How did Hindu monistic beliefs influence Western religious thought and esoteric groups?

Hindu monistic beliefs, which posit that the cosmos is sacred and participates in a single divine principle known as brahman, have significantly influenced Western religious thought and esoteric groups since the 19th century.1

These doctrines first began to shape the perspectives of Western thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Arthur Schopenhauer, and Friedrich Nietzsche. Esoteric organizations, most notably the Theosophical Society, integrated these Indian philosophical concepts with Western mysticism, Neoplatonism, and Kabbala to create a synthetic spiritual worldview.1

The arrival of Vivekananda at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago marked a pivotal moment, as he founded the Vedanta Society to promote these monistic teachings. This movement attracted prominent Western intellectuals and artists, establishing a foundation for the later popularity of Eastern-based new religious movements that emphasize universalism and the integration of spiritual discipline with daily life.1