Traditions; East and West

By ZeroXer

There seems to be quite a stark contrast between meditation centers in the East, and those in the west. Of course the traditions that originated in the east and have moved westward, have to a great extent preserved their tradition, but those traditions that have originated in the West have some very interesting points of distinction.
In the East, the largest traditions which encourage the practice of meditation are Hinduism and Buddhism. Within these main traditions, there are many sub-sects, which have become particular to a certain region. For example Tibetan Buddhism varies quite a lot from Korean Zen, yet both fall under the broad category of Buddhist practice.
It will be interesting to explore the different styles of philosophy, practice, and meditation centers in the various geographical region.

Views on Meditation

By ZeroXer

Meditation is becoming a more frequently hear term these days. But what it refers to remains somewhat ambiguous. When something of such an esoteric nature reaches the mainstream of a consumer-based society such as ours, there is bound to be a great space for misrepresentation. The terminology surrounding the topic, such as Emptiness, Enlightenment, and Oneness, just doesn’t have a foundation in western culture. Nevertheless, some interesting interpretations of, and variations, on the concept of meditation have evolved. There is even an extensive array of technologies to assist in the practice that was once considered only properly undertaken solitarily in a remote location. In the following blog posts, we will be exploring the effect modern society has had on the practice of meditation and the advantages and disadvantages of combining it with modern scientific method.