Well-Being

Summary

Meditation and psychedelics may enhance well-being by promoting mindfulness or creating revelatory experiences that mimic increases in mindfulness. These experiences can lead to benefits associated with genuine mindfulness. The chapter also examines the link between mystical experiences and well-being, suggesting this relationship might be mediated by insights into one's self-nature.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores the thesis that the empirically observed benefits of meditation and psychedelics on well-being can be accounted for in terms of their tendency to reveal the mind. The chapter proposes a more general explanation that goes beyond psychedelic experience by utilising the conceptual framework of psychedelic space (developed in chapter 3). Briefly stated, the explanation is that psychedelics and meditation either promote mindfulness directly or create revelatory experiences that approximate temporary increases in mindfulness. To the extent that these experiences approximate temporary increases in mindfulness, they inherit the benefits to well-being that would otherwise result from genuine increases in mindfulness. Using this explanation, the chapter then considers the relationship between mystical-type experiences and well-being, and explores the possibility that this is mediated by revelations about one's self-nature.