Christian vs. Eastern Meditation: Similarities and Differences!

bluemason3 said:I don't think they are; it’s just that growing mushrooms is illegal.

Theoretically, someone could monitor these conversations just to hunt for anyone growing mushrooms, but honestly, that seems like a massive waste of resources. Unless you're buying enough to suspect actual industrial-scale production or large-scale distribution, it’s pretty pointless.

It isn't an opiate. It's more like LSD in the sense that we're talking about serotonergic hallucinogens.

I wouldn't jump straight into using anything without knowing the subject matter better. Give yourself at least a few months to really dig in and understand what you’re deciding on. Make sure you look at it from all angles, not just the ones that sound good to you. Sites like Erowid are a solid place to start your research.

Also, if there’s any sign of personal or family history involving mental health issues linked to neurotransmitter hyperactivity—specifically manic episodes, psychosis, or indicators of schizophrenia—it's probably a no-go. The same applies if you deal with depersonalization, derealization, or more serious physical concerns like heart issues, blood pressure, or metabolic problems. Better to steer clear.

What kind of nonsense is that—calling it "unconditional love"... 🤣

bluemason3 said:I don't think they are; it’s just that growing mushrooms is illegal.

Theoretically, someone could monitor these conversations just to hunt for anyone growing mushrooms, but honestly, that seems like a massive waste of resources. Unless you're buying enough to suspect actual industrial-scale production or large-scale distribution, it’s pretty pointless.

It isn't an opiate. It's more like LSD in the sense that we're talking about serotonergic hallucinogens.

I wouldn't jump straight into using anything without knowing the subject matter better. Give yourself at least a few months to really dig in and understand what you’re deciding on. Make sure you look at it from all angles, not just the ones that sound good to you. Sites like Erowid are a solid place to start your research.

Also, if there’s any sign of personal or family history involving mental health issues linked to neurotransmitter hyperactivity—specifically manic episodes, psychosis, or indicators of schizophrenia—it's probably a no-go. The same applies if you deal with depersonalization, derealization, or more serious physical concerns like heart issues, blood pressure, or metabolic problems. Better to steer clear.

Haha, well, if I'm being totally honest, I definitely fall into that ADHD category.
I guess we'll see! I'm feeling pretty good right now, even when I take a little bit and it hits me a bit hard.😵

lonestag15 said:Look, why don't you come back once you actually finish an electrical engineering degree and grasp what he was doing... then we can talk.

You're being incredibly rude—it's enough to drive anyone crazy. It’s impossible to have a decent debate with you because the second I state something I know for a fact, you just snap back that "every idiot" is twisting words... so, what, is that supposed to be directed at me or something?

That is such a trash argument.

Fun fact: I went through technical high school for electrical tech and then finished a degree in applied sciences that was packed with power engineering courses, so yeah, my understanding of electrical engineering is pretty damn solid.

So, what exactly are your credentials?

lonestag15 said:Look, why don't you come back once you actually finish an electrical engineering degree and grasp what he was doing... then we can talk.

You're being incredibly rude—it's enough to drive anyone crazy. It’s impossible to have a decent debate with you because the second I state something I know for a fact, you just snap back that "every idiot" is twisting words... so, what, is that supposed to be directed at me or something?

Most of what you think you know is just random guesswork and delusions.

Look, sometimes you can't be honest without coming off as a bit blunt.

lonestag15 said:Man, seriously... I've actually read his biographies... and I even went to that "Nikola Tesla mind from the future" exhibit in New York where they were explaining all these Hindu concepts and how he was connected to them. They had these huge statues of Ganesha and Swami Vivekananda—who, by the way, was famously close with Tesla...

I mean, for real, maybe just do a quick Google search before trying to hit me with a counter-argument...

I was at that exact exhibit, and there wasn't a single mention of Hinduism or any statues of gods anywhere in the building.

neonmarlin39 said:It’s a pretty standard way to look at it, though. You see it mentioned clearly right in the Bible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Yogas

From that link:
Quincy:

The idea of organizing Hindu monotheism into these four specific paths or "Yogas" is actually a relatively modern concept, pushed by Vivekananda back in the 1890s in his work Yoga.

Steven Stewart3 said:Haha, well, if I'm being totally honest, I definitely fall into that ADHD category.
I guess we'll see! I'm feeling pretty good right now, even when I take a little bit and it hits me a bit hard.😵

It can absolutely trigger psychosis in people who are already predisposed—it's definitely not for everyone. Basically, it's a hard NO for anyone with a family history of mental illness . Unless you're already in the middle of an episode, then there isn't much of a difference... 😵

neonmarlin39 said:What kind of proof? What are you even talking about here? Where is it actually proven that those specific practices cause psychosis, let alone that the psychosis in those people was caused solely by them? You're just talking nonsense, honestly, kind of like those sources that patriot keeps citing...

Alright 🤣

Look, people have shared their stories—whether you choose to buy into them or not is entirely up to you... But seriously, just try this: search for "kundalini symptoms" and watch about ten different videos. Then, switch gears and search for "psychosis" and read through those testimonials. Compare the two, and you'll pretty much reach your own conclusion...

And honestly, all those Eastern exercises being pushed by the New Age crowd? They’re basically just a massive dopamine hit—the whole "spiritual" side of it is pretty questionable... which is exactly why people hit those ecstatic states. If you've already got a predisposition for mental health issues, that excess dopamine can act as a total trigger...

neonmarlin39 said:What kind of proof? What are you even talking about here? Where is it actually proven that those specific practices cause psychosis, let alone that the psychosis in those people was caused solely by them? You're just talking nonsense, honestly, kind of like those sources that patriot keeps citing...

Alright 🤣

What's this supposed to mean?
Are you actually gonna act like a normal human being, or are you just gonna keep acting like a twelve-year-old clown...

I’ll tell you exactly how long I stuck with those exercises and what kind of results I actually saw. And then what? Just more immature mocking of the whole thing?...

Steven Stewart3 said:But where does Raya or any system focused on the actual physical practice fit in—you know, stuff like concentration, pranayama, and all that?
In my book, Karma yoga is really about embracing suffering to chip away at the ego. To me, that's the ultimate goal of yoga anyway: totally crushing the ego. It’s not some "helping others" thing like Mother Theresa; I mean, sure, people need help, but they should go to doctors for that, not a karma yogi. Just my two cents, though!

Breaking things down into Raja Yoga was actually introduced much later; it wasn't part of the traditional setup. That came from Vivekananda. It’s basically his way of labeling Ashtanga Yoga and how he interpreted it. Same goes for Kriya Yoga. Most of these systems pretty much revolve around meditation or some variation of it, along with other practices like pranayama, depending on the specific school. For example, the Ashtanga system is a mix of Bhakti, Karma, and Jnana yoga.

Karma is just action. It's what you do. When you meditate, that's karma. When you help someone out, that's karma too.

lonestag15 said:Look, people have shared their stories—whether you choose to buy into them or not is entirely up to you... But seriously, just try this: search for "kundalini symptoms" and watch about ten different videos. Then, switch gears and search for "psychosis" and read through those testimonials. Compare the two, and you'll pretty much reach your own conclusion...

And honestly, all those Eastern exercises being pushed by the New Age crowd? They’re basically just a massive dopamine hit—the whole "spiritual" side of it is pretty questionable... which is exactly why people hit those ecstatic states. If you've already got a predisposition for mental health issues, that excess dopamine can act as a total trigger...

What's this supposed to mean?
Are you actually gonna act like a normal human being, or are you just gonna keep acting like a twelve-year-old clown...

I’ll tell you exactly how long I stuck with those exercises and what kind of results I actually saw. And then what? Just more immature mocking of the whole thing?...

The issue is that it's tough to draw a line between a biological predisposition, an active illness, and the influence of the practice itself.

Also, since any kind of practice likely has some effect, there isn't really a reason yet to assume that "Kundalini yoga ( 🙄 )" is any more dangerous than contemplative or ascetic practices found in Christianity or elsewhere.

bluemason3 said:From that link:
Quincy:

The idea of organizing Hindu monotheism into these four specific paths or "Yogas" is actually a relatively modern concept, pushed by Vivekananda back in the 1890s in his work Yoga.

So, what? I’m still standing by what I said... Basically, Vivekananda brought Raja Yoga into the mix alongside those three classic paths, and that’s pretty much exactly what your quote is getting at. 😁

Same thing from that link:

Shankara was pretty much all about that gyan-yoga life, focusing almost entirely on gaining knowledge or vidya. Honestly, he didn't think much of karma-yoga—kind of looked down on it as being secondary. But then you look at the stuff he actually wrote, and it’s interesting. He penned some of the most legendary hymns dedicated to deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, and Subrahmanya, which really shows he had a huge soft spot for Bhakti-Yoga.

So, I was reading up on this 12th-century philosopher, Ramanuja, and how he looked at the three different yogas through the lens of what Yamunacharya taught. It’s pretty interesting stuff. From how he saw it, Bhakti-Yoga is basically the main highway to spiritual liberation—but there's a catch. You can't just jump straight into it. Apparently, you’ve gotta put in the work first, training your mind and soul through both Karma yoga and Jnana yoga before that path even opens up to you. Kind of like how you can't just walk into a high-end gym in NYC and start benching 300 pounds without doing the cardio and prep work first, you know? You gotta build the foundation first.

Do we all agree that this whole division goes way deeper than just Vivekananda?

Paul Rogers94 said:It can absolutely trigger psychosis in people who are already predisposed—it's definitely not for everyone. Basically, it's a hard NO for anyone with a family history of mental illness . Unless you're already in the middle of an episode, then there isn't much of a difference... 😵

Alright, let's get into this because people constantly mix these two up, and honestly, there's a massive difference between schizophrenia and psychosis! It’s not like they're the exact same thing, even though everyone uses the terms interchangeably. Think of it like this: psychosis is more of a symptom—a specific experience where your brain starts playing tricks on you, making things feel super real when they aren't—whereas schizophrenia is the actual clinical diagnosis. You can have a psychotic episode without having schizophrenia, but if someone has schizophrenia, they'll definitely deal with psychosis at some point. It's a huge distinction, so don't go tossing them around like they're synonyms!
Honestly, I feel like most people diving deep into the spiritual scene are just dealing with a bit of psychosis. It’s a different ballgame when you start seeing actual psychopathy or full-blown madness creeping in—that’s where things get truly heavy. But hey, I think most of us pretty much get what I mean, right?

Steven Stewart3 said:Alright, let's get into this because people constantly mix these two up, and honestly, there's a massive difference between schizophrenia and psychosis! It’s not like they're the exact same thing, even though everyone uses the terms interchangeably. Think of it like this: psychosis is more of a symptom—a specific experience where your brain starts playing tricks on you, making things feel super real when they aren't—whereas schizophrenia is the actual clinical diagnosis. You can have a psychotic episode without having schizophrenia, but if someone has schizophrenia, they'll definitely deal with psychosis at some point. It's a huge distinction, so don't go tossing them around like they're synonyms!
Honestly, I feel like most people diving deep into the spiritual scene are just dealing with a bit of psychosis. It’s a different ballgame when you start seeing actual psychopathy or full-blown madness creeping in—that’s where things get truly heavy. But hey, I think most of us pretty much get what I mean, right?

It’s all of the above, and honestly, there isn't much of a distinction in practice. You're usually diagnosed with acute psychosis first; nobody just walks in and gets handed a schizophrenia diagnosis right away. It takes a few episodes or however the clinical process works before they label it schizophrenia. No one starts out with a schizophrenia diagnosis—it's always acute psychosis. Let's not kid ourselves...

The idea that most spiritual seekers suffer from psychosis is nonsense. If anything, psychosis latches onto spirituality. Spirituality has nothing to do with psychosis, just like any other interest might. A psychotic individual can fixate on anything—spirituality is just one more thing they can get hung up on.

lonestag15 said:Look, people have shared their stories—whether you choose to buy into them or not is entirely up to you... But seriously, just try this: search for "kundalini symptoms" and watch about ten different videos. Then, switch gears and search for "psychosis" and read through those testimonials. Compare the two, and you'll pretty much reach your own conclusion...

And honestly, all those Eastern exercises being pushed by the New Age crowd? They’re basically just a massive dopamine hit—the whole "spiritual" side of it is pretty questionable... which is exactly why people hit those ecstatic states. If you've already got a predisposition for mental health issues, that excess dopamine can act as a total trigger...

What's this supposed to mean?
Are you actually gonna act like a normal human being, or are you just gonna keep acting like a twelve-year-old clown...

I’ll tell you exactly how long I stuck with those exercises and what kind of results I actually saw. And then what? Just more immature mocking of the whole thing?...

Look, we've already been over this—how much weight those personal accounts actually carry and whether they count as "real" proof, just like some random YouTube video...

lonestag15 said:Look, people have shared their stories—whether you choose to buy into them or not is entirely up to you... But seriously, just try this: search for "kundalini symptoms" and watch about ten different videos. Then, switch gears and search for "psychosis" and read through those testimonials. Compare the two, and you'll pretty much reach your own conclusion...

And honestly, all those Eastern exercises being pushed by the New Age crowd? They’re basically just a massive dopamine hit—the whole "spiritual" side of it is pretty questionable... which is exactly why people hit those ecstatic states. If you've already got a predisposition for mental health issues, that excess dopamine can act as a total trigger...

What's this supposed to mean?
Are you actually gonna act like a normal human being, or are you just gonna keep acting like a twelve-year-old clown...

I’ll tell you exactly how long I stuck with those exercises and what kind of results I actually saw. And then what? Just more immature mocking of the whole thing?...

Belief doesn't really factor into it for me. I don't even come close to using those kinds of sources or methods when I'm trying to figure stuff out.

neonmarlin39 said:So, what? I’m still standing by what I said... Basically, Vivekananda brought Raja Yoga into the mix alongside those three classic paths, and that’s pretty much exactly what your quote is getting at. 😁

Same thing from that link:

Shankara was pretty much all about that gyan-yoga life, focusing almost entirely on gaining knowledge or vidya. Honestly, he didn't think much of karma-yoga—kind of looked down on it as being secondary. But then you look at the stuff he actually wrote, and it’s interesting. He penned some of the most legendary hymns dedicated to deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Ganesha, and Subrahmanya, which really shows he had a huge soft spot for Bhakti-Yoga.

So, I was reading up on this 12th-century philosopher, Ramanuja, and how he looked at the three different yogas through the lens of what Yamunacharya taught. It’s pretty interesting stuff. From how he saw it, Bhakti-Yoga is basically the main highway to spiritual liberation—but there's a catch. You can't just jump straight into it. Apparently, you’ve gotta put in the work first, training your mind and soul through both Karma yoga and Jnana yoga before that path even opens up to you. Kind of like how you can't just walk into a high-end gym in NYC and start benching 300 pounds without doing the cardio and prep work first, you know? You gotta build the foundation first.

Do we all agree that this whole division goes way deeper than just Vivekananda?

Some of these terms are actually quite old—even if they aren't used much in every sect these days—which is what I was getting at in the first place.

Presenting this division as a formal system designed to categorize and describe all Hindu traditions seems to be based on Vivekananda's approach.

Steven Stewart3 said:Alright, let's get into this because people constantly mix these two up, and honestly, there's a massive difference between schizophrenia and psychosis! It’s not like they're the exact same thing, even though everyone uses the terms interchangeably. Think of it like this: psychosis is more of a symptom—a specific experience where your brain starts playing tricks on you, making things feel super real when they aren't—whereas schizophrenia is the actual clinical diagnosis. You can have a psychotic episode without having schizophrenia, but if someone has schizophrenia, they'll definitely deal with psychosis at some point. It's a huge distinction, so don't go tossing them around like they're synonyms!
Honestly, I feel like most people diving deep into the spiritual scene are just dealing with a bit of psychosis. It’s a different ballgame when you start seeing actual psychopathy or full-blown madness creeping in—that’s where things get truly heavy. But hey, I think most of us pretty much get what I mean, right?

It's actually both (plus a third and fourth option).

Psychosis is a common feature of schizophrenia, but it isn't exclusive to it (though technically it falls under the broader umbrella of psychotic disorders).

Psychopathy doesn't have any direct link to schizophrenia—that's an entirely different category altogether (personality disorders).

And "madness" doesn't mean anything; it's not a diagnosis, just a slang term people use for basically everything.

Paul Rogers94 said:It’s all of the above, and honestly, there isn't much of a distinction in practice. You're usually diagnosed with acute psychosis first; nobody just walks in and gets handed a schizophrenia diagnosis right away. It takes a few episodes or however the clinical process works before they label it schizophrenia. No one starts out with a schizophrenia diagnosis—it's always acute psychosis. Let's not kid ourselves...

The idea that most spiritual seekers suffer from psychosis is nonsense. If anything, psychosis latches onto spirituality. Spirituality has nothing to do with psychosis, just like any other interest might. A psychotic individual can fixate on anything—spirituality is just one more thing they can get hung up on.

It's kind of like how a common cold turns into the flu. It's pretty much impossible for me to just suddenly "get" schizophrenia out of nowhere. Send me the proof immediately! 😁

goldenjackal6 said:That is such a trash argument.

Fun fact: I went through technical high school for electrical tech and then finished a degree in applied sciences that was packed with power engineering courses, so yeah, my understanding of electrical engineering is pretty damn solid.

So, what exactly are your credentials?

Most of what you think you know is just random guesswork and delusions.

Look, sometimes you can't be honest without coming off as a bit blunt.

I was at that exact exhibit, and there wasn't a single mention of Hinduism or any statues of gods anywhere in the building.

Electrical engineer and an AutoCAD specialist...
So, I was looking into the technical programs over at the University of Cleveland—you know, that whole engineering scene... just thinking about how different things run compared to the math departments at places like NYU. It’s a trip...

So you’ve got all this electrical engineering expertise, but zero clue about Kundalini... now that's an interesting combo...

Remember when I told you in that one post you sounded like some English professor? And then you hit me with that whole "elementary school plus four years of high school doesn't exactly make you a professor" line... typical...

You realize you’ve used the phrase "delusions of grandeur" like ten different times now—and totally out of context, too—mixing up psychiatric terms with psychological ones... which basically proves you didn't even know what the term meant until two days ago. I mean, you literally just sent me a message about it like ten days back. You can't even get the terminology right before you just go copy-paste some random crap from the internet and call it "hallucinations of grandeur"... honestly...

You remember when I told that guy he was basically just projecting an image of God, right?
It doesn't exist because projection is just taking your own baggage and pinning it on someone else... so, honestly, when you claim that, you're really just describing yourself—the guy who’s supposedly an "expert in psychology" or whatever. Nobody can project an image of God...

So, you actually noticed that I typed "mAlEtonin" two days ago before I fixed it to "melatonin"... which pretty much confirms my theory—I didn't even know how to spell it myself, I was just Googling it on the fly...

So, you’re basically just a total disaster of a human being—a massive clown, really—who jumps into every single thread about spirituality despite having zero clue what you're actually talking about. Honestly, you've got less spiritual depth than my Pekingese... You don't know anything about religion, you don't grasp any actual form of spirituality, and you clearly don't practice a damn thing. You just hang around this forum to dump all that negativity you're clearly overflowing with...

goldenjackal6 said:That is such a trash argument.

Fun fact: I went through technical high school for electrical tech and then finished a degree in applied sciences that was packed with power engineering courses, so yeah, my understanding of electrical engineering is pretty damn solid.

So, what exactly are your credentials?

Most of what you think you know is just random guesswork and delusions.

Look, sometimes you can't be honest without coming off as a bit blunt.

I was at that exact exhibit, and there wasn't a single mention of Hinduism or any statues of gods anywhere in the building.

Cut the crap—I'm seriously done with you and all this clowning around...

There was this statue of Ganesha and Vivekananda, plus a ton of stuff about old mythology—and right at the entrance, they had this whole section on the era when Tesla moved to town and his beef with Edison, along with all those technical inventions. By the exit, there was this interactive thing where you basically whack pigeons with bolts of electricity on a screen in front of you... We even got these little tablets around our necks so we could pick our own themes from the numbered exhibits...

Things were shifting around in that exhibit—stuff was being swapped out or maybe even pulled entirely. If you missed the section on Ganesha and Vivekananda, they might have already cleared it out by then... honestly though, I couldn't care less...

Don't bother commenting on any of my posts anymore—and I won't be bothering with yours either. Go find some other idiot to argue with if you really have nothing better to do with your life...

A couple of clowns...

bluemason3 said:Some of these terms are actually quite old—even if they aren't used much in every sect these days—which is what I was getting at in the first place.

Presenting this division as a formal system designed to categorize and describe all Hindu traditions seems to be based on Vivekananda's approach.

I'm not too sure about a "formal system" covering all Hindu traditions, but when it comes to yoga, that split between bhakti, karma, and jnana has definitely been used in plenty of places long before him. And yeah, definitions and interpretations always shift depending on the specific system, tradition, school, or even just the individual, and honestly, that hasn't changed one bit up to now.

bluemason3 said:The issue is that it's tough to draw a line between a biological predisposition, an active illness, and the influence of the practice itself.

Also, since any kind of practice likely has some effect, there isn't really a reason yet to assume that "Kundalini yoga ( 🙄 )" is any more dangerous than contemplative or ascetic practices found in Christianity or elsewhere.

You already covered all that—it’s totally possible that some pre-existing condition is what actually pushed the guy toward that whole line of inquiry at the very start of the story...

But hey, here’s that question I already threw at you—the one you totally brushed off...
Have you ever actually heard a guru ask a student, "Hey, do you have a mental illness?" or maybe, "Is there a history of mental health issues in your family?"... just kidding, but seriously...
So, what are we actually getting here—is this the real deal, the original practice, or just some New Age distortion...?

bluemason3 said:The issue is that it's tough to draw a line between a biological predisposition, an active illness, and the influence of the practice itself.

Also, since any kind of practice likely has some effect, there isn't really a reason yet to assume that "Kundalini yoga ( 🙄 )" is any more dangerous than contemplative or ascetic practices found in Christianity or elsewhere.

Contemplative or ascetic practices aren't really the backbone of Christian faith... at least not within the broader community, where people don't exactly go overboard with that stuff. Prayer usually just boils down to reciting lines, so it isn't even close to what actual contemplation means in the true sense of the word...

So, Kundalini awakening is basically the biggest trend right now—at least when people around here start talking about Hinduism...

lonestag15 said:You already covered all that—it’s totally possible that some pre-existing condition is what actually pushed the guy toward that whole line of inquiry at the very start of the story...

But hey, here’s that question I already threw at you—the one you totally brushed off...
Have you ever actually heard a guru ask a student, "Hey, do you have a mental illness?" or maybe, "Is there a history of mental health issues in your family?"... just kidding, but seriously...
So, what are we actually getting here—is this the real deal, the original practice, or just some New Age distortion...?

Contemplative or ascetic practices aren't really the backbone of Christian faith... at least not within the broader community, where people don't exactly go overboard with that stuff. Prayer usually just boils down to reciting lines, so it isn't even close to what actual contemplation means in the true sense of the word...

So, Kundalini awakening is basically the biggest trend right now—at least when people around here start talking about Hinduism...

With my New Age mentor, you can't access a single technique without filling out a form that specifically asks about mental health history and heart conditions (along with the usual stuff like name, DOB, etc.). This has been the standard since the eighties, even for online sign-ups—unless it's an open lecture or public forum where anyone can attend with notice.

I've noticed you trying to dodge this question several times now... and I guarantee you that any serious teacher asks exactly these things. Believe what you want, though.

Here's a sample application form: Corporate Mindfulness

Go ahead—fill it out.

Paul Rogers94 said:It’s all of the above, and honestly, there isn't much of a distinction in practice. You're usually diagnosed with acute psychosis first; nobody just walks in and gets handed a schizophrenia diagnosis right away. It takes a few episodes or however the clinical process works before they label it schizophrenia. No one starts out with a schizophrenia diagnosis—it's always acute psychosis. Let's not kid ourselves...

The idea that most spiritual seekers suffer from psychosis is nonsense. If anything, psychosis latches onto spirituality. Spirituality has nothing to do with psychosis, just like any other interest might. A psychotic individual can fixate on anything—spirituality is just one more thing they can get hung up on.

Spiritual seekers don't have psychosis; they might mimic the symptoms, sure, but they're grounded and navigating those experiences consciously. Honestly, probably even more conscious than someone tripping on psychedelics... but hey, anyone who’s messed around with psychedelics has their own take on what they’re writing about, as Belle puts it—those "canonized lunatics"... or whatever you call mystics outside of Christianity

As for whether the interest comes before the psychosis or the psychosis follows the practice... who knows...

To me, the bottom line is in these stories:
"Character x joined a cult and lost it"
"Character y joined a cult and lost it"
"Character z went to an ashram in India, came back, and lost it"

...which means anyone who doesn't realize some people are just predisposed to a quick mental snap is a total amateur... so my advice is just stay away from it—which probably carries some weight...

And then there's what I hear from a buddy in New York City (who hangs out in those circles)—that this isn't even weird, it's basically a regular occurrence or a syndrome... so, can we really say most people drawn to this are prone to mental illness? Personally, I don't think so. I think a certain amount of intense practice will break anyone who would otherwise be functioning perfectly fine, if they hadn't stumbled upon a trigger