The Lotus and the Robot
Encyclopedia
The Lotus and the Robot is a 1960 book by Arthur Koestler
exploring eastern mysticism
. Although now dated by Westerners' greater exposure to Oriental practices, it concentrates mainly on India
n and Japan
ese traditions, which form the two parts - the "lotus" and the "robot" respectively.
Some of Koestler's comments read controversially now, perhaps even racist, but the book is also interesting for presenting a non-bowdlerised version of the traditions, particularly yoga
, which as he points out, is quite different in its traditional form to that practised in the west, particularly in its control of internal bodily functions such as peristalsis
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
exploring eastern mysticism
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
. Although now dated by Westerners' greater exposure to Oriental practices, it concentrates mainly on India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese traditions, which form the two parts - the "lotus" and the "robot" respectively.
Some of Koestler's comments read controversially now, perhaps even racist, but the book is also interesting for presenting a non-bowdlerised version of the traditions, particularly yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, which as he points out, is quite different in its traditional form to that practised in the west, particularly in its control of internal bodily functions such as peristalsis
Peristalsis
Peristalsis is a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles which propagates in a wave down the muscular tube, in an anterograde fashion. In humans, peristalsis is found in the contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract. Earthworms use a similar...