"So, what do you do?" Talk to someone you don't know long enough and this question surfaces – often and unfortunately very quickly. I then pause, trying to read the questioner, thinking how best to explain Mind & Matter, how deep to take them into our vision and beliefs. Will they get it? Will they think I'm crazy? Do they know what meditation is? Can I be a more stereotypical Berkeley resident?
What I've discovered through these conversations, is that meditation is secretly popular. It's the anti-hero in a John Hughes flick, a curiosity to some, a trusted buddy to others, but either way, fully a part of their scene. Stories of their own experiences or that of friends instantly arise, alongside hows, whats and whys. And it's not just Northern California that I experience this. It's in Manhattan, Vermont, Florida, Chicago.
It's a secret tribe, a sprawling network unaware of its own existence, unaware of it's potential. Is there a better time to start realizing that potential? I'm not talking fist pumping and picketing, just shinning a little light, opening up a bit, sharing with some folks.
I think we will be surprised by the reaction. At the very least, we'll be doing our part to spice up the small talk.