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THE DARK SIDE OF DHARMA Meditation, Madness and Other Maladies on the Contemplative Path

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Anna Lutkajtis at The University of Sydney
Anna Lutkajtis
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Abstract

An Exploration of the Hidden Side of Meditation The Dark Side of Dharma explores some of the possible undesirable side effects – also known as ‘adverse effects’ - of meditation and mindfulness. Researcher Anna Lutkajtis investigates why these effects, which are well-known in spiritual and religious traditions, have been ignored in contemporary secular contexts, such as Western psychology. Lutkajtis’ research reveals that while meditation is commonly portrayed as a practice that is overwhelmingly positive, a growing number of research studies and anecdotal reports suggest that meditation can also have negative effects. Some meditators believe that these adverse effects are a normal part of the contemplative path and a welcome sign of progress. For others, such effects are completely unexpected and can be psychologically harmful. In religious traditions like Buddhism, difficulties associated with meditation are acknowledged and are usually viewed as milestones on the path to enlightenment or the result of an unbalanced practice. In such traditional contexts, meditation teachers are equipped to deal with adverse effects if and when they arise. However, in the modern West, meditation adverse effects have been overlooked, under-researched, and generally misunderstood. Given the current popularity of meditation, Lutkajtis argues that it is important to understand why meditation adverse effects have been ignored in contemporary secular settings. ANNA LUTKAJTIS is a postgraduate researcher from Sydney, Australia. Her research focuses on mysticism, psychedelics, and the relationship between mental health, religion and spirituality.
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THE DARK SIDE OF DHARMA
Meditation, Madness and Other
Maladies on the Contemplative Path
By Anna Lutkajtis
Out March 2021
At aeonbooks.co.uk
Paperback. RRP: £16.99
The Dark Side of Dharma explores some of the possible
undesirable side effects – also known as ‘adverse effects’ - of
meditation and mindfulness. Researcher Anna Lutkajtis
investigates why these effects, which are well-known in
spiritual and religious traditions, have been ignored in
contemporary secular contexts, such as Western psychology.
Lutkajtis’ research reveals that while meditation is commonly portrayed as a practice that is
overwhelmingly positive, a growing number of research studies and anecdotal reports suggest that
meditation can also have negative effects. Some meditators believe that these adverse effects are a
normal part of the contemplative path and a welcome sign of progress. For others, such effects are
completely unexpected and can be psychologically harmful.
In religious traditions like Buddhism, difficulties associated with meditation are acknowledged and are
usually viewed as milestones on the path to enlightenment or the result of an unbalanced practice. In
such traditional contexts, meditation teachers are equipped to deal with adverse effects if and when
they arise. However, in the modern West, meditation adverse effects have been overlooked, under-
researched, and generally misunderstood.
Given the current popularity of meditation, Lutkajtis argues that it is important to understand why
meditation adverse effects have been ignored in contemporary secular settings.
Anna Lutkatis is a postgraduate researcher from Sydney, Australia. Her research focuses on mysticism,
psychedelics, and the relationship between mental health, religion and spirituality.
Anna is available for interviews and talks.
Please contact tania@aeonbooks.co.uk for review copies and further information.
Trade terms available for bookshops.
Paperback. RRP: £16.99
182 pages
Available to pre-order from Aeon Books
Discount code DS20 for 20% off applied at checkout.
Valid until 31.03.21
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... Some instances of dissociative states and psychosis onset after intense meditation retreats have also been reported (Kuijpers et al., 2007;Lomas et al., 2015;Lustyk et al., 2009; see also Lindahl et al., 2017;Lutkajtis, 2021). Meditative traditions generally emphasize the importance of an ethical, preparative, and integrative framework in supporting meditative practices to minimize the extent of such debilitating consequences (Lutkajtis, 2021). Finally, as the epistemic value of such fundamental insights is unclear, there is room for debate whether the potential therapeutic benefits outweigh being entrenched with spiritual, possibly false beliefs. ...
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Occasionally a solution arrives as a sudden understanding - an insight. Insight has been considered as an “extra” ingredient of creative thinking and problem-solving. Here we propose that insight is a central process in seemingly distinct areas of research. Drawing on literature from a variety of fields, we show that besides being a common topic in problem-solving literature, insight is also a core component in psychotherapy, essential for some forms of meditation, a key process underlying the emergence of primary delusions in schizophrenia, and a factor that drives the positive outcomes of psychedelic therapy. Our goal is to bridge these different views and research traditions. In each case, we discuss the prerequisites and consequences of insight. We examine evidence for common prerequisites of insight experiences, comprising a tension within knowledge structures and a plastic state of mind. We discuss a framework for explaining insight across these fields and highlight the clinical relevance of studying insight. This integrative review provides a better understanding of insight, a central feature of our minds.
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... An example is meditation that can lead to serious adverse effects according to the growing number of research evidence. For example, it can trigger dissociation in the survivors of unprocessed severe trauma or suicidal ideation in the individuals with psychotic experiences (Lutkajtis, 2021). Dr Fogel mentions such studies, albeit noting that they relate to dysregulation or modulation. ...
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