Black Mist Theory

I found this theory on AOL from user CollieVet84, regarding the black cloud/black mist.

Since the institute points so blatently at Eastern religions, Buddhism in particular, a thought jumped into my mind.

In Tibetan mysticism, there is the belief that a simple thought can turn into a very real physical entity. It’s called a “tulpa.” Most tulpas are harmless and can be controlled by their creator, but if the creator doesn’t have enough willpower, or desire, the tulpa can become its own entity, appearing whenever it’d like, doing whatever it’d like.

So, my theory is that this black smoke is a tulpa that contains all the fears/unfinished business of everyone who comes to the island. It was probably part of the Dharma Institute’s experiments and it’s become its own entity and is out of control.

This would explain, also, why Eko was able to look into it, see his past, and not be afraid or intimidated, because he’d come to terms with it and paid it back, I guess, by becoming a real priest. The only real way to “destroy” a tulpa is to basically stop believing in it.