We can almost start a new topic on "a list of confusing words in yoga"!
Taking this opportunity, let me collect some of the words that are really confusing to me. There was a time when I thought they're confusing just because of my poor English. But let's examine them. I'm sure there are many different definitions among you (if you ever have a definition or at least a rough meaning in mind before you use them!). The miracle is that yogis(and other spiritually-inclined people) keep their (our) discussions going for such a long time; and the price is a poor quality in the discussions and thus the conclusions.
An even more severe and prevalent problem is that spirituality seems almost never reach people with a clear and rigorous mind, since discussing yoga with such vague terms make it looks more like religion and imaginations rather than actual experiences.Here is a partial list of such words. If anyone feels appropriate and helpful, may be we can start a new topic[
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Energy--Related words: vibrations
What is that, really? Certainly not "energy" as in Physics. Do you mean a subjective feeling of "something" (just as when you're having sex)? Or a sense of well-being and strength which will allow you to run 42km or read 10 books in a row? Kundaini? prana?
It's ok for you to use "energy" to mean anything. But problems arise when you switch the meaning with the same word. If you (or your audience) are a "verbal" person who tends to use words for reasoning, such "double meaning" can impede your reasoning power by extending your conclusions to something you don't have, and probably wrong. In particular, please don't think you work the same way as an atomic bomb just because the word "energy" appears in physics texts.
Powerful (usually in "powerful practices/exercise")
"This practice is very powerful" is certainly something we hear very often when learning a new yoga practice. I wonder whether there is any powerless practices![
] For this reason, this phrase soon lose it power on me
: it really sounds meaningless!
Actually, it could be a helpful word if defined properly. But notice now different the following possible meanings of "powerful" are; and how often the word are used (and interpreted) without an awareness of which meaning it carries in that context.
a) The practice shows its effects quickily.
b) The practice plays an important role in your path to enlightenment.
c) The practice is a follow-up of some other practices, the series of which will lead you to enlightenment.
d) the practice give you physical strength/endurance.
e) the practice give you mental strength.
f) the practice is powerful in its pyschological effects because of its highly mythologized history (sorry to add this, but I think this is true in certain practices, particularly in certain Qi Qong traditions here in China. I'll support my thoughts if necessary)
EnlightenedIn this case, the vagueness seems to be acceptable. However, I would still like to know why certain people can say so conclusively that certain guru-like person is enlightened. It must due to some of your observations about them. In other words, if there are no external expressions of being enlightened, it makes no sense to say someone is enlightened (although much easier to say who's not). So what are those expressions? Are you sure they can't be faked?
Alvin