Here are some ideas you might have about Jhana Training and my response to them. This may seem humorously presented, but we know that many of you have real concerns about meditation and that it might harm you. There’s nothing funny about that.
Can Meditation Make Me Crazy?
In short, if you’ve meditated before and not had mental health issues over it, you’ll be fine meditating on this path too. There’s nothing bizarre here. It’s regimented. It’s exact. It isn’t any more harmful than any other meditation you’ve ever done. Meditation is generally not harmful to most people. If you have mental health challenges you definitely should consult professionals and ask whether a meditation program on the breath could have negative aspects you may want to avoid at this time.
Is this Some Kind of Brainwashing?
No, absolutely not. In fact, there is nothing you’re putting into your mind that isn’t already there. The flowering of the Jhanas as you enter each one, is there in your head already. You’re just able to access them after a period of preparation and practice. Brainwashing implies putting information into your mind that you later come to believe is the truth. It usually has nepharious roots. We can assure you, we want nothing but the highest level of functioning for you during and after these programs we offer.
Will I Lose the Ego and Who I Am Forever? Will I Lose Me?
Hopefully, yes! For a while. Likely a short while. Losing the ego occurs in a number of meditative states like: Perfect Concentration, merging with a mind sign (Buddhists call it nimitta), Jhanas 1-8, and non-dual states. The egoless (non-dual) states can last for minutes to hours at first as you begin to get into the Jhanas. At some point you may experience an awakening of some degree. Lack of ego and feeling of self may last for days or even weeks. You will surely know when you’re on such a serious path and have time to get some resources in place to get you through that situation.
I Have a Fear of Losing Control
Some people think Jhana means “losing themselves” or getting trapped in some trance where they can’t come back. The ego interprets “letting go” as dying, so there’s a deep subconscious panic about surrendering full control of the mind. This is a natural state of mind that will show up over and over until you’re able to rationalize that you’re not in any harm if you let go of control. It’s a difficult thing for most people. For some it’s harder than others. It shouldn’t be impossible for anyone over time to realize that every time control is released, there is no negative consequence for it, only forward movement down the path.
Mistrust of Teachers
There’s a justified skepticism. Too many self-proclaimed gurus talk BS, nonsense, exaggerate, or misuse power. People don’t trust that the teacher won’t manipulate them psychologically, sexually, or financially once they’re vulnerable. I don’t know how to decrease your mistrust, but over time you’ll come to realize that I have no malicious or any negative intent for you whatsoever. I’m an extreme empath and I feel your pain like you do. Strangers and loved ones alike. I think you’ll be OK as you see my actions over time. I have no agenda with you except helping you reach whatever goals YOU have for yourself.
Religious Conditioning
If someone was raised in a Christian, Muslim, or other faith-based environment, they may have subconscious programming that says deep meditation opens “demonic” doors or is some Eastern cult practice that’s spiritually dangerous. I can only tell you from direct experience that since starting meditation nearly thirty years ago I’ve never had any experience with demons, the demonic, ghosts, evil spirits, or anything like it. I’ve never heard of any meditator having any experience like this either. You can retain your faith and meditate. These programs have absolutely nothing to do with Buddhism or any other religion or the supernatural world. All practices here are religionless. I promise.
Fear of Facing Buried Trauma
The moment the mind goes quiet, old emotional garbage starts surfacing. That scares a lot of people because they’ve built their lives on distraction. They’re not ready to meet their repressed grief, anger, or shame. Again, consult professionals about beginning a meditation practice if you have experienced some horrific things in the past that may pop up. They may pop up. Having the resources to deal with that when it happens is essential. Meditation is a great way to surface those things and deal with them, but you may need a team of people helping you get through it.
Misunderstanding What “Deep” Means
People imagine “deep meditation” as some mystical blackout or drug trip. They don’t realize it’s actually a razor-sharp, stable awareness. The mystery freaks them out because they can’t imagine functioning without thought. When you read or listen to my description of some of the states of Jhana or even odd experiences that popped up before, you may be afraid of them happening. This is natural. I have found that most people don’t have anywhere near the number of bizarre experiences I had before reaching Jhana. I wrote a book about 101 of the weird things that happened during my sessions. You can find it at Amazon here: 101 Curious and Bizarre Meditation Experiences.
Fear of Failure
Some people are afraid they’ll try it and “fail.” That they won’t reach anything profound and it’ll prove they’re spiritually broken or incapable. They don’t want to feel like the one person who “can’t meditate.” The thing is, there are plenty of people who stop meditating before they have any meaningful success. At least success that they notice. Gains are hard to see sometimes. They can be subtle. If you keep going, you WILL have success to varying degrees. I’ve not known anyone to try for even 3 months and not have any positive results at all. Keep Going!!!!
Misbelief That Jhana Is Dangerous
You may have heard myths from monks or others in forums saying “don’t go too far” or “you could get stuck.” It’s all rooted in misunderstanding. But once someone hears that, it lodges in the mind like a warning sign: don’t go there. I was getting a master’s in psychology at the time of my Jhana experiences. I shared with my teachers who I thought knew something about the mind. Nobody understood what was going on in my head during my meditation sessions. Body feeling – gone. Ego – gone. Only awareness remained to some degree. At times in some of the Jhanas it was hard to even know if any awareness was present. These can be shocking states, I stopped meditating for 6 years to chase back the ego and become the person I was before. I regained much of the ego, but I was still already forever changed for the better. After 6 years I spoke with a forest monk from Wat Suan Mokkh here in Thailand – who was back in the states. He calmed my fears. Jhana wasn’t detrimental in any way. It was very high attainment that dissolves the ego for a time and causes incredible changes to the mind and self. I began meditation again in 2004. 🙂