I’m currently exploring a new wave of advanced meditation that offers access to deeper, intensely altered mental states – comparable to psychedelics, but induced through concentration alone – beyond mindfulness. Little is understood about the underlying mechanics, but these practices have potential therapeutic benefits, as well as insight into the mind and consciousness itself.
I discovered this world by accident in early 2024, when I pitched a magazine on a piece about a growing Twitter subculture surrounding one form of advanced meditation, called the jhanas. As part of my research, I signed up for a retreat. I had virtually no background in meditation, and was skeptical about the claimed effects, yet came away astounded – and intrigued – by what I experienced.
Research and media on advanced meditation is scant but growing. I’m collaborating with several organizations and researchers to better understand the phenomenology, pedagogy, and effects of these practices.