I would say such things to the author in person. I have said such things to people who've professed to me special insight from such benign activities. I think they're kidding themselves and bullshitting other people when they do it.
I responded to everything I read in the original article. The author claimed humility but what I read was not indicative of someone whose motivation is to be humble. The author claimed to have learned something from the experience and draws eir conclusions from eir own bias.
I would consider my response aggressive but not uncivil and certainly not undeserved.
I think any sort of spiritual experience is best kept to oneself. No matter your intentions you will come off as humble-bragging if you try to explain your experiences and insights to others. I don't appreciate the new-age, spritiual, self-help "industry." I think it's a scam and intellectual fraud. Anyone who offers spiritual insight is probably lying for one. And if they're offering it at a price then they're scamming you.
I am also completely against the new-age, spritiual, self-help 'industry.'" I experienced something that one might call "spiritual" (I don't believe it was) or whatever on many awesome shroom trips and don't go bragging about how I gained some powerful knowledge of the multiverse, and I laugh whenever others make those claims too. But.... I don't think the author is advocating anything and trying to convert someone to a cult. Hell, there are many studies around meditation associated with other CBT studies for depression and other issues that help give cred to practising meditation. Think you might have judged the guy a little harsh. Besides even if he did do that, attacking him likely won't help you change his or anyone else's belief. Try using a strategy from this http://www.skepticalscience.com/Debunking-Handbook-now-freel...
I responded to everything I read in the original article. The author claimed humility but what I read was not indicative of someone whose motivation is to be humble. The author claimed to have learned something from the experience and draws eir conclusions from eir own bias.
I would consider my response aggressive but not uncivil and certainly not undeserved.
Now if you meant to point out that my criticism was not constructive then touché. Here's my suggestion then: don't let your personal bias influence your writing, author, draw your conclusions from your observations. Share what it was like to be at the centre. Everything you described indicates cult-like activity: what about it indicated that it was not a cult? How can you argue that is true?
I think any sort of spiritual experience is best kept to oneself. No matter your intentions you will come off as humble-bragging if you try to explain your experiences and insights to others. I don't appreciate the new-age, spritiual, self-help "industry." I think it's a scam and intellectual fraud. Anyone who offers spiritual insight is probably lying for one. And if they're offering it at a price then they're scamming you.