Re:For some, meditation has become more curse than cure
by uptownfunk on Tuesday May 24, 2016 @12:43AM
(#11759028)
Yes, definitely this. And even before the asana and pranayama (breathing practice) are the yamas and niyamas (yama-niyama-asana-pranayama-pratyahara-dhyana-dharana-samadhi) there are eight rungs to the entire eastern yogic/meditative practice. The whole focus on "meditation" and physical poses by the modern western approach of $50/hr yoga classes completely goes against the eastern method of guru and disciple. There's a reason these things are meant to be studied under a learned master. What's the saying... a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. These practices were studied by students for years before they attempted what some people do in their first couple of yoga classes..
That said, I don't mean to discount the experiences of the individuals described in the article. I think it's terribly unfortunate that anyone has to suffer from practicing meditation and yoga, and also find it sad that they were unable to find a master to help them recover from their experiences sooner.
The general idea is that sleepiness and sluggishness is a certain outcome of an unhealthy body, as well as anxiety and irritability that are caused by various body aches.
In the worst case, meditation can become a formality, just a checkbox to fill out, a way to spend an indulgent, lethargic half-hour, or the opposite - a constantly distracted, obsessive anxiety (which is perfectly fine and even to be expected at the beginning of a meditation, but not at all times).
That's not to say that meditation is completely off limit: the idea is to do a bit of meditation and breath exercises at first and a lot of asanas, and then gradually increase breath exercises and then concentration; and finally meditation.
But this whole idea that meditation can be counter-productive in some circumstances is not really alien to the Eastern traditions. They are not stupid and they've been doing it for a long time with an empirical, practical approach.