equivalent: Equal, or nearly so, in quantity, volume, force, meaning, etc.

equivalent: Equal, or nearly so, in quantity, volume, force, meaning, etc. erotic: "Of love (from the Greek eros)." Of or arousing sexual passion. erroneous: Containing or based on error; wrong. eschew: To shun, avoid, stay away from. esoteric: Hard to understand or secret. Teaching intended for a chosen few, as an inner group of initiates. Abtruse or private. essence (essential): The ultimate, real and unchanging nature of a thing or being. --essence of the soul: See: atman, soul.

esteem: To respect highly; to value. estranged: "Made a stranger." Set apart or divorced from. eternity: Time without beginning or end. ether: A kasha. Space, the most subtle of the five elements. See: akasha, tattva. ethics: The code or system of morals of a nation, people, religion, etc. See: dharma, pancha nitya karmas, punya, purity-impurity. etymology: The science of the origin of words and their development. The history of a word. See: Nirukta Vedanga, Sanskrit.

evil: That which is bad, morally wrong, causing harm, pain, misery. In Western religions, evil is often thought of as a moral antagonism to God. This force is the source of sin and is attached to the soul from its inception. Whereas, for Hindus, evil is not a conscious, dark force, such as Satan. It is situational rather than ontological, meaning it has its basis in relative conditions, not in ultimate reality. Evil (badness, corruption) springs from ignorance (avidya) and immaturity.

Nor is one fighting with God when he is evil, and God is not standing in judgment. Within each soul, and not external to it, resides the principle of judgment of instinctive-intellectual actions. God, who is ever compassionate, blesses even the worst sinner, the most depraved asura, knowing that individual will one day emerge from lower consciousness into the light of love and understanding.

Some philosophies hold that man and the world are by nature imperfect, corrupt or evil.