> Within the Buddhist tradition, [this] is sometimes referred to as 'falling into the Pit of the Void.' It entails an authentic and irreversible insight into Emptiness and No Self. Instead of being empowering and fulfilling … it turns into the opposite. In a sense, it's Enlightenment's Evil Twin. This is serious but still manageable through intensive … guidance under a competent teacher. In some cases, it takes months or even years to fully metabolize, but in my experience the results are almost always highly positive.
He goes on to add:
> If we don't describe the possibility of Dark Night, then we leave people without a context should it occur. On the other hand, if we do discuss it, people get scared and assume it's going to happen to them, even if we point out (as I just did), that it's relatively infrequent. So the take-home message is:
> 1. Don't worry, it's probably not going to happen to you.
> 2. Even if it does, that's not necessarily a problem.
The post is worth reading in its entirety. It also mentions software that "simulates an intricate tailored meditation [for] you."
"Master, I see hell, demons torment me, I'm burning!"
"It's a distraction. Carry on sitting."
"Master, I see heaven, filled with love and bliss!"
"It's a distraction. Carry on sitting."
(heavily paraphrased from decades old memory)