General Glossary
A
Ācārya —a spiritual master who teaches by example.
Ādhibhautika kleśa —misery caused by other living beings.
Ādhidaivika kleśa —misery caused by natural disturbances.
Ādhokṣaja —the Supreme Lord, who is beyond material sense perception.
Ādhyātmika kleśa —misery caused by the body and mind.
Ādi-puruṣa —the Supreme Lord, the original person.
Āhaṅkāra —false ego.
Ānanda-cinmaya-rasa-vigraha —the personal, spiritual form of bliss and knowledge.
Āṇimā —the mystic perfection of becoming very small.
Ārati —a ceremony for greeting the Lord with offerings of food, lamps, fans, flowers and incense.
Ārcanā —the devotional process of Deity worship.
Āsana —a sitting posture in  yoga  practice.
Āśrama —the four spiritual orders of life: celibate student, householder, retired life and renounced life.
Āsuras —atheistic demons.
Ātmārāma —one who is self-satisfied, free from external, material desires.
Āvaiṣṇavas —nondevotees.
Āvatāra —a descent of the Supreme Lord.
B
Bābās —ascetics.
Bhagavad-gītā —the basic directions for spiritual life spoken by the Lord Himself.
Bhakta —a devotee.
Bhakti —devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Bhakti-yoga —linking with the Supreme Lord by devotional service.
Brahmacarya —celibate student life; the first order of Vedic spiritual life.
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