Meditation is primarily known for its positive effects on health. It is only in recent years that potential risks and negative effects have increasingly become the focus of research. The working group has carried out a research project on this topic that deals with the following questions:
- What difficult, challenging or unpleasant experiences can be triggered by the regular practice of meditation?
- How are these experiences interpreted by those affected?
- What measures are helpful in dealing with such experiences?
- What factors contribute to the occurrence of such experiences?
As part of the project, over 100 people (meditators, teachers, therapists) were interviewed about their experiences. A questionnaire was developed on the basis of the interview data, which is now used in the counseling at IGPP to record the phenomena and the stress associated with them.
The results of the project were reported on in numerous presentations and interviews.
