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On top of that nearly all ancient texts on meditation basically include a "do not try this at home" statement of sorts. A pretty common theme is that meditation

On top of that nearly all ancient texts on meditation basically include a "do not try this at home" statement of sorts. A pretty common theme is that meditation should be practiced in close proximity to an accomplished master with their guidance. This is not dissimilar to the advice anyone who makes use of psychedelics will give. Of course people want quick and easy so "accomplished master" can easily be subbed out for "local yoga teacher" or even "NYT best selling book". Most people who claim benefits from meditation would likely reap even more benefits from just making sure they had an hour or half hour distraction free with time for their thoughts. Go for a walk alone, or find a quiet place and write in a journal, give your self some time before you fall as sleep to think just think to yourself.

galaxyLogic 6y ago
> On top of that nearly all ancient texts on meditation basically include a "do not try this at home" statement of sorts. I didn't know that. But I can see that being a "guru" or a "priest" is a profession, say like being a doctor is one. Now doctors are unlikely to say "go heal yourself". Rather they are likely to say "Come see me in 2 weeks and pay another $300 bucks". So I suspect if ancient texts say "Do not try this without a teacher" the reason may be that teachers need students.
- muffinman26 6y ago
  Doctors want money, but that does't mean they're completely useless. I wouldn't want to perform surgery on myself. I recently read "A History of God" by Karen Armstrong, which covers the evolution of religion and various mystical traditions in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It's a really interesting book and one of the points she brings up is that there are many historical examples of attempts at mystical experimentation that end in madness. The teacher is supposed to be a sort of life guard. Ultimately, the book made me even more skeptical of religion and meditation than I already was. Spiritual/meditative introspection seems like a risky and dangerous process.
  - cmrx64 6y ago
    what's the background rate on madness in the non-mystical-experimentation population?
    - galaxyLogic 6y ago
      Good point. Madness can attack anybody

galaxyLogic 6y ago

> On top of that nearly all ancient texts on meditation basically include a "do not try this at home" statement of sorts. I didn't know that. But I can see that being a "guru" or a "priest" is a profession, say like being a doctor is one. Now doctors are unlikely to say "go heal yourself". Rather they are likely to say "Come see me in 2 weeks and pay another $300 bucks". So I suspect if ancient texts say "Do not try this without a teacher" the reason may be that teachers need students.

muffinman26 6y ago
Doctors want money, but that does't mean they're completely useless. I wouldn't want to perform surgery on myself. I recently read "A History of God" by Karen Armstrong, which covers the evolution of religion and various mystical traditions in Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. It's a really interesting book and one of the points she brings up is that there are many historical examples of attempts at mystical experimentation that end in madness. The teacher is supposed to be a sort of life guard. Ultimately, the book made me even more skeptical of religion and meditation than I already was. Spiritual/meditative introspection seems like a risky and dangerous process.
- cmrx64 6y ago
  what's the background rate on madness in the non-mystical-experimentation population?
  - galaxyLogic 6y ago
    Good point. Madness can attack anybody