Sunday 25 May 2014

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 34 - Psychological Depression vs Uncaused Depression

Psychological Depression vs Uncaused Depression


Hello Friends,


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Here's a new post. An understanding of the crucial distinction between the two kinds of depression mentioned in the title of this post is crucial. I keep getting questions on this from interested readers of this blog as well as of the book ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY? These point towards need for greater clarity. Readers appreciate the nuanced difference, seem to understand, but do have lingering questions. That's very good. It's only when a new idea agitates and excites your mind that questions come forth. 

We do feel unhappy due to real events surrounding us. But this unhappiness is temporary. It could be due to financial loss, tiff with someone dear, health concerns, job stress etc. The unhappiness goes away when the cause is removed or addressed. Or, often, with the passage of time, we move on and the unhappiness is shed. This is PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPRESSION. At times, this depression persists, far beyond what one would have normally expected. Depending on the severity, one may even run to a psychiatrist. 

It would then be worthwhile to be aware that there is another unhappiness that pervades our being at the core of our very existence. It is there without any reason. This is UNCAUSED DEPRESSION. It has nothing to do with your circumstances. This blog and my book ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY? are all about this fundamental human condition. If you still have doubts, well, the way we avoid loneliness, keep our schedules packed with activities, fully structure even 'free time', run after things, and dread boredom are some of the signs that we do get faint hints of this basic human condition, which we somehow manage to keep under wraps. Similarly, don't we at times find ourselves in a 'bad mood' or on a short fuse for no apparent reason?? 

Yes, we rush to give 'reasons' for all this. All we need is a little authenticity and courage to take an honest look at ourselves. Don't blame yourself. This is the fundamental human condition from which we all seek redemption, but end up doing the opposite. There are numerous plays, films, works of art that have intensely captured this FUNDAMENTAL UNHAPPINESS that is stubbornly entrenched in human existence. 

Now, what happens is that this uncaused depression, which is normally deeply embedded and hardly noticeable, often gets triggered when we are psychologically depressed. The two kinds of depression get mixed up. We feel both, but ascribe all unhappiness to the known external causes. Sometimes the external cause may have become irrelevant, but the basic human unease is still there - just under the skin. So we continue to feel depressed!

In many cases, the fundamental inner condition of human existence, uncaused depression being one of them, gets fully exposed. Something that was conveniently locked up within us is now revealed. The irony is that this is actually good news! For you are now feeling yourself more than ever before. You have risen in spirit. You need to rise further to feel the JOY of existence.

Unfortunately, the psychiatrist community does not yet recognise this spiritual dimension. For them it is all about 'altered brain chemistry' that has to be set right with medication.

It is a futile exercise trying to segregate the two kinds of unhappiness. But, being aware that part of it could be the fundamental uncaused kind, itself helps. 

Rather, I have stated in my posts that you can use any kind of unhappiness as a portal to move through it towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS.

I have been through all this, which is why I have a strong motivation to make people realize that this fundamental unease within human beings is real. But it can be transcended by honestly acknowledging it, giving up all struggle and defence against it, then walking through it to the other side to witness JOY.

I recommend that you go back to Series 10 (click here), latter parts of Series 12 (click here) and 13 (click here), and Series 16 (click here) where I have described the practices in detail. You can go back to any Series by using the Blog Archives on the right panel of this page. It helps to keep revisiting the pages and allow the idea to seep in. For full details and more practical examples, you have to read the book.

What about those who consider themselves happy? I have covered that in Series 6 (click here). You can go back to it. Have fun!

Come on friends, have faith in yourself and your consciousness. This is a golden opportunity available to everyone to bring a qualitative shift in our lives. For how long are we going to lead a life of diversion and distraction? Let's get real. And, from that position of awareness, let us also enjoy what life has to offer us.

Cheers!


Deepak Chatterjee


chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C


If you are following this blog through email, you will notice that the post that you receive in your in-box does not have the blog archives and other features. At times the formatting is not good. For a better view you can see the entire blog at: 

Friday 9 May 2014

FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS Series 33 - SPIRITUAL SECULARISM, SPIRITUAL LIBERALISM, SPIRITUAL HINDUTVA

SPIRITUAL SECULARISM, SPIRITUAL LIBERALISM, SPIRITUAL HINDUTVA


Hello Friends,

We, in India, are in the last stage of national elections: the last date of voting is May 12 with results out on May 16. About 815 million are voting!

This election has generated the kind of heat and nerves never seen before. I have written in Series 31: Indian Elections: Human Angst and Beyond (click here to read) how this election has been reduced to a die-hard support for, or a visceral loathing of, one particular politician. The concurrent themes related to this are secularism versus communalism, liberalism versus fascism or even a doubt on whether growth and development can coexist with liberal democratic values.

I have written about how we humans have the need to stay within familiar comfort zones to keep the basic human unease in us under check. I have also written how politicians and voters on both sides of this divide have been forced out of their traditional cocoons.  We do so many things to keep this fundamental UNhappiness under wraps. A life of predictability, known patterns, helps in evading this basic truth of human existence. Readers of this blog, and my book ARE YOU REALLY HAPPY?, will understand this recurrent theme amidst all I write. 

Now, let us look at 'liberalism' and 'secularism' from a spiritual perspective. What is this spiritual perspective? Let me rush to add here that it is non-religious. Religion is not necessary to gain spirit in your lives, though some may find it easier that way; I have no quarrels. For a more detailed elaboration on this please read Series 26 (click here)

Simply speaking, spiritualism is a more honest (authentic) acceptance of your SELF, including all the biases, prejudices, negativities, weaknesses and insecurities. Once you do that, all the positives in you can bloom. You can still hold on to your beliefs (including political beliefs or ideologies), but from a position of AUTHENTICITY, which is our basic truthfulness.

A lot has been said, as part of the on-going political debate, on the need for liberal and secular values. There is no denying the centrality of such ideologies being firmly entrenched in any democratic system. But, I feel sick the moment I sense an AGENDA behind all such voices. The moment you are following any agenda through an act that is ostensibly very noble, you have moved away from spirit. You are no longer authentic. One can honestly question: is the majority of the liberal chatterati pursuing an agenda? 

This is equally true of the other side who are questioning such voices and giving a counter argument. This too ostensibly often appears to be very noble and fair, but can have a motive embedded in it. When they send a subtle message favouring Hindutva, I often suspect a motive. True, Spiritual Hindutva is automatically secular. There is no debate there. Similarly spiritual liberalism and secularism are essential values to uphold

I suspect, that neither side is 100% authentic. In the election slugfest, their inauthenticities get exposed. Their comfort zones get demolished. The deeply entrenched human angst surfaces and the battle gets murkier. Really speaking, there is a range of authenticity from 0 to 100%. The committed voters, the ideologically blinded ones, will not care for truthfulness. But the vast number of ordinary voters with bread and butter issues, the so-called less literate or aware, can make out the difference in the degrees of authenticity. And they will always vote according to their gut feel. So the side that people sense to be more authentic will win. 

The irony is that both sides give cogent arguments against the opposite view. Arguments are often very powerful and convincing, for they come from the mind. We humans are extraordinarily intelligent. There is no match for the complex ability of the human mind. As I keep saying, this hyperactive mind is the cause for the basic human unease and the consequent human suffering. The mind is an excellent tool. But we forget that it is only a tool and instead we have become the mind. We keep creating unhappiness for ourselves all the time. Little wonder that we are witnessing so much negativity during elections this time. I have also written on The Spiritual Politician in Series 25. Readers can click here to read it.

If we only step back a bit and observe ourselves we can find some inner peace. Both sides will probably start viewing each other with less suspicion and hatred. There will be mutual respect. For the sake of our nation, we need to build that mutual self respect.

Right now, I'm worried. There is so much loathing on either side of this divide, I don't know how the side that is elected will function. Let's hope the angst will gradually subside and better sense will prevail amongst the political class. For you, me and generations to come, this angst needs to be transcended towards FUNDAMENTAL HAPPINESS. That, of course, is the on-going theme!

Cheers!

Deepak Chatterjee


chatterjee.deepak33@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/deepak.chatterjee.944
@Deepak33C


If you are following this blog through email, you will notice that the post that you receive in your in-box does not have the blog archives and other features. At times the formatting is not good. For a better view you can see the entire blog at: