Hinduism and the 1960s

The West has drawn upon Hinduism on a wide scale, from hatha yoga andmeditation techniques, to popular culture in music and fashion, yet studies todate have only looked tangentially at the contribution of Hinduism to thecounter-culture of the 1960s. Hinduism and the Counter-culture of the 1960s looks at the youthculture of the 1960s and early 1970s, and the way in which it was influenced byHinduism and Indian culture. It examinesthe origins of the 1960s counter-culture in the Beat movement of the 1950s, andtheir interest in eastern religion, notably Zen. When the Beatles visited Indiato study transcendental meditation, there was a rapid expansion in interest inHinduism. Young people were already heading east on the so-called 'Hippie Trail',looking for spiritual enlightenment and an escape from the material lifestyleof the west. Paul Oliver examines the lifestyle which they adopted, from living inashrams to experimenting with drugs, sexual liberation, ayurvedic medicine andyoga. Ultimately, Hinduism and the Counter-culture of the 1960s analyses theinteraction between Hinduism and the west, and the way in which each affectedthe other. Finally, the book discusses the ways in which contemporary westernsociety has learned from the ancient religion of Hinduism, and incorporatedsuch teachings as yoga, meditation and a natural holistic lifestyle, into dailylife. Each chapter contains a chapter summary and further reading guidance,and a glossary is included at the end of the book, making this ideal readingfor courses on Hinduism, Indian religions, and religion and popular culture.