Fire Kasina advanced meditation produces experiences comparable to psychedelic and near-death experiences: A pilot study.
Marjorie Woollacott, Justin Riddle, Niffe Hermansson, Matthew D Sacchet, Daniel M Ingram
Explore (New York, N.Y.) January 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2024.103056 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractAn intensive meditation practice called Fire Kasina can induce mystical experiences comparable to those produced by high-dose psychedelics. Six individuals completed a retreat and reported experiences they described as the most intense of their lives. Mean scores on the Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire reached 85%, similar to prior observations with high-dose psilocybin and stronger than moderate-dose psilocybin. Scores on the Hood Mystical Experience Scale averaged 93%, exceeding levels reported for near-death experiences (74%) and high-dose psilocybin (77%). Participants also described substantial shifts in worldview following the retreat.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Observational cohort Pilot study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Individuals who completed a Fire Kasina meditation retreat |
| Duration | Retreat |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Mystical experience |
| Keywords | Meditation-spirituality Altered-consciousness Mental-wellness Psychedelic-research Contemplative-practice |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key finding | The Fire Kasina meditation practice produced mystical experience questionnaire scores comparable to or exceeding those from high-dose psychedelics and near-death experiences, with participants reporting profound personal transformation. |
Abstract
Psychedelic-assisted therapy studies suggest that the induction of "mystical experiences" combined with psycho-therapy is a possible intervention for psychiatric illness. Advanced meditation may induce powerful experiences comparable to psychedelics. We investigated effects of an intensive meditation practice called Fire Kasina. Six individuals completed a retreat, and participated in an interview in which they described their experiences. They also completed the Revised Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ), Hood Mystical Experience Scale (HME), and Cole's Spiritual Transformation Scale. Mean MEQ scores were 85 %, similar to prior observations of high-dose psilocybin and were stronger than moderate-dose psilocybin (t(5) = 4.41, p = 0.007, d = 1.80; W(5) = 21, p = 0.031). Mean HME scores were 93 %, exceeding levels reported for NDEs (mean 74 %) and high-dose psilocybin (mean 77 %). In qualitative analysis, experiences were described as the most intense of the individual's life, while subsequent transformational effects included substantial shifts in worldview.