4. If meditation is simple to do and produces psychological benefi ts, why do you think more people aren’t doing it? How would you explain the benefi ts of meditation to a friend? Our examination of states of consciousness has ranged widely. It focuses both on natural factors such as sleep, dreaming, and daydreaming and on more intentional modes of altering consciousness, including hypnosis, meditation, and drugs. As we consider why people seek to alter their consciousness, we need to refl ect on the uses and abuses of the various consciousnessaltering strategies in which people engage.

Return briefl y to the case of Lynn Blakes.