Meditation
Each aspect of meditation has its powers of healing; many
have specific uses and, unquestionably, particular dangers and drawbacks for certain
individuals. The diagnosis and prescription of meditative practices for the many varieties
of ailments is an art that has received far less attention than it deserves.
In general, concentrative practices should be avoided by
individuals whose reality-testing function is poor, who are strongly paranoid, or who are
likely to develop delusions of grandeur from the altered states of consciousness that
these practices tend to produce. People with overwhelming anxiety should probably avoid
insight meditations, in which the anxiety level can reach intolerable proportions. Long
periods of meditative practice (as in contemplative meditation) may precipitate psychotic
episodes in susceptible individuals.
Probably the safest course for those in the healing
professions is to experiment with meditation practices for themselves, and then to share
with clients and friends only those which they thoroughly understand. Also, in monitoring
the meditation practices, the professional should bring to bear all the available tools
available in evaluating the gain or the danger, regardless of the exotic or
"sacred" origin of the techniques being studied. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna
gives Arjuna some timeless advice that is relevant here: "Fear not, Arjuna, for what
is Real always was and always will be, and what is not Real never was and never will
be."
Next Topic: Meditation Techniques
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