In contemporary society, meditation is experiencing a notable boom, especially in Western regions (Ruz Comas, 2023). Since the 1960s, marked by the rise of the hippie movement that introduced and spread various techniques from Eastern spirituality in the context of a constantly changing and fast - paced globalized world, the philosophy and practice of meditation have been gaining an increasing number of followers. Now, as per Ruz Comas (2023), the essential question arises: what is the intrinsic origin of meditation?
Between Gods and Mantras: Meditation in the Vedas
From a historical perspective, the practice of meditation establishes a connection with India, dating back at least five thousand years, specifically linked to Hinduism (Fernandez, 2023). This connection is evident in ancient texts known as the Vedas, dating back to the second millennium BCE in the Indian subcontinent (Ruz Comas, 2023). These are religious texts conveying the contents of Hinduism, also known as "Sanatan Dharma," meaning "order" or "eternal path" (Mark, 2020). The term "veda" translates to "knowledge," as it is believed to contain knowledge related to the underlying cause, function, and response to existence (Mark, 2020). According to Fernandez (2023), the Vedas consist of four texts: the Rig - Veda, the oldest, with hymns for the gods; the Sāma-Veda, the book of chants and melodies; the Yajur - Veda, containing prose mantras for worshiping the gods, and the Atharva - Vorieda, the book with scriptures for daily life.
Within these texts, meditation functions as a guiding thread that allows for transcendence, increased self - awareness, and working on the mind - body connection (Fernandez, 2023). From this perspective, everything originates in the Unity (the Sanskrit ekam), which then diversifies into the "deceptive" plurality observed in the world (Ruz Comas, 2023). This concept of primordial unity, along with the cosmic order governing all (the rita), forms the basis of the Vedas and, consequently, Hinduism. In these ancient writings, not only is there a presentation of the world and the cosmos, but also stories of gods and goddesses (as Hinduism is polytheistic), as well as specific historical events. Together, the Vedas represent a cosmogony and a comprehensive spiritual vision (Ruz Comas, 2023). Despite the Vedas documenting meditative practices, Estrada (2019) mentions that it is crucial to recognize that they were initially transmitted orally over centuries through narrative practices.
Cosmic Consciousness: Vedas and Hindu Meditation
The Vedas, considered the oldest texts addressing the concept of meditation, present an intricate approach: becoming aware of the endless cycle that is existence (Ruz Comas, 2023). In Hinduism, a dynamic view of reality is posited, where everything undergoes constant movement. What sets this religion apart from others, such as Christianity, is its belief in the eternity of cosmic actions. According to Ruz Comas (2023), while Christianity follows a more linear line, marked by the beginning with creation and the eventual conclusion with the second coming of Christ, Hinduism adopts an approach where nothing stops, and everything moves in a constant and inexhaustible wheel of cosmic events.
This concept includes the belief in reincarnation (Ruz Comas, 2023). While Christianity upholds the uniqueness of the soul, to be judged in the afterlife after death, Hinduism, on the contrary, postulates that the human soul is immersed in a continuous cycle of reincarnation. Each life is perceived as a state of purification, carrying with it the accumulated karma from previous existences, i.e., the energy resulting from past actions. The next reincarnation will depend on how individuals behave in the current life and the karma they leave behind. In this sense, the original practice of Hindu meditation had the primary purpose of becoming aware of this endless cycle, often accompanied by practices such as fasting and abstinence. According to Ruz Comas (2023), the practice of meditation involved focusing the mind on a specific object and repeating the assigned mantra or sacred word.
Sacred Contemplation
Hindu meditation constituted a form of spiritual contemplation (Ruz Comas, 2023). In Vedic texts, specifically in dhyana, there are references that could be interpreted as "turning towards the mind." The purpose was to guide the mind towards the reality of the cosmos and delve into its workings. From this perspective, the distinction between this contemplation and the term "meditation" is highlighted. This term comes from the Latin meditatio, which can be understood as the act of thinking before undertaking an action. According to Ruz Comas (2023), the distinction is clear: while in the East, contemplation is spiritual, the Latin meditatio suggests a moderation of actions to adopt a prudent and reflective attitude.
Under Eastern influence, which left a profound mark on Christianity and Judaism (and later on Islam), in the early centuries of the era, the conception of meditation in Europe emerged as something intrinsically linked to the sacred and the connection with God (Ruz Comas, 2023). In this period, the first hermits who chose to retreat to the desert or mountains in complete solitude did so with the explicit purpose of engaging in meditation, understood in the most "Eastern" sense of the word. Similarly, the first monks and nuns, gathering in caves or small hermitages, dedicated their lives to contemplation, maintaining this same spiritual orientation. According to Ruz Comas (2023), it is noteworthy that the monastic movement originated in the easternmost part of Europe, in close contact with Eastern religions.
During the Middle Ages, meditation became fully associated with religion (Ruz Comas, 2023). Those who engaged in meditation directed their thoughts towards God and relied on sacred texts, whether the Bible, writings of various Church doctors, or even hagiographies or lives of saints. In correspondence with Ruz Comas (2023), it is observed that the medieval concept of meditation bears similarities to the practices developed in the East in the second millennium BCE.
A Journey from Antiquity to Modern Science
At the dawn of the contemporary world, this type of meditation experienced a decline in its popularity, possibly influenced by the radicalization of positivism and, above all, by the growth of societal capitalization (Ruz Comas, 2023). However, Ruz Comas (2023) mentions that in the 19th century, during the Romantic era, the concept of "contemplation" is found related to the connection between human beings and nature, in clear harmony with the ancient religious contemplation that sought to understand the workings of the cosmos.
It was not until the 20th century that meditation became more prominent, especially in the United States when Swami Vivekananda explained what meditation is at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago (Estrada, 2019). This presentation sparked a new interest in Eastern models of spirituality, influencing various spiritual teachers from India to migrate to the United States, including Swami Rama of the Himalayan Institute, Paramahansa Yogananda of the Self - Realization Fellowship, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi with his Transcendental Meditation practice. Alongside these teachers, spiritual representatives from various Buddhist schools also began to migrate, including individuals from the Zen school and the Theravada school. With their arrival in the West, Estrada (2019) notes that meditation gradually distanced itself from its religious connections and original teachings, adopting more Westernized forms.
In the 1960s and 1970s, significant scientific research was conducted on the practice of meditation, further stripping it of its spiritual contexts and encouraging its adoption by anyone interested (Estrada, 2019). One of the pioneers in this field was Herbert Benson, who led some of the earliest studies in the West aimed at exploring in - depth the effects of meditation on mental and physiological outcomes. According to Estrada (2019), Benson not only conducted groundbreaking research but also documented his findings in a book titled "The Relaxation Response" in 1975 and founded the Mind Body Medical Institute that same year.
By the late 1970s, Jon Kabat - Zinn discovered meditation during his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, investigating potential health benefits. In 1979, he introduced his mindfulness - based stress reduction program (MBSR) and simultaneously founded the Stress Reduction Clinic. During this time, in correspondence with Estrada (2019), Transcendental Meditation was also gaining popularity, with many celebrities turning to the practice to manage fame, including The Beatles.
During that period, many meditation techniques were linked to hippie culture and were not very mainstream (Estrada, 2019). It wasn't until the 1990s that this began to change. In 1993, Deepak Chopra released his book "Ageless Body, Timeless Mind," and in 1996, he appeared on Oprah, selling more than 137,000 copies in a single day. As more celebrities praised the practice of meditation in their lives, more books emerged on how and why to meditate. During the 1990s, mindfulness also gained applications. According to Estrada (2019), Williams, Teasdale, and Seagal (1995) expanded Jon Kabat - Zinn's program to be positively used with individuals suffering from depression and anxiety.
The Mindfulness - Based Cognitive Therapy approach merged mindfulness with cognitive - behavioral therapy, with excellent results (Estrada, 2019). The Mindfulness - Based Cognitive Therapy approach was endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK and is considered a treatment of choice for depression. By 2012, there were over 700 mindfulness - based programs worldwide, and Kabat - Zinn's original program was a major focus of meditation research. Today, research and medical science communities continue to explore the benefits of meditation, with studies demonstrating its positive effects on various conditions (Estrada, 2019). Furthermore, the benefits of regular practice, such as stress relief, anxiety reduction, and improved sleep, have been widely disseminated (Fernandez, 2023). According to Fernandez (2013), dedicating time to this practice is also considered a way to safeguard mental health and well - being.
References
Estrada, W. (2019, julio 30). ¿Qué es la Meditación? Conoce su Historia y su Origen. Gran Hermandad Blanca. https://hermandadblanca.org/que-es-la-meditacion-conoce-su-historia-y-su-origen-es-extraordinario/
Fernandez, A. M. (14 de julio de 2023). Definición de Meditación. Definicion.com. https://definicion.com/meditacion/
Mark, J.J. (2020). Los Vedas (D. Villa Caballero, Trad.). Enciclopedia de la Historia del Mundo. https://www.worldhistory.org/trans/es/1-11715/los-vedas/
Ruz Comas, S. (2023, abril 24). ¿Cuáles son los Orígenes de la Meditación? Psicología y Mente. https://psicologiaymente.com/meditacion/origenes-de-la-meditacion
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