death on Diamond Mountain, A
Book Description
When the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment turns deadly, what hidden dangers lurk beneath the surface of modern meditation practices? Investigative journalist and anthropologist Scott Carney examines this troubling question through the lens of a shocking 2012 tragedy that made national headlines.
Ian Thorson, a thirty-eight-year-old seeker, died alone on a remote Arizona mountaintop after succumbing to dehydration and dysentery during what was supposed to be a transformative Buddhist retreat. His death at Diamond Mountain University exposed a disturbing pattern that Carney had observed during his six years living in India: the dangerous intersection between intensive meditation and psychological instability.
Drawing on Thorson's personal writings and testimonies from former practitioners, Carney investigates the unconventional Tibetan Buddhist teachings that drew Thorson to this isolated desert location. At the center of his inquiry are two controversial figures: Lama Christie McNally, Thorson's wife, and her former husband Geshe Michael Roach, the spiritual leader whose interpretations of ancient practices created a devoted following.
This investigation reveals how Americans often approach Eastern spiritual traditions with a mix-and-match mentality, seeking perfection and divine revelation without fully understanding the psychological risks involved. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience research with firsthand accounts of ritualistic practices, Carney exposes the cultlike dynamics that can emerge when spiritual authority goes unchecked.
The result is a sobering examination of how the genuine desire for spiritual growth can become entangled with dangerous extremes, offering crucial insights for anyone navigating the complex landscape of modern spirituality.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 277 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore the neuroscience of spirituality
- ✓ Explore MEDICAL / Neuroscience
- ✓ Understand psychological principles
- ✓ Explore Tibetan
- ✓ Explore Psychology of Religion
- ✓ Explore Budget, united states
- ✓ Explore RELIGION / Psychology of Religion
- ✓ Understand death from spiritual perspective
