Need a little help. I know the meaning but finding difficulty with popular usage for these terms..
What differences did you find between the popular usage and actual definitions? for Karma, Reincarnation, Yoga, Guru and Chakras.
Karma means action and the result of action. Karma I thibnk is if you do something bad to someone else..something bad would happen to you and vice versa if something good.
What would a popular usage be for Karma?
Reincarnation is the soul leaving the body and re-entering a new one. One takes birth again and again in countless bodies.
Yoga is a union with your true self. Yoga for meditative people is the path of mental concentration. Yoga for rational people is the path of rational inquiry. Yoga for active people is the path of right action.
A Guru is a spiritual guide or a spiritual leader. A guru achieves spiritual status that seekers aspire. A Guru gives advice, encourages and gives examples to people seeking enlightenment.
Chakras are subtle energy centers along the spine; a pathway.
Thanks for the help! :o)
Here's a line from Wikipedia about karma. " According to the Vedas, if we sow goodness, we will reap goodness; if we sow evil, we will reap evil." I interpret this to mean that if I do something good for others, good will also come to me.
With reincarnation, one doesn't need to fear death if he has lived a good life -- because he will come back as even a higher caste person.
Many of my friends practice yoga on a daily or at least a weekly basis.
Think of a teacher or other adult you know who has been like a guru to you. I think the term also suits our Jiskha tutor, GuruBlue.
Chakra -- why is getting a back massage so great?
Thanks for your help :o)
This gets me off to a great start
The popular usage of these terms often tends to simplify or generalize their meanings compared to their actual definitions. Here's an explanation of the popular usage for each term you mentioned:
1. Karma: In popular usage, karma is often understood as a sort of cosmic justice or "what goes around, comes around" principle. It is commonly associated with the idea that if you do something bad, something bad will happen to you in return, and vice versa if you do something good. This concept of cause and effect, where one's actions have consequences in this life or future lives, is simplified in popular culture.
2. Reincarnation: Popular usage of reincarnation often refers to the belief that after death, the soul leaves the body and is reborn into a new body. It encompasses the idea that a person takes birth again and again in different bodies throughout multiple lifetimes. While this is a basic understanding, the complexities of reincarnation, such as the concept of karma influencing the cycle of rebirth, may be overlooked in popular usage.
3. Yoga: In popular usage, yoga is often associated with physical exercises and postures, promoting flexibility, strength, and relaxation. It is commonly seen as a form of exercise or a way to improve one's physical well-being. However, yoga is a holistic practice that encompasses physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. It is a path to self-realization and union with one's true self, as you mentioned in its actual definition.
4. Guru: In popular usage, a guru is often seen as a teacher or expert in a particular field, providing guidance and wisdom. It can refer to anyone who is knowledgeable or skilled in a specific area. However, in its actual definition, a guru is a spiritual guide or leader who has attained a higher level of consciousness or spiritual realization. They guide and inspire seekers on their spiritual path, providing insights, teachings, and examples.
5. Chakras: In popular usage, chakras are often simplified as energy centers located along the spine. They are associated with certain qualities or states of consciousness and are believed to play a role in one's physical and emotional well-being. While this understanding is a basic overview, the complexity of chakras and their significance in the subtle body system of various spiritual traditions may not be fully captured in popular usage.
It's important to be aware that the popular usage may differ from the more nuanced and in-depth explanations found in the actual definitions of these terms.