EL29 Mindfulness Meditation
Lecture 1.3: Meditation in the
eastern religions
Remember!
Quick quiz to consolidate your
Busy Brain –memory!
awake & alert
Beta:
Alpha: Almost
Asleep
resting
What states
do –
these
brain wave
represent?
Theta: They’re asleep
or meditating
Delta: Deep
Sleep – also know as
Ok to chat with your neighbors
slow wave sleep
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General format of classes
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Part 1: Lecture on a given topic (30 min)
Part 2: Hand’s-on practice of a meditation
style (15 min) – Deep Breathing
•  Brief instruction
•  Class practice
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Part 3: Time to write some reflections on
what you experienced (5 min)
Part 4: Sharing & group discussion (20 min)
Lecture Overview
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Topics:
• Meditation
• Meditation
• Meditation
• Meditation
in
in
in
in
Hinduism
Sikhism
Confucianism
Taoism
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Key Learnings:
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Key Learning #1:. Hinduism – meditation in Hinduism has
a long tradition among sadhus/yogis, and these men
(mostly) are highly revered by the public. However,
meditation is not widely practiced by average devotees.
Key Learning: #2: Sikhism – meditation in Sikhism
borrowed much from Hindu yoga practices, but again is
not widely practiced except by the more serious.
Key Learning #3: : Confucianism – Meditation was not a
key component until development of Neo-Confucianism
(8th Century). Its more about social harmony.
Key Learning #4: Taoism – meditation methods borrowed
heavily from Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Tai Chi as the
most familiar movement meditation.
Key Learnings:
! 
! 
! 
! 
Key Learning #1:. Hinduism – meditation in Hinduism has
a long tradition among sadhus/yogis, and these men
(mostly) are highly revered by the public. However,
meditation is not widely practiced by average devotees.
Key Learning: #2: Sikhism – meditation in Sikhism
borrowed much from Hindu yoga practices, but again is
not widely practiced except by the more serious.
Key Learning #3: : Confucianism – Meditation was not a
key component until development of Neo-Confucianism
(8th Century). Its more about social harmony.
Key Learning #4: Taoism – meditation methods borrowed
heavily from Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Tai Chi as the
most familiar movement meditation.
3
Common evolutionary roots of the
desert or Abrahamic religions
Eastern Religions
https://www.targetprocess.com/blog/2014/02/42-timelines-is-the-answer/
Indian Social Structure
temple priests
Rulers & warriors
Merchants & farmer
Unskilled labor classes
Indigenous people
Hindu Caste System
During Muslim Occupation
http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Sites/Web/int_india/culture/applets/show_tell634_text.htm
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Indian Social Structure
During British Occupation
Post 1947
Lord Shiva is the god
Rama
Brahman
Ganesh
Brahma
Ultimate reality, final
cause of all existence,
Shakti is the god
cosmic principle, beingconsciousness-bliss
Choice of Diety is left to the
devotee:Siva, Ganesha,
Kumara, Vishnu, Sakti
Lakshmi
Lord Vishnu
is the god
Yogis
Krishna
Sadhus
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Mysticism path of Hinduism:
Yogis and Sadhus
Yoga
!  Yogis practice Yoga
(including
meditation), but all
are not necessarily
Sadhus.
!  Strive to know
Brahman directly
Sadhus
!  Sadhus are a sect
who strive to know
Brahman directly.
!  Most Sadhus practice
yoga and live an
ascetic life of
renunciation.
Yoga Practices
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“Yoga” Defin: To yoke, to
join, to bring the mind,
body and spirit/breath
together in a harmonious
state
Yoga as a physical,
mental, & spiritual
meditational practice –
started around 3rd B.C.E.
Hindu & Buddhist
traditions.
http://www.swamij.com/stepsmeditation.htm
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Goal: “Moksha” liberation from endless
lifetimes of suffering, merging of the
individual self with Brahman.
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Five Jhana
Concentration Stages
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
Bringing the mind to the object
(arousing, applying)
Keeping the mind with the object
(sustaining stretching,
visualization)
Finding and having interest in
the object (Joy)
Being happy and content with
the object (Happiness)
Unifying the mind with the object
(fixing, one-pointedness)
Quick check:
How much can you recall so far?
Which of the following is
NOT true about Yogis?
a)  Trying to merge
individual self with
Brahman.
b)  Focused solely on
developing contorting
body postures
c)  Recognize 5 Jhana
concentration stages
d)  Live very simple lives
! 
Which of the
following is NOT a
Hindu god?
a)  Brahman
b)  Krishna
c)  Shiva
d)  Ramata
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Key Learnings:
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Key Learning #1:. Hinduism – meditation in Hinduism has
a long tradition among sadhus/yogis, and these men
(mostly) are highly revered by the public. However,
meditation is not widely practiced by average devotees.
Key Learning: #2: Sikhism – meditation in Sikhism
borrowed much from Hindu yoga practices, but again is
not widely practiced except by the more serious.
Key Learning #3: : Confucianism – Meditation was not a
key component until development of Neo-Confucianism
(8th Century). Its more about social harmony.
Key Learning #4: Taoism – meditation methods borrowed
heavily from Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Tai Chi as the
most familiar movement meditation.
Founding of Sikhism
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Founder of Sikhism, Guru
Nanak
Born in 1469 C.E., Punjab.
An attempt to heal fighting
between Hindus and
Muslims
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Philosophy and Beliefs
There is only One God. He is the same God for all people of all
religions (Monotheism)
The soul goes through cycles of births and deaths before it
reaches the human form. The goal of our life is to lead an
exemplary existence so that one may merge with God. Sikhs
should remember God at all times and practice living a virtuous
and truthful life while maintaining a balance between their
spiritual obligations and temporal obligations.
The true path to achieving salvation and merging with God
does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but
living the life of a householder, earning a honest living and
avoiding worldly temptations and sins.
Sikhism condemns blind rituals such as fasting, visiting places
of pilgrimage, superstitions, worship of the dead, idol worship
etc.
Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or
sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality
of men and women. Women can participate in any religious
function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the
congregation in prayer.
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Basic Tenets of Sikhism
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Kirat karna -- To live an honest life, to
be fair in all personal and
professional dealings, to earn an
honest living
Naam japna -- To meditate on the
Name of God
Vand chakna -- To share wealth and
do charitable work (seva)
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Sikhism: Meditation – 4 steps
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
Preparatory work – yoga, pranayama breathing,
sitting straight.
Fix your attention on the mantra and the breath.
Allow yourself to concentrate, "Dhyana." You must
relax, let go and allow yourself to be drawn into
the sound of the mantra and the rhythm of the
breath
Lastly comes the stage of "Samadhi." In this
stage of meditation you lose all track of time and
space and become completely absorbed in your
meditation. The breath becomes naturally very
slow and deep and the thoughts of the mind fall
away into the "background" while the mantra
seems to go on all by itself, enchantingly beautiful
Quick check:
How much can you recall so far?
! 
Which of the following is TRUE about
Sikhism?
a)  Is polytheistic
b)  Meditation on the name of God
c)  Originated in China around the 4th century BCE
d)  Support rituals such as idol worshiping
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Key Learnings:
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! 
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! 
Key Learning #1:. Hinduism – meditation in Hinduism has
a long tradition among sadhus/yogis, and these men
(mostly) are highly revered by the public. However,
meditation is not widely practiced by average devotees.
Key Learning: #2: Sikhism – meditation in Sikhism
borrowed much from Hindu yoga practices, but again is
not widely practiced except by the more serious.
Key Learning #3: : Confucianism – Meditation was not a
key component until development of Neo-Confucianism
(8th Century). Its more about social harmony.
Key Learning #4: Taoism – meditation methods borrowed
heavily from Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Tai Chi as the
most familiar movement meditation.
The Founder: Confucius
551 BCE- 479 BCE
•  Born in Lu, China
•  Good manners + virtue = control of
oneself
•  Taught society to take responsibility
for their actions
•  Golden Rule: “do not do to others
what you would not want to have
done to you.”
•  Developed at about the same time
as Buddhism did in India.
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Place of Origin
•  Confucianism was originated
in East Asia & extended
from countries such as
China, Korea, Japan, and
even Vietnam
•  Similar philosophies as
Taoism.
•  Confucius teaches the 'Way
of Heaven"
•  Gives moral/religious
practice
•  People misunderstand this
religion because of the
combination of religion and
philosophy
The 5 Relationships
•  Father/son
•  Ruler/citizen
•  Husband/wife
•  Older brother/younger
brother
•  Friend/friend
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6 Key Values
•  Li: includes ritual,
propriety, etiquette, etc.
•  Hsiao: love within the
family:
•  Yi: righteousness
•  Xin: honesty and
trustworthiness
•  Ren: benevolence,
humaneness towards
others; the highest
Confucian virtue
•  Chung: loyalty to the
state, etc.
Confucian Meditation
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Meditation was not a key component until development of
Neo-Confucianism (8th Century)
Jing Zuo or Quiet sitting meditation developed.
•  a form of spiritual self-cultivation that helps a person
achieve a more fulfilling life
Qigong Meditation is when 'one sits still and frees their own
character in order to get in touch with their true or real
self’.
Qigong "is a process of training the mind, body, and spirit
with the aim of guiding ones thoughts so that they can
prepare for further development. It aims to internalize and
calm the energy (qi) and to calm the mind, body and
spirit”.
Another component is to desire and "reach a peaceful state
so that one can become a thoughtful person to themselves
and others” around them through practicing qigong.
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Quick Group Discussion
Do you think that the current
Chinese government would be
supportive of Confucianism?
Key Learnings:
! 
! 
! 
! 
Key Learning #1:. Hinduism – meditation in Hinduism has
a long tradition among sadhus/yogis, and these men
(mostly) are highly revered by the public. However,
meditation is not widely practiced by average devotees.
Key Learning: #2: Sikhism – meditation in Sikhism
borrowed much from Hindu yoga practices, but again is
not widely practiced except by the more serious.
Key Learning #3: : Confucianism – Meditation was not a
key component until development of Neo-Confucianism
(8th Century). Its more about social harmony.
Key Learning #4: Taoism – meditation methods borrowed
heavily from Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Tai Chi as the
most familiar movement meditation.
15
Taoism: Lao Tzu
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The origins are ancient,
dating back to the time of
Confucius: 551-479 BCE.
Taoism’s beginnings are
shrouded in mystery.
It is not certain whether
the founder of Taoism,
Lao Tzu, ever actually
existed.
There are accounts,
however legendary, about
Lao Tzu
Pantheistic in nature
The Tao Te Ching
•  Authored by Lao Tzu, it is
Taoism’s foundational text.
•  It is 81 short chapters,
dating back to the 3rd.
century, b.c.e.
•  It contains many paradoxes
and profound teachings on
living in harmony with
nature.
•  Those who know do not
speak; Those who speak
do not know.
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Virtues in Taoism
•  Wu-wei = primary virtue and means “nonaction.” To practice wu-wei is to be so
perfectly in harmony with nature that its
energy infuses and empowers the
individual.
•  Humility and noncompetition
•  Naturalness and naturalism
•  Nonaggression and passive rule
The Philosophy of Tao
•  Tao is both the ultimate source and principle of
order in the universe.
•  Tao has two components, yin and yang.
•  Taoism regards moral values as relative and avoids
absolute moral judgments.
•  Taoism literature says nothing about the afterlife
and depicts death as one of nature’s
transformations from one state to another.
•  Humans are part of the grand harmony of nature
and to live in accord with the Tao is the only way to
thrive.
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Yin and Yang
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Describes how opposite or
contrary forces are actually
complementary,
interconnected and
interdependent in the natural
world.
Also, how they give rise to
each other as they interrelate
to one another. Examples:
•  Illness is the doorway to health.
•  Tragedy turns to comedy.
•  Disasters turn out to be
blessings.
•  When one door closes, another
one opens.
Traits of Yin and Yang
Yin
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Negative
Passive
Feminine
Earthly
Yang
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Positive
Active
Masculine
Heavenly
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Qi
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Qi (or Chi) is literally translated as
“breath,” or “air”
It is the life energy present in all living
things.
The martial art of Tai Chi is designed to
aid the flow of Qi throughout the body.
Taoism: Symbols & Images
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The three sages are Buddha,
Confucius and Lao-Tzu. They
represent money, power and
talent.
The sacred tortoise with pukua
on its back is the symbol of
wisdom and divinatory power.
Kua is a hexagram formed of six
continuous or discontinuous
lines.
The I-ching coin is one of the
symbol of Taoism, which three
coins are used to consult the
oracle
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Taoist/Daosist Meditation
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Historically interrelated to Hindu & Buddhist meditation –
cross fertilization of ideas.
The chief characteristic of this type of meditation is the
generation, transformation, and circulation of inner energy.
The purpose is to quiet the body and mind, unify body and
spirit, find inner peace, and harmonize with the Tao.
Some styles of Taoist Meditation are specifically focused on
improving health and giving longevity.
Four basic types: concentration, mindfulness breathing,
contemplation, and visualization.
Probably influenced by Buddhism
GOALS OF MEDITATION
Each believer's goal is to harmonize themselves
with the Tao.
What is the Tao?
"Te" or "The Way" is what the Taoists
follow. They seldom refer to a God
therefore there is no prayer. The Te
Surrounds everyone and therefore
everyone must listen to find
enlightenment.
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Meditation
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Tai Chi Chuan
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Taoist Tai Chi® arts are
founded upon a rich tradition
of Taoist & martial arts
training.
They are intended to return
both body and mind to their
original nature.
According to Taoist teachings
body and mind cannot be
separated.
Each step in the training is
intended to help the mind
return to stillness, clarity and
wisdom, and the body to a
balanced, relaxed and healthy
state
A form of movement meditation
Part 2: Hand’s on practice:
Deep Breathing….
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