Mandala (circle) – circular design representing the universe and a particular deity.

Mantra Yoga – the repetition of mantras as a path to liberation, which often begins with the sacred word ‘Om’. A single word, sound or short affirmation is repeated in order to affirm an aspect of the Divine, which is invariably represented by the name of a specific deity. In Mahayana Buddhism mantras are often used for bringing about an awakening to spiritual qualities within oneself and insights into the Ultimate Nature of existence.

Maya – can have many meanings, such as the creative power in the universe or the world of ‘illusion’ or ‘delusion’ in Hindu spirituality.

Meditation – can imply many different types of practices. In Christian spirituality meditation can refer to visualisation and more reflective practices. In the yogic tradition it can be about focusing one’s attention on an object, or on the breath or on a mantra. However, the contemporary Christian Meditation Movement, founded by the English Benedictine monk John Main, uses yogic forms of meditation, such as mantra and various breathing exercises.

Mediumship – the ability to see, hear or feel spirit personalities that no longer have a physical existence. Additionally, trance and physical mediumship and healers who are aided by spirit personalities are other areas that fall under this heading. The word literally refers to someone who is in the middle of two realms of existence, the physical world and the spirit world, and acts as a mediator between the two.

Metaphysics – a form of philosophy dealing with laws that transcend physical laws, and with levels of being, knowing and first cause principles, such as the Ultimate Cause of Creation.

Mind:

– Higher Mind: a wide term, which has connections with the discriminating faculty and the rational mind (the intellect), as well as wisdom and insight.

– Lower Mind: automatic functions of the mind and sensory perceptions.

- Unconscious Mind (Individual Unconscious): levels of the mind that we are not consciously aware of, which include instinctual drives and memories of all past experiences that can affect our personality on a conscious level. The spiritual, psychic and psychological implications of an unconscious mind are vast, as it can be seen to be linked with parts of ourselves that carry subliminal influences that affect our conduct, as well as with the collective unconscious mind (see collective unconscious, karma and samskara). The Yogacara School of Mahayana Buddhism (also called the Mind Only School) has a concept of a 'store consciousness’ (alaya-vijnana) that has comparisons with ideas related to the unconscious mind.

Mindfulness – the ability to be aware of different states of being and mind, and of our thoughts, actions and reactions.

Mindfulness Meditation – generally refers to a form of Buddhist meditation, that especially focuses on the in- and out-flow of the breath.

Moksha (liberation) – freedom from conditioned worldly existence (see samsara).

Monism – the belief in there being ultimately only One Reality behind the many forms of life and matter in the universe (both seen and unseen).

Monotheism – the belief that there is only One God.

Morphogenetic Fields – a biological field permeating nature, which contains information to shape the exact form of living things, as well as its behaviour. Cambridge biologist Rupert Sheldrake is particularly known for this theory, and has comparisons with Carl Jung’s theory of the Collective Unconscious and has many psychic and religious implications concerning an interconnected creative and psychic mind working within nature.

Mudra (seal) – a hand or whole body gesture used in mediation. It includes invoking an opening of awareness while doing the mudra, such as a realisation of one’s spiritual nature, or the joining of individual consciousness with the omnipresent and transcendent Divine Consciousness.

Mystic – a person who seeks through meditation or contemplative prayer to attain unity with the Divine.

Mystical Experience – a wide variety of experiences are often placed under this heading, but a true mystical experience would imply having an experience of union or oneness with the Divine.

Mysticism – a life of prayer and/or meditation, work and discipline dedicated to serving and finding unity with the Divine.

Myths – Myths or legends about heroic struggles or personal sacrifice can be seen as power archetypes – as symbolic metaphors for the spiritual journey. Joseph Campbell found many myths that were common to all wisdom traditions, which tell important stories about the spiritual seeker’s individual search for Truth and his or her return home.

Nature Mysticism - spiritual experiences people have that are connected with nature.

Near-death Experiences – spiritual, religious and out-of-body experiences people have had when they have almost died.

Nirvana – a state of enlightenment achieved in meditation practices.

Non-attachment – it is essential to understand that non-attachment is not about being aloof and separate from life. Just as we would not consider the cure of an illness as being about taking medicine that merely numbs our feelings and physical senses and makes us unaware of any pain. Non-attachment encompasses acknowledgment of and being unbound by any restrictive feeling or mental state.

Non-dualism (non-separateness) – the belief that while all things appear to have an individual uniqueness, everything interconnects with an underlying unity (see Monism).

Observer – in Western psychology it is the ability to be able to dis-identify from one’s thoughts, emotions and actions. It is described as a watcher behind the thinking mind.

Om/Aum – the sacred sound from which the universe was created, which symbolises the Ultimate Reality. It is the highest name of God. The symbol of Om represents the individual and Divine consciousness.

Omnipotent – all-powerful.

Omnipresence – everywhere and in everything.

Omnisicent – all-knowing.

Oneness – a state of being in harmony with all things.

Ontology – refers to the study and the philosophy of being.

Out-of-Body Experience – an experience where one’s consciousness seems to leave the physical body.

© 2007 Santoshan (Stephen Wollaston)