This thread should be required reading for anyone considering any kind of serious meditation practice. Yes, meditation works. Yes, awakening is real. But sign on the dotted line before you hurt yourself.https://twitter.com/euvieivanova/status/982981406279258112 …
I thought it was informative in pointing out that meditation is not always a cosmic bliss-out, and difficult experiences often arise. This isn't talked about much by mainstream meditation teachers and centers.
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The neuroscientist Willoughby Britton has done some research on this, if you're interested: https://www.brown.edu/research/labs/britton/research/varieties-contemplative-experience …
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Thanks I'll check it out
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I find that interesting because my first meditation teacher was seventy something years old of the Tibetan lineage and she told me not to "bliss out". Most well regarded books on meditation cover this pretty extensively and so do the discourses. This all eluded you?
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Props to your teacher. I'm not very familiar with Tibetan lineages, but I can tell you from my own experience, and from countless reports of others, that many Western teachers don't talk about it. Meditation is generally marketed as a stress-reduction or relaxation technique.
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I encourage you to look into the work of Willoughby Britton. She's reported on many people who have attended Western retreat centers and suffered adverse psychological reactions, and the teachers had no clue how to handle it.
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I think meditation teachers should have access to clinical psychology resources in the event that something goes wrong, and psychologists should be better trained to understand the kinds of experiences that may arise in contemplative practices.
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Even the "mindfulness therapy" psychologists don't really have much of a clue, IME.
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They probably have less of a clue, unfortunately.
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I've actually found this to be true. It tends to confuse them for some reason. Although I've definitely met a few ACT and MBCT folks who have at least some useful traditional understanding, albeit not at an ideal level.
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alright, been biting my tongue but it seems appropriate at this point. this is controversial but fine, whatever. these blindspots would not be so common if more teachers (and more therapists) had a serious background in psychedelics and psychedelic integration.
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Hm you are right about the feel-good dharma from the current crop of popular teachers. So if the thread is helpful in providing a contrast, that's great
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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