How working in the Vipassana kitchen becomes a window into California’s culture — with its contrasts, shadows, and stories of people for whom the practice became a chance at a new life. These reflections are shared by Ruslan Gafarov, entrepreneur and founder of the San Francisco Innovation Hub.
There were seven other people working with me in the kitchen.
With some, I crossed paths more often, with others less.
There were both men and women.
During the course we were separated — but we cooked together, and ate in different parts of the building.
Talking was only allowed while working, and only if truly necessary. In the kitchen, that rarely happened — the noise, the clatter, the constant movement. Only during short lunch breaks could we exchange a few words. Those minutes were the only chance to glimpse into each other’s lives.
This time, most of the volunteers were from California — some from the Bay Area, others from the north of the state, closer to where the center was located.
The ones I connected with most were An., L., and Al.
An. was the kitchen manager. His parents had come from India, but he was born and raised here, in the suburbs of Silicon Valley. For the past three years he has been working for this non-profit. For him it’s more than just a job — he chose to remain in an environment where every day is an opportunity to practice humility, acceptance, meditation. He was calm, modest, kind. He spoke about the practice simply, without embellishment. It was clear that he truly lived what he was talking about.
L. grew up between Sacramento and Tahoe. In school and afterwards, he smoked a lot, and later moved on to heavier substances. For years he couldn’t hold a steady job, drifting between odd gigs. He finished his first Vipassana course only a month ago, and already returned for the next one — this time as a volunteer.
During the meditations, he sat behind me. I could hear how hard it was for him — the deep, uneven breathing, the restless movement of his body. It was clear that being alone with himself wasn’t easy. But he kept going.
His story showed me another side of California. Silicon Valley isn’t just startups, investments, and headline-making successes. It’s also a place where tolerance for experimenting with substances turns, for many, into addiction and ruined lives. Just walking the streets of San Francisco, you can see those who didn’t make it out. L. was lucky — he found a way forward. But stories like his are rare.
Al. is from New Jersey. He has traveled extensively and now lives in Northern California. He’s an artist: painting, creating art installations for festivals. He has been to Burning Man many times, and on his last visit, he even brought his father. We had an interesting conversation, and at one point I learned that he’s part of the movement of people opposing the Cybertruck.
Through these stories, I felt the culture of this place more deeply. Not the one on the covers, but the real one — with all its contrasts, and the price paid by those who actually live here.
