Beyond the Superficial Meditation of the West

Why all skeptics and corporate workers need to read Dan Harris’ 10% Happier

Meditation and mindfulness practices are no longer strangers to the West. In fact, with the overload of apps, books, seminars, retreats, and life coaches, the meditation industry is said to have grown to become a billion-dollar industry in developed economies.

In this day and age, it is not uncommon for progressive Silicon Valley companies to offer employees wellness days and encourage them to be more present and mindful in order to deal with workplace stress.

But a lot of the hype around meditation is superficial. The real and honest value of exploring meditative practices is to lead a spiritual life — not in any dogmatic sense, but in the sense of leading a life of rigorous introspection. After all, our minds are *all* we have: and observing them is of exceptional significance. Consciousness and it’s contents are at the root of everything in this world — pain, suffering, happiness, fulfillment, innovation, science, art, culture, and music. Consciousness is the one thing in the world that cannot be an illusion.

So how can one live life without studying the very nature of one’s mind? In New York Times bestseller, “10% Happier”, author Dan Harris highlights the…