Re:Does Meditation Have Detrimental Effects?

Yes, it can have detrimental effects.

Meditation is an exploration of the unconscious to expand awareness and deepen self realization.

The dangers of meditation are as follows:

1)The exploration of the unconscious may result in revelations about yourself that are disturbing and even shocking.

This is unpleasant but beneficial as the realization removes the cause of unconscious disturbance and brings it to the conscious level. I compare this to surgical removal of a dangerous tumor that otherwise could grow unchecked.

2) Meditation also creates a sense of detachment, unreality and depersonalization that leads the practitioner to take the world and its responsibilities less seriously.

This may result in work performance, social roles/responsibility and human relationships being fatally affected.

The role of a teacher, therapist is necessary to help the practitioner regain his sense of balance.

3)Meditation creates a state of mind that is highly suggestible and pliant.

Especially if learnt in a cult, this leads to transference towards the "guru" and a vulnerability to manipulation and indoctrination.

Further correspondence may be directed to
nagarkatti@email.com

Replies:

Re:Does Meditation Have Detrimental Effects?, by Dr. Priyesh tiwari, 03/02/02

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