Sakam Karma Means to Act with Self-Interest

Sakam karma (सकाम कर्म) means to act selfishly, or with personal gain and self-interest in mind. From Sanskrit, sakam means “together,” “jointly”…

Viveka Means the Capacity to Make Wise and Clear Decisions

Viveka (विवेक) is a Sanskrit and Pali term translated into English as discernment or Discrimination learning. It means properly knowing what essence and…

Nishkama Karma Concept is Found in the Bhagavad Gita

Nishkama Karma (निष्काम कर्म), self-less or desireless action, is an action performed without any expectation of fruits or results, and…

Aparokshanubhuti is the Direct, Non-Mediated Experience

The Aparokshanubhuti (अपरोक्षनुभूति) is a work attributed to Adi Shankara, though his authorship is doubtful. It is a popular introductory work…

Black Magic is Used for Evil and Selfish Purposes

Black magic (काला जादू) has traditionally referred to using supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes. The links and interactions between black magic…

Brahma Sutras is Attributed to the Sage Badarayana

The Brahma Sutras (ब्रह्म सूत्र), also known as the Vedanta Sutra (वेदान्त सूत्र) Shariraka Sutra (शारिरक सूत्र), and Bhikshu Sutra (भिक्षु सूत्र), are a Sanskrit…

Atma-Bodha Means Self-Awareness of the Supreme Spirit

Atma-bodha (आत्मबोध) is a short Sanskrit text attributed to Adi Shankara of Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. The text in sixty-eight verses describes the path…

Panchayatana Puja Attributed to the Theologian Adi Shankaracharya

Panchayatana puja (पंचायतन पूजा) also known as Pancha Devi Deva Puja is a system of puja (worship) in the Smarta sampradaya, which is one of four…

Samsara is the Cycle of Death and Rebirth

Samsara (संसार) is a Pali and Sanskrit word that means “wandering” as well as “world,” wherein the term connotes “cyclic change” or, less formally, “running around…

Honesty is Absence of Lying, Cheating, and Theft

Honesty (ईमानदारी) or truthfulness is a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness (including straightforwardness of conduct: earnestness), and the…