--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "sparaig" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: snip > Qi Qong meditation leads to mental problems so often that there is an actual DSM-IV > syndrome named after it: Qi Qong Psychosis. Kundalini techniques lead to this kind of > thing often enough that there is a proposal for a similar section in the DSM-IV with > Kundalini techniques. The only claim about TM is that sometimes people who already have > severe mental problems can't handle it.
The DSM-IV classification referred to is in an appendix of the manual under the section "culture-bound syndromes" which is "a combination of psychiatric and somatic symptoms that are considered to be a recognizable disease only within a specific society or culture. There are no objective biochemical or structural alterations of body organs or functions, and the disease is not recognized in other cultures". "Qigong psychosis" is listed as pertaining to China only. This listing in no way implies that "qigong meditation leads to mental problems so often" as stated; in fact there is very little evidence of it in the scientific literature. The description also makes clear that the psychosis affects particularly vulnerable individuals who become overinvolved in the practice or do not practice it properly. This is something any reputable gigong teacher acknowledges. To say qigong meditation leads to psychosis is a misreading of the classification. Anyone familiar with the history of the sidhis knows that there have been hundreds of individuals who have experienced "an acute, time-limited episode characterized by dissociative, paranoid, or other psychotic or non-psychotic symptoms", the definition of qigong psychosis, and have been sent packing from governor trainings, mother divine, and MUM staff to the safety of their parent's homes or mental health centers (particularly the one in Mt. Pleasant). Does this mean that practice of the TM-sidhis lead to psychosis, as Spairag's logic implies? Of course not. It means that vulnerable individuals who overdue it without proper supervision can experience these symptoms. Note: Over 300 sidhas in ffld have been practicing a form of qigong for many years now with good results. One reason for its popularity here is the common experience that it is very grounding, something many sidhas need. PS: One of favorite stories from the late great steve schimer is how he and MMY would sit together and go over photos of CPs on the first 6 month sidhis courses in the 70s and identify the "1st floorers", ie - people who needed to be moved to the 1st floor of the hotel for fear they were getting so unstable they might try to fly out of their window. Maybe "1st floorers" should get a DSM-IV classification? To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
