Blurring line between madness and religious experience

Today I sit down with Nick Canby, visiting assistant professor at Brown University and a clinical psychologist specializing in meditation and psychedelics. Together, we dive into Nick’s research on the self — what is it and what it’s like to lose it. Along the way, we mention some of the downsides of experiencing oneness and the complications of defining a mental health disorder.

If you want to hear scholars and practitioners engaging in deep conversations about the dark side of Asian religions and medicines, then subscribe to Black Beryl wherever you get your podcasts. Also check out our members-only benefits on Substack.com to see what our guests have shared with you. Enjoy the show!

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• Previous episode on meditation challenges with Willoughby Britton and Jared Lindahl 
• List of Publications from the Varieties of Contemplative Experience study
• Canby et al., "The Teacher Matters: The Role and Impact of Meditation Teachers in the Trajectories of Western Buddhist Meditators Experiencing Meditation-Related Challenges"
• Pierce's forthcoming volume, "Meditation Sickness: A Sourcebook on the Dangers of Buddhist Practice" 
• Previous episode on madness and religious experience with Richard Saville-Smith
• Nick's clinical practice
• Nick's profile on Cheetah House
• Complete list of Nick's publications 

Become a paid subscriber on blackberyl.substack.com to unlock our members-only benefits, including downloading:

• Article summarizing Nick’s dissertation research on “loss of self” experiences
• 50% off “Varieties of Ego-Dissolution” online course (research overview of the types of self-boundary dissolution and their impacts)