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Meditation, nearly as old as humankind, has been part of Eastern religions.
Now the West is rediscovering it's own meditative past.
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PREHISTORY
Shamanic Tradition
No one knows precisely when meditation began, experts think it could have been practised by hunter-gatherers many thousands of years ago. Like other mystical practices, it might have been reserved for tribal shamans, who were believed to be in direct touch with the invisible world of spirit. |
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2000-3000 B.C.
Vedic Tradition
Meditation is described in anciant Hindu texts; it has been a part of Hinduism and it's many off shoots ever since. |
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588 B.C.
Buddha
After meditating undaer a banyan tree for 21 days, Prince Siddhartha Guatama achieved enlightenment; Buddhism in it's many forms would be the ultimate result. |
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2ND CENTURY A.D.
Christian Meditation
A group of early Christian monks known as the Desert Fathers retreated from the world to live in simplicity. They used meditation to to get closer to God-- and for more than 1,000 years afterward, meditation would become an increasingly important part of Christian practice. |
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CIRCA 1000 A.D.
Cabalistic (Jewish) Meditation
It's practitioners believe that the Jewish mystical tradition of Cabalism was codified in Europe only about 1,000 years ago. Meditation was one way for Cabalists to commune with God. |
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1000
Muslim Meditation
Around the same time some Jews were embracing mysticism certain Muslims were doing the same. A Muslim sect known as Sufis (named after the plain woolen garments, called Suf, that they wore) incorporated meditation into their daily rituals of worship. |
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EARLY 1500S
Martin Luther
Completely dis-approved of mysticism and preferred a plain reading of scripture to any kind of incantation. In responce to the Reformation he inspired, the Roman Catholic church suppressed the influence of monks who taught meditation. |
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1550
St. Theresa
 Even as Luthers influence was spreading, St Teresa, this Spanish Carmelite nun championed meditation and other mystical practices, in a last gasp of Christian meditation for centuries to come. |
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1967
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Promoting his own method of teaching meditation, this Eastern Indian guru, won the hearts of the Beatles as converts and thus began a resurgence of meditation flourishing in the Western world today. |
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2000 ONWARDS
The West Embraces Meditation
Meditation is offered in schools, hospitals, law firms, government buildings, corporate offices and prisons. There are specially marked meditation rooms in airports alongside the prayer chapels and internet kiosks. |
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LAWYERS
Federal Trade Commission attorneys take a break to meditate on the lawn in Washington USA. |
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PRISONERS
The Insight Prison project teaches a class at San Quinten called Mindfullness Meditation: Cultivating the ability to make conscious choices. |
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STUDENTS
Detroit USA high school students meditate daily. |
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photos kindly supplied by Henry Grossman-Time Life Pictures/Getty images |
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