How Dangerous Is Meditation?

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by Rainman, Oct 14, 2015.

  1. Rainman

    Rainman Senior Investor

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    Most people these days believe the answer to almost everything is meditation. Feeling stressed? Meditate? Angry? Meditate. Lost a job? Meditate. While I don't question the fact that meditation can help reduce stress, etc, etc there are some who believe that most people don't know enough about meditation to know that it can be very bad.

    http://www.lorinroche.com/dangers/homeless.html
    Others think meditation opens portals to other dimensions. Open portals which might let in "dark forces" into your life.

    Anyway since I know close to nothing about meditation I'd like to find out from those of you who do, is meditation as dangerous as "experts" think it is?
     
  2. mooray

    mooray Well-Known Member

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    Everything is a poison to some extent. What I don't like about meditation is that sometimes it can disconnect you from soceity and reality. It is like your are living under a dome completely cut off from everything else.
     
  3. missbishi

    missbishi Well-Known Member

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    I can't help but think that meditation is recommended in the most irresponsible ways sometimes. Feeling suicidal? Don't worry, just meditate! Experiencing severe symptoms of psychosis? Oh, just meditate, that'll sort it out.

    So whilst I don't particularly think the act of meditation itself is dangerous, I do think that its power is sometimes over-exaggerated and that it's not the "cure-all" that some claim it to be. Furthermore, these suggestions may deter people from seeking more appropriate and professional help (which doesn't have to be medication BTW!).
     
  4. SteakTartare

    SteakTartare Senior Investor

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    I don't know that it is necessarily, in and of itself, dangerous to a healthy mind. However, there is an unbelievable amount of pseudoscientific "woo" surrounding the practice. Sure, clearing your mind and thinking on a topic (or topics) can help. Heck, I used to go on a weekly long walk to do just that and found it a great benefit. But as some kind of cure-all panacea ... please.
     
  5. Corzhens

    Corzhens Senior Investor

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    I agree. Anything that is taken in excess is not good. Excessive meditation may lead to insanity. I'm not joking, that is my viewpoint because I have known several cases of near insanity condition due to excessive meditation. If I may segue, there are now 60 who filed their candidacy for the presidency of the Philippines in next May's election. Half of those 60 claim they were summoned by God, they heard a voice after meditating for hours. These are documented (the claims) so that is clear that meditation afforded them to communicate with God.
     
  6. Sunflogun

    Sunflogun Well-Known Member

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    I don't think meditation is dangerous at all, quite the opposite, I think it's something that can benefit us and help us to see things differently.
     
  7. Susimi

    Susimi Senior Investor

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    While I don't think meditation overall is dangerous I do think it is given as a solution to people in a bad way where it could become something dangerous like a few posts up said. I've tried it out a few times and it's very relaxing and a great way to relieve stress and set out plans for what I want to do next in the days ahead and such, but for someone with severe mental health problems I cannot see meditation being the best of things to do. Rather than calm the person down and relax them it could have quite the opposite effect.
     
  8. kgord

    kgord Senior Investor

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    I think that it is crazy. Medidatation is supposed to be akin to prayer. It benefits the individual and lowers blood pressure and leads to a more relaxed existence. Not everyone who meditates is using a guru. I think it is a technique that is only supposed to be positive and not negative in anyway. Make certain that you take advantage of what is there for you with meditation, and don't worry about the rest.
     
  9. L_B

    L_B Well-Known Member

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    I agree with your Sunflogon. I think medication is a good thing. It helps people relax and deal with the stresses in their life.
    They have somewhere they can turn to make them feel at ease. At least they aren't turning to meds, drugs or alcohol to
    deal with their problems. I can only see the benefits of mediation.
     
  10. Sunflogun

    Sunflogun Well-Known Member

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    There are two sides for meditation, the one you mention of relaxation and there is always the spiritual side to it, something more advanced and hard to achieve.
     

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