[Buddha-l] Meditation and mental illness

[Erik Hoogcarspel]

Op 25-07-10 03:07, Dan Lusthaus schreef:
>   Basic calming exercises (counting
> breaths, etc.) should be relatively safe, for most people.
>
>    
Hi Luke and others,
I once practiced TM, which is a form of meditation that relies on quick 
and deep concentration. I did a brief course in assisting people with 
problems in meditating and I was told that some people cannot even sit 
quiet with their eyes closed once their meditation arouses tensions. I 
met a young lady who had no traumatic past, nonetheless she panicked 
after a very nice meditative experience, jumped out of the window on the 
second floor and broke her ankle. She needed ambulant psychiatric 
treatment for a year after this. I also witnessed people freak out. I 
discussed this with some Vipassana teachers (all Thai monks) and they 
told me that concentration is dangerous for people with traumas and I 
can add now also for people with ADHD-like problems. Mindfulness seems 
to be a much safer way to develop oneself and in the case of mental 
problems I would try meditation combined with physical exercise, like 
yoga or taiji. Its' always important to be aware of what your'e doing 
and of what it does to you, so that you don't loose control.

erik