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Meditation in popular culture


Various forms of meditation in popular culture have been described. Science fiction, in particular, often depicts characters meditating or practicing different forms of visualization or contemplation. Typically, but not always, these practices are drawn from or inspired by real-world meditation traditions. Some of the practices occurring in popular fiction are outlined below:

In Frank Herbert's Dune series of novels, various factions use meditation practices for a number of reasons. The Bene Gesserit have a number of practices, such as the Prana-bindu discipline, which trains the mind and body to work as one. The Mentats on the other hand, use visualization and a form of mantra practice ("It is by will alone I set my mind in motion...") to enhance their computer-like mental abilities.

In Hermann Hesse's book, The Glass Bead Game, Joseph Knecht is taught meditation by the music master, and later, by various teachers. Meditation is depicted as a basic subject of teaching in Castalian schools.

In the Culture series by Ian M. Banks, meditation is used as a means of subliming to a higher plane of existence (a process not dissimilar to ascension in the Stargate SG-1 series). Characters in the Culture also use meditation and visualization techniques to control their physiology, adjust their physical features, and change sexes at will.

In the Ted Dekker novel Saint, Johnny Drake (then known as Carl) uses a form of meditation to focus his mind. He is able to use the technique of "forming a tunnel" in his mind to affect the temperature of a room and the flight path of a bullet.


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