Meditation's Influence: American Culture And Mindfulness

Meditation has a long history and is practised in many cultures. It is defined as a contemplative practice that focuses the mind using a variety of techniques. The word meditation stems from the Latin term 'meditari' which means to ponder.

Meditation is believed to have been a spiritual practice of human beings since our beginnings. The earliest written records of meditation come from the Hindu Vedas around 1500 BCE. Other forms of meditation were also recorded within Taoist China and Buddhist India around 600 and 400 BCE.

Meditation was brought to the West in the 1960s by the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who gained a following that included musicians and artists such as members of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Today, meditation is practised by over 6 million people worldwide, with an even larger number practising other forms. Meditation has been shown to have many benefits, including anger management, lowered blood pressure, reduced post-traumatic stress, and a healthier lifestyle.

The history of meditation in the West

In the West, the history of meditation can be traced back to ancient Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, who were influenced by the sages and yogis of India. This cultural exchange was further enhanced by Alexander the Great's military campaigns in India during 327-325 BCE. However, the influence of Eastern thought on the West was curtailed with the rise of Christianity in Europe.

It wasn't until the 18th century that Western interest in Eastern philosophy and meditation began to re-emerge, with the translation of key texts such as the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Buddhist Sutras. By the 19th century, Western scholars and missionaries started exploring Asian spiritual traditions such as Theravada, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism. This curiosity was fuelled by improved transportation and communication, as well as colonialism.

In the 20th century, meditation began to gain popularity in the West, with the arrival of meditation masters from the East who shared their knowledge and skills. Notable figures such as Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi played a significant role in introducing yoga and meditation to the Western world. Vivekananda's speech at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, where he addressed the audience as "brothers and sisters of America", was particularly influential in sparking interest in Eastern philosophy and spirituality.

The mid-20th century saw the emergence of Western students of mindfulness who travelled to Asia to train under great masters. They later returned home and shared their understanding of mindfulness and awareness practices, contributing to the growing popularity of meditation in the West. One of the most influential figures in this regard is Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, who founded the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1979. His program, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), played a pivotal role in bringing the benefits of mindfulness to the public and scientific communities worldwide.

Since then, meditation has continued to grow in popularity, with a growing body of scientific research supporting its benefits for stress reduction, improved mental and physical health, and enhanced well-being. Today, meditation has become mainstream in Western culture, with a wide range of secular and spiritual practices available to those seeking its benefits.

The influence of Eastern religions in the West

One of the most influential figures in bringing Eastern religions to the West was Swami Vivekananda, a young Hindu monk who attended the Parliament of Religions. Vivekananda's speech, in which he addressed the audience as "brothers and sisters of America," was well-received, and he went on to travel across America, spreading his teachings. He spoke about the spiritual benefits of yoga and meditation, presenting them as common resources for all human beings rather than exclusively Hindu practices.

Another important figure in the spread of Eastern religions in the West was the Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who brought transcendental meditation to the West in the 1960s. Mahesh Yogi gained a following among musicians and artists, including members of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Through his teachings, Mahesh Yogi popularized the idea of meditation as a path to improved health and well-being, with reported benefits such as anger management, lowered blood pressure, and reduced post-traumatic stress.

Since the 1960s, two main types of Hinduism have taken root in the United States. The first is the popularization of meditation and yoga, often taught by gurus from India. The second is "temple-Hinduism," brought by immigrants from India and the Caribbean, which involves the practice of rituals, processions, dances, and music in temples.

Overall, the influence of Eastern religions in the West has been significant, shaping spiritual and cultural practices and contributing to a more diverse and tolerant religious landscape.

The secularisation of meditation

Meditation has become mainstream in the West, and its religious roots have been watered down for Western practitioners. However, if you look beneath the surface, you will find religious remnants in the meditation scene. This includes the use of soft, delicate voices, Buddha statues, incense, and the pretence of spirituality.

Meditation has been secularised to appeal to those who are not religious. Secular meditation is a term used to describe modern mindfulness, detached from Buddhism or any other religion or tradition. It has its roots in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), an evidence-based practice developed by Professor of Medicine, Jon Kabat-Zinn, in 1979. Kabat-Zinn took the teachings of Buddhism and merged them with modern medicine to develop a secular approach to mindfulness meditation.

Kabat-Zinn describes mindfulness as:

> ...an attempt to appreciate the deep mystery of being alive and to acknowledge being vitally connected to all that exists... I like to think of mindfulness simply as the art of conscious living. You don't have to be a Buddhist or a yogi to practice it. In fact, if you know anything about Buddhism, you will know that the most important point is to be yourself and not try to become anything that you are not already."

Neuroscientist, author, and meditation advocate, Sam Harris, agrees that the core truths of Buddhism and the depths of mindfulness can be arrived at without subscribing to the religion. In his view, mindfulness meditation is entirely secular. He says:

> "There's going to come a time when we're no longer tempted to talk about Buddhist meditation as opposed to any other form. We're just talking about turning consciousness upon itself and what can be discovered by that process."

Meditation teacher, Rick Heller, leads the Humanist Mindfulness Group at the Humanist Community at Harvard. In his book, *Secular Meditation: 32 Practices for Cultivating Inner Peace, Compassion, and Joy*, he provides a guide to meditation for secular people. The book includes step-by-step instructions, personal stories, and provocative questions that teach empathy for others, stress reduction, and the kind of in-the-moment living that fosters appreciation for life and resilience in the face of adversity.

Meditation has become increasingly popular in American culture, with over 18 million Americans meditating and many more practising yoga. This secularisation of meditation has made it more accessible to a wider audience, who can now experience the benefits without buying into religious doctrine or rituals.

The medicalisation of meditation

Meditation has become increasingly popular in the United States, with over 18 million Americans practising it. The medicalisation of meditation refers to the way in which meditation has been reframed as a therapeutic practice with scientifically-backed health benefits. This reframing has contributed to its popularity and influence in American culture.

For example, bestselling self-help books and audio recordings on mindfulness meditation by authors such as Jon Kabat-Zinn have contributed to the medicalisation of meditation by presenting it as a form of do-it-yourself healing. This reframing has been aligned with three principal trends in medicalisation:

• An expansion of the definition of disease beyond that recognised by mainstream medicine: Mindfulness meditation has been promoted as a way to address a wide range of physical and mental health issues, including stress, pain, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and anger management.
• Intensification of the need for therapeutic surveillance and intervention: By defining healing as a never-ending process, mindfulness meditation encourages individuals to constantly monitor and work on themselves.
• Permanent location of individuals within a disease-therapy cycle: The reframing of meditation as a form of therapy encourages individuals to view themselves as perpetual patients in need of treatment.

Since then, meditation has become increasingly medicalised, with health professionals and practitioners extolling its benefits. It has been used to treat a range of physical and mental health issues, including cancer, chronic heart failure, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and rheumatoid arthritis. Research has found that meditation can help to alleviate symptoms and improve physical and mental well-being and quality of life.

In conclusion, the medicalisation of meditation has involved the reframing of meditation as a form of therapeutic practice with scientifically-backed health benefits. This reframing has contributed to the influence of meditation in American culture, as it has been increasingly integrated into mainstream health practices and promoted as a way to address a wide range of physical and mental health issues.

The commercialisation of meditation

The commodification of meditation can be traced back to the 1970s in America, when pioneers like Jon Kabat-Zinn and Alan Wallace popularised mindfulness and meditation while distancing these practices from their Buddhist roots. As a result, meditation became secularised and scientifically proven to be effective by psychologists and neuroscientists. This laid the foundation for a multi-billion-dollar industry. Today, meditation-based companies generate significant revenues, and the yoga and pilates industry in Australia alone is worth $1 billion.

In conclusion, while the commercialisation of meditation has made these practices more accessible to Western audiences, it has also led to a dilution of their substance and potential negative consequences for some users.

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