# What's the deal with the Art of Living?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-art-of-living/661410>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 20, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-art-of-living/661410 "2013-06-20T00:19:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![runcible\_spoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc29f/32.png) [@runcible\_spoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runcible_spoon)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-art-of-living/661410/1 "2013-06-20T00:19:51Z")

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So I have a first date with a girl who teaches meditation classes with the Art of Living, and I’m a little wary of the whole thing. On the one hand, I have no problem with meditation as a practice; I’ve actually been looking into zazen lately, and the idea that the brain reacts to meditation is, to my knowledge, not particularly controversial. However, the fact that the Art of Living has a guru, and seems a little more into the ‘spiritual’ stuff makes me dubious. But I don’t really know much about it, so I figured I’d see if any of you guys know what their deal is.

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**Author:** ![sonofyoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@sonofyoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sonofyoda)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-art-of-living/661410/2 "2013-06-20T22:03:15Z")

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Actually it is quite cool. It is not like those cult-like things. There is a devotional aspect of it, which if you choose to be part of, you can, but there is no obligation. You can just enjoy the practice/meditation and not worry about the rest.

I have been with the organization for a few years and I see them doing some good work. It is easy to follow some of the things and I can skip things I don’t like.

> [@runcible\_spoon](#):
>
> So I have a first date with a girl who teaches meditation classes with the Art of Living, and I’m a little wary of the whole thing. On the one hand, I have no problem with meditation as a practice; I’ve actually been looking into zazen lately, and the idea that the brain reacts to meditation is, to my knowledge, not particularly controversial. However, the fact that the Art of Living has a guru, and seems a little more into the ‘spiritual’ stuff makes me dubious. But I don’t really know much about it, so I figured I’d see if any of you guys know what their deal is.

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**Author:** ![desertmonk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@desertmonk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desertmonk)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-deal-with-the-art-of-living/661410/3 "2013-07-06T18:43:02Z")

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From the reading I did on it this spring I would say it isn’t a cult but the ten day meditation course is TOUGH! Otherwise it is a decent enough method for getting a grip on life; I have long wanted to go to a course but the ten day investment (two weeks vacation) has always been a deal breaker.