It’s a lot easier to meditate once you’re financially stable and independent from daily chores. Like, what else should you do with your free time?  In this article we’ll discuss why it might be time to take a more critical look at the mindfulness movement.

One example can be found by a research on media reporting on meditation apps stating that “analyzing 105 news articles revealed that 98% did not use evidence from academic research on app-based meditation to support health claims. Only 28.5% of articles included advice from a health expert, and 9.5% mentioned potential risks and alternative treatments”. In other words, the potential for mambo-jumbo is extremely high.

Another study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that 25% of regular meditators have experienced unwanted effects, including anxiety and depression (Schlosser, M., et al. (2019). Unpleasant meditation-related experiences in regular meditators). This startling statistic raises important questions about the universal benefits of meditation that are often touted in popular media and wellness circles. 

Before proceeding, please keep in mind that the evidence about benefits of meditation is substantial. We will discuss potential improvement points.

The Hidden Psychological Risks of Meditation

While meditation is often presented as a panacea for mental health issues, emerging research suggests a more complex picture. Some studies have found links between intensive meditation practices and adverse psychological effects:

1. Exacerbation of anxiety and depression: For some individuals, particularly those with a history of mental health issues, meditation can sometimes intensify symptoms of anxiety and depression.
2. Meditation-induced psychosis: While rare, there have been documented cases of individuals experiencing psychotic episodes following intensive meditation retreats.
3. Dissociative states: Some meditators report experiences of depersonalization or derealization, where they feel detached from their body or surroundings.
4. Resurfacing of trauma: Meditation can sometimes bring repressed memories or emotions to the surface, which can be distressing without proper support.

It’s important to note that these risks don’t negate the potential benefits of meditation. However, they do highlight the need for caution, especially for individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions or those engaging in intensive practice without proper guidance.

Furthermore, another research states that one of the most damaging aspects of the whimsical approach to meditation and mindfulness is “the possibility that vulnerable patients with serious diseases may be misled”.

While meditation may not be harmful to a large percent of the society, forcing the issue as the solution can be harmful to the most vulnerable of us. We recognize this as a spiritual red flag.

When Mindfulness Meets Corporate Culture

The adoption of mindfulness programs in corporate settings has exploded in recent years. Companies like Google, Apple, and Nike have implemented mindfulness training for their employees. While this might seem like a positive trend, critics argue that it comes with significant drawbacks:

1. Band-aid solution: Workplace mindfulness programs often focus on helping employees cope with stress rather than addressing the root causes of that stress, such as unrealistic workloads or toxic company cultures.
2. Shifting responsibility: By promoting individual mindfulness practices, companies may be deflecting responsibility for employee well-being onto the employees themselves.
3. Productivity over well-being: There’s a risk that mindfulness is being used primarily as a tool to increase productivity and efficiency, rather than for genuine employee wellness.
4. Ethical concerns: The use of spiritual practices for corporate profit raises questions about the commodification of ancient wisdom traditions.

As mindfulness becomes increasingly integrated into corporate wellness programs, it’s crucial to critically examine whose interests these programs truly serve. This is not to say that there are no positive changes in the workplace: this study shows how mindfulness meditation can increase compassion between co-workers and makes people sensitive towards the well-being of others.

And while this can be a great thing, if the purpose of spiritual development is to keep you more efficient at work or to have a good work culture, we have made a wrong turn somewhere.

This is especially true in the larger companies, whose main decision-making choices often include dubious exploitative tactics and ruthless competitiveness. Is mindfulness a cost efficient way to regulate justifiable dissatisfaction?

The “McMindfulness” Phenomenon: Insights from Ronald Purser

To follow up on the previous question, the term “McMindfulness” was coined by Ronald Purser, a professor of management at San Francisco State University, in his critical book of the same name. Purser argues that the modern mindfulness movement has stripped meditation of its ethical and spiritual contexts, turning it into a marketable commodity that serves corporate interests rather than genuine well-being.

In “McMindfulness,” Purser contends that:

1. Mindfulness has been co-opted by corporations as a way to pacify employees and increase productivity without addressing systemic issues.
2. The secularization of mindfulness has divorced it from its Buddhist roots, removing important ethical considerations.
3. The mindfulness industry often promotes individualistic solutions to collective problems, potentially distracting from necessary social and political changes.

Purser’s critique extends beyond the corporate world. He argues that the mindfulness movement, in its current form, risks becoming a “religion of the self” that emphasizes individual adaptation to stress rather than challenging the sources of that stress in society.

The Erosion of Authentic Spiritual Practices

The popularization and secularization of mindfulness have undoubtedly made meditation more accessible to a wider audience. However, this accessibility has come at a cost:

1. Loss of ethical framework: Traditional Buddhist meditation practices are grounded in ethical precepts and a broader philosophical context. Modern mindfulness often strips away these elements, potentially losing important safeguards and depth.
2. Dilution of teachings: In an effort to make mindfulness palatable to a Western, secular audience, many of the nuances and complexities of traditional practices have been simplified or omitted.
3. Impact on traditional communities: As mindfulness becomes a profitable industry, there’s a risk of appropriating and commodifying practices that have deep cultural and spiritual significance for certain communities.
4. Emphasis on quick fixes: The promise of fast results through brief, daily meditation sessions may set unrealistic expectations and trivialize the depth of traditional contemplative practices.

While making meditation more accessible isn’t inherently negative, it’s worth considering what might be lost in the process of mainstreaming these practices. There’s also plenty of research that suggests that even the basic usage of meditation apps is helpful, so let’s not disregard the usefulness of meditation. 

But by distancing itself from its roots, without its original purpose, meditation becomes just another plain thing in a plethora of others. You could drink matcha tea and eat superfood instead – the product is what’s being sold, not a meaningful experience.

In another article called Meditation as medicine: A critique, the author Wakoh Shannon Hickey states several issues with removing the Buddhist tradition from the meditation practice. Most of all, she concludes, that this focus on individualism and product extinguishes the possibility of a meaningful, helpful work in a society. 

Mindful Skepticism: A Balanced Approach to Meditation

Despite the concerns raised in this article, it’s important to acknowledge that meditation and mindfulness practices can offer significant benefits when approached thoughtfully. Here are some considerations for a more balanced approach:

1. Seek proper guidance: If you’re interested in meditation, consider learning from qualified teachers who understand both the benefits and potential risks.
2. Be aware of your own mental health: If you have a history of mental health issues, consult with a mental health professional before beginning an intensive meditation practice.
3. Maintain a critical perspective: Be wary of overhyped claims about the benefits of mindfulness, especially in corporate or commercial contexts.
4. Explore diverse practices: Consider exploring different forms of meditation or contemplative practices to find what works best for you.
5. Engage with the ethical dimensions: If you’re drawn to meditation, take time to learn about its philosophical and ethical foundations, not just the techniques.

In conclusion, while meditation and mindfulness can be valuable tools for many people, it’s crucial to approach these practices with open eyes. By fostering a more nuanced understanding of meditation – acknowledging both its potential benefits and risks – we can work towards preserving its authentic spiritual roots while addressing the very real concerns raised by critics and researchers alike. 

In other words, meditation and mindfulness serves as a market solution for emerging psychological issues, a quick-fix that for majority of us is helpful to an extent. But it leaves the most vulnerable without any help. We need strong communities for that work, and being mindful about individualistic tendencies of meditation is a good step to increase our overall mindfulness.

The path to true well-being may not be as simple as a few minutes of daily meditation, but rather a thoughtful engagement with our inner lives and the world around us. Meditation is healthy, but keep in mind that its purpose is not to increase your efficiency at a 9-5 job.

But this hides another more unsettling question for todays society: if meditations purpose is not to increase productivity – what is its purpose? To make us happy?

How?

What does make us happy today?