Glossary of Spiritual and Religious Words

P

Padmasambhava

(or Guru Rinpoche) An Indian Master who along with Shantarakshita and King Trisong Detsen established Tantric Buddhism in Tibet (8th century). He is perhaps most known to westerners in relation to the so-called "Tibetan Book of the Dead." He is widely revered in Tibetan Buddhism, second only to the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Pancatattva Ritual

(Sanskrit, alterately spelled "pancatattwa") Panca: “five.” Tattva: “essence; principle.” A Tantric ritual in which the five elements are transmuted. The five M’s are Maithuna (Sexual Magic), Madya (“Wine”), Mamsa (Meat), Matsya (Fish), Mudra (Grain). Visit sacred-sex.org for more information.

Panchakamaguna

(Sanskrit) The Five Objects of Desire, which symbolize the attributes of sensation that hypnotize the senses.

1. Mirror: sight
2. Cymbals or Lute: sound 
3. Fruit: taste
4. Incense Burner: scent / smell
5. Silk: touch 

Pandora

(Greek Πανδώρα, from πᾶν "all" and δῶρον "gift", meaning "all-giving", or "all-endowed") In Greek Mythology, Pandora was archetype of the first woman, created by Zeus and given attributes from all the Gods. Pandora's daughter Pyrrha (Fire) became the first mortal woman. (Pyrrha and her husband Deukalion alone survived the Great Flood, the same story as Noah). There are many variations of her story. Compare with Havah (Eve, "the mother of the living") of the story given by Moses in Genesis / Bereshit.

Aristophanes wrote in The Birds: "...[render worship] to Pandora, the earth, because she bestows all things necessary for life."

Panspermia

(Greek: pas/pan “all” and sperma “seed”) The hypothesis that “seeds” of life exist already all over the Universe, that life on Earth may have originated through these “seeds,” and that they may deliver or have delivered life to other habitable bodies.

Pantacles

Pantacles are like Mandalas, they describe esoteric truths!

Papus

"In this path, we will have to live all the twelve hours of which the great sage Apollonius spoke. “Papus,” the black magician, tried to desfigure the twelve hours of Apollonius with teachings of Black Magic, liquidating all the millions of Kabbalistic volumes that drift in the world. We arrived at the conclusion that all Kabbalah is reduced to the twenty-two Major Arcana of the Tarot and four aces, which represent the four elements of Nature. On such a simple thing, scholars have written millions of volumes and theories that would turn anyone “crazy” who had the bad taste of becoming intellectualized with that entire arsenal. The worst of it is that, in questions of Kabbalah, the black magicians took over what they found to disfigure the teaching and lead the world astray. The works of Papus are legitimate Black Magic. - Samael Aun Weor, The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah

Parabrahman

(Sanskrit, literally "the highest brahman") The Absolute or universal self.

"Sattva, Rajas and Tamas were unbalanced; therefore, the Mahamanvantara dawned.  The yogi must liberate himself from Sattva, Rajas and Tamas to gain the right to enter into the Absolute. Sattva, Rajas and Tamas will be in perfect equilibrium again at the end of the Mahamanvantara; thus, the universe will sleep again within the profound bosom of the Absolute, within the supreme Parabrahman, the Nameless." - Samael Aun Weor, Kundalini Yoga

"...the great word ‘Tat’ means Para-Brahman Itself, the Eternity. This is the symbol used for that Lord who is beyond all definitions and arguments. This Lord is the embodiment of Supreme Knowledge itself. That is, He wishes to be in the form of Knowledge Absolute." - Swami Sivananda, Lord Siva and His Worship

Paracelsus

The Renaissance physician, alchemist and philosopher Paracelsus was born Theophrastus Philippus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim in Einsielden, Switzerland circa 1493. He followed in the footsteps of his father, and became a physician. Paracelus studied medicine at various universities and travelled widely throughout Europe studying, practicing medicine and writing. Appointed city physician and professor at the University of Basel in 1526, he embarked on an ambitious program of lectures and writing. His bold calls for reform of medicine alienated many. Finally, public feeling rose so high against him that a warrant was issued for his arrest and he was forced to flee the city. This pattern of finding a position and patronage through his obvious brilliance and amazing cures followed by alienation and rejection because of his frequent attacks on medical and philosophical orthodoxy continued throughout his life. Nevertheless, he found time to dictate and write many books on medicine, magic, alchemy and occult philosophy. It is said that Paracelsus died in Salzburg on September 24, 1541, but according to the Gnostic Tradition he still lives with the same physical body, having accomplished the Great Work of Alchemy.

Paramananda

(Sanskrit) supreme spiritual happiness, "supreme bliss."

Paramartha

(Sanskrit, literally "supreme reality, supreme truth" or "absolute existence")  This equates to awakened consciousness.

Paramarthasatya

(Sanskrit) Para, “absolute, supreme.” Parama, “that which knows, or the consciousness.” Artha, “that which is known.” Satya, “existence, Truth.” In synthesis, “The supreme knowledge of all that exists: TRUTH.”

1) A being of very high development; an inhabitant of the Absolute.

2) The ultimate truth, as opposed to conventional truth (samvriti-satya) or relative truth of the manifested world.

Paramitas

(Sanskrit, "perfections" or literally, "that which has reached the other shore") In Buddhism, the paramitas are six or ten virtuous qualities or states of consciousness and also the path to perfect them. They are (1) charity, or alms-giving (dana); (2) discipline, or observance of precepts (sila); (3) forbearance, or patient resignation (ksanti); (4) energy or exertion (virya); (5) concentration or meditation (dhyana); and (6) wisdom (prajna). Although there are usually said to be six paramitas, sometimes their number is expanded to ten (with the addition of expedients/means, vows/prayer, power, and knowledge/pristine awareness).

Paranirvana

(Sanskrit. Tibetan: yongs su mya ngan las 'das) The state of total cessation of all sufferings, disturbing emotions, and their psychological sources. This term is usually  used in reference to the passing away of a buddha or practitioner.

Paranishpanna

(Sanskrit, alternately parinishpanna, paranishpana, or parinishpana; Tibetan: Yong-Grüb) "Absolute truth," or "Absolute happiness." From "para" which means "beyond" and nishpanna, sometimes translated as "knowledge," "completeness," "perfection" or "happiness."

Particular Characteristic Psychological

(also known as the Chief Feature by students of G.I. Gurdjieff) See The Revolution of the Dialectic, by Samael Aun Weor, chapters 2-4.

"Awakening is only possible by destroying the “I,” the ego. We have to recognize with complete clarity that each person has his own Particular Characteristic Psychological Feature (PCPF), which we have spoken about many times before. Certainly, each person has his own particular characteristic psychological feature, this is a fact. Some will have lust as their characteristic feature; others will have hatred; for others it will be covetousness, etc. The feature is the sum of several particular characteristic psychological elements. For each PCPF, a definitive event, a precise circumstance, always occurs. What if a man is lustful? There will always be circumstances of lust in his life accompanied by specific problems. These circumstances are always repeated. We need to know our PCPF if we want to move on to a superior level of the Being and eliminate from within ourselves the undesirable elements which constitute our psychological feature." - Samael Aun Weor, The Revolution of the Dialectic

Pass-not Ring

"This most divine plane of the cosmos is named “The Pass Not Ring” in the first volume of The Secret Doctrine by the Master Blavatsky. If we consider the cosmos as a great tree with its roots in the Absolute, then these roots will be the “Pass Not Ring” because no one can pass that plane, not even the greatest Gods of the cosmos can pass beyond that ring." - The Revolution of Beelzebub

Path of the Razor's Edge

"The Initiate must travel, with determination, along the Path of the Razor’s Edge. There are terrifying abysses on either side of this difficult road. On the difficult path to the dissolution of the ego, there are complex passages which have their roots precisely in the real path. Obviously, from the Path of the Razor’s Edge multiple paths diverge which lead nowhere. Some of them take us to the abyss and despair. There are paths which can transform us into the majesties of this or that zone of the universe. However, they can never return us to the bosom of the Eternal Universal Cosmic Father. There are fascinating paths of a most holy, ineffable appearance; unfortunately, they can only lead us into the submerged devolution of the infernal worlds. In the work of the dissolution of the “I,” we need to devote ourselves completely to the Innermost Christ. At times problems appear which are difficult to resolve. Suddenly the path is lost in inexplicable labyrinths and we do not know where it continues. Only absolute obedience to the Innermost Christ and the Father who is in secret can, in such instances, wisely guide us. The Path of the Razor’s Edge is full of danger, both inside and out." - Samael Aun Weor, The Great Rebellion

Paul

"Paul of Tarsus, the furious persecutor of Gnostics, received the sacred Initiation after the event which occurred to him on his way to Damascus. He left the custom of persecuting the Christians, and he adopted the Gnostic customs. So, he became a Gnostic Christian prophet." - Samael Aun Weor, The Revolution of Beelzebub

Peace

"Peace is possible only by controlling the mind." - from The Yellow Book

Peh

The seventeenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it symbolizes "the mouth." "We speak Grace (we communicate knowledge through Peh, the mouth) that we do know (in Daath), and testify that we have seen (with Ayin)." Its Kabbalistic value is 80.

Penance

Penance, Penitence: from Latin nom. Pænitens (Pene, Penis + Tense): the state in which the sexual energies of the Holy Spirit enter through the nervous system into the mind and liberate the soul from any mental tension. This is how the Initiate, through sexual dynamics, consciously attains the absolution from any psychological aggregate.

Pænitens (Pene, Penis + Tense): Let us acknowledge that the clitoris (located at the anterior part of the vulva, the most sensitive point of the feminine organism) is that magnetic centrifugal point which provides a woman's aura with suitable currents of energy. The sexual energies of the Holy Spirit in the female organism vibrate in that small elongated erectile organ. The female clitoris has the same evolutionary origin as the male penis but provides different functions. Any enlightened clairvoyant can perceive the magnetic centrifugal forces that initiate their course from the clitoris.

“True repentance has its foundation in the sexual mysteries.” - Samael Aun Weor, The Pistis Sophia Unveiled

Pergamos

"When the Kundalini rises to the region of the navel, it bestows the power of control over the fires of volcanoes. The church of Pergamus is located in this region of the navel. This chakra has ten petals. The fire elemental of the Wise is the element of this chakra." - from The Yellow Book

Persephone

(Greek Περσεφόνη, literally "bringer of death" or "destroyer"; also known as Kore, Κόρη, "virgin") A symbolic character from Greek mythology of central importance in the famous Eleusinian mysteries. She embodies many very sophisticated and complex esoteric teachings that have been kept secret by initiates of the mysteries.

"Sokrates : There were certain priests and priestesses who have studied so as to be able to give a reasoned account of their ministry [i.e. the priests of the Mysteries]; and Pindar also and many another poet of heavenly gifts. As to their words, they are these : mark now, if you judge them to be true. They say that the soul of man is immortal, and at one time comes to an end, which is called dying, and at another is born again, but never perishes. Consequently one ought to live all one's life in the utmost holiness. `For from whomsoever Persephone shall accept requital for ancient wrong, the souls of these she restores in the ninth year to the upper sun again [i.e. reincarnation]; from them arise glorious kings and men of splendid might and surpassing wisdom, and for all remaining time are they called holy heroes amongst mankind.'" - Plato, Meno 81a (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.)

Personality

(Latin personae: mask) There are two fundamental types of personality:

1. Solar: the personality of the inner Being. This type is only revealed through the liberation of the mind from samsara.

2. Lunar: the terrestrial, perishable personality. We create a new lunar personality in the first seven years of each new physical body, in accordance with three influences: genotype, phenotype and paratype. Genotype is the influence of the genes, or in other words, karma, our inheritance from past actions. Phenotype is the education we receive from our family, friends, teachers, etc. Paratype is related to the circumstances of life.

"The personality is time. The personality lives in its own time and does not reincarnate. After death, the personality also goes to the grave. For the personality there is no tomorrow. The personality lives in the cemetery, wanders about the cemetery or goes down into its grave. It is neither the Astral Body nor the ethereal double. It is not the Soul. It is time. It is energetic and it disintegrates very slowly. The personality can never reincarnate. It does not ever reincarnate. There is no tomorrow for the human personality." - Samael Aun Weor, The Perfect Matrimony

"Our personality has to become more and more passive..." - Samael Aun Weor, from the lecture "Knowing How to Listen"

"The human personality is only a marionette controlled by invisible strings... Evidently, each one of these I’s puts in our minds what we must think, in our mouths what we must say, and in our hearts what we must feel, etc.Under such conditions the human personality is no more than a robot governed by different people, each disputing its superiority and aspiring to supreme control of the major centers of the organic machine... First of all, it is necessary, urgent and imperative that the Magnetic Center, which is abnormally established in our false personality, be transferred to the Essence. In this way, the complete human can initiate his journey from the personality up to the stars, ascending in a progressive, didactic way, step by step up the Mountain of the Being.As long as the Magnetic Center continues to be established in our illusory personality we will live in the most abominable psychological dens of iniquity, although appearing to be splendid citizens in everyday life... These values which serve as a basis for the Law of Recurrence are always found within our human personality."- Samael Aun Weor, The Great Rebellion

"The personality must not be confused with the “I.” In fact, the personality is formed during the first seven years of childhood. The “I” is something different. It is the error which is perpetuated from century to century; it fortifies itself each time, more and more through the mechanics of recurrence. The personality is energetic. It is born during infancy through habits, customs, ideas, etc., and it is fortified with the experiences of life. Therefore, both the personality as well as the “I” must be disintegrated. These psychological teachings are more revolutionary than those of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. The “I” utilizes the personality as an instrument of action. Thus, personalism is a mixture of ego and personality. Personality worship was invented by the “I.” In fact, personalism engenders egoism, hatred, violence, etc. All of this is rejected by A-himsa. Personality totally ruins esoteric organizations. Personality produces anarchy and confusion. Personalism can totally destroy any organization... The personality is multiple and has many hidden depths. The karma of previous existences is deposited into the personality. It is karma in the process of fulfillment or crystallization. The impressions which are not digested become new psychic aggregates, and what is more serious, they become new personalities. The personality is not homogenous but rather heterogeneous and plural. One must select impressions in the same manner that one chooses the things of life. If one forgets oneself at a given instant, in a new event, new “I’s” are formed, and if they are very strong they become new personalities within the personality. Therein lies the cause of many traumas, complexes and psychological conflicts. An impression which one does not digest may form into a personality within the personality, and if one does not accept it, it becomes a source of frightening conflicts. Not all the personalities (which one carries within the personality) are accepted; the latter giving origin to many traumas, complexes, phobias, etc. Before all else, it is necessary to comprehend the multiplicity of the personality. The personality is multiple in itself. Therefore, there could be someone who may have disintegrated the psychic aggregates, but if he does not disintegrate the personality, he will not be able to attain authentic enlightenment and the joy of living." - Samael Aun Weor, The Revolution of the Dialectic

"The personality is energetic. The personality takes form during the first seven years of childhood and is strengthened with time and experiences... The Mental Body, the Body of Desires, the Ethereal Body, and the Physical Body integrate the personality... We must finish with the personality and with the “I” in order for the Being to be born within ourselves." - Samael Aun Weor, The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah