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Wednesday, September 20, 2017

MEDITATION - Does it cause harm?

If you look around on the net or read some research papers, it seems that some forms of meditation can be harmful. Some of my doctor friends have confirmed the harmful effects of some meditative practices. Is that really the case?

Lot depends on what you do and how you do. If you are doing time tested Yogic meditation as that described by Patanjali, I see no reason why it should be harmful. The same cannot be said about myriad mystic processes propagated by modern teachers for which there is neither scriptural evidence, nor a logical explanation, nor a long history.

But yes, prolonged meditation can take you to a state that can be interpreted as ‘abnormal’. Typical effects could be withdrawal from worldly affairs, lack of interest in mundane activities and ‘normal’ human aspirations and pursuits, tendency to be aloof, lack of sensitivity, and so on. It is also believed that prolonged meditation can alter the hormonal balances in the body, especially the gender related ones.

In a way, these changes are natural for a person who has ‘seen’ beyond sense pleasures, who has experienced an identity beyond the limited confines of the body and mind. If that is what you intended, then there is nothing to worry.

But most ‘normal’ people would like to continue their routine worldly affairs and ‘enjoy’ the world in a better way with less stress and better health and better mental focus. For such people, prolonged meditation is not recommended. But a short practice, say, once a day for a few minutes should cause no problems.

I generally recommend adherence to Yama and Niyama – to the extent possible - , some simple focusing techniques for short duration of time, or even devotional singing. These provide a right balance. See my book “How andwhy of Yoga and Meditation” for a more detailed discussion.

In this series of posts, I seem to have equated mind to brain. Some ‘smart’ people may question that. Many Gurus say “mind is not brain and it is something beyond” Most of the time these people have no clear idea – neither about the brain, nor about ‘that something beyond’ They just keep playing with words.

In the next post I will try to explain my own views on this.


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