91download.com supports a wide range of platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Dailymotion, Reddit, Bilibili, Douyin, Xiaohongshu and Zhihu, etc. Click the download button below to parse and download the current video
The gong resonates through the darkness at 4 am, a haunting echo in the stillness of the night. In the dim light of dawn, you rise, joining others in a silent procession towards the meditation hall. Your mind is a whirlwind of anticipation and anxiety, but you suppress it, as talking is forbidden. A volunteer gestures, directing you to a spot amidst the sea of seated figures. You sit, back aching, knees throbbing, and a gnawing hunger gnats at your stomach. Dinner was a distant memory, and the retreat has only just begun.
This is the Goenka retreat, a place where silence reigns and the mind is supposed to find solace. But for many, it becomes a crucible of despair. Emily's story, a harrowing account of her family's fracturing under the weight of her retreat experiences, is not unique. Across the globe, from Australia to America, Sweden to France, New Zealand to the UK, individuals from all walks of life have sought refuge in these retreats, only to find themselves entangled in a web of psychological turmoil.
Jenny, Michael, and Niels are just a few of the voices that echo through the corridors of this silent sanctuary. Each came with hopes of self-improvement, seeking an alternative to pharmaceuticals, a safe haven for their troubled minds. But what they encountered was a relentless assault on their senses, a mind-numbing silence that shattered their reality.
The retreats are marketed as transformative, offering a chance to delve deep into the self and emerge renewed. But for many, the silence becomes deafening, the meditation a mind-wrenching ordeal. As hours turn into days, the retreaters are pressed to continue, even as panic sets in, sleep eludes them, and the world around them seems to crumble.
The teachers, while well-intentioned, often lack the skills to navigate the treacherous waters of their students' mental health. The advice to "just do the technique" falls woefully short in the face of genuine distress. The retreaters are left to grapple with their inner demons, their cries for help falling on deaf ears.
Sarah's journey is a stark reminder of the potential dangers of intensive meditation. What began as a quest for relief from nerve pain turned into a harrowing descent into psychosis. Her world shattered, her family fractured, and her life hanging by a thread. The retreat that promised enlightenment delivered instead a nightmare from which she barely escaped.
The Goenka retreats are not alone in their intense approach to meditation. Apps like Headspace and Calm, while offering a more accessible form of meditation, also carry the risk of triggering adverse reactions in some individuals. The lack of personalized guidance and the one-size-fits-all approach can be a recipe for disaster.
Willoughby Britton, a leading expert on meditation-related difficulties, warns of the potential dangers of intensive meditation. She likens it to a form of cortical arousal, akin to taking stimulants. While meditation can be beneficial in small doses, excessive practice can lead to anxiety, panic, insomnia, and even psychosis.
The meditation community is not without its critics. Willoughby's research has garnered controversy, with some accusing her of spreading misinformation and fear. But her concerns are echoed by other experts who agree that meditation-related challenges are real and can have serious consequences.
The Goenka retreats, with their emphasis on silence and self-denial, have left a trail of broken lives in their wake. The lack of support systems and the pressure to continue, regardless of the cost, has led to a crisis of mental health within the community.
As the gong sounds once more, marking the end of another day of silence, the retreaters are left to reflect on their journey. For some, it has been a transformative experience, offering clarity and peace. But for many, it has been a harrowing ordeal, a reminder that the path to enlightenment is not without its dangers.
The retreats may promise a cure for what ails us, but the truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to mental health. The human mind is complex, and the journey to wellness is a personal one. As we seek solace in the silence, let us not forget that sometimes, the loudest voices are those inside our own heads.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook