I’m happy to share this rebroadcast of an interview I did with James Bae, the host of the “Buddhist Yoga” Youtube channel. In this deep-dive, we discuss my new book, Meditation Sickness, just out from University of Hawaii Press. This edited collection of translations by expert scholars lays out a range of Buddhist viewpoints about the potential side-effects of contemplative practice, and what happens when one crosses the line between expected challenges and true medical crises. Including ancient scriptures, writings by some of the most celebrated Buddhist meditation teachers of all time, as well as contemporary ethnographic reports from all over the Buddhist world, the book details the symptoms, causes, prevention, and treatment of “meditation sickness.” Our conversation provides an overview of the contents of the book, and illustrates why it is crucially important for Western meditators to be knowledgable about these phenomena. Enjoy!
Resources mentioned in the episode:
* Pierce Salguero, Meditation Sickness: A Sourcebook of the Dangers of Buddhist Practice (2026).
* Pierce Salguero, “Meditation Sickness” in Medieval Chinese Buddhismand the Contemporary West (2023).
* Pierce’s previous appearances on Buddhist Yoga: Buddhist Medicine and Contemplative Pedagogy ; The Contemporary Landscape of Buddhist Healing
* Pierce’s resource website: BuddhistMedicine.Net
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