Concept explorer
The ideas, and how they connect.
The same word can mean different things in different traditions — karma in Mimamsa is not karma in Jainism; the self in Advaita is not the self in Nyaya. Each concept page shows where it appears, who uses it, and how its meaning shifts.
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All concepts · 66
अहङ्कार
Ahankara · I-maker, egoThe 'I-maker' — the sense of being a separate doer and owner.4 traditions· Gita layerअहिंसा
Ahimsa · non-harmNot harming living beings, in deed, word or thought.5 traditionsअनात्मन्
Anatta (Anatman)No-self: the Buddhist teaching that no permanent, independent self is found in experience.3 traditionsअनेकान्तवाद
AnekantavadaThe Jain doctrine that reality is many-sided and no single viewpoint captures it fully.1 traditionsअनित्य
Anitya / Anicca · impermanenceEverything conditioned changes and passes away.5 traditionsअनुग्रह
Anugraha · graceDivine grace — God's freely given favour that frees the soul.6 traditionsआसक्ति
AsaktiAttachment: clinging to objects, people or outcomes.4 traditions· Gita layerआत्मविचार
Atma-vichara · self-inquiryInquiring into the nature of the 'I' until its source is recognised.3 traditionsआत्मन्
Atman · the SelfThe innermost Self — what you are beneath body, mind and personality.9 traditions· Gita layerअविद्या
Avidya · ignoranceFundamental misunderstanding of oneself and reality — the root of bondage.4 traditionsभक्ति
Bhakti · devotionLoving devotion to God, as a path and as an end in itself.6 traditions· Gita layerब्रह्मन्
BrahmanThe ultimate reality, the ground from which everything arises.6 traditionsबुद्धि
Buddhi · intellectThe discerning, deciding faculty — the highest of the inner instruments.4 traditionsचित्त
Chitta · mind-fieldThe whole field of mind, with its thoughts, memories and latent impressions.4 traditionsधर्म
DharmaWhat upholds — order, duty, right conduct, and the nature of things.7 traditions· Gita layerध्यान
DhyanaMeditation: an unbroken flow of attention toward one object.5 traditions· Gita layerदुःख
Dukkha · suffering, unsatisfactorinessSuffering, stress or unsatisfactoriness — the starting point of the Buddha's teaching and a shared concern of Indian thought.7 traditionsगुण
Gunas · the three qualitiesSattva, rajas and tamas — the three strands of all nature.4 traditions· Gita layerहुक्म
HukamThe divine order or will by which all things come into being and move.1 traditionsईश्वर
Ishvara · GodThe Lord — God as ruler, creator and object of worship.9 traditions· Gita layerजीव
Jiva · the individual soulThe living, embodied individual who acts, experiences and transmigrates.6 traditionsज्ञान
Jnana · knowledgeLiberating knowledge — seeing reality and the Self as they are.6 traditions· Gita layerकाम
KamaDesire; also, as one of four aims of life, pleasure and love.4 traditions· Gita layerकर्म
KarmaAction — and the way actions shape future experience.7 traditions· Gita layerक्रोध
KrodhaAnger, often described as frustrated desire.4 traditions· Gita layerलीला
Lila · divine playCreation as God's spontaneous play rather than an act of need.6 traditionsमनस्
Manas · mindThe mind that receives, coordinates and desires — restless by nature.6 traditionsमाया
MayaThe power of appearance — why the world seems other than it is.5 traditions· Gita layerमोक्ष
Moksha · liberationFinal freedom from bondage and the cycle of rebirth.8 traditions· Gita layerनाम
NaamThe divine Name: in Sikh thought, the presence of the Divine to be remembered and lived.2 traditionsनेति नेति
Neti neti · not this, not thisThe Upanishadic method of describing the ultimate by negating every limited description.3 traditionsनिर्वाण
NirvanaThe 'blowing out' of craving, hatred and delusion — the Buddhist goal; also used in the Gita as brahma-nirvana.6 traditionsनिष्काम कर्म
Nishkama karmaAction performed without selfish desire for its results.5 traditions· Gita layerअद्वैत / अद्वय
Non-duality (advaya / advaita)The claim that reality is ultimately 'not two' — understood very differently across schools.7 traditionsपति पशु पाश
Pati, Pashu, Pasha · Lord, soul, bondShaiva Siddhanta's three eternal realities: the Lord, bound souls, and the bonds that bind them.3 traditionsफल
PhalaThe fruit or result of action.5 traditions· Gita layerप्रकृति
Prakriti · naturePrimal nature or matter — everything that changes, including the mind.5 traditions· Gita layerप्रमाण
Pramana · means of valid knowledgeThe accepted sources of valid knowledge, such as perception, inference and testimony.7 traditionsप्राणायाम
PranayamaRegulation of the breath and the life-force (prana).4 traditionsप्रपत्ति
Prapatti · refuge in GodTaking refuge in God as the sole means, a central teaching of Sri Vaishnavism.4 traditionsप्रतीत्यसमुत्पाद
Pratityasamutpada · dependent originationThe Buddhist teaching that everything arises in dependence on conditions, with no independent, self-caused existence.4 traditionsप्रत्यभिज्ञा
Pratyabhijna · recognitionRecognising that one's own awareness is Shiva — liberation as re-cognition rather than new attainment.3 traditionsप्रेम
Prema · divine lovePure, selfless love for God — for many bhakti traditions the highest goal, beyond even liberation.5 traditionsपुरुष
Purusha · pure consciousnessThe conscious witness, distinct from all that changes.5 traditions· Gita layerऋत
Rta · cosmic orderThe Vedic principle of cosmic, ritual and moral order — a forerunner of dharma.4 traditionsसाक्षी
Sakshi · the witnessThe Self as the silent witness of the mind's changing states.5 traditionsसमाधि
SamadhiComplete absorption of the mind in its object, or beyond any object.5 traditionsसमत्व
SamatvaEquanimity: evenness of mind in gain and loss, success and failure.4 traditions· Gita layerसंसार
Samsara · the cycle of rebirthThe round of birth, death and rebirth driven by action and ignorance.5 traditionsसंन्यास
Sannyasa · renunciationRenunciation — as a formal stage of life, and as an inner attitude of letting go.7 traditions· Gita layerसेवा
SevaSelfless service offered without seeking reward.4 traditionsशक्ति
ShaktiPower, energy; in Shakta and Shaiva thought, the dynamic aspect of the divine, often worshipped as the Goddess.5 traditionsशरणागति
SharanagatiTaking refuge in God; total surrender.5 traditions· Gita layerशरीर
ShariraThe body; in Vedanta, understood as gross, subtle and causal layers distinct from the Self.5 traditions· Gita layerशिव
Shiva (as principle)Shiva as the supreme reality or pure consciousness, as understood in Shaiva philosophies.5 traditionsश्रद्धा
ShraddhaFaith or trust; confident commitment to a teaching, teacher or ideal.4 traditions· Gita layerशून्यता
ShunyataEmptiness: the absence of independent, intrinsic existence in all things.4 traditionsस्पन्द
Spanda · the vibration of consciousnessKashmir Shaivism's teaching that ultimate consciousness is dynamic — a subtle, creative pulsation.2 traditionsस्थितप्रज्ञ
Sthitaprajna · steady wisdomThe person whose understanding has become steady — the Gita's portrait of the realised human being.5 traditions· Gita layerस्वधर्म
SvadharmaOne's own duty, suited to one's nature and situation.4 traditions· Gita layerतत्त्व
Tattva · principle of reality'Thatness' — a basic category or principle of reality, counted differently by different schools.6 traditionsत्याग
Tyaga · relinquishmentLetting go of attachment to action and its fruit, rather than of action itself.6 traditions· Gita layerवैराग्य
Vairagya · dispassionFreedom from craving — the fading of attraction to what cannot satisfy.4 traditions· Gita layerविवेक
VivekaDiscernment between the real and the unreal, the Self and the not-Self.4 traditions· Gita layerयज्ञ
Yajna · sacrifice, offeringOffering: from the Vedic fire ritual to the inner attitude of doing all action as an offering.6 traditions· Gita layerयोग
YogaJoining or disciplining — a path of practice toward freedom.6 traditions· Gita layer