The Day I Met Jon Kabat-Zinn

     A couple of years ago, at the anniversay events for the MBSR program in Worcester, Massachusetts, I attended a lecture by Jon Kabat-Zinn with my daughter.  Since he is the founder of this program, from which I received so much value, I wanted to be present listening to any wise words he had to share.  I had finally read Wherever You Go, There You Are, I wanted to hear the author and introduce my daughter to mindful meditation.  Living less than a half hour from the hotel where they were meeting, it was a normal day, when done eating our supper, we got into the car and drove in.
     The banquet hall was filled with chairs and people.  We made our way to our chairs somewhere in the middle to the side.  Saki Sortorelli introduced Jon Kabat-Zinn, and he spoke about his program, from the beginning to the present and how he is introducing mindfulness as part of the curriculum of medical schools across the country.  Then, he started asking the people where they were from.  I was blown away when I saw how many people traveled from all over the world, to be there in the same room as me (who lived relatively close by), listen to the same speaker, experience the same events as me.  I think I was taking for granted that because the program is local, and the author and developer of the program is local, that the room would be filled with more local people.  But, my eyes were opened to the fact that this is world-wide program and people from all over the world were receiving the same benefit from the principles of mindfulness as I was.  I was experiencing something huge, right in my own backyard.
     Then it was time for meditation.  He instructed us all to sit up straight, feet flat on the floor, hands in our lap, close our eyes, then focus on the breath.  There were 700 people in this room, and you could hear a pin drop!  We sat like this meditating for 45 to 60 minutes.  The room was completely silent, there wasn't one fidget, one cough, one clearing of throat, nothing, but silence.  I know I had the thought fly through my mind that it felt like I was the only one in the room, with this silence, I would never guess that I was sitting with 699 other people!  It was definitely memorable, inspirational, and valuable to me.  If you ever find he is lecturing near you, I would highly recommend taking the time to listen,