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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Replying to @danlistensto @Failed_Buddhist and
I agree that teachers & clinicians should be versed in psychedelics - fine. But even if we chuck psychedelics out the window, we still have the same proplem w/r/t meditation alone. Am I missing a logical step/connection here?
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Replying to @misen__ @Failed_Buddhist and
maybe? I'll connect the dots more explicitly if it helps. a strong psychedelic experience is almost identical to the experience in mindfulness meditation of realizing the interiority of your awareness. the observer observing the mind, not the external world.
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Replying to @danlistensto @Failed_Buddhist and
this is the inflection point that initiates the long post-awakening period of realigning the mind and experience of reality that many struggle with. "the dark side of awakening" and "dark night of the soul" are analogous (or maybe identical) with psychedelic integration.
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Replying to @danlistensto @Failed_Buddhist and
psychedelics are faster than meditation. the accelerated pace of it forces confrontation with these after-affects in a way that can't really be ignored the way a McMindfulness stress reduction teacher might be able to ignore the dark side of awakening on meditation.
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the issue is how do we make sure people get the support and guidance they need to reintegrate after an awakening? well, I'm suggesting that the psychedelic path makes the necessity of it so glaringly obvious and in your face that the blindspots are less likely to develop.
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Replying to @danlistensto @Failed_Buddhist and
it's the very fact that its faster and more dangerous that makes the importance of safely handling awakening so clear and present.
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