Researchers have now concluded that over 90% cases of depression is due to self-inflicting thoughts. In simple words, the culprit is the MIND! The mind makes us feel weak, negative and does not allow us to enjoy simple things of life.
This is in continuation of my series on Depression, you can read the earlier articles in the following links: Article-1. This article is about diverting the mind. If you force think a strong positive thought (best are selfless thoughts…), the mind finally gives up on the depressive thought.
The next article is about attacking/tackling the depressive thought at source, I have included some case studies (you can read the article in this link: Article-2.
This article is about another technique: Let Go. This is also a part of Practical Detachment. When we learn to detach, the first thing we learn is to let go. Many cases of depression can be cured fully if we learn the art of letting go.
Letting go is not about physically letting go of objects and beings but more of a self hypnosis that we live in.
a. Let go of situations. Many of us cling to situations, events that we cannot let go of. What the boss told few months ago, the lady in the party who made some very nasty statements… This is very rampant between spouses. Many spouses fight over little things and cling to those fights, unable to let go
b. Let go of our attachments to objects, beings, situations. Typical example here is the relation of a parent and child. The parent is constantly putting pressure on the child to perform, excel in studies. In most cases, it is the parent who is vicariously living his/her dreams through the child. So there’s tremendous pressure, tension, friction. Typically in such cases the parent is very attached to his/her entity, name and does not want the child to falter in any which way that can cause harm to the name of the parent. So it is not about the future of the child that is so worrying but it’s the thought that others in the society will speak ill about “my”” son/daughter that is worrying.
Another example is attachment to situations. We cling to situations that are happy situations and sometimes do not let go. When the situations change to the adverse it causes deep misery and pain.
c. Let go of physical separation: It is not a myth nor a surprise to any of us that the body will perish. So will the body of the loved one also perish. When its hard to digest the fact that one’s own body is in tremendous pain, battling life-threatening disease it causes a new level of depression. This also happens when the suffering is of a loved one, especially a child.
A simple way to get over this kind of depression is to practice detachment at the body level using open eyed meditation and other forms of meditation. I will be writing articles on various techniques for detachment in future articles. Keep a watch on this space. Training the mind is also another important technique. More about this in future articles.
d. Let go of our annoyance, revenge seeking, reactive mentality. Replace such thoughts with understanding, caring, appreciation and similar thoughts. This happens typically when a person feels negated for the extra efforts being put at work or at home. When we don’t get appreciated enough, it leads to a gloom
e. Viewing the world as a competition/threat, rather than a harbinger of collectivity, union. See the world as a threat and we perceive such from every individual (even if they are our benefactors). But if we change our thought process to see partnerships, oneness in others, automatically our world will change.
f. Last but not the least is to learn the art of letting go of one’s own egoistic attachments. I will be writing detailed articles on detachment. As we experience various levels of insecurity arising out of fear of death, impermanence, and extreme obsessive importance to one’s own self, our attachments become more pronounced and rigid. Attachment occurs at various levels: Physical body attachment, Emotional attachment, Intellectual attachment, Religious attachment and Spiritual attachment. So we develop this tendency to cling at some level or at various levels. The more the clinging, the tougher to let go…
Some of the points mentioned above may be known to many. It is the practical aspect of living it that makes it more challenging.
But as a starting point, reading and contemplating on such topics helps considerably. This is what we intend to do with open eyed meditations, being established in awareness etc.
If you like what you are reading, please do register for our Deep Awareness Programs: www.eternalenergy.in/deep-awareness.
Jayanthi R. Iyengar