How many TikTok challenges have you mastered? Have you tried #NaturesCereal and know every dance to the “Baila sin haber escuchado el audio” sound? If you consider yourself someone that partakes in every new internet challenge, you might want to rethink Manifestation-Tok. This TikTok trend has grossly amplified the appropriated aspects of the Indian culture and perception of manifestation. Many content creators of Indian descent have highlighted the offensive nature of this trend, but often, this side of the argument is silenced by these viral videos.
In our own West Chester community, instructors in the contemplative studies department at West Chester University succeed in accurately portraying these ancient practices, and it is our duty as students to listen to them instead of trend chasers on TikTok.
Journalist Neith Pereira discusses how the manifestation trend whitewashes and cherry picks cultural practices. In her article, she includes a TikTok that depicts a phone call to the “manifestation hotline” where the viewer manifests and the creator responds, “It’s on it’s [sic] way to you. Double tap and follow to affirm.” Content creators like these often exploit the tradition of manifestation — which is not properly studied or accredited to its Hindu or Buddhist roots — to attain likes and interactions which, in turn, earns them an income. “The practice ends up becoming less about the tradition and more about the hype,” states Pereira. These sacred practices were not invented to fit an aesthetic. They were not curated for likes and they are most certainly not “new age spirituality.” According to Pereira, manifestation is not supposed to be used for personal gain; it has a background of belief and worship. Many people don’t even know that yoga and manifestation are ancient cultural practices of India.
It’s clear some people don’t understand why partaking in an internet trend such as manifestation is offensive or detrimental to minority cultures. “Appropriation is not a crime,” journalist Kathy Young states. “It’s a way to breathe new life into culture.” For Young, taking in new cultures, actively seeking accurate information and respecting others’ ‘beliefs’ is not cultural appropriation, it’s cultural appreciation, which is a beautiful way to breathe in new life.
Viewers may consider partaking in manifesting as “woke” or as expanding their world view. However, the appropriation of manifestation promotes mass misinformation about minority cultures, oversimplifies the complexity of Hindu ideals and normalizes negative stereotypes on a systemic level, according to journalist Sanskrit Deva. By cherry-picking parts of the Hindu culture that are beneficial to you, it diminishes and exploits those practicing these sacred beliefs, while praising white people for doing the same thing.
If you enjoy interacting with a manifestation challenge video, you might want to rethink your intentions; are you trying to fit an aesthetic by engaging in a new internet challenge, or do you genuinely want to practice manifestation? Yoga, meditation and manifestation are open to anyone who is willing to learn, grow and pay their respects to the origins of these practices.
More importantly, in an educational facility such as West Chester University, it is important for instructors teaching yoga, meditation or manifestation to educate their students on these deeply-rooted traditions. As a student of Professor Alison Donley, I can confidently say she excels in her truthful teaching. Professor Donley refused to say “namaste” at the end of our yoga classes until she felt we could comprehend what that truly meant. She spent weeks assigning us readings about the traditional use of yoga in India, mixed with stories from her own Guru. Many accolades to Professor Donely for her accurate and honest teaching.
I urge others in both the West Chester community and TikTok community to follow her lead.
Leela Rose is a Third – Year Honors student with Media & Culture Major, and Minors in Communications, International Business, Contemplative Studies, and Civic and Professional Leadership. LR903869@wcupa.edu