Meditation predates Buddhism and has been practiced in various forms across many cultures and civilizations for thousands of years.. Meditation has been practiced in different forms across various cultures and civilizations, predating the establishment of Buddhism by several centuries. It was practiced by philosophers, thinkers, sages, saints, seekers, and shamans.
It is believed that the earliest evidence of meditation can be traced back to ancient civilizations such as the Indus Valley Civilization in India, and ancient China along with ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, Persia, Africa, and the Americas.
Evidence of meditation practices can be traced back to at least 1500 BCE. This evidence includes descriptions of meditation practices in the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures, as well as evidence of meditation practices in the lives of early sages and saints.
In India, the Upanishads, which were written between 800 and 500 BCE, contain references to meditation as a means of gaining self-knowledge and liberation. The Upanishads describe meditation as a way to still the mind and attain a state of consciousness beyond thought.
Ancient Chinese texts, such as the Tao Te Ching, also contain references to meditation practices. The Tao Te Ching, written around the 6th century BCE, describes meditation as a way to cultivate inner peace and understanding of the natural order. This tradition was deeply influenced by the ancient Chinese philosophical tradition of Taoism, which emphasized the importance of stillness, emptiness, and the pursuit of inner peace and wisdom.
Egyptian civilization also had a form of meditation, called Maat Meditation, which was used to cultivate inner peace and wisdom. Maat Meditation was a form of self-reflection and introspection, and was practiced by both pharaohs and common people.
In ancient Greece, meditation was a part of “eudaimonia,” which was the goal of philosophical inquiry and was considered to be the highest form of happiness and well-being. Meditation practices were widely practiced, particularly among the Stoic philosophers. The Stoics believed that meditation was a way to cultivate inner peace, wisdom, and mental clarity, and that it was essential for living a virtuous life. The Greek philosopher, Socrates, is known to have practiced meditation and encouraged his students to do the same.
In the Persian Empire, meditation was practiced in Zoroastrianism and was used to cultivate inner peace and wisdom. Zoroastrianism emphasized the importance of meditation as a means of attaining self-awareness and enlightenment.
The practice of meditation also existed in ancient Africa, in the form of trance states and rituals. African shamanic practices involved inducing altered states of consciousness through drumming, dancing, and other forms of physical movement, which were considered a form of meditation.
In pre-Columbian America, indigenous cultures also had their own forms of meditation and spirituality. The Aztecs and Mayans practiced various forms of meditation and ritual that involved communing with the natural world and the spirits of the ancestors.
Oldest Known Practice in History
The oldest practice among the ones listed is likely Jñāna Yoga (Path of Knowledge) from Advaita Vedanta in Hinduism. It is deeply rooted in the Upanishads (ancient Indian spiritual texts), which date back to around 800-400 BCE. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Chandogya Upanishad contain the earliest philosophical inquiries into the self, reality, and consciousness, and they provide the foundation for Jñāna Yoga’s practice of self-inquiry.
Following closely are early Buddhist meditation practices like Vipassana, which date back to the time of the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (around the 6th-5th century BCE). These practices, especially the mindfulness and insight techniques described in the Satipatthana Sutta, formed the basis of much later Buddhist contemplative practices, including Shikantaza and Dzogchen.
The oldest, most likely practiced form of meditation is concentration-based trance meditation, associated with shamanic traditions. These practices may have originated tens of thousands of years ago, well before written history, and would have been the foundation for many later meditative practices seen in the world’s major spiritual traditions.
Beyond mindfulness, Christian Contemplative Prayer has historically had a vast following in the Western world, especially during the Middle Ages when monastic traditions practiced silent communion with God. In modern times, it has seen a resurgence in the form of Centering Prayer, which is practiced by many Christians.
Despite the long history of meditation practices, it is widely accepted that the development of Buddhism was a turning point in the history of meditation. Buddhism, which originated in India in the 5th century BCE, made meditation a central part of its teachings, and it is widely considered to be one of the most systematic and comprehensive traditions of meditation in the world.
Academically, these are considered some of the oldest “being consciousness” meditations:
1. Taoist Zuowang (Sitting in Forgetfulness)
- Origin: Taoism
- Historical Context: Zuowang is rooted in early Taoist practices and philosophy, which date back to around the 4th-3rd century BCE. Taoist meditation practices were influenced by the teachings of early Taoist philosophers such as Laozi and Zhuangzi.
- Ancient Texts: The concept of zuowang is reflected in texts like the “Zhuangzi” (4th century BCE), which discusses practices related to stillness and naturalness, and emphasizes a return to a state of effortless awareness.
- Significance: Zuowang is a reflection of early Taoist practices that focus on merging with the natural flow of the Tao and achieving a state of pure awareness. It represents some of the earliest known forms of meditation within Taoist tradition.
2. Self-Inquiry Meditation (Atma Vichara)
- Origin: Advaita Vedanta (Hinduism)
- Historical Context: Self-Inquiry or Atma Vichara is an ancient practice that has roots in the Upanishads, which date back to around 800-400 BCE. The Upanishads are foundational texts in Hindu philosophy that explore the nature of self and consciousness.
- Ancient Texts: The Upanishads, such as the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad and Chandogya Upanishad, contain early teachings on self-inquiry and the nature of consciousness.
- Significance: Self-Inquiry is one of the oldest known practices focused on realizing the true nature of the self as pure consciousness. It has a long tradition in Indian philosophy and continues to be a central practice in Advaita Vedanta.
Another question
Meditation is a Consciousness practice. The question here could be: When did humans start to realize themselves as consciousness and experience themselves as consciousness rather than as a body or a mammal? Naturally, the answers here will differ depending on each person’s beliefs, faith, programming, views on reality, etc.
No one owns, and no religion or group should claim ownership over the practice of consciousness and awareness. Read my other pages explaining what meditation is, and some of the various types of meditation out there. Note their similarities (and the lowest common denominator) and differences.
—
I wrote another article which helps you read the most common definitions of meditation (click here to read it)
Make sure to read this article which offers you a simple definition and the one that I use in my practice when I explain what meditation is.
Also, make sure to visit the list here which will help you learn about various types of meditation, from simple concentration, to Buddhist, Christian, and others including hypnosis.
References:
Alter, J. S. (2004). Yoga in modern India: The body between science and philosophy. Princeton University Press.
Athalye, M. V. (2006). Meditation in Hinduism. Chugh Publications.
Blyth, R. H. (2004). Zen and Zen classics. World Wisdom, Inc.
Boyce, M. (2001). Zoroastrians: their religious beliefs and practices. Psychology Press.
Chang, C. C. (1963). The practice of Zen. Harper & Row.
Chittick, W. C. (1999). The Tao of Islam: a sourcebook on gender relationships in Islamic thought. SUNY Press.
Deussen, P. (2006). The philosophy of the Upanishads. Cosimo, Inc.
Evans-Pritchard, E. E. (1940). The Nuer: a description of the modes of livelihood and political institutions of a Nilotic people. Clarendon Press.
Foltz, R. C. (2015). Buddhism and Jainism in India. Routledge.
Freke, T., & Gandy, P. (2001). The Jesus mysteries: was the “original Jesus” a pagan god?. Three Rivers Press.
Hoh, J. (1999). Taoist meditation and longevity techniques. University of Michigan Press.
Jones, R. H. (2010). The development of early Taoist meditation. In Daoism and ecology (pp. 37-60). Harvard University Press.
Loy, D. R. (1992). Nonduality: A study in comparative philosophy. Yale University Press.
Lao Tzu. (1997). Tao Te Ching. Translated by Stephen Mitchell. New York: HarperCollins.
Mehta, H. D. (2008). Meditation: An ancient practice for modern times. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Nagao, G. (1991). Madhyamika and Yogacara. SUNY Press.
O’Fahey, R. S. (2003). The religion and rituals of the Sanusi brotherhood. Journal of Religion in Africa, 33(4), 369-386.
Samuel, G. (1993). Mind, Meditation, and Consciousness. In Routledge.
Walshe, M. (1987). The long discourses of the Buddha: A translation of the Digha Nikaya. Wisdom Publications.