Swami Spiritualists: Hinduism meets Spiritualism

In the late 1890s Swami Vivekananda was one of the first major Hindu leaders to bring Hinduism to the West as a missionary tradition. He established the Vedanta Society in New York in 1894, and lectured in most major American cities. In order to make Hindu teachings understandable to Americans he utilized the language of the New Thought Movement. 

The New Thought movement is different from the New Age movement that began in the 1970s. Originating in the late 1800s the New Thought Movement had its roots in New England Transcendentalists such as Emerson and Thoreau, Mesmerism, and also Spiritualism, it promotes positive thinking, practical self development, affirmative prayer, and various forms of mental healing. Some of the most well known examples of New Thought organizations are Christian Science, Unity, and Divine Science

Although the New Thought Movement is independent from the Spiritualist Movement, the language and terminology was shared by both traditions and many New Thought leaders and writers such as Ella Wheeler Wilcox or William Walker Atkinson also practiced Spiritualism.

With the the validation of Hindu leaders such as Swami Vivekananda, and the blending of religious vocabulary, Hinduism began to be understood by Americans as an ancient Eastern form of Spiritualism.

Another major influence was through the Theosophical Movement. Founded by Madame Helena Blavatsky. Madam Blavatsky based her movement on a fairly complicated mix of Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, Hinduism, and Esoteric Buddhism. Although Madam Blavatsky was initially inspired by Spiritualism, she quickly distanced her movement from Spiritualism. Nevertheless, Theosophical literature and teachings introduced many Spiritualists to the study of English translations of Hindu texts such as the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. 

As Spiritualists eagerly embraced the study of Hindu texts and meditative techniques, a somewhat new spiritual phenomena of Hindu Spirit Guides began to emerge among Spiritualists. 

As Spiritualists believed that Hinduism was essentially the same as their own faith, they began to seek advice and wisdom from the spirits of Hindu Sages who acted as Spirit Guides. 

With this new wave of popularity in Hindu themed Spiritualism, authors began to publish works under Hindu pseudonyms in order to sell books on Spiritualism and New Thought. William Walker Atkinson in particular published an enormous amount of his works under the name Yogi Ramacharaka, Swami Bhakata Vishita, and Swami Panchadasi. In addition to books there was also a rise in various spiritual products branded as Hindu such as incenses, oils, and talking boards. 

On a personal note, while I was researching local Spiritualist Churches here in Rochester, New York I found an advertisement in a Spiritualist Newsletter for a discussion group on "Hindoo Philosophy" that was organized by local Spiritualists in 1907.