Eastern Spirituality

Eastern Spirituality observes spiritual practices with Eastern roots. Learn more about topics like Feng Shui, Tai Chi, Taoism or reincarnation.

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Located on Mount Fanjing in China, the Temple of the Buddha and Maitreya Temple sit impossibly atop a spindly rock formation, more than 7,600 feet (2,336 meters) above sea level.

ByCarrie Whitney, Ph.D.

A koan is a riddle or puzzle that Zen Buddhists use during meditation to help them unravel greater truths. We look at some examples to see how these enigmatic sayings work.

ByDave Roos

You've probably seen Tibetan prayer flags fluttering in the breeze, but what do they symbolize and who should hang them?

ByTara Yarlagadda

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Buddhist nuns and female scholars are gaining new leadership roles, in a tradition that began with the ordination of Buddha's foster mother.

ByJue Liang

The roots of the Taliban's religious beliefs – Deobandi Islam – can be traced to 19th century colonial India.

BySohel Rana&Sumit Ganguly

Sharia, which is Islamic law, can strike some people in the West as draconian and harsh. Is this an accurate portrayal?

ByDave Roos

它是地球上最大的宗教之一,但点燃tle-known in the West, where its practitioners are often mistaken for Muslims or Hindus. What else should we know about the Sikh faith?

ByDave Roos

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Lao-tzu was the legendary Taoist philosopher whose words sound profoundly modern. They help us maintain a sense of harmony in an often-chaotic world. Here are five of his sayings to ponder.

ByDave Roos

Nonviolence is central to the core of Jainism, as everything has a soul – animals, flowers and even bacteria, as well as people. How do Jainists practice this in daily life?

ByDave Roos

By the time Richard Alpert died in 2019, he was better known as Baba Ram Dass and had become a spiritual teacher, psychedelic research pioneer, best-selling author and New Age guru to millions of followers.

ByMichelle Konstantinovsky

Born in 1207 as Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, the Sufi mystic and Persian poet wrote a staggering amount of verse, and is still beloved and widely influential to this day.

ByMichelle Konstantinovsky

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Are Hindus polytheistic? Do they worship cows? And how does yoga fit into this religion? We answer some of the most-asked questions around Hinduism.

ByDave Roos

The practice of shamanism has mystical and spiritual connotations, but it's not tied to any specific religion or creed. So, what exactly is shamanism?

ByMichelle Konstantinovsky

The intricate, circular design of the mandala is used in many religions and cultures to symbolically represent the cosmos and the organizational structure of life itself.

ByMichelle Konstantinovsky

What's the point of meditation? Are all Buddhists vegetarians and pacifists? What do we misunderstand about Karma? Find out more about Buddhism in our article.

ByDave Roos

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That plump statue of a 'Laughing Buddha,' often seen in Chinese restaurants, has little to do with the ascetic founder of Buddhism. So how did the two get conflated?

ByDave Roos

Although Muslim-majority countries are often in the news, many people don't know that much about Islam. Here, we answer some often-asked questions about the world's second-largest religion.

ByDave Roos

Imaginary friends have nothing on tulpas. These are "entities" people believe will to life in their minds — complete with feelings, thoughts and experiences.

ByDiana Brown

瑜伽是大企业在美国,和它的弯曲d twists go by names like downward-facing dog, pigeon or camel while attracting practitioners from all walks of life. But what are the breathing exercises, meditation and poses of yoga all about?

ByMolly Edmonds

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Religious worship can serious and somber, but it can also be joyous and celebratory -- in the correct context, of course. Here are 10 deities, like that infamous Dionysus, who command their followers to party.

ByJosh Clark

In the 1960s, the Beatles joined Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in his Himalayan ashram. Their interest in meditation undoubtedly influenced their music. But are they responsible for introducing yoga to the West?

ByJanel Chatraw

The Dalai Lama is known for his compassion, wisdom and patience. But how does the 14th Dalai Lama govern his people in exile?

BySarah Dowdey

Reincarnation is the concept that the soul, or some aspect of the soul, is reborn into new lives. Has Western science proven that it really occurs?

BySarah Dowdey

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The principle behind karma is that people's actions affect their present and future lives. Is karma an idea or an actual substance that sticks to the soul?

BySarah Dowdey

Tai chi chuan, usually referred to as tai chi, is the almost meditative exercise derived from the philosophic principles of Tai Chi. Learn about this living philosophy expressed in a series of graceful, complementary and deeply contemplated movements.

Bythe Editors of Publications International, Ltd.