Meditation is no longer seen as only a spiritual practice, or an obsession of minority groups. It is a mainstream movement—a tool with proven benefits for your health, mind, and psychological well-being. In fact, meditation is now a billion dollar industry; as a result, there are plenty of people looking for creative ways to profit from it, and you will find meditation scams popping up here and there.
There are plenty of good meditation teachers and programs out there. But there are also some that it would be better to avoid. It can be challenging to tell the difference, especially if you are a beginner in the practice. In this article, I share some guidelines that can help you better choose your teacher/program.
There are those who believe that meditation should never be charged for, and should be taught on a donation basis within the confines of spiritual or contemplative traditions (I disagree).
At the other end of the spectrum, we have people who think of it as just another popular self-help technique, and will try to modify it, brand it, and market it as much as they can, pushing for the uniqueness of their technique or approach. They may also try to “catch the wave” by adding the word “meditation” or “mindfulness” to things that are not really meditation. This just adds to the confusion.
For me, it has always been about finding the middle path. In this case, it is staying true to the traditions that developed these amazing tools, sticking to the techniques that have stood the test of time for centuries, and presenting them in a pragmatic, non-sectarian, and secular way—so that people from all walks of life can benefit from them regardless of any faith or belief system.
We will now explore the different ways in which meditation is being presented to the world in an unhelpful manner—all the way from naive but misguided to fraudulent and scammy. I see these popping up from time to time, and I worry about those who may engage with them and, as a result, have a negative experience with meditation practice.
NOTE: This article generated some controversy, especially among teachers of meditation/mindfulness. Some loved it, some got upset. So it is worth clarifying that I write this article from a place of concern/disappointment with what is starting to happen to the meditation “industry”—and not from a place of anger.
I believe that there are many paths for one to become an authentic and helpful meditation teacher. But there are also traits that are not helpful—either because the intention behind it is not in sync with the spirit of meditation, or the execution isn’t. Beginners looking to learn meditation may not be aware of the difference, so here I share my view on these things, and what I would like to know if I was a beginner seeking a teacher/program.
Meditation by Amateurs
In this category we have people who are genuinely interested in meditation, passionate about the idea, and wish to share it with others. Their dream might be to make a living teaching meditation and help many people learn this valuable practice. But they don’t have much experience with meditation and haven’t studied it deeply. It’s not integrated into their personality.
So far so good. You’ve got to start somewhere, right?
From this point, there are two possible paths.
In the first case, they plunge into meditation, trying to learn everything they can. They establish a strong personal practice of at least one hour of formal meditation per day. They learn from authentic and traditional sources—be them spiritual or secular. They go to retreats. They strive to live the practice. Ideally, they go through a meditation teacher training course. And, in time, they start sharing meditation with the world—in a genuine, humble, and respectful way.
In the second case, they are in a hurry to “make it work”. They believe that meditation is a very simple thing to learn and teach, and that there is great value in putting their own spin on things. They are influenced by internet marketers and half-baked motivational speakers who preach “live off your passion”, “everyone is an expert”, and “establish yourself as an authority in your field”.
Even though they are beginners in the practice itself—let alone the experience of teaching it—they start acting as if they are great teachers. Or at least they give this impression. They speak with certainty and authority, present themselves as go-to experts in the field, make YouTube videos, put up a fancy website, and start selling $1.95 ebooks on Amazon—or, worse, a $997 “Meditation Transformation” packages.
Making a living off meditation while remaining genuine to yourself and truly helpful to your audience is incredibly hard. But if you try shortcuts, what comes out is usually not good—especially for society.
Meditation Scams
There are also individuals and groups that present meditation in a scammy way. They may be
- financially motivated marketers or entrepreneurs, knowing exactly what they are doing (but rationalizing it to be okay for a myriad of reasons)
- deluded spiritual leaders running groups that are not too far away from a cult
I wish I could give some examples, but that would make this essay be way more controversial than it’s supposed to be, and it would also help to make those scammers more popular. So, in order to avoid a lot of frustration, a thread of 237 comments, and perhaps some lawsuits, I’ll keep this discussion on a more abstract level.
Once meditation became mainstream, some people started looking at it the same way they look at any other product: “How can I sell this better than others. How can I improve my meditation practice in a more effective, efficient, and affordable way? The Dalai Lama wisely said, “In the West, people would like enlightenment to be fast, easy, and if possible, cheap.” However, the truth is that meditation has been developed over thousands of years by dedicated practitioners who devoted their lives to exploring contemplative techniques. The idea of quick fixes, secret techniques, and shortcuts in meditation can be alluring, but it’s important to be cautious of scams.
Here are some common traits of meditation scams to watch out for:
– Claims that their technique is unique, superior, or more effective than others.
– Promises that their technique is effortless and simple, while other techniques are difficult.
– Keeping their meditation technique secret and only available behind a paywall.
– Using exaggerated language to describe the benefits of their approach.
– Avoiding basic questions about the practice until you commit to paying.
– Being offered by a faceless organization or inexperienced practitioner.
– Charging exorbitant prices for meditation instruction.
– Pressuring you to join or pay immediately.
– Claiming to have invented or discovered the technique themselves.
– Promoting religious practices under the guise of secular teachings.
To learn genuine meditation, it’s important to find a reputable teacher or organization with a solid personal practice and experience in meditation. Be cautious of apps, books, courses, and videos that may not have credible sources behind them. Remember, there is no magic secret to meditation, it simply takes time and practice to learn well.
If you’ve had a negative experience with meditation in the past, don’t be discouraged. There are many different techniques and teachers out there, so don’t give up on the practice altogether. Meditation can bring numerous benefits to your life, so keep searching until you find the right fit for you. Please rewrite the following sentence for me.