Europe and the rest of the West offer programmes on physical/mental wellbeing primarily via medication and psychology.
Instead of relying upon the secularised West, our eyes can turn to the East for wise counsel on health, diet, wellbeing, spirituality and awakening.
Conventional treatment in the West contributes to the reduction of suffering. To a degree.
Commercialisation/consumerism can cast its shadow anywhere over wellbeing, secular, spiritual and religious.
The number of people in the West and East taking an active interest in wellbeing and spirituality continues to grow year by year.
Photo. Bodh Gaya, India. A sacred tree.
Asia has a long 3000-year-old tradition of engagement with organic, healthy medicine, holistic practices for total wellbeing and inner transformation.
The East offers a diversity of approaches to wellbeing – China, Japan, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Indonesia and elsewhere.
The West often offers a sense of the spiritual through the arts, nature and religion.
Much of the content below you can find in the West if you keep your eyes open.
What the East offers
- Buddhist tradition. The Budda, Vipassana, Insight Meditation, Mindfulness, Zen, Tibetan Mahayana, ancient texts sutras/suttas) ethics, right livelihood, comprehensive details of the path and goal,
- Yoga. Hatha Yoga (postures, movement), Karma Yoga (service), Bhakti Yoga (devotion) Jnana Yoga (knowledge), Raja Yoga (meditation). Tantric Yoga – to develop and understand energies from the spiritual to the sensual. Yoga is not an end in itself but a path to enlightenment. Yoga means to be joined to –ultimately joined to an enlightened life.
- Islam. Daily prayer, hospitality, community, pilgrimage with a focus on Allah, the transcendent principle.
- Hinduism. Diversity of religious and spiritual practices, employing forms and formless meeting a wide range of needs.
- Medicine and Healing. Ayurveda medicine, herbal treatments, ashwagandha, Reiki, Tibetan medicine, acupuncture, acupressure, traditional Chinese therapy (TCM) – all to support healing, immune system and a depth of wellbeing.
- Diet. Vegan/vegetarian/dietary changes. For health and out of compassion for animals, birds and fish. A wise diet treats diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, indulgent eating, reduction of UPF (ultra processed food).
- Martial Arts. Kung Fu, Karate, Taekwondo for self-defence, endurance, balance, strength and co-ordination of movement. Wrestling/Ju-Jitsu – non-violent engagement requiring skill and strength.
- Preventative and Supportive Care. Movement of body, posture, outdoors, breathing exercises, minerals, lifestyle management, develop immunity, Japanese Head Spa, floating sound bath (Tibetan gongs), Ayurveda massage.
- Mental Health. Develop mindfulness/meditation practices, friendships, community (sangha), religious practices, explore dynamics of mind-body-consciousness.
- Dana. Donations. Gifts, practice of generosity, offerings, expressions of love and gratitude. Dana includes skills, money, time, service.
- Yatra. Pilgrimage. With or without a destination. Alone or with others. To experience intimacy with nature and the divine principle. To go beyond obsessing about oneself.
- Monasteries, Ashrams. For retreats, teachings, practices, sharing and more. Learn about non-violent/non-exploitation, non-comsumerism for the welfare of people, creatures and the natural world.
- Spiritual symbols. Yin-Yang. Inter-connectedness of light-dark, male-female and much more. OM – sound of the Cosmos. Mandala -sacred geometric designs, sometimes to create and dissolve. Om Mani Padme Hung. A Tibetan mantra for calm and to deepen the mind.
- Qigong and Tai Chi. Spiritual practices to develop and balance energy and focus the mind.
- The Dao (Taoism). To harmonise with the Dao for living intimately with nature and the cosmos.
- Karma. Actions have consequences.
- Ancestral Devotion/Reflection. View that our relatives in the recent and distant past influence living generation of family members.
- Sacred in Nature. Mount Kailash, Mount Fuji, Himalayas, River Ganges, Yangtze River, Forests. Rainforests, Caves, Bodhi Tree, Banyan Tree.
- Sacred Creatures. Cows (motherhood and non-violence), tigers (independence, fearlessness), Cobra – authority and self-protection, Elephant – stability and kindly power, Cranes – peace and freedom. Peacock – Transcendent beauty. Turtle – longevity and wisdom. Monkey – selfless dedication.
- Sacred texts. Discourses of the Buddha, Bhavagad Gita, the Koran, Tao te Ching, Zen texts, Diamond Sutra, Ramayana, Sufi poetry.
- Sacred Places. Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Jerusalem, Mecca, Sukhothai, Angkor Wat, Borobudur, religious Bali, Kandy, Rishikesh, Tiruvannamalai.
- Sacred Plants. Lotus. Symbol of transcendence – rises above muddy waters. Bodhi Tree/Peepal Tree – tree of enlightenment. Banyan Tree – the great expanse of roots and branch, home for the Gods. Tulsi plant (known as holy basil – health and happiness. Pine tree – longevity. Sandalwood – fragrance to purify the being and connect to the divine. Neem tree – for its medicinal properties, cleansing. Bamboo – for flexibility and strength.
- Religious Ceremonies. Nature, creatures and plants have an integral role in many religious gatherings, rituals and festivals in the East.
- Ultimate Principle. Truth, Unconditioned. Immeasurable, Nirvana, God, Siva, Krishna, Advaita (Non-duality), Allah, Dao, the Gods, Deathless, Enlightenment, Eternal.
Eight Questions
- Do you feel the West seems contracted to a narrow view of life?
- Do you feel our scientific and secular institutions resist other ways of looking at life?
- Do you trust your experience rather than depend on ‘scientific evidence’?
- Would you consider turning your eyes to the East to explore an alternative world view?
- Can you embrace the best of the East and the best of the West?
- Can you explore your inner life and the world around you?
- Would you check out a Wellbeing Centre in your area?
- Would you embark on or develop further and deepen a search for what matters?
May all beings be open to learning
May all beings know a depth of experience
May all beings live with love and a liberated wisdom.