Forum:Define 'activated'

If the effect of a continuous spell card is triggered is this considered an activation. My situation is this: if i have a curse of darkness on the field (a player loses 1000 life points whenever a spell card is activated) and my opponent's soul absorption (gain 500 life points whenever a card is removed from play) is triggered when a card of his is removed from play does he lose 1000 life points? Is this considered an activation? If anyone can answer this, that would be great.