Meditation and Ontology (with Daniel Ingram)

Mar 3, 2021 1h 49m 14 insights Episode Page ↗
Spencer Greenberg speaks with Daniel Ingram, a medical doctor and advanced meditator, about the profound and often radical effects of meditation. They discuss transforming the sense of self, navigating intense suffering, the spectrum of meditative experiences including potential dangers, and the importance of scientific research into these phenomena.
Actionable Insights

1. Transform Self-Perception Permanently

Engage in deep meditation to dissolve the illusion of a stable, continuous self, reinterpreting intentions and perceptions as transient occurrences. This resolves paradoxes between mechanistic reality and subjective experience, reducing the ‘mind virus’ of self-identification and leading to a radically different, more peaceful experience of reality.

2. Cultivate Wisdom for Proportional Suffering

Train in wisdom (panya/prajna) to maintain proportionality and perspective during painful experiences, recognizing that even intense pain occupies only a small portion of the overall sensory field. This reduces additional mental suffering, perceptual distortion, and exaggeration, making difficult experiences vastly easier to manage.

3. Practice Ontological Agnosticism

Hold all beliefs about reality (ontologies) lightly, recognizing that they are not ultimately provable but can be useful. Develop metacognitive awareness to consciously switch between different paradigms and frames of reference as needed, evaluating their utility in specific situations rather than their ultimate truth.

4. Prevent Negative Feedback Loops

During challenging internal experiences (like anxiety or disgust), be vigilant against negative feedback loops that can spiral into destructive behaviors or life instability. Actively choose not to react to fear with further withdrawal or unhealthy actions, maintaining good moral training and external support.

5. Develop General Psychological Resilience

Cultivate ego strength and the ability to face personal issues, dark emotions, and life challenges without becoming overwhelmed or ‘freaking out.’ This foundational psychological resilience is crucial for navigating the potentially intense and destabilizing experiences that can arise in meditation.

6. Understand Meditation’s Full Spectrum

Approach meditation with informed consent, recognizing that its effects span from profoundly transformative benefits to potential life-wrecking adverse side effects, including mental health issues and energetic imbalances. Be aware that basic mindfulness apps often don’t cover this full range, necessitating broader knowledge.

7. Deactivate Default Mode Network

Practice meditation techniques that encourage awareness of the full sensory environment while thinking, rather than tuning out the world to focus on internal thoughts. This can deactivate the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), a key part of the default mode network associated with neurotic ruminative thinking, thereby reducing mental stress and complexity.

8. Prioritize Body-Based Grounding Techniques

For safer meditation practice, especially when starting, choose techniques that involve bodily awareness, such as focusing on the body, breath, feet, and postures. These methods are generally less likely to lead to ‘weird effects’ compared to visualization or mantra practices.

9. Engage in Ethical Behavior

Practice morality (sila) through ethical behavior, good conduct, right livelihood, and skillful speech and action. This approach aims to reduce ordinary suffering by fostering a life with less guilt, anger, injustice, and negative repercussions, leading to better outcomes and goodwill.

10. Train in Concentration for Temporary Relief

Develop concentration (samadhi) to attain jhanas, which are deep meditative states characterized by profound pleasantness, tranquility, and bliss. These states offer temporary suppression of ordinary concerns and suffering, providing a valuable but unsustainable respite.

11. Recognize Meditation Stages

Familiarize yourself with developmental maps of meditation, such as the Theravada insight stages (Mind and Body, Cause and Effect, Three Characteristics, Arising and Passing Away, Dissolution, Fear, Misery, Disgust, Re-observation, Equanimity). Understanding these stages helps contextualize experiences, reducing confusion and providing a framework for progress.

12. Seek Support for Advanced Practice

When engaging in more intensive or advanced meditation practices, ensure you have access to good guides, social support, a strong friend network, and consider your life circumstances and risk tolerance. This support system is crucial for mitigating potential risks and navigating challenging experiences safely.

For those new to meditation, start with beginner-friendly books like ‘Mindfulness in Plain English’ by Bonte Gunaratana or ‘A Path with Heart’ by Jack Kornfield, and explore teachers like Michael Taft or Shin Zen Young. These resources provide accessible introductions and foundational techniques.

14. Continuously Seek Deeper Knowledge

As your meditation practice evolves and you encounter more interesting or profound experiences, actively branch out to higher-level sources, teachers, and traditions. This ensures a comprehensive understanding of the vast world of meditation beyond basic introductions and apps.