Finding and releasing emotional blockages has the unexpected benefit of bringing forgotten memories to mind and the insight associated with them.
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Yeah, it's definitely an upside.
It's also, for a lot of people, something that should be supported with therapy.
(Speaking from hard-won experience here.)
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Yeah, I've never done therapy, but I think it can definitely be a good idea.
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It's not always needed, and I don't think it provides that much value for people who are relatively emotionally intact.
But there's a pretty large subset of meditation/contemplation-oriented types who have big psychological issues that drive them to practice. If so, it helps.
I've heard some arguments about Dark Night phenomena being a more Western concept because people here tend to be emotionally undernourished.
Don't know if I buy that, entirely, but there's definitely a lot of insight that can give you a clear awareness of your own angst...
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I am definitely in the camp who was driven to practice due to big psychological issues. Those are mostly resolved now, and so the drive to practice isn't as strong. Or, the drive to 'formally' practice isn't as strong. Now it's more about the art of living and subtle insight
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Yeah, kind of the point. A lot of people who want to get enlightened, really just want to not feel so crap in their day-to-day.
I suspect that many of the ones who stick it out are the ones with issues too deep to be soothed by talking therapy, behavioral techniques or meds.
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