The third phase is occurring
today as part of one of the most important spiritual movements of
modern times, the expansion of Eastern meditational teachings
throughout the world. It also shows a combination of Hinduism and
Buddhism, as well as aspects of Taoism or all the main Himalayan
spiritual traditions. This phase began with the dissemination of
Hindu teachings to the West through the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries.
Vedantic influences reached
many Western thinkers including Goethe, Schopenhauer, Emerson, and
Thoreau through various translations of the Upanishads and Bhagavad
Gita. This phase started in earnest with Vivekananda's trip to the
West in 1893. There are now various Yoga, Vedantic, Vedic, Tantric
and Buddhist centers in most countries and most major cities of the
world.
Along with it has been
a modern migration of Hindus to different countries with significant
Hindu populations in Canada, USA, the Caribbean, South America,
Africa, and Europe. This movement is likely to last for many
centuries to come. It will help create a global spiritual tradition,
though this may take decades or centuries to accomplish.
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