From TEDTalks and therapies to meditation apps and debates of spirituality vs. religion, Americans continue to hear more and more about mindfulness. In this climate paid retreats focused on meditation ― some with hefty price tags ― have tapped in to a new market. Tech moguls and start-ups with intentionally cult-like corporate cultures are noisily taking to silent retreats in droves.
According to an article in Fast Company "the number of Americans who meditate spiked to 14.2% in 2017, up from 4.1% in 2012. Apps like Headspace and Calm proliferate, some with valuations in the hundreds of millions of dollars." Billions of dollars are now spent and and earned in pursuit of "mindfulness."
Among those leading this drive to marry bio-hacking with mind hacking is Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter who tweeted about it upon his return from a 10-day silent meditation retreat in Myanmar―an exercise which some said illustarted that he had completely missed the point .
In your opinion what's behind the large increase in meditation practiced by Americans?
It's a fad.
It's a deep change in culture.
It's coping with increased depression and anxiety.
It's disaffection with traditional religion(s).
It's dissatisfaction with secularism.
It's something else?
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It's coping with increased depression and anxiety.
(55.56%)
5
/ 9
55.56% Complete (success)
It's a fad.
(22.22%)
2
/ 9
22.22% Complete (success)
It's a deep change in culture.
(11.11%)
1
/ 9
11.11% Complete (success)
It's disaffection with traditional religion(s).
(11.11%)
1
/ 9
11.11% Complete (success)
