| There is a conception that meditation can cause | | | | it, wring it out of it's bad energy and let it go. |
| one to "lose his mind" or become delusional. Many | | | | As we've said, Insight Meditation is the practice of |
| people think that getting into meditation will cause | | | | awareness, awareness of everything including the |
| an individual to lose touch with reality, become | | | | bad. But meditating in of itself is not dangerous |
| distant from family and friends. They think "only | | | | and is actually a very soothing, comfortable |
| people in cults meditate". | | | | process. Obviously one should be prudent at first, |
| While its true that some people have not handled | | | | get the right instruction and guidance and take it |
| meditation properly and went off on the deep | | | | slow. When or if things come up that is negative |
| end, isn't it true that with any endeavor if not | | | | or scary, just be aware and practice equanimity. |
| done properly there is a risk? And yes, | | | | Do not focus on the negative but let it pass as |
| sometimes during a point in meditation you will | | | | you would a leaf blowing by you in the fall breeze. |
| dredge up negative stuff from the past that you | | | | Some people later in their practice choose to align |
| would just as soon leave in the past. But that | | | | with a mentor or competent teacher and explore |
| actually is one of the goals in meditation, to | | | | even deeper exercises. This can be highly |
| expunge bad karma and rid the self of a | | | | beneficial but is usually done by a very |
| cancerous core of negativity that, while you may | | | | experienced mediator. In the beginning, take it |
| not know it, is affecting who you are as a person | | | | slow and easy and enjoy the process and growth |
| - and not in a good way. The way to deal with | | | | you'll experience. |
| anything negative is to bring it out, acknowledge | | | | |