The Enlightenment Trap

Obsession, Madness and Death on Diamond Mountain

By: Scott Carney

Narrated by: Scott Carney

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

The 2023 edition of The Enlightenment Trap includes two new chapters, photography, and updated total revision.

In 2012, 38-year-old Ian Thorson's search for spiritual transcendence ended in tragedy on a remote Arizona mountaintop. His wife, a woman anointed as a goddess by an eccentric Buddhist community, held him in her arms as he slowly died from dehydration and dysentery. For Scott Carney, a journalist and anthropologist who lived in India for six years, Thorson's death was just the most recent iteration of an unspoken epidemic that connected intensive meditation and mental instability.

The Enlightenment Trap explores how Tibetan Buddhism in the West morphed from its roots in the Himalayan foothills into a fundamentally new American religion. For Thorson, the entry point into this new faith was Geshe Michael Roach, the supreme spiritual leader of Diamond Mountain University.

Carney unravels the cult-like practices of Diamond Mountain to illuminate the uniquely American tendency to mix and match Eastern religious traditions like LEGO pieces. The result is that for some, enlightenment is a synonym for almost god-like powers, and achieving it can become more important than life itself.

Aided by Thorson’s private papers and cutting-edge neurological research, the book reveals the profound impact of intensive meditation on the brain. Carney exposes stories of miracles and black magic, sexualized rituals and tantric rites from former Diamond Mountain acolytes. The Enlightenment Trap is a gripping work of investigative journalism that reveals how the path to enlightenment can be riddled with danger.

©2023 Scott Carney (P)2023 Scott Carney

Sure you want to reach enlightenment?

Fascinating book to read if you are trying to become enlightened through meditation. I really enjoy listening to Scott’s narrating.
I was happy to find out that as long as you do it for stress relief in daily life you should be ok.
Too much of anything can be lethal✌️

A Cautious and Dangerously Enlightening Tale.

A fantastic and inspiring book! Several journeys intertwine and are told here in a humble manner which I discovered to be enlightening in and of itself. I listened to the audio book as read by the author. The material was well researched and the stories presented with compassion. It is an educational, insightful, introspective and authentic experience to not only learn about the lives of these seekers but to also get inside their heads a little.

In particular, I really appreciate the way the author shares his personal experiences and knowledge in Tibetan Buddhism, especially relating to the characters and how his own journey intersects with them. Although the author has a stake of sorts in the story, the wisdom is presented in a non-ego and nonjudgemental way. It will indeed have you contemplating your own personal journey in comparison. I highly recommend this book for the intellectually curious and those on a spiritual path. You’re certain to discover a thing or two here in regards to the seldomly-discussed potential dangers in following your bliss.

-Dewey Paul Moffitt

FINALLY

I have been waiting for Scott to make this an audio book. I’ve had the print copy of the second(?) edition, but hearing Scott’s voice which is analogous to melting chocolate is preferred. I returned an audiobook to immediately get this, instead of waiting for my next credit.

Scott Carney is both a fantastic journalist and a well-hearted human. A few of his books are my favorites of all time. Also I recommend checking out info on his next Foxtopus Ink project and his wife Laura Krantz for more great work.