Meditative/Trance state may be HARMFUL

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Caterpillar
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Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:11 am

Meditative/Trance state may be HARMFUL

Unread post by Caterpillar »

It is well-known that the practice of meditation or being in the trance state can be beneficial. RSE?s disciplines (although not called meditation) can induce the trance state when analytical thinking is suspended.

However, researchers have reported that the meditative or trance state can also be detrimental in some people, causing psychological, physical or psychiatric problems.


This excellent article provides some evidence of the adverse effects of the trance state:

Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2003

Warning: Meditating May Be Hazardous to Your Health ? Sandy Brundage

https://www.religionnewsblog.com/638/wa ... our-health




Here is another reference:

http://stpresskit.files.wordpress.com/2 ... ageman.pdf (DEAD LINK)

?Not All Meditation Is The Same: A Brief Overview of Perspectives, Techniques, and Outcomes? by Joan H. Hageman, Ph.D. in psychology (from the book ?Measuring the Immeasurable? 2008 by various authors)

Copied from above, Page 380:

?As mentioned above, though not inclusive, much research has addressed the beneficial aspects of meditation; however, not all individuals experience positive side effects. In fact, Shapiro (1992) found that 62.9 percent of the participants in one of his research projects reported adverse effects either during or after meditation. He found additionally that 7.4 percent experienced profound adverse effects, and that the length of practice ranging from sixteen to 105 months did not serve to change the quality and frequency of adverse side effects (e.g., being more judgmental; boredom; confusion and disorientation; decreased motivation in life; depression; feeling addicted to meditation; feeling spaced out and exhibiting impaired reality testing; increased negativity; pain; paradoxical increases in tension; relaxation-induced anxiety and/or panic).

Craven (1989) also found additional side effects (e.g., anxiety-provoking phenomena; destructive behavior; elation; feelings of guilt; grandiosity; mild dissociation; psychosis-like symptoms; suicidal feelings; uncomfortable kinesthetic sensations). Ilan Kutz and colleagues (Kutz, Leserman et al., 1985) found that some participants experienced a sense of defenselessness, which produced unpleasant affective experiences (e.g., anger, apprehension, despair, sobbing, hidden memories) and themes from the past (e.g., abandonment, incest, rejection). It is not uncommon for some meditators, who claim to have ?found the answers,? to be actively engaged in a subtle maneuver of avoiding the solution to personal issues. From this perspective, Shapiro (1992) recommends some caution when the idea is presented that adverse effects are only part of the path and that it takes years of practice to resolve the adverse effects. He argues that this line of reasoning is reminiscent of the misuse in the classical psychoanalytic dictum that ?insight causes cure.? Hence, if one is not cured, then one needs more insight.?



There is a book called ?The Psychology of Meditation? (1987), edited by Michael A. West, Ph.D.

Copied from Page 162 under Precautions from Chapter 9, Managing meditation in clinical practice by Patricia Carrington:

?An occasional person may be hypersensitive to meditation so that he or she needs much shorter sessions than the average.?

?Overmeditation can be dangerous? Just as with a tonic or medicine, prolonged meditation may cease to have beneficial effects and become detrimental? in those with adverse psychiatric histories the commencement of meditation training has been known to precipitate psychotic episodes? it is probably unwise for any person to enter into prolonged meditation sessions unless they are in special settings? where careful supervision is available.?

?Certain forms of meditation currently promoted by ?cults? demand up to 4 hours of daily meditation from their followers ? an important factor to note when assessing some of the ?brain-washing? effects frequently reported by ex-members of these cults.?



Students in the ?elite? Blue College would be subjected to more of the ?brain-washing? techniques used by cults. For instance, longer periods of engaging the disciplines (more trance-like state), more sleep deprivation, lack of proper nutrition, more wine ceremonies and tenting in extreme cold weather.

Coincidentally, here is the latest ad from RSE on the ?trance? state:

http://www.ramtha.com/email/07-24-09_Mini/online.html

It really means continue the ?hallucination? of supernatural powers, aliens, ufos, Ramtha, Mothman and the bogeyman. :shock:
joe sz
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Location: Birdsboro, PA
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Unread post by joe sz »

cat
this is an excellent reference. Both science and common sense experience tell us that overloading any of the senses causes a disruption in brain fundtrion, therefore perception. eg, listening to rythmic drumming for many minutes will induce trance in most people to soe degree. Once in teance the brain poduces dreamlike sequences that are dissociated from the environment as we experience it when we are alert.

religions of all kinds, primitive and modern, have utilized trance induction to claim spiritual territory. I am not arguing that this is wrong or bogus but the dissociated state is irrational and can be easily manipulated by the social environment [read cult] that one finds oneself in or believes in.

That study by Dr Persinger, TM and Cult Mania (1980) was a real eyeopener for me. Going within [retreating from sensual input or underloading the senses] is not the secret path to God nor the "keys to the kingdom of heaven" as Jose Silva called it. Meditation wrongly applied can be a path to isolation and anxiety with endless dependence on a limiting technique and on a guru.

Silva, nearly half a century ago, introduced access to the "alpha state" in brain waves through his technique of "Silva Mind Control" [aka Silva Method]. he called the Alpha state the keys to kingdom of heaven. There is good evidence that L R Hubbard 'borrowed' from Silva
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