Almost one year ago, at GreenFest Portugal, I met an incredible figure. Among the many inspiring lessons that he shared with us all, he said something that has also bugging me regarding meditation.

Before getting deeper into the subject, I must introduce him: Anupam Mishra, one of the wisest, simplest and humblest people I’ve met. His wit you can often read in his speech make him even more engaging. Often referred to as “The Second Ghandi”, he is, what they call, a change agent, a goodwill hunter.

By seeing his TED talk bellow, you will learn about the ancient ingenuity of water harvesting and how disruptive innovation actually does not apply in all markets. In short, Anupam brings to our attention the amazing engineering techniques to harvest rain, that is still being used in India’s deserts. To our surprise, these traditional methods have been there for centuries being more efficient than modern water projects used in other parts of the world. So, his call is to look back in time and value these ancient systems which are truly beneficial in places like India’s deserts.

After getting a picture about Anupam’s driving force coming right from the middle of the Indian Golden Desert, I would like to tell you what he carefully replied after I asked him:

– Do you practice meditation?

to paraphrase him:

– No, I don’t do meditation, yoga, any of it. For me, being here with you, sharing this moment with nice people is to meditate. I think that the whole meditation .. mindfullness idea they brag about, is for the upper class busy people. It’s like going to the psychologist. There are actually many people who take advantage and make lots of money out of it. Instead, why not simply relax with a friend, share a moment with someone who really knows and understands your worries best? (all of these while using the cute “curry” Indian accent)

It is an answer you wouldn’t see it coming from a person you already idealize as being the second Ghandi or Dalai Lama. I actually vizualized a Budha meditating under a tree. Unexpectedly, his answer was far less simpler. It was like a wake-up call from all the reads on mindfullness and meditation one comes across all social media channels nowadays.

Eventually, it is up to each one of us how we choose to release the stress, to get back the energy we consume during work, to be zen. I believe meditation is useful in many ways. But yes, yes, let’s not make a big case out of it: “I’m stressed, I need to meditate!” Maybe what we’d really need sometime is to go out, have a walk, talk to mom, call a friend, have a  chet with the baker. I believe that might be the point Anupam wants to make: to bond instead!