Mindful Apocalypse: Contemplative Anthropology Investigating Experiences of World-Loss in Deep Meditation

Personal crisis during deep meditation can be understood differently depending on the tradition. In contemporary mindfulness practices, such crisis appears as a 'crisis of presence,' whereas in traditional Buddhist meditation it involves the dissolution of the subject-object distinction. Drawing on Ernesto De Martino's concepts, the article argues that this phenomenon should be recognized as significant rather than negative. Modern mindfulness, detached from its Buddhist roots, has been criticized for reinforcing neoliberal and capitalist modes of cognition. Traditional Buddhist meditation aims for samādhi, a serene 'end of the world' where self-world boundaries dissolve. The article urges mindfulness researchers to explore this dimension for fuller contemplative benefits.

Study at a glance

Abstract

This article investigates the challenge of personal crisis during deep meditation, as observed in an ethnographic inquiry into mindfulness and traditional contemplative practices. The study distinguishes between the “crisis of presence” in contemporary mindfulness practices, and the dissolution of the subject-object distinction in traditional Buddhist meditation. By analyzing Ernesto De Martino’s concepts of crisis and presence, the article highlights the significance of understanding this phenomenon in meditation rather than perceiving it negatively. The research explores the contemporary evolution of mindfulness and its detachment from original Buddhist contemplative practices, leading to an approach criticized for reinforcing neoliberal and capitalist modes of cognition. In contrast, traditional Buddhist meditation aims for the state of samādhi, where boundaries between self and the world dissolve, signifying a serene “end of the world”. The study underscores the need for mindfulness researchers to explore this aspect of meditation to derive immense benefits from comprehensive contemplative practice.