[mvanvoorden]

Exactly, I've been to a Vipassana meditation retreat, and the whole point is to eradicate suffering by eliminating feelings of craving and aversion. To see things as they are, without passing judgment. This creates a clear mind, free from worries and dwelling, and a more stable personality. From this comes happiness, as this is our natural state of mind.

People tend to mix up pleasure and happiness and think meditation provides the first.

Meditation, just like a psychedelic experience, can show you where you stand in life, and this can be scary. One can find out that they've been doing things wrong all their life, or realize that they are on a destructive path. The changes required might affect their spouse, children, friends or their job, creating a seemingly impossible dilemma, to go on and keep suffering, or to change and hurt others.

[wefarrell]

Meditation can provide pleasure which is why it can be harmful without proper guidance. My last retreat I came to a state of bhanga very early. It felt wonderful but it fucked with my equanimity when it stopped I felt depressed. Guidance helped me get through it.

The key difference between meditation and psychedelics is regularity. Psychedelics are more like antibiotics in that they can be used in short bursts to shock the system but meditation should be used continually like a vitamin.