St. Hildegard of Bingen/ Hinduism

St. Hildegard of  Bingen (1098-1179) was a Benedictine abbess & polymath, active as a writer, composer, philosopher, mystic, visionary & as a medical writer & practitioner.

In 1146, she wrote to Bernard of Clairvaux, the great churchman of her day, about "The sacred sound through which all creation resounds" (similar to the "Anahata Nada" or Primordial Sound in Hinduism.) Also she wrote to him about "the Word from which all the world was created" (similar to the "Aum" in Hinduism, which means the essence of the cosmic world.)

Fritjof Capra, wrote how Holistic theory (as opposed to the Cartesian theory) was pioneered by Leonardo da Vinci. He extended this logic to the Systemic Model vs the Biomedical Model in Healthcare. But in 1158 itself, Hildegard  wrote "Causes & Cures & Physica", with emphasis on wholeness, balance & diet, anticipating the holistic view. Of course, the traditional Hindu system of Healthcare, Ayurveda, evolved much earlier, employed a holistic approach.

Between 1161-63, (when marriage was common among the clergy), she called for the clerics to lead celibate lives & distance themselves from the world. This mirrors the Hindu idea of celibacy being the "sine qua non" of any spiritual life.

She also supported meditation as the practice of reading aloud & pondering with the whole person - not only with memory, will & attention, but also with body, mind & spirit - on the meaning of the text. This is a reflection of "Sravana, Manana & Nididhyasana" of Vedanta, leading to "Tat Twam Asi."