Buddhist Geeks 232: The Dark Night Project with Willoughby Britton

Here is part two of Vince's interview with Willoughby Britton on Buddhist Geeks. This week they focus on the Dark Night Project, which she describes like this:

And yeah the Dark Night project, my project, is sort of the area that I specialize in and I’m collecting reports about where these difficulties fit in the bigger map. And other people might be more interested in, you know, what happens post stream entry? What does full enlightenment looked like? Those kinds of questions. My sort of population specialty has always been the people that are really struggling. And again my goal has always been to make sure that they get the support they need.

Early in the interview (like right at the beginning) she outlines some of the issues people can have as a result of beginning a meditation practice. I see what she is doing as very similar to Christina Grof's work on spiritual emergency (this article by Brant Cortright is useful). Waking up is not always a fun and pleasant experience.

BG 232: The Dark Night Project

by Willoughby Britton

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Episode Description:


We’re joined again this week by Brown University neuroscience researcher Willougbhy Britton. Willougbhy begins this episode by going into further depth into some of the typical experiences that have been reported during her research into the difficult stages of the contemplative path. She lists out typical changes in cognition, affect (emotion), perception, and other psychological material. She also explores the typical duration of these experiences and explores some of the philosophical and practical ramifications of these stages.

Toward the end she also speaks about how she and her colleagues–all part of this emerging group of contemplative scientist hybrids–have come together to create a new contemplative development mapping project. This new generation of scientists are studying the mind, and have immersed themselves not only in scientific methodologies but also in contemplative practice.

This is part 2 of a two-part series. Listen to part 1, The Dark Side of Dharma.  

Episode Links 

• Willoughby Britton @ Brown University
• Britton Lab
• Mind and Life Institute
• Cheetah House
• Brown University Contemplative Studies Initiative

Transcript