Can meditation be dangerous?

Probably sounds like a really stupid question. But i was just wonderin, cos i tried it for the first time a few weeks ago, and it felt really weird and since then my minds been messed up.
All i did was sit, relax, and think of nothing. I just ignored whatever thoughts i had for about 5 minutes. But when i came out of it i was full of negative feelin, and have been irritable and easily upset ever since.

Thanks-
Love-Maxi.Xx

 

yeah. a couple of times i meditated i started feeling really sick and out of it. A really negative side effect to a great thing i guess...

 

Yes, meditation can evoke this. We are constanly learning about the self. Particular forms of this "learning about the self" are accelerated while we are in different states of mind. Meditation accelerates what our minds are already trying to do. Instead of shutting out thoughts, you might try letting your mind drift to wherever it drifts naturally and note your awarenesses. See this link that describes this form of mediation in connection with another issue.


Peace and Healing,

David

 

I copied and pasted part of the post that I referred to above:

"...

In other words people, all people, have evoked awarenesses of themselves when they experience other people. Often times people have not learned that one of the golden rules is to continuously learn about yourself. This is what meditation and all good spirtitual art is about - continuously learning about the self.

... Just as with the source of poetry these are originally experiences in our minds that are not in spoken or written laugauge but, instead, are in "the langauge of feelings." So listen to yourself by noting your experience. This means practice listening to your experience by noting what you can, noting what "comes to mind." When you do this you will see that too much information is passing by to verbally note. As this happens note that too much is going by to note and continue to note experience. Note anything: "this is silly"; "I am afraid"; "I want peace"; "I am embarrassed"; "there is too much going by to verbally note; "I have this sensation" etc, etc. If you are focused and have some faith you will see that the mind "jumps over" into strongly conversing with itself in the "langauge of feelings." With a little practice you do this at anytime; while you are having conversations, while you are walking through the world, while someone is making fun of you. Buddists call this Vipassana meditation, its complement is another form of medation called Shamatha meditation - look it up. Usually Shamatha is practiced first but it OK to do Vipassana first - you will find Shamatha as well. In my opinion many other religions teach the same thing in other forms, by other names.

You will find that part of what you note are your wishes, that is your prayers. These are very important and they can help bring about good...

"Blessed are the peacemakers .." Jesus

..."

 

2 points:


1. Ignoring thoughts is generally not a good idea - that's supression and supressions of thoughts and emotion is very unhealthy. The best way to deal with a wandering mind during meditation is simply to become aware that it's wandering and not invest any more energy into it wandering and soon it'll peter out naturally. Ignorance is never the route I would recommend ever.

2. Medititation can be dangerous if, you are not somewhat sound mentally. We have mechanisms that prevent us from becoming exposed to too much of what's inside at once because if we did it could destroy us. Meditation is very much a process of shining a torch into the deep, dark crevices of our mind and sometimes we are not ready to see some of what's there.

I would say that at the moment meditation is not for you - by the sounds of it you've got enough to deal with as it is, just deal with that first.

Blessings

Sebbi

 

...and I would say focus your meditation. It's true, meditation brings clarity to many things. It brings it slowly, though. So if you've got some negative issues to heal, at first you'll only have a vague perception of 'what's beneath the surface.' It'll come, though. I suggest you practice loving kindness, or metta meditation.


"With a loving heart as a background, all that we attempt, all that we encounter will open and flow more easily. Loving kindness meditation uses phrases, images, and feelings to evoke a loving kindness and friendliness toward oneself and others. It is best to begin this practice by meditating for fifteen or twenty minutes daily in a quiet place.
Sit in a comfortable fashion. Let your body rest and be relaxed. Let your heart be soft, letting go of plans and preoccupations. Then begin to recite inwardly the following phrases directed to yourself. You begin with yourself because without loving yourself it is almost impossible to love others.

May I be filled with loving kindness.
May I be well.
May I be peaceful and at ease.
May I be happy.

As you repeat these phrases, you can picture yourself as a young and beloved child, or sense yourself as you are now, held in a heart of loving kindness. Adjust the words and images in any way you need to find the exact phrases that best open your heart of kindness. Repeat the phrarses over and over again, letting the feelings permeate your body and mind. Practie this meditation for a number of weeks, until the sense of loving kindness for yourself grows.
Be aware that this meditation may at times feel mechanical or awkward or even bring up feelings contrary to loving kindness., feelings of irritation or anger. If this happens, it is especially important to be patient and kind toward yourself, allowing whatever arises to be received in a spirit of friendliness and kind affection."

Jack Kornfield wrote that, and there's a bit more too, but my wrists are tired.

If you practice this meditation daily for a week, your life will start to turn around. Well, it did for me, and has for everyone I know that has tried it. You may be interested to know that you'll change biologically. For one thing, your brain chemistry will change--I read in the Times magazine that they tested monks brain activity who'd been practicing this for 35 years, and compared it with activity in monks brains who'd been practicing for a very short time, and the difference was incredible. I think it said that they were monitoring the emotion-governing part of the brain. Anyway, a lot of my skin problems and relationship problem stuff has healed up since I started practicing, and the good effects go on.

Namaste
Ginger

 

Wow people, thank you all so much. Havent got time for a longer reply now, but will give one later. I especially like the idea of the loving kindness meditation and will certainly give it a go. Its also clearer to me now that it was wrong of me to surpress any thoughts i was having, and this was probably the cause of it feeling wrong.
Im glad to hear how meditations helped you all, and im sure with patience and practice, it can help me too.

Thank you all again and take care-
Love-Maxi.Xx

 

hey Maxi!

Metta practice is based on the idea that the more time the mind spends on one thing, the more inclined it is to return to that thing. ..so why not cultivate the magic of compassion and loving kindness?

Well you're on your way! Have fun, love!

Ginger

 

i have meditated since i was 13 and have only one bad experince with it..
I tried to work with the kundalini, at it got out of control, i had pain in about ½ year from that day until i found some who helped me control it.
There is so many different meditations out there, so u can find someone who is just you, i'm so lucky i have mine guided on cd with my lama guiding, its very nice and make it a bettet experice for me.

 

Whenever you meditate lie down for a few minutes afterwards and just feel what is going on in the body. This usually helps one balance again before activity.