Hindus have welcomed the popular athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica Inc. for launching meditation space in its stores.
Lululemon reportedly included its first Mindfulosophy space inside the new 8,000-square-foot store which opened on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan (New York City) on July 21, where visitors can follow various self-guided meditations.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, called this launching of meditation space in a shopping structure “a step in the positive direction”. Besides providing a dedicated zone for meditation and reflection, it would also help combat stress caused by day-to-day challenges-chores-grinds-tribulations-tasks, including shopping; and offer inner transformation, Zed added.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, explained that meditation was a condition of profound internal wakefulness; and added that ancient Hindu scripture Taittiriya Upanishad stated: “Meditation is Brahman (the supreme being)”.
Rajan Zed further said that Lord Krishna told in Bhagavad-Gita: With mind and senses disciplined through meditation, bonded with the Self within, the seeker achieves tranquility and nirvana, the state of permanent peace and joy in me. Zed noted that Hinduism had been associated with meditation for ages; and there were various aspects of it, including pratyahara, upasana, samadhi, manana, dhyana, dharana.
Zed suggested all shopping complexes/malls/large-stores, if they were serious about the welfare of their customers, to make provision for dedicated meditation space.
The trademark application of Lululemon Athletica Canada Inc. regarding Mindfulosophy has been accepted by United States Patent and Trademark Office, which included downloadable content featuring topics relating to meditation, yoga philosophy, etc.; accessories including face masks for meditation, etc.; pre-recorded DVDs featuring topics relating to yoga philosophy, etc.; providing classes, instruction, training, and interactive on-line instruction and training in the fields of meditation, etc.; entertainment services in the nature of arranging social community entertainment events featuring meditation, etc.; providing a website featuring audio and video presentations featuring information, instruction and training in the fields of meditation, etc.
Headquartered in Vancouver (Canada) and founded in 1998, Lululemon claims to be “a technical athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training and most other sweaty pursuits”. Its “Manifesto” includes “the pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness”. Laurent Potdevin is the Chief Executive Officer, while Glenn K. Murphy and David Mussafer are its Board Co-Chairmen.