.
Every lesson is Swamiji's own text, so you learn the four paths from him, not from a summary.
Prefer to look first? Read Lesson 1 of The Four Paths.