== COMES WITH THE TERRITORY ==
Namaskar,
Around the globe-- especially in the "developing world"-- it is commonly
believed that the so-called first-world nations are tops in all regards--
in all respects.
Overwhelmed by the glamour and material wealth of the west, people naively
think that in every sphere of life, from physical to psychic & from
technology to happiness, that the "developed" nations are towering above
the rest.
And of course, of all the so-called developed nations, it is widely deemed
that the cream of the crop is the USA. Therefore life there must be perfect
and sweet, problem-free. Many innocent people fall prey to this misnomer.
WHAT IS THE REALITY: PSYCHIC ILLNESS IS RAMPANT IN THE US
However what most fail to realise is that the USA is riddled with problems
from head to toe. While there are many defects to point out, perhaps one of
the most concerning items is the widespread psychic disorder known as
depression: Where people are consumed and overwhelmed by feelings of
hopelessness, nervousness, lack of self-assurance, extreme anxiety,
despair, and sorrow etc.
Here we are not talking about a scenario where a distinct incident occurred
which caused one to feel sad such as if one's mother or spouse has died and
the person is temporarily overcome by grief for a few weeks etc. That is
not what is being discussed here-- that is not the epidemic problem at hand
in the USA.
Rather the major tragedy befalling countless citizens in the US is that
just in the course of their 'normal' way of living their psychic state is
becoming so weak, so imbalanced, and so fragile that for no apparent reason
the mass of people are suffering from melancholy, loneliness, helplessness,
and an array unfounded fears and phobias.
All of which lead up to a huge number of cases of the psychic ailment known
as depression. And this is disease is multiplying everyday in the USA.
HOW TO PROCEED: WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF DEPRESSION
To investigate this matter further, there are various directions by which
to proceed. But certainly one obvious avenue is to look into the cause
behind this disturbing phenomenon of mounting depression in the so-called
first-world nation, the USA.
LIFE IS MORE COMPLEX
Scanning the scene, professionals and lay people alike point to a wide
array of reasons for the rise of depression in the US. These range from
organic chemical imbalances in the brain to daily stress and pressures of
life in this fast-paced materialistic conglomerate.
Not to count out organic imbalances, but far and away the initial cause or
the outer layer of depression stems from present day living environment in
the USA.
Life has become highly automated and technological and more and more
complex in the US. Solving problems is no longer a one-person job. And this
causes huge anxiety in people's mental plate as they are constantly worried
about 'What if something goes wrong'.
And side by side in this ever-growing technological world, common citizens
are called upon to do more things and to live life at a faster pace.
All of this leads to a mode of existence where one becomes riddled with
more and more anxieties and fears.
Of course we cannot blame technology and science as being the necessary
evil in this scenario. Rather the uncontrolled and imbalanced use of
science and technology is arguably the leading external cause for the
extreme rise of nervousness, anxiety, and ultimately depression. Where
people in countries like the US become increasingly frazzled and think that
life is beyond their control.
MATERIALISTIC OUTLOOK: 'I AM EVERYTHING'
Even then, the aforementioned complexity of life cannot be seen as the
ultimate be-all and end-all cause of depression. Because complexity of life
can be managed by a strong, well-balanced mind-- one that is God-centered.
But tragically, the mass of the US is wrought with and overrun by
materialism wherein people think that they are all alone in this universe
and they can only rely on themselves to help them. And in that case when
those non-theistic brothers and sisters are also surrounded by a hectic way
of life, they readily fall prey to the diseases of materialism.
Baba says, "In viprapatti, one feels that it is 'I' who does
everything--and no one else. As a result of this, one becomes
crude...Materialism is based on viprapatti; that is why there is sorrow
everywhere in materialism." (AV-1)
So according to Baba, this materialistic outlook of 'I am everything' is
the underlying cause of psychic anxiety in the US. Without feeling that
there is any greater entity to help them, people fall into the trap &
defective way of thinking that 'they themselves are all there is in this
universe'. And this causes them immense psychic strain and depression.
SURRENDER OF BELIEF ON SUPER ENTITY NEEDED
In contrast, no matter how complex this world may be, when one feels that
there is some Great Entity controlling everything and that this Entity is
there to help them, then this provides immense relief in life.
That is why Baba's guideline is that in each and every step of the life one
should rely on Parama Purusa. Otherwise it is not possible to move ahead.
Baba says, "In the first phase you are to ask Parama Purusa for the
vitality to fight against your physical frailities, your physical
imperfections. In the second phase you are to ask for vitality, psychic
vitality." (SS-18, p.9)
Following a God-centered approach where one feels that He is benevolently
controlling everything enables one to forge ahead in life. That is Baba's
teaching. And indeed the eternal truth of this cosmos is that He is
managing everything and it is He who gives us the energy to advance.
So if one adopts the approach that Parama Purusa is the Grand Director and
I am playing one part and that He is there to help me, then naturally this
will put one in a comfortable state of psychic ease-- regardless of the
situation.
But when this outlook is mostly absent in the US and combined with the fact
that life is extremely complex and fast-paced, these two factors stand as
the primary cause of the extreme rise of depression and psychic ailments of
melancholia in our US.
CONTRAST BETWEEN GOD-CENTERED AND MATTER-CENTERED
Here Baba beautifully points out the great joy of life which easily results
from the path of surrender unto Him, and simultaneously He exposes the huge
tension and hopelessness which results if one adopts the materialistic bent
of mind that 'I am everything'.
Baba says, In 'prapatti', the idea that 'everything is being done by His
wish, that it is by His grace that He is using me as a tool, that He may or
may not use me as a tool, but 'His will be done', predominates on one's
mind. To get the full joy of prapatti, one has to surrender completely unto
Him...The feeling is just the reverse in 'viprapatti.' In viprapatti, one
feels that it is 'I' who does everything--and no one else. As a result of
this, one becomes crude...Materialism is based on viprapatti; that is why
there is sorrow everywhere in materialism." (AV-1)
Thus there is a night and day difference between the God-centered approach
of prapatti and the materialistic approach of viprapatti.
In the first, in prapatti or the God-centered way of living, one feels
surrounded by His grace in all situations and one feels that He is always
there to help me. The devotee feels in their heart that Parama Purusa is
personally arranging the best possible outcome for them.
In contrast, in viprapatti or the materialistic outlook, ordinary citizens
feel dwarfed by the complexity of life and overwhelmed by the vastness of
this universe. They develop feelings of ineptness and suffer from the worry
that life is way beyond their control and there is no one else to help
them. In that case, the mind gets completely submerged and drowned in the
depths of hopelessness and despair, leading to a chronic state of depression.
BABA'S WARNING ABOUT MATERIALISM
We know that the greatest wealth humanity has is its psychic wealth. But
when the very way of living-- i.e. materialism-- erodes that special human
treasure, then it is the obvious conclusion that materialism is terribly
dangerous.
Here Baba points out and warns us about extreme danger of materialism.
Baba says, "Materialism is the most dangerous -- indeed, suicidal --
philosophy. ...Materialism is both defective and devoid of morality. That
is why materialists do not recognize Shiva, did not recognize Him, and will
not recognize Him. Even seeing Him before their very eyes, they will never
understand who Shiva is." (NSS, Disc 18)
As Baba warns us, when one's being gets painted in the colours of
materialism then they feel inside that they are all alone and that there is
no one else to help them. And stuck in that defective outlook, even if they
were to see Taraka Brahma face to face in the street, they would be totally
incapable of understanding who He is. They could not feel His grace due to
the staticity of their materialistic bent of mind.
Without that knowledge of His presence, without that inner joy, one is
bound to suffer from melancholy and feelings of hopelessness. And when the
lifestyle is so frenetic and fast-paced like in the USA, then that will
only exacerbate the situation and more quickly invite that deranged psychic
state known as depression. And that is what we are seeing today.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE TO THINK ABOUT
That is why none-- especially those living in the so-called developing
world-- should unduly think that everything going on in the USA is great.
Because the reality is that the US is a sinking ship-- one main reason
certainly being that its general citizens are losing their mental balance
day by day and succumbing to all kinds of psychic illnesses, especially
depression.
Here the point is not to ridicule any particular country or people but
rather to dispel the myth that life in the materialistic USA is perfect and
warn all our brothers and sisters-- wherever they may be living-- of the
horrors of materialism.
None should fall prey to this atheistic outlook and ruin their life by
becoming depressed.
BABA'S BLESSING
By Baba's divine grace all Ananda Margiis have come in His contact and feel
His loving guidance in all we do. This keeps our minds ever resplendent and
it is our duty to bring others along with us unto Him.
Baba says, "You too should keep moving forward, and you will also attain
victory after victory-- there is no doubt about it. Therefore continue your
efforts tirelessly, do your duty and you will surely be crowned with
success." (DMC, Anandanagar, 5/31/87)
Namaskar,
Dharmendra
Note: FACTS ABOUT DEPRESSION IN THE USA
Below are excerpts from various case studies published in top newspapers
and medical magazines which document the wide-spread prevalence of
depression in the USA.
"The new numbers suggest that the United States is poised to rank No. 1
globally for mental illness." (Washington Post, 6/7/05)
"One-quarter of all Americans met the criteria for having a mental illness
within the past year, and fully a quarter of those had a 'serious' disorder
that significantly disrupted their ability to function day to day,
according to the largest and most detailed survey of the nation's mental
health." (Washington Post, 6/7/05)
"Major Depression affects 15% of Americans at some point during their
lives, and 100 million people are affected on any given day...In the end,
approximately 15-20% of those with major depression become chronically
depressed. Approximately 15% of patients with major depression may commit
suicide, as well, with men committing suicide at a rate 2 times as often as
women." (American Psychology Association)
"Depression affects millions of people in the USA, and costs the U.S.
economy billions and billions of dollars in medical expenses and lost
productivity. In turn, the treatment of depression is also a multi-billion
dollar industry." ('The Demographic Correlates of Depression')
"Depression is a disorder of mood, characterized by sadness and loss of
interest in usually satisfying activities, a negative view of the self and
hopelessness, passivity, indecisiveness, suicidal intentions, loss of
appetite, weight loss, sleep disturbances, and other physical symptoms.
Some or all of these symptoms may be present in people suffering from
depression." (DCD)
"10.6% of adults in the USA said that they have experienced depression in
the last 12 months, either professionally diagnosed or self-diagnosed.
Based upon a projected total population of 205 million adults, about 23
million people experience depression over the course of a year." (DCD)
"Mental illness is absolutely going off the charts on college campuses [in
the USA]...North America's college counseling centers report an increase in
troubled students...85% of colleges report an increase during the past five
years in students with severe psychological problems." (USA Today, 5/21/02)
"Depression is being experienced more often in the US...depression is being
experienced at younger ages; episodes are becoming more severe; and
episodes are more frequent throughout individuals' lifetimes. The rate of
depression has doubled in the US since WWII, with each generation showing
greater rates of the depression than the last." (JAMA, vol. 268, 1992)
"Depression is second only to heart disease in causing lost workdays in the
USA." (DBSA, Chicago, IL)
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In Old Age
Baba says, "Over the age of fifty both the body and the mind start their
decline. The power of memory diminishes and people start to forget things.
This is the rule. But through the practice of vista'ra sadhana, this
decline checks. Even an eighty year old person is able to keep the memory
as fresh as a twenty five year old person. In the mental sphere, the result
may be much more evident than in the physical sphere. Normally people hear,
learn, and forget. But by the practice of sadhana, when the nerve cells get
strengthened, dhruva smrti comes. Then one does not forget easily. In
exactly the same way, by the dint of higher spiritual practice, one can
bring about the expansion of oneself...Human beings become omniscient,
become one with Parama Purusa. Nothing is impossible through the practice
of sadhana." (DKG)
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