Vipassana's Hidden Risks: Trauma-Sensitive Paths to Safe Practice

Widely recognized in the West as a powerful path for inner transformation, Vipassana retreats consist of continuous silent meditation sessions throughout the day, combined with mindfulness of posture and breath to deepen awareness and equanimity. Though these ten-day silent retreats promise deep insight, calmness, and relief from stress and overload, the practice can be especially challenging for people with traumatic histories or psychological burdens, as it activates complex internal processes—underscoring the crucial need for trauma sensitivity, gradual pacing, and professional guidance to safely navigate both its healing potential and possible difficulties.