The Dark Side of Dharma : Meditation, Madness and Other Maladies on the Contemplative Path

The Dark Side of Dharma explores some of the possible undesirable side effects - also known as 'adverse effects' - of meditation and mindfulness. Researcher Anna Lutkajtis investigates why these effects, which are well-known in spiritual and religious traditions, have been ignored in contemporary secular contexts, such as Western psychology. Lutkajtis' research reveals that while meditation is commonly portrayed as a practice that is overwhelmingly positive, a growing number of research studies and anecdotal reports suggest that meditation can also have negative effects. Some meditators believe that these adverse effects are a normal part of the contemplative path and a welcome sign of progress. For others, such effects are completely unexpected and can be psychologically harmful. In religious traditions like Buddhism, difficulties associated with meditation are acknowledged and are usually viewed as milestones on the path to enlightenment or the result of an unbalanced practice. In such traditional contexts, meditation teachers are equipped to deal with adverse effects if and when they arise. However, in the modern West, meditation adverse effects have been overlooked, under- researched, and generally misunderstood. Given the current popularity of meditation, Lutkajtis argues that it is important to understand why meditation adverse effects have been ignored in contemporary secular settings. Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Page Contents Acknowledgements Preface Chapter One: A Brief History of Meditation: East and West What is Meditation? Hindu Approaches to Meditation Buddhist Approaches to Meditation Meditation in the West: Mainstream Meditation in the West: Clinical Chapter Two: The Dark Side of Dharma: Meditation Adverse Effects and the “Dark Night” The Meditation Backlash The Dark Night of the Soul The Dukkha Nanas Insight Gone Wrong “Adverse Effects” in Meditation Research The Dark Night Project Chapter Three: From Enlightenment to Symptom Relief and Personal Transformation Meditation as a Western Therapeutic Intervention Meditation as a Panacea The Relaxation Response Issues of Self and Non-Self Mourning the Loss of the Self Meditation Research Methods Chapter Four: Making Meditation Secular: Meditation as a Detachable Technique “Secular” Meditation Meditation as a Detachable Technique De-Contextualisation: Privileging Meditation and Marginalising Religious Context Simplification: Psychological, Pathological and Neural Reductionism Re-Contextualisation: “The Buddha was a Scientist” and the Creation of a Western Meditation Lineage Chapter Five: Meditation Divorced from Religion Meditation Adverse Effects in Religious Traditions Preparation Supportive Context Teacher and Technique Individual Differences and Psychopathology Chapter Six: “The Answer to all your Problems?” Meditation and the Media All Good News Stories Meditation Tropes Scientist-Journalist Communication Celebrity Gurus and Celebrity Meditators Meditation for Sale How Should Meditation be Portrayed? Chapter Seven: Facing the Shadow The Denial of the Dark Side Spiritual Bypassing The Future References Index Back Cover The Dark Side Of Dharma, Looks At Why Meditation Side Effects, Also Known As Adverse Effects, While Well Known In Spiritual And Religious Traditions, Have Been Ignored In Contemporary Secular Contexts Such As Western Psychology. For Some Meditators, Adverse Effects Are Completely Unexpected And Undesirable. Others Believe That These Effects Are A Normal Part Of The Contemplative Path, And As Such They Are A Welcome Sign Of Progress. Through Her Academic Research Lutkajtis Discovered That While The Scientific Studies And Popular Media Coverage Of Meditation Have Been Overwhelmingly Positive, A Small But Growing Number Of Studies Also Speak Of Meditation Adverse Effects. Lutkajtis Found That In Religious Traditions, Such As Buddhism, These Types Of Difficulties Associated With Meditation Are Acknowledged, And Are Usually Understood To Be Either Milestones On The Path To Enlightenment, The Result Of Improper Practice, Or Due To Individual Differences. In Traditional Contexts, Meditation Teachers Are Equipped To Deal With Adverse Effects When They Arise. However, In The Modern West, Meditation Adverse Effects Have Been Largely Ignored. Given The Current Popularity And Proliferation Of Secular Meditation-related Products And Services, It Is Important To Understand Why Meditation Adverse Effects Have Been Overlooked, Under-researched, And Generally Misunderstood. This Book Attempts To Answer That Question. A dive into the less-known and undesirable side-effects of meditation and mindfulness. Researcher Anna Lutkajtis investigates why these negative ramifications of meditation and mindfulness, which are well-known in spiritual and religious traditions, have been ignored in contemporary secular contexts, such as Western psychology. Lutkajtis' research reveals that while meditation is commonly portrayed as a practice that is overwhelmingly positive, a growing number of research studies and anecdotal reports suggest that meditation can also have negative effects. Some meditators believe that these adverse effects are a normal part of the contemplative path and a welcome sign of progress. For others, such effects are completely unexpected and can be psychologically harmful.In religious traditions like Buddhism, difficulties associated with meditation are acknowledged and are usually viewed as milestones on the path to enlightenment or the result of an unbalanced practice. In such traditional contexts, meditation teachers are equipped to deal with adverse effects if and when they arise. However, in the modern West, meditation adverse effects have been overlooked, under-researched, and generally misunderstood. Given the current popularity of meditation, Lutkajtis argues that it is important to understand why meditation adverse effects have been ignored in contemporary secular settings.