Hey everybody….
I can’t believe I have an opportunity to talk about Seinfeld twice this season. First, “world’s collide.” And now, “a show about nothing.” You remember the thing, right? George and Jerry are talking about salsa and seltzer and decide that the TV show they’re about to pitch is actually void of any sort of story, but is instead a show about nothing. It’s an homage to the “who’s on first” classics of vaudeville. “So it’s a show about nothing? I think you may have something here.”
I’m not going to try to explain vipassana here because our guest does that for us far better. What you need to know is that we spend the next hour and a half or so embracing a meditation practice which calls for nothing as an action. It is a practice which, when illuminated by an expert teacher, is at once a mountain to climb, an ocean to swim, and a soft pillow to rest our heads.
Suman Chaudhuri is our healer, educator, and guide today. He is the owner of Karuna Center for Natural Healthcare in Nashville. He was formally trained as a chiropractor and naturopath, and has done extensive training in energy medicine including Reiki and hands-on healing. To us, today, he is a meditation teacher, having spent decades immersed in the study and practice of meditation for healing and spiritual cultivation.
Frankly, he’s also incredibly chill. As with all these interviews, we performed this one over zoom and I’m not kidding, the moment he appeared on screen, we were moved to relax. He’s a bit contagious that way.
If the experience of vipassana is new to you, as it was to me, I encourage you to relax into it. This might not be the best episode to listen to while operating heavy machinery, for example, or performing any kind of surgery. Instead, consider sitting in a comfy chair with a cup of tea. If you have a child, instruct them to fan you gently with a giant ornamental rhubarb leaf. Close your eyes, especially for the meditation exercise to come toward the end of the show today, and join us for the most engaged experience of nothing you’ve ever had.
Our deep thanks to Suman for his time to sit down with Dodge and teach us today. And thanks to you, as always, for your commitment to the work.
— Pete
