2 commentators made some sense
A Zen flower
You are absolutely right; we understand meditation very little - scientifically. In order to discuss what could be positive or detrimental, however, we have to begin with our fundamental perspective on the issue, which inevitably will take us into the perilous realm of philosophy. Contrary to a popular notion, meditation is not a form of relaxation; it is rather a "radically" different way of approaching to human life. Therefore, one should not start meditating without proper understanding the fundamental philosophy behind such practice.
Meditation beyond simple mindful awareness can alter your personality, general mood, induce withdrawal from everyday life and even change the dynamics of your family relationship. We know that it has been "abused" by cult leaders to control their followers - partly because meditation does bring forth an altered state of consciousness (which people may mistake as "spiritual" experience). In East Asia, meditation has been what only (professional) monks do; they did not and still do not recommend it to lay believers (a practice I personally do not endorse, however). Many Western (commercial) spiritual gurus sell meditation as some kind of panacea while emphasizing it as living "here and now" while dispensing with the history and Eastern metaphysics behind it. Although I am a long-time Zen practioner, I often hesitate to recommend meditation to those who are only casually interested in reducing their stress. I would caution them against "commercial" teachers our there although some of them are sincere and good. James Austin's "Zen and the Brain" is where you can find a good source of scientific papers on the topic. From a Zen perspective, however, science is a study of "forms," the material appearance of the universe while Zen is simply recognizing the other side of the universe, our inner consciousness which contains it all (Buddhists call it "emptiness"). They are two sides of the same coin.
A Zen flower
Your concern is legitimate, few "gurus" would however warn you. If "natural' is how most people live and think without trained self-awareness, a meditative way of living is certainly not natural (since it has to be consciously learned and practiced - often for one's life-time); and enlightenment may mean delusion. But your question - "aren't we conditioned to live with joy, sorrow, etc.?" - somehow implies to me - or you may acknowledge - that you ALREADY have a certain realization of your own, which I have to say is consistent with Zen or Buddha's awakening. You're right; it is not necessary to change or alter anything (and we really can't when it comes to the external human conditions we find ourselves in). What changes everything however - and this is certainly powerful and quite paradoxical - is "that realization" itself. You may not need to meditate at all since you've already arrived - from my Zen perspective if your "that realization" is indeed powerfully embodied, not mere intellectual articulation. Your perspective also smacks of Daoism, I have to point out, which was heavily infused into Zen by the East Asians when they rewrote (Indian) Buddhism (there was simply too much mysticism and spiritualism of Indian origin for the East Asian minds). You live your life as found - that is Dao; there is nothing to change or alter. Daoists (who are completely invisible since they are just one of us, not organized and never "show off" in any manner whatsoever) look down on Buddhist monks for shaving their heads, meditating all the time, etc., since it is all nothing but another kind of human vanity from their perspective.
.................
Zen and the Brain is far too esoteric for a beginner. Just follow any of Jon Kabat-Zinn's guidelines/books/cd's Youtube videos.
Sharon Begley's "Train Your Mind Change Your Brain" gives you a little more basic understanding of the process.
A Zen flower
You are absolutely right; we understand meditation very little - scientifically. In order to discuss what could be positive or detrimental, however, we have to begin with our fundamental perspective on the issue, which inevitably will take us into the perilous realm of philosophy. Contrary to a popular notion, meditation is not a form of relaxation; it is rather a "radically" different way of approaching to human life. Therefore, one should not start meditating without proper understanding the fundamental philosophy behind such practice.
Meditation beyond simple mindful awareness can alter your personality, general mood, induce withdrawal from everyday life and even change the dynamics of your family relationship. We know that it has been "abused" by cult leaders to control their followers - partly because meditation does bring forth an altered state of consciousness (which people may mistake as "spiritual" experience). In East Asia, meditation has been what only (professional) monks do; they did not and still do not recommend it to lay believers (a practice I personally do not endorse, however). Many Western (commercial) spiritual gurus sell meditation as some kind of panacea while emphasizing it as living "here and now" while dispensing with the history and Eastern metaphysics behind it. Although I am a long-time Zen practioner, I often hesitate to recommend meditation to those who are only casually interested in reducing their stress. I would caution them against "commercial" teachers our there although some of them are sincere and good. James Austin's "Zen and the Brain" is where you can find a good source of scientific papers on the topic. From a Zen perspective, however, science is a study of "forms," the material appearance of the universe while Zen is simply recognizing the other side of the universe, our inner consciousness which contains it all (Buddhists call it "emptiness"). They are two sides of the same coin.
A Zen flower
Your concern is legitimate, few "gurus" would however warn you. If "natural' is how most people live and think without trained self-awareness, a meditative way of living is certainly not natural (since it has to be consciously learned and practiced - often for one's life-time); and enlightenment may mean delusion. But your question - "aren't we conditioned to live with joy, sorrow, etc.?" - somehow implies to me - or you may acknowledge - that you ALREADY have a certain realization of your own, which I have to say is consistent with Zen or Buddha's awakening. You're right; it is not necessary to change or alter anything (and we really can't when it comes to the external human conditions we find ourselves in). What changes everything however - and this is certainly powerful and quite paradoxical - is "that realization" itself. You may not need to meditate at all since you've already arrived - from my Zen perspective if your "that realization" is indeed powerfully embodied, not mere intellectual articulation. Your perspective also smacks of Daoism, I have to point out, which was heavily infused into Zen by the East Asians when they rewrote (Indian) Buddhism (there was simply too much mysticism and spiritualism of Indian origin for the East Asian minds). You live your life as found - that is Dao; there is nothing to change or alter. Daoists (who are completely invisible since they are just one of us, not organized and never "show off" in any manner whatsoever) look down on Buddhist monks for shaving their heads, meditating all the time, etc., since it is all nothing but another kind of human vanity from their perspective.
.................
Zen and the Brain is far too esoteric for a beginner. Just follow any of Jon Kabat-Zinn's guidelines/books/cd's Youtube videos.
Sharon Begley's "Train Your Mind Change Your Brain" gives you a little more basic understanding of the process.
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