Mo O:
MCTB advises yogis to focus on technique vs content. If one has trauma from childhood which routinely come up in meditation, does the advise to focus on technique vs content still apply ? I have been experiencing transference in my sittings, I practice regularly at a meditation center with resident monks, all the feelings(anger/rage, lust and etc) that I have from childhood is transfered to this monk who has the capability to read mind, it is extremely embarassing to be experiencing all these emotions knowing full well that the monk reads mind. The obsessive emotions are very strong and as much as possible, I have been trying to overcome them with effort, sometimes this works and sometimes not. Does one need to deal with issues from childhood eventually while walking this path ? What is the recommended way of dealing with it ? Seeing the help of a psychologist ? Is it possible to overcome the trauma from the past on one's own through sitting meditation ?
Any advise is deeply appreciated.
I think the previous replies are very good. I'll just add my two cents. My own childhood was quite traumatic, and I still have the effects of it to deal with, though I've freed myself from a lot of it. I do believe that it's very important to deal with these issues. As long as they are there, they can work like filters to color/distort all one's experience and perceptions. When you know about them you can at least factor them into your understanding, but even better is to find ways to really deal with them and get rid of them.
Whether all this can be handled just using meditation, I don't know - I have friends that think so, and maybe with a really good guide it would be possible. But especially regarding the effects of trauma, therapists can very helpful, and are probably the quickest way to deal with this. What is essential is to find a therapist who is both competent and respectful of your spiritual work. On the other side, you need to be working with a spiritual guide who understands that a therapist might help and also wouldn't interfere with your practice. This is a balance that is not so easy to find.
As for your own situation - during meditation it's natural for memories to come up, and all sorts of disturbing emotions. One aspect of practice is that it is purifying - so it tends to bring this stuff up - in a way, that's what should happen. It's a great opportunity to eventually work to some sort of healing and resolution of the underlying causes, but that's not quick, and it's often painful. And you need the right help and support.
Many western Dharma students that I know have a tendency to make their spiritual guide into a father (or mother) figure, a symbol of authority, and a pseudo-therapist in addition to their spiritual role. This creates problems and doesn't really work. The students are too inexperienced to know that such projections are inaccurate and sometimes the teacher doesn't recognize it either - and may accept a role and power that he or she is not equipped to handle.