Intensive Meditation?

Tom, I have been reading some literature lately on German research studies and Transcendetal Meditation. From personal experience, I have had my own problems with the sacred sound meditation that almost led to a psychotic breakdown for me. I have read other research where a researcher in the states interviewed a number of 'lamas' and 'teachers' of meditation asking them what they did when people in their courses experienced psychoses. This came after reports that people had to be institutionalised following intensive meditation retreats. I am only now starting to realise that for some people, meditation and concentration should only be undertaken after the ego has been developed sufficiently. Without sufficient reality testing in the material plane, it seems to me that meditation and concentration can lead to the onset of symptoms similar to what people experience from trauma.

pauld

People who organize and participate in "intensive meditation retreats" do not even begin to suspect that the Purpose of Conscious Existence is development of Intellect. They ignore Intellect and hence demonstrate total ignorance.

If you try to do "intensive sleeping" for 10-14 days, you can die as a result. Likewise, if you try to cripple/limit activity of Consciousness for too long, most likely you will have to face the damage.

Meditation makes sense ONLY if it interrupts periods of vigorous intellectual activity such as imagining, problem solving, creating, experiencing and analysis of feelings etc... Meditation is a tool that should be a part of harmonious lifestyle. The same applies to any activity, including specific concentration exercises.

Please read The Freedom of Choice again and try to pay attention to the importance of contrasts to our Conscious Perception and evolution.

Tom