Vedic
The oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism.
History & Origins
Vedic traditions date back to 1500–500 BCE in ancient India. The Vedas contain hymns, philosophy, and guidance on ritual for the priests of the Vedic religion.
This period gave rise to Mantra meditation—the repetition of sacred sounds (like 'Om') to steady the mind. It operates on the principle that sound vibration impacts the nervous system.
The Upanishads (later Vedic texts) moved focus from external ritual to internal self-inquiry, laying the groundwork for non-dualism (Advaita) and Transcendental Meditation.
Influence on Modern Mindfulness
Vedic traditions gave us Mantra meditation and Transcendental Meditation (TM). These techniques utilize sound to occupy the 'phonological loop' of the brain, silencing the default mode network's chatter.