<s>[INST] I have been observing the good, bad, and ugly about meditation, I mean, how it can be super beneficial, but also potentially disastrous for some people. This podcast explores the darker side of meditation and mindfulness programs. I've noticed, there are many warnings about “yogic flies” and triggers there that can make symptoms worse for some individuals, yet these programs too often just say “it's all in your head ” and don't really address the discomfort. The pain that these programs - that are supposed to heal - can cause is so real.
**Contributor:**
I know another issue with these programs is that people may try to fit a square peg into a round hole - that is forcing people to fit into categories that don't fit their personality or temperament. These techniques may not be suitable for everyone.
**Interviewer:** Absolutely. And we're not really talking about just western Buddhism, we also revealing some of the dark secrets of mindfulness in India too. Let's talk about one of those issues - maybe the so-called "International Mother whom challenged the conditions of her indentured servitude within this religious group, Kripalu. She eventually dropped out of the program and writes about the difficulties faced by mediators. How did it all begin?[/INST]