Dāna(Devanagari: दान, IAST: ) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms, in Indian religions and philosophies. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, dāna is the practice of cultivating generosity. It can take the form of giving to an individual in distress or need, or of philanthropic public projects that empower and help many. Dāna is an ancient practice in Indian traditions, tracing back to Vedic traditions. Dāna (Sanskrit: दान) means giving, often in the context of donation and charity.
Non-possessionNon-possession (अपरिग्रह, aparigraha) is a religious tenet followed in Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain traditions in South Asia. In Jainism, aparigraha is the virtue of non-possessiveness, non-grasping, or non-greediness. Aparigrah is the opposite of parigrah. It means keeping the desire for possessions to what is necessary or important, which depends on one's life stage and context. The precept of aparigraha is a self-restraint (temperance) from the type of greed and avarice where one's own material gain or happiness comes by hurting, killing, or destroying other human beings, life forms, or nature.
AkrodhaAkrodha (Sanskrit: अक्रोध) literally means "free from anger". It's an important virtue in Indian philosophy and Hindu ethics. Akrodha is a fusion word between the Sanskrit prefix a (Sanskrit: अ; "without", "non") and the term krodha (Sanskrit: क्रोध; "anger"), meaning "without anger". A related word is akrodhah (Sanskrit: अक्रोध), which also means "absence of anger". Akrodha is considered a virtue and desirable ethical value in Hinduism. When there is cause of anger but nevertheless there is absence of anger, this is non-anger or akrodha.
MitaharaMitahara (मिताहार) literally means the habit of moderate food. Mitahara is also a concept in Indian philosophy, particularly Yoga, that integrates awareness about food, drink, balanced diet and consumption habits and its effect on one's body and mind. It is one of the ten yamas in ancient Indian texts. Mitahara is a Sanskrit combination word, from Mita (मित, moderate) and Ahara (आहार, taking food, diet), which together mean moderate diet. In Yoga and other ancient texts, it represents a concept linking nutrition to the health of one's body and mind.
AchouryaAchourya (Sanskrit: अचौर्यः, IAST: ) or Asteya (Sanskrit: अस्तेय; IAST: ) is the Sanskrit term for "non-stealing". It is a virtue in Hinduism. The practice of asteya demands that one must not steal, nor have the intent to steal, another's property through action, speech, and thoughts. Asteya is one of five major vows of Hinduism and Jainism. It is also one of ten forms of temperance (virtuous self-restraint) in Indian philosophy.
Dhyana in BuddhismIn the oldest texts of Buddhism, dhyāna (ध्यान) or jhāna (𑀛𑀸𑀦) is a component of the training of the mind (bhavana), commonly translated as meditation, to withdraw the mind from the automatic responses to sense-impressions, "burn up" the defilements, and leading to a "state of perfect equanimity and awareness (upekkhā-sati-parisuddhi)." Dhyāna may have been the core practice of pre-sectarian Buddhism, in combination with several related practices which together lead to perfected mindfulness and detachment.
Ashtanga (eight limbs of yoga)Ashtanga yoga (अष्टाङ्गयोग, "the eight limbs of yoga") is Patanjali's classification of classical yoga, as set out in his Yoga Sutras. He defined the eight limbs as yamas (abstinences), niyama (observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). The eight limbs form a sequence from the outer to the inner. The posture, asana, must be steady and comfortable for a long time, in order for the yogi to practice the limbs from pranayama until samadhi.
