Glossary of Spiritual and Religious Words

T

Tality

"Those who have passed beyond the Illuminated Void and the relativity of life, experience that which is called Tality. The Tality is the Great Reality of life, free in its movement... It is unpostponable to Self-realize within ourselves that which is called Tality. The Tality is the Great Reality beyond perversity and holiness. The saints can never exist within the womb of the Tality, which is beyond perversity and holiness. There is nothing in the Tality which can be called holy. The Great Reality is the Great Reality, the Tality. The saints and the perverse ones revolve within the great Wheel of Samsara. Therefore, they are very far from the Tality... The Tality is beyond the machinery of relativity, and also beyond the Illuminated Void. The Tality is that which is beyond the body, the affections, and the mind. The Tality is that which is far beyond all dualism." - The Pistis Sophia Unveiled

Tamas

One of the three gunas, or qualities of nature. The quality of darkness, foulness, ignorance, obscurity, heaviness or inertia. The “lowest” of the three qualities. From the Mahabarata: "Complete delusion, ignorance, illiberality, indecision in respect of action, sleep, haughtiness, fear, cupidity, grief, censure of good acts, loss of memory, unripeness of judgment, absence of faith, violation of all rules of conduct, want of discrimination, blindness, vileness of behaviour, boastful assertions of performance when there has been no performance, presumption of knowledge in ignorance, unfriendliness (or hostility), evilness of disposition, absence of faith, stupid reasoning, crookedness, incapacity for association, sinful action, senselessness, stolidity, lassitude, absence of self-control, degradation, - all these qualities are known as belonging to Darkness (Tamas). Whatever other states of mind connected with delusion exist in the world, all appertain to Darkness. Frequent ill-speaking of other people, censuring the deities and the Brahmanas (priests), illiberality, vanity, delusion, wrath, unforgiveness, hostility towards all creatures, are regarded as the characteristics of Darkness. Whatever undertakings exist that are unmeritorious (in consequence of their being vain or useless), what gifts there are that are unmeritorious (in consequence of the unworthiness of the donee, the unseasonableness of the time, the impropriety of the object, etc.), vain eating, - these also appertain to Darknesss (Tamas). Indulgence in calumny, unforgiveness, animosity, vanity, and absence of faith are also said to be characteristics of Darkness. Whatever men there are in this world who are characterised by these and other faults of a similar kind, and who break through the restraints provided by the scriptures, are all regarded as belonging to the quality of Darkness."

Tanniyn

(Hebrew תנין) An often debated term in the Hebrew scriptures, variously interpreted to mean, "whale, crocodile, serpent, leviathan, dinosaur," and more. The real meaning is revealed in Kabbalah. Study this lecture about the letter Nun.

"And God created great tanniyn , and every nephesh chaiah that creeps, which the mayim brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good." - Genesis 1:21

"When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast [it] before Pharaoh, [and] it shall become a tanniyn." - Exodus 7:9

Tantra

Sanskrit for "continuum" or "unbroken stream." This refers first (1) to the continuum of vital energy that sustains all existence, and second (2) to the class of knowledge and practices that harnesses that vital energy, thereby transforming the practitioner. There are many schools of Tantrism, but they can be classified in three types: White, Grey and Black. Tantra has long been known in the West as Alchemy.

“In the view of Tantra, the body's vital energies are the vehicles of the mind. When the vital energies are pure and subtle, one's state of mind will be accordingly affected. By transforming these bodily energies we transform the state of consciousness.” -The 14th Dalai Lama

Tara

(Sanskrit; Tibetan: Dolma) Literally, "savior" or "she who liberates." An emanation of Avalokitesvara. Tara is a goddess of compassion who appears in twenty-one forms. Her veneration is very popular in Tibetan Buddhism. For more information, study The Arcanum Twenty-one.

Tarot

"Through the Gypsies the Tarot cards may be traced back to the religious symbolism of the ancient Egyptians. [...] Count de Gébelin believed the word Tarot itself to be derived from two Egyptian words, Tar, meaning "road," and Ro, meaning "royal." Thus the Tarot constitutes the royal road to wisdom. (See Le Monde Primitif.) [...] The Tarot is undoubtedly a vital element in Rosicrucian symbolism, possibly the very book of universal knowledge which the members of the order claimed to possess. The Rota Mundi is a term frequently occurring in the early manifestoes of the Fraternity of the Rose Cross. The word Rota by a rearrangement of its letters becomes Taro, the ancient name of these mysterious cards.  [...] The Pythagorean numerologist will also find an important relationship to exist between the numbers on the cards and the designs accompanying the numbers. The Qabbalist will be immediately impressed by the significant sequence of the cards, and the alchemist will discover certain emblems meaningless save to one versed in the divine chemistry of transmutation and regeneration."' As the Greeks placed the letters of their alphabet--with their corresponding numbers--upon the various parts of the body of their humanly represented Logos, so the Tarot cards have an analogy not only in the parts and members of the universe but also in the divisions of the human body. They are in fact the key to the magical constitution of man. [...] The Tarot cards must be considered (1) as separate and complete hieroglyphs, each representing a distinct principle, law, power, or element in Nature; (2) in relation to each other as the effect of one agent operating upon another; and (3) as vowels and consonants of a philosophic alphabet. The laws governing all phenomena are represented by the symbols upon the Tarot cards, whose numerical values are equal to the numerical equivalents of the phenomena. As every structure consists of certain elemental parts, so the Tarot cards represent the components of the structure of philosophy. Irrespective of the science or philosophy with which the student is working, the Tarot cards can be identified with the essential constituents of his subject, each card thus being related to a specific part according to mathematical and philosophical laws. "An imprisoned person," writes Eliphas Levi, "with no other book than the Tarot, if he knew how to use it, could in a few years acquire universal knowledge, and would be able to speak on all subjects with unequalled learning and inexhaustible eloquence." - Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages (1928)

"The author of the Tarot was the Angel Metatron. He is Lord of the serpent wisdom. The Bible refers to him as the Prophet Enoch. The Angel Metatron, or Enoch, delivered the Tarot, in which the entirety of divine wisdom is enclosed. The Tarot remains written in stone. He also left us the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This great Master lives in the Superior Worlds, in the world of Atziluth, which is a world of indescribable happiness. According to the Kabbalah, this world is the region of Kether, a very high Sephirah. All Kabbalists base themselves on the Tarot and it is necessary for them to comprehend the Tarot and study it deeply. The Universe was made with the laws of numbers, measurements, and weight. Mathematics forms the Universe, and the numbers become living entities." - Samael Aun Weor, The Initatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah

Tartarus

(Greek, tartaros) A section of Hades (hell) reserved for the worst offenders.

Tattva

(Sanskrit) “truth, fundamental principle.” A reference to the essential nature of a given thing. Tattvas are the elemental forces of nature. There are numerous systems presenting varying tattvas as fundamental principles of nature.  Gnosticism utilizes a primary system of five: akash (which is the elemental force of the ether), tejas (fire), vayu (air), apas (water) and prittvi (earth). Two higher tattwas are also important: adi and samadhi.

Taurus

(April 20th to May 20th) The second sign of the zodiac. Ruled by Venus. Related to the element earth.

"Taurines are gluttons; they love what is beautiful, gorgeous. Taurines love much and suffer much because they go through great amorous deceptions. When Taurines become furious, they are furious bulls. Taurines are like the ox: hardworking and tenacious." - Manual of Practical Magic

Tav

The twenty-second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it symbolizes power and servitude. Its Kabbalistic value is 400.

Tejas

(Sanskrit, literally "brilliance, glow") 1) The tattva (energetic source) of the element of fire. 2) the aura seen around the head of a master.

Temperament

There are four primary temperaments: Earth (Phlegmatic; Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus), Fire (Sanguineous; Leo, Aries, Sagittarius), Air (Nervous; Libra, Aquarius, Gemini), Water (Voluptuous; Pisces, Scorpio, Cancer).

Temple of Alden

The Temple of Medicine located in the internal planes, under the leadership of Raphael, Regent of Mercury.

"The Temple of Alden is the Temple of Science. The internal bodies also get sick and are also in need of the assistance of these doctors. These doctors are the Masters of Science, who are wealthy in wisdom. They heal the internal bodies of the Initiates and also of anyone who asks for help." - The Revolution of Beelzebub

Temptation

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God;" for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one; but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death. - James 1:13-15

"Temptation is fire. Triumph over temptation is light." - Samael Aun Weor 

The results speak for themselves.  If there are no temptations there are no virtues.  Virtues are more grandiose when temptations are stronger.  What is important is not to fall into temptation.  That is why we have to pray to our Father, saying, “Lead us not into temptation.”  Only through the struggle, the contrast, the temptation, and rigorous esoteric discipline, can the flowers of virtue sprout from us." - The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah 

Tepeu-Gukumatz

(or Gugumatz) The Mayan version of Huehueteotl.  He is also seen as an aspect or even a Quiche Mayan translation of Quetzalcoatl.  See: Huehueteotl, Quetzalcoatl, and Gugumatz.

Testimony

An account of personal experience.

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness." - Jesus teaching sexual transmutation to Nicodemus

"For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." - Hebrews 9

Teth

The ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, it symbolizes the snake or serpent (nahash) in the Garden of Eden (Sex). Its Kabbalistic value is 9.

Tetragrammaton

A Greek word referring to the Hebrew name of God, the Holy Four-lettered Name יהוה YHVH (Yod He Vau He) often translated as Jehovah, or erroneously as Yahve, Yahweh or Jahve, which is actually the name of a demon although it is spelled the same way. This word has many levels of meaning and application.

Thelema

(Greek) Willpower.

“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will (Thelema), but thine, be done.” - Luke 22: 42

So (Father), "do what thou wilt (Thelema), shall be the whole of the Law." And what is the whole of the law?

”Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (who is thy Father, thy true Self).” - Matthew 22: 37-39

On these two commandments hang the whole of the law and the prophets.

Theosophical septenary

Samael Aun Weor: “The different pseudo-esoteric and pseudo-occult schools affirm emphatically that the human being possess seven bodies:

1. The first one is called physical body, it is the famous Stula-Sarira of the Oriental theosophists.
2. The second one in Orient is called Linga-Sarira or Vital body and is the base of the organic life, the tetra-dimensional part of the physical body.
3. The third body is Kamas, the principle of desire, the famous Astral body cited by the medieval alchemists.
4. The fourth body is called the Mental body by the Hindustani and Inferior Manas in Sanskrit.
5. The fifth vehicle is the Causal body or Arupic as is called by the theosophists.
6. The sixth body is the Buddhic or Intuitional, the Superlative Consciousness of the Being.
7. The seventh is called Atman the Ineffable by the Hindustani... the Intimate (Innermost). Certainly, the ancient wisdom says: “Before that the false aurora ..... It is necessary to adore and worship the Intimate.”

Theosophy

The word is derived from the Greek theos (god, divinity) and sophia (wisdom). The Neoplatonists, the Gnostics, and the kabbalists are generally considered types of theosophists. Jakob Boehme, regarded as the father of modern theosophy, developed a complete theosophical system attempting to reconcile the existence of an all-powerful and all-good God with the presence of evil in the world. The philosophy and theology of Asia, especially of India, contain a vast body of theosophical doctrine. Modern theosophy draws much of its vocabulary from Indian sources. The Theosophical Society, with which theosophy is now generally identified, was founded in 1875 by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky; associated with her were H. S. Olcott and W. Q. Judge. Blavatsky wrote The Secret Doctrine (1888, repr. 1964) and Key to Theosophy (1931, rev. ed. 1969). An active exponent of theosophy in Europe, America, and the East was Annie Besant, who added many works to the literature on the subject.

Thermuthis

(Egyptian) from Renenutet, Renenet, Ernutet, Thermuthis, Thermouthis, Termuthis. “She Who Rears” was a cobra goddess of nursing or rearing children, fertility and protector of the Pharaoh. Known as the “Nourishing Snake,” she not only was a goddess who was sometimes shown nursing a child, but she offered her protection to the Pharaoh in the Land of the Dead. In later times she was thought to be the goddess who presided over the eighth month of the Egyptian calendar, known by Greek times as Parmutit.

Theurgy

(from Latin: theurgia, Greek: theourgeia, related to theos, "god," and ergon, "work") The action of Theos (God, the Monad). This is white magic, the influence and power that the Monad has over nature and its phenomena. This power and intelligence is exercised in many ways and can be exercised through the Bodhisattva or any particular solar body.

Third Chamber

See Chambers.

Third Logos

Binah, the Holy Spirit. See also Logos.