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Deep psychological issues and meditation

Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 12:26 pm
by Goob
I found this video interview with Leigh Brasington on meditation practice and its relation to deep psychological issues that may come up during practice. Some interesting points being made.

http://vimeo.com/61893225

Re: Deep psychological issues and meditation

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 3:29 am
by essai
Thank you very much for this link. It put to words some concepts I had been somewhat cognizant of, but hadn't really been able to fully explore.

An acquaintance of mine, who had come to me for an introduction to mindfulness practice, was sidelined by an unsettling revelation much in the way that Brasington described. Sure enough, parental trauma played a role. I wish I had thought to refocus her on self-focused metta meditation, or otherwise "getting grounded" before we lost contact. I'll save this for her in case our paths cross again.

I find it interesting too that they noted how big-picture thinking can falter in the period after heavy concentration — another curious point I'll keep an eye out for in myself. They mention the example of some people falling into temporary space-cadet-mode after a long meditation session, circa ~22min. I've never thought of it as an issue (of course, I've never left behind my shoes either), but I can see how it would be worth talking about the "Yogi mind" experience if it commonly plays out like that, and some new practitioners find it unsettling.

Re: Deep psychological issues and meditation

Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:35 pm
by Goob
Yeah, a lot of things that LB is saying in the video strike me as important. I think we, and especially young men, succumb to the lone hero toughing it out narrative common to our culture. Having sat a couple of popular retreats in a tradition that I feel doesn't really offer any emotional or psychological support during long, trying days of sitting and focusing, I feel that some people need to be told that strict retreats are perhaps not the way for them, and that some things are not dealt with by focusing on the nostrils but by talking and being in a supportive environment.