This is such a dismissive attitude. What Feynman is talking about is putting something artificial in your body with potentially adverse side effects. This has v

This is such a dismissive attitude. What Feynman is talking about is putting something artificial in your body with potentially adverse side effects. This has very little to do with sitting still in a room and watching your breathing. This is something people have done for thousands of years, and it consists "only" of sitting. Going on a surf vacation for 10 days isn't going to have nearly as big of an impact as something like this in this dimension. You may a get a lot better at surfing really quickly, and meet some friends. Which is great! If you don't think meditation is for your, fine, don't do it. But don't downplay people's experience by imposing your own limited world view on it. EDIT: My intention is not be dismissive of surfing as an activity. I would be surprised though if OP went on a 10 day surfing retreat and wrote a similar article to the one we are reading now.