another question

I just posted asking about kundalini psychosis and just after that read the meditation in psychotherapy thread.

Comments:

"Should PROFESSIONAL standards be lower than PERSONAL standards when discussing meditation. In the traditional Rinzai Zen tradition, the Roshi only transmits "Inka" (or passing the educational torch to a student), when that student surpasses the teacher in clarity. Now it is clear that we are not at that level. But the principle seems to hold true: If the instructor has only a couple weeks of training, what they teach will be "relaxation" or "attitude about meditation" which is often what is the results I've seen of such trainings. On the other hand, if an instructor has years of personal practice with a teacher who has made a life-long commitment to meditation practice, then what is transmitted to the students/patients is bound to far more than mere "attitude." "

A few things come to mind:

1) How much is the relationship between a teacher and student a business relationship as opposed to the same relationship between therapist and client? And how does this impact this discusson?

2) In transmitting "more than attitude" or "attitude" does not one chance "leading" the client or "judging"? Does this belong in psychotherapy?

If someone is a disciplined meditator and practices psychotherapy wouldn't this blend into their practice, as any faith discipline would? Is that appropiate? At what point does meditation in psychotherapy become "pastoral counseling"? (I am neither for nor against either, just commenting.)

Meditation is referred to so often in our culture in secular ways in and secular contexts.. but it has a religious grounding and purpose and context.

3) If meditation in psychotherapy became, let's say, a certified subspeciality (or has it already, I'm just becoming interesting in this subject?) how would one then set parameters on it?

Part of a subspeciality is defining what it is, when it is used to intervene, etc.

How would one go about screening patients for such "treatment"?

And, that, folks, runs in a circle back to my previous post: the possibility of psychosis or other "bad" outcome in those who take up meditation...

Thank you.

Replies:

What are you believing when you meditate?, by Lindsay Smith, 09/20/02 Re:What are you believing when you meditate?, by , 09/21/02 Adverse effects of Meditation, by Lindsay Smith, 09/27/02

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