Ep315: Religious Psychosis & Dark Retreat - Dr Caroline van Damme & Lama Justin von Bujdoss

In this episode I host a dialogue between Dr Caroline van Damme and Lama Justin von Bujdoss.

Dr Caroline Van Damme is an adult psychiatrist and family and systemic psychotherapist specialising in chronic psychotic disorders, and co-teacher of Buddhist guru and Sowa Rigpa doctor Nida Chenagtsang.

Lama Justin von Bujdoss is an American Buddhist teacher, dark retreat yogi, founder and spiritual director of Yangti Yoga Retreat Center in Buckland Massachusetts, and author of ‘Modern Tantric Buddhism’.

Caroline and Justin discuss the risk of psychosis during extreme religious practices, consider the rewards and dangers of dark retreat, and describe the different forms of hallucination.

Caroline and Justin warn about engaging in advanced practices too soon, consider the pros and cons of spiritual ambition, and offer a mental health checklist for those considering intensive practice.

Caroline and Justin also reflect on their own biographies, share challenges they have faced, and recount anecdotes of religious psychosis.

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Video version: www.guruviking.com

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro
01:08 - Justin explains the practice of dark retreat
5:55 - What is the purpose of dark retreat?
06:50 - Obstacles during dark retreat
09:39 - Distracted and disturbed by experience
11:08 - Sensory deprivation induces psychosis and delusional ideation
12:41 - Auditory or visual?
13:16 - Hallucinations in dark retreat vs in schizophrenia
18:51 - Practice prerequisites to dark retreat
21:10 - The purpose of intensive practice contexts
22:42 - Trekchod is the best antidote
23:38 - Justin laments the rush to do advanced retreats and practices
24:35 - Lack of mental health crisis intervention skills in Buddhist sanghas
25:38 - The devastating consequences of psychosis
27:09 - Sensory deprivation as torture and the “White Room”
29:01 - Tantric context of dark retreat and other challenging experiences
31:34 - Gek sel literature and “set and setting”
34:24 - Disastrous outcomes of Vipassana and other group retreats
38:19 - Mystical delusions and the manic state
41:59 - Consent, context, and the need for a guide
46:17 - Practice slowly, arrive quickly
46:51 - Extreme sports practitioners and disregard for tradition
50:24 - - Social pressure to avoid boredom
54:48 - A menu of spiritual materialism
57:10 - Outer, inner, and secret yidam practice
59:50 - Tilopa’s Six Nails
01:00:47 - Śamatha and raw-dogging
01:02:33 - Lojong
01:03:21 - Dream yoga and illusory body practice
01:05:14 - Walking meditation
01:05:28 - Frequency, duration, and intensity
01:08:21 - Spiritual ambition and Justin’s own training
01:13:10 - Ngondro and building a good foundation
01:14:12 - Bodhicitta as context
01:15:44 - A story of temporary insanity
01:17:29 - Health checklist for extreme spiritual adventures
01:20:17 - Dr Caroline’s difficult intake experience
01:22:02 - Spiritual bypass and the role of the teacher
01:24:13 - Long term relationships with patients and students
01:25:40 - John Welwood’s advocacy for psychotherapy
01:29:40 - Today’s lack of a long term relationship with the guru
01:35:22 - The power of relationship
01:40:00 - Justin’s concluding remarks
01:41:56 - Dr Caroline’s concluding remarks

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Previous episodes with Lama Justin von Bujdoss:
- guruviking.com/search?q=bujdoss 

Previous episodes with Dr Caroline van Damme:
- guruviking.com/search?q=caroline

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Find out more about Lama Justin von Bujdoss:
- justinvonbujdoss.com
- yangtiyoga.com

Find out more about Dr Caroline van Damme:
- sowarigpainstitute.org/dr-caroline-van-damme

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James