CAN MEDITATION BE DANGEROUS ?
Meditation is like
everything else in the world. It has both benefits and dangers too. But
there is substantially more benefit than harm that comes from practising
meditation. Meditation creates happiness, peace,
creative intelligence and a meaningful life. However, as far as I
can see, there are only two dangers.
Firstly, if one enjoys
meditation too much and no longer fulfils one's duties in society, that
can ruin one's career. In such a case, it is better to turn professional
and become a monk instead!
Secondly, something common to all
sorts of meditation is that it is not suitable for those suffering from
the mental illness called "schizophreni".
Those suffering from schizophrenia should never meditate using any
technique of meditation. These people cannot control their own awareness
at all. While their teacher is trying to explain something they may be
listening instead to delusions and hallucinations. They cannot tell
which experiences are the real ones, and which ones are fantasy. As far
as I am aware, these are the only points of caution concerning
meditation.