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 …
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Replying to @Failed_Buddhist
I'm missing what is so informative about this thread, yet I've seen several references to it. The avi is a pretty cool picture though.
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Replying to @anyane
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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Replying to @Failed_Buddhist @anyane
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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Replying to @fuzzylogic8250 @anyane
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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Replying to @Failed_Buddhist @fuzzylogic8250
School I attended had both psychologists and longtime meditators, yet that still didn't help. One problem is that some of these western teachers are trying to break people's minds on purpose. And that breaking is what some mistake for "awakening"
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Replying to @anyane @fuzzylogic8250
Can you elaborate on what "mind breaking" means, and how it differs from "awakening"? I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
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Replying to @Failed_Buddhist @fuzzylogic8250
I've actually seen this happen to many people. They have an experience that they consider "transcendent" and believe that they are now "awakened." But most of these people have simply had a break with reality and need intense therapy or hospitalization.
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I don't doubt that this happens regularly. Still though, awakening - whatever the hell that means - is not always a pleasant experience that's followed by endless bliss. I don't think those claims are mutually exclusive.
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Replying to @Failed_Buddhist @fuzzylogic8250
For me, "awakening" is waking up from the illusion. Meditative experiences, positive or negative, belong to the realm of duality, and though helpful, are not awakening. I see that other people think of it differently, and I can accept that. But i respectfully disagree.
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