The mesmerists inquire about "Oriental mind powers": West meets East in the search for the universal trance.
Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences January 1, 2010 David T Schmit
Before modern scientific research on meditation, Western mesmerists in the 18th and 19th centuries investigated Asian contemplative practices and Oriental medicine. These mesmerists, influenced by their philosophy and interest in mind-body connections, explored Hindu meditative techniques in ways that challenged Western cultural imperialism of the era. Their inquiries were unique for the time and subverted dominant colonial attitudes. The article traces historical continuities and discontinuities between these early mesmerist investigations and twentieth-century meditation research, arguing that the mesmerists' work represents an overlooked precursor to contemporary scientific interest in Asian meditation practices.