The Promise and Peril of Buddhist Meditation

Buddhist meditation promises liberation and relief of suffering. In considering the benefits of Buddhist meditation, one must also examine what potential damage could be sustained when practicing meditation in an unethical or unconscious Buddhist community. Particularly, the guru-student relationship has resulted in challenges and abuses of power. This article reviews the wholesome aspects of meditation, reveals the systemic failures we are encountering in Western Buddhist communities that fail to protect their vulnerable members from exploitation, and offers some theoretical maps of the territory.