So many people are getting down and depressed all around me. Life just gets on top of them. I ask myself why?
The matter is one of belief. Fictions are fictions only until they are believed as truth. Then they become something else altogether. Levity is gone. Every page of the story is sullen and laden with doom.
People have so many beliefs. So many unchallenged beliefs. If only Socrates were around to question them.
The Socratic dialogues is an extremely effective way of destroying unchallenged beliefs. It simply involves cross-questioning yourself.
When a thought arises, like 'I am worthless' or 'Why do I keep making mistakes?' - typically depressive thoughts - employ the Socratic dialogues. Ask yourself: 'what is worthless?', 'what are mistakes?'. You can go even further, as Ramana Maharshi prescribed: 'Who am I?'
If you really sit down and do it you may well gain a totally new perspective. For example, let's take the first one, 'I am worthless'. What is worthless? Well perhaps it would be better to ask 'what is worth?'. Worth is value. Value is not objective. A tree does not have an objective value, nor does the sky, neither does a bird. Value is subjective. It is an opinion. So the question will naturally have to adapt itself in light of this discovery to 'I am worthless to...'. Worthless to whom? Your family? Can value be put on human life? If your family thinks you are worthless, it clearly implies they do not love you. For love is unconditional and has no notion of value. If they don't love you, then why worry about being worthless to them?
Then of course is the ultimate question, the deepest question of all, 'Who am I?'. And when you have really considered that one, you won't believe any fiction ever again, for you will know that you are the reader of these fictions and thus independent from their tales. And then you'll be free and depression will plague you no more.
So if you're feeling down, remember Socrates. Employ his dialogues. Chop through the confused knots of your mind.
So much of life is depressing, for so many people and for so many reasons. Fighting it, in the manner you describe (or any other manner) is, in my experience, eventually counter productive.
ReplyDeleteAccepting the reality of the current situation in all its unresisted intensity but not clinging to it either may have unexpected results.
Dear Sue,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally. However, you have really piqued my curiosity. How does one go about that? Can you give me some practical advice? Steps, reasoning?
Thanks
Tom.
Tom,
ReplyDeleteHow can they be any steps to what is?
All the 'spiritual work', reasoning, etc is a subtle form of resistance against the reality of the situation.
Surely better to do something practical to alleviate the situation if the opportunity is available?
If you want to do something (other than situational practical steps), the only thing I have found that might have an impact is the repeated act of trying to get a taste/feel of the ‘sense of me’ that you are (not the spiritual ideas of ‘I’, Consciousness, etc) just for a split second and just when you remember to do so and just be persistent over time.
Truly, in over 50 years, that is all I have learnt and I really have nothing else to offer.
Sue
Sue,
ReplyDeleteWonderful to have such a wise, experienced person on here.
Yes, I think what you have described is ultimately IT, the best method. But at the end of the day, while you may not think so, it IS a method. Different methods work for different people.
Thanks for the input.
Tom.