SPIRITUAL LIFE & MEDITATION : A HEART-TO-HEART WITH ANUPAM KHER
In this interview, the host asks how to explain meditation to people with low awareness. Anupam Kher responds by situating meditation within the broader Indian knowledge system, noting that popular culture often portrays sadhana as renunciation—a small slice of a vast tradition that includes deities like Mahadev, scriptures such as the Agamas and Tripura Rahasya, and yogic teachings given by Krishna to Arjuna. He argues that the true path of meditation is accessible to the common person and is increasingly being approached as a practical, skill‑based intervention rather than a religious ritual. Kher cites a blind study he conducted in North America during the COVID era with about ten thousand participants, most of whom were young, well‑educated, work‑from‑home individuals highly aware of their mental health. The study shows that this demographic treats meditation as a mental‑health tool, seeking immediate well‑being rather than after‑life rewards. He emphasizes a shift from fearing divine displeasure to creating a “heaven” in the present, and reflects on how earlier gurus relied on storytelling, fear, and incentives to convince followers, whereas today acceptance is more straightforward. The conversation underscores the modern, secular framing of meditation and its relevance for everyday life.
