Many of us might have heard of possible negative effects associated with meditation or other yogic practices and the great ones sometimes do mention in their writings which techniques they feel are safe and which might need expert advice. However, often the reader is simply advised to learn certain lessons only from a guru, and there is no clear understanding about what these side effects could be, i.e., what risks we run when we take up more advanced practices without consulting experts and what we might need to do to solve such problems if we are unlucky enough to have to face them. Del Pe's book, "Hidden Dangers of Meditation and Yoga" fills this big vacuum in a remarkably simple and satisfactory way. Not only does Del Pe mention several kinds of potential hazards, he also gives an outline of typical solutions he and his organizations have been providing to people who face such problems. As an aid to understanding, he even classifies the hazards into different categories before outlining typical solutions, and adds letters received from his clients worldwide about their issues and how the solutions offered helped them.
Before going into these, however, I would like to add that to me, this book remains first and foremost a book on meditation. Dozens of different meditation practices have been outlined in the book with notes related to safety aspects. Moreover, lots of deeper ("esoteric") aspects of yoga have been explained in the simplest language. Chakras (subtle energy centres in the body), koshas (outer garments of the soul, if we may call them that), the astral world, the soul, the spirit and the cable of light connecting them are all discussed wherever needed to explain the practices. What's more, these subtle aspects are not bedtime stories for Del Pe - rather, it seems all these are realities experienced by Del Pe himself, as real to him as the physical world is to us. This added assurance makes the book a most wonderful read, adding that extra power to its logical and business-like style of explaining everything carefully, briefly and without mystification and obscuring.
1. Psycho-spiritual problems: These include a variety of problems from foreseeing mostly negative events to being "spacey" and unmindful to experiencing "karmic purging", in which negative life experiences seem to increase after the practitioner starts his meditation or yogic practice. Problems like mindlessness or developing some personality defects like arrogance due to psychic powers are easier to correct by proper exercises and guidance and perhaps not as harmful from the health point of view. Some others - like foreseeing accidents accompanied by constant mental anguish or development of other powers accompanied by various negative effects like insomnia and inability to shut-off the clairvoyant impressions when needed - seem to require a deeper understanding of which chakras got over-stimulated, and how best to control the unwanted development. Similarly, karmic purging might mean simply that some hidden negative karmas or tendencies have been brought-up for cleansing, and going through the experiences will quicken spiritual growth ultimately. By consulting experts like Del Pe, practioners can find a way to continue cleansing the negative karmas which are being brought up by the practice, without having to go through unwanted suffering physically and mentally. The rising kundalini gives power. Misdirected (due to blockages in chakras, etc.), the power can get wasted in many ways. Directed well, it can cleanse the system and lead to true understanding of subtle laws, powers and truths.
2. Physical and Vitality related side-effects: This incudes a variety of problems like feeling coldness even in warm climates, over-exhaustion, over-sensitivity to light, sounds, smells, etc., feeling of brittle or hard bones, pains in various parts of the body, overstimulation of the lower chakras and even enhancement of cancer due to overheating of the system with energy. Once again, many of these stem from over-stimulation of particular chakras, and experts can help understand the exact path that should be followed to bring things back to normal. The general idea seems to be that exercises and meditation routines, if done safely with the right preparations, would not typically cause worrisome or painful side-effects. Therefore, if a practitioner faces such issues, they should consult an expert, rather than assume that all such pains are necessary parts of the path they have chosen. People are different in many ways - body-types, mindsets, habits, cultural sensitivities, etc., and the exact path to be taken should be sensitive to that.
3. Wrong combination or sequence of techniques: One common reason for this issue is the over-zealousness of the practitioner. People want to use a powerful and highly effective method and are therefore prone to changing techniques without regard to the safety aspects which advanced teachers keep in mind when teaching. Advanced pranayams, advanced practices to awaken the kundalini, etc., can be found in the literature and it is quite natural that people would be attracted to them since they are recognized as such. Such practitioners would do well to go through Del Pe's guidelines in this regard. For example, he says, it is good to first awaken the divine light by chakral breathing or mantra chanting, because this divine light regulates the powerful effects of the kundalini fire. Next, the heart center should be activated and purifying breathing exercises like kapalbhati should be practiced before awakening the kundalini. By understanding the effects of each kind of meditation on the physical and energy bodies, experts can help practitioners stay safe while working with the advanced techniques too.
4. Predispositions of Oriental and Occidental practitioners: In general, Del Pe finds the oriental types to be more heart-centered while the occidental types are more intellectual and practical. Neither is inherently a problem, but what this means is that different approaches might suit these two different types. Then again, even within the same race/type, there are different predispositions within different sub-races and sub-types. As for the practices, their general effects might be well-known, but there can be important qualifications to those effects (e.g., kundalini awakening exercises in presence of cancer or drug addiction could be a problem, or even simpler, jogging could affect your knees if you are overweight and strain your knees in trying to get thinner).
5. More Esoteric Dangers: These include issues like intolerance and a feeling of uneasiness or being misplaced (because of actual development of the auric powers), higher sensitivity to negative occult energies which create mental distress, etc. The solutions differ, of course, based on the nature of the problem. For unwanted channeling of occult powers, it is recommended that meditators seek divine protection and learn ways to shield their auric energies and try to avoid meditating in places known to have an excess of negative energies. For problems in family and social dynamics, other steps are encouraged, like better communication, introducing the family gradually to the details of the practices, certain physical exercises (like doing squats) to ground oneself better after meditation, etc. The last one - is a rather simple sounding practice, but highly recommended by Del Pe for people who are prone to "stay in ecstasy" mentally even when its time to get to regular daily work. As he explains in another context, the non-alert mind can sometimes cause accidents, so it is best not to dwell too much on the feelings of meditative joy and ecstasy when the body is back to regular physical work. Del Pe clarifies that many practitioners worldwide are affected by this seemingly natural problem, and he provides simple solutions like doing light exercises after meditation to get out of it.
Before closing, once again, I would like to clarify that the book still does not come across as a negative for meditation and yoga, although the title might arouse such a feeling. While safety and checking back with experts is recommended highly by Del Pe, the detailed instructions on several alternative techniques and the explanations of related occult details are enough evidence that the book is meant to promote meditation and yoga, not to take people away from it. The next time we receive a set of exercises or routines from a recognized expert, we should keep in mind Del Pe's view, that such routines provided by the masters even keep our safety in mind and do not recommend what we are not really ready for. For people who face any trouble, there is a Del Pe "army" of trained experts to help us too, as long as we just ask. So we can now meditate fearlessly, and understand more easily. There is no need to give up meditation or yogic practices.
Sadanand Tutakne
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