Sitting still and contemplating my navel has never been high on my to-do list. Yes, I understand that meditation is meant to be life-changing. I’ve even dabbled in it, felt the benefits, and acknowledged the wisdom of clearing the mind. And yet, the idea of sitting cross-legged, focusing on my breath, and thinking of nothing still makes me want to run screaming towards the nearest shopping precinct.
The Beatles and Transcendental Meditation
Years ago I did a course in Vedic meditation—the kind the Beatles took up with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Legend has it that their deep dive into chanting and mindfulness led to The White Album. Or did it? Was their creativity truly unlocked by meditation, or was it simply the inevitable result of being, well… The Beatles? Who knows? Not I.
Version 1.0.0
The White Album is available in all formats – vinyl is best!
Vedic – the Original Meditation
Vedic meditation eventually became known as Transcendental Meditation, but no matter what label you slap on it, the principle remains the same: you sit, you breathe, you chant, and ideally, you transcend. Sounds magical. Sounds peaceful. Sounds like a personal endurance test I have failed multiple times.
Brain Surgery or the Dog’s toenails
But here’s my take: anything that fully absorbs you—shopping, brain surgery (preferably if you’re qualified), clipping the dog’s toenails—can be a form of meditation. If the point of meditation is to be present, then surely wandering through a boutique, feeling the texture of a silk scarf, or debating the merits of kitten heels versus block heels qualifies?
Laser-focused – Meditation?
When I shop, I enter a state of flow. The outside world fades, my mind is laser-focused, and the only mantra I need is “Will I regret not buying this?” The rhythmic motion of flicking through a rack of clothes, the focused contemplation of colour palettes, the deep, mindful connection to the perfect handbag—tell me that’s not a transcendental experience!
Shopping in Milano!;
Meditation Purists reel in horror
Of course, purists may clutch their prayer beads in horror. But if the end goal is to be fully in the moment, then isn’t it time we expanded the definition? Shopping might not align my chakras, but it certainly aligns my mood. And isn’t that, in the end, what meditation is all about?
