East Meets West

Meditation and mindfulness have become household words in the last few decades, but have you ever wondered where these traditions came from, and how they got to the western world? Author John Adago has done a beautiful job of capturing the stories of many of the men and women who took part in the search for wisdom and esoteric knowledge that ultimately brought meditation and mindfulness from the East to the West. Mr. Adago had personal experiences with many of them on his own spiritual journey, which has enabled him to give the reader a richer experience as they read East Meets West. During the last century seekers in the West turned to the East in search for hidden truth and esoteric knowledge. They sought a deeper understanding of the aim and purpose of life, the essential nature of men and women, and the laws that govern our lives. In the aftermath of World War II, master teachers in India resolved to introduce Eastern philosophy and meditation to the West. Among these Eastern teachers were the Shankaracharya of Northern India, the Maharishi, who taught Transcendental Meditation, and Swami Muktananda. Among the Western seekers and teachers were Gurdjieff, Ouspensky, Willem Nyland, Dr. Francis Roles and Leon MacLaren. Together they built a bridge between two cultures and brought the closely guarded knowledge and traditions of the East to the West. The stories of their lives, their interaction, their philosophy, and their 'Work' are inspirational and instructive. For those who meditate, those who study Eastern philosophy, and those engaged in the Work of realizing our highest potential, this history is our heritage. It is the untold story of the twentieth century, the story of East meeting West.