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.
The Moral Code: Origins, Wounding, and the Science of Renewal
At the heart of human life lies a quiet compass, our sense of right and wrong. It is not carved in stone but alive in the body, formed through touch, trust, and belonging. When that compass is betrayed by families, cultures, or workplaces, it can falter. Yet with empathy and truth, it can be renewed. Read on to learn how moral code arises, is wounded, and can be renewed.