We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.
Whatever associations one might ascribe to the mind of famed weirdo David Lynch, “inner peace” hardly seems appropriate. Or is it? The man responsible for cinematic head scratchers like Mulholland Drive and Eraserhead has long advocated for transcendental meditation, a relaxation practice that touts the benefits of mindfulness. Tonight at the Avalon, Lynch will speak alongside famed D.C. psychiatrist Dr. Norman Rosenthal, whose new book, Transcendence: Healing and Transformation Through Transcendental Meditation, serves as an introduction to the heady world of mantras and yogic flying. For the skeptical, a bit of perspective: TM, unlike crystal healing or phrenology, has held up against (some) academic scrutiny in peer-reviewed journals. While Dr. Rosenthal has plenty of cheerleaders—his book includes interviews ranging from the predictable (Moby) to the surprising (Martin Scorsese)—none are as incongruous with conventional connotations of zen as Mr. Lynch, whose artistic worldview oscillates between the off-putting and willfully bizarre.
Dr. Rosenthal and David Lynch speak at 8 p.m. at Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW. $8.