For a while now, I’ve been hearing voices to some degree, involuntarily. The things I hear seem consistent with what’s going on around me. I’ve been hearing multiple voices, and have believed that numerous people have been hearing my thoughts, and I’ve been having conversations with them.
I have thought it might be some sort of side effect of meditation and energy, or some aberration due to some drug use during sadhana, but I think it’s more likely it’s psychosis, even though what I hear and experience outwardly sometimes seem to fit well.
I’ve wondered if the deep listening involved in the mantra practice might be causing me to hear things. It’s only things that pertain to me in some way.
Does anyone else here hear voices of others? I believe siddhis really exist, and telepathy and so on, so it’s hard to tell if it might be those or mental illness.
I just wanted to get the advice of some members of the spiritual community before seeing a therapist, because I know they would say it’s all mental illness. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Yes, it is possible to hear voices due to spiritual practices. It can happen when the mind develops a certain degree of inner silence. The voices are best ignored and they tend to stop after a while. It is just more scenery.
Green Tea, I think it shows a thoughtful mind to consider the significance of hearing voices. The late Oliver Sacks, an amazing Neurologist, wrote an interesting book called “Hallucinations”. In it he outlines many many causes of hallucinations other than schizophrenia. You are smart to be concerned you might get incorrectly labeled psychotic if you share your experience with someone who isn’t open minded; however, I would also caution you concluding the voices are just manifestations of your yogic practices. If you can explore all possibilities before making a premature conclusion, you will likely have the best outcome. You do mention “due to some drug use during sadana”. If you are using hallucinogens in combination with these practices that can definitely complicate your journey.
Yesterday, I made an effort to stop believing in the reality of the voices, and stop engaging with them, and the past day, I’ve heard almost no voices. So I’ll continue to do this even if they seem persuasive. I think sometime I want to believe in them, either because it’s interesting if it were happening, or I want to believe the information sometimes.
What I think, and what has been happening externally seems to coincide, but it could be coincidence.