CultNEWS101 Articles: 9/29/2025

[Patrick Ryan]

Meditation, Unification Church, Legal, Japan, Korea

Science Alert: Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Don't Often Talk About

" ... The Dharmatrāta Meditation Scripture, written by a community of Buddhists, describes various practices and includes reports of symptoms of depression and anxiety that can occur after meditation.

It also details cognitive anomalies associated with episodes of psychosis, dissociation, and depersonalisation (when people feel the world is "unreal").

In the past eight years there has been a surge of scientific research in this area. These studies show that adverse effects are not rare.

A 2022 study, using a sample of 953 people in the US who meditated regularly, showed that over 10 percent of participants experienced adverse effects which had a significant negative impact on their everyday life and lasted for at least one month.

According to a review of over 40 years of research that was published in 2020, the most common adverse effects are anxiety and depression. These are followed by psychotic or delusional symptoms, dissociation or depersonalisation, and fear or terror.

Research also found that adverse effects can happen to people without previous mental health problems, to those who have only had a moderate exposure to meditation and they can lead to long-lasting symptoms.

The western world has also had evidence about these adverse effects for a long time.

In 1976, Arnold Lazarus, a key figure in the cognitive-behavioural science movement, said that meditation, when used indiscriminately, could induce 'serious psychiatric problems such as depression, agitation, and even schizophrenic decompensation'."

Chosun: Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja to attend special counsel

After declining three summonses, Han agrees to cooperate in an illegal funds probe.

"Han Hak-ja, the Unification Church leader suspected of being the "higher-up" who provided illegal political funds to People Power Party Representative Kweon Seong-dong, announced on the 16th that he would "attend the special counsel team at 10 a.m. on the 17th." Earlier, Han’s side had declined three summonses from the special counsel team, citing health reasons.

On this day, the Unification Church stated, "Chairman Han will attend at 10 a.m. on the 17th and cooperate sincerely with the investigation," adding, "Although his health has not fully recovered, we hope the special counsel team will understand his intention to keep the promise made before them." It further noted, "We apologize for the lack of prior consultation with the special counsel team," indicating that the attendance was arranged without prior coordination.

Previously, the special counsel team had notified Han of summonses on the 8th, 11th, and 15th of last month. In response, the Unification Church submitted no-show reasons days before each scheduled date, citing Han’s poor health, including recent heart surgery. The special counsel team then stated, "We are processing the three instances of non-compliance and reviewing future measures." Some speculated that the team might initiate compulsory investigations, such as requesting an arrest warrant."

AP: South Korean investigators have requested an arrest warrant for Hak Ja Han, leader of the Unification Church

"South Korean investigators said Thursday that they have requested an arrest warrant for the leader of the Unification Church. The announcement came a day after they questioned her about allegations that the church bribed the wife of jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol and a conservative lawmaker.

The church leader, Hak Ja Han, is the 82-year-old widow of the church’s South Korean founder, Sun Myung Moon. She and the church have denied allegations they bribed Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, and the lawmaker.

Park Sang-jin, an investigator involved in the case, told The Associated Press that a court hearing to decide whether to approve Han’s arrest was scheduled for next Monday.

Kim was arrested and charged last month on allegations including bribery, stock manipulation and meddling in the selection of a legislative candidate. Her lawyers have denied the allegations."

Chosun: Democratic Party demands People Power Party dissolution over Unification Church ties

"The Democratic Party claimed on the 19th, “Media reports have emerged that the special counsel team confirmed 110,000 party members presumed to be Unification Church followers in the People Power Party membership list seized during a raid,” adding, 'If this is true, it violates Article 20 of the Constitution’s principle of separation of church and state, proving the People Power Party is an unconstitutional party, so it must be dissolved.'"

News, Education, Intervention, Recovery

CultMediation.com   

Intervention101.com to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement.

CultRecovery101.com assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice.

CultNEWS101.com news, links, resources about: cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations, and related topics.

Facebook

Flipboard

Twitter

Instagram

The selection of articles for CultNEWS101 does not imply that Patrick Ryan or Joseph Kelly endorse the content. We provide information from multiple perspectives to foster dialogue.

Please forward articles that you think we should add to cultinte...@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Ashlen Hilliard (ashlen.hilli...@gmail.com)

Joe Kelly (joeke...@gmail.com)

Patrick Ryan (pryan...@gmail.com)

If you do not wish to be subscribed to this list, or you think you are being maliciously subscribed to the list, or have any other questions, send them to: pryan...@gmail.com or send an email to: cultnews101...@googlegroups.com.