Depression, base camp for self-reflection

O human, listen and understand this truth with dhyan, all your being. Depression is not an illness or disease. It is a plateau given by Nature to know the true meaning and importance of detachment.

In the complete life cycle of a human being, state of depression is sure to happen at least seven to 10 times, at an interval of 8 to12 years.

The ashrams of our Vedic culture are based on this reality and mental state. This is a unique and miraculous law of Nature. In the state of depression, the human mind is disillusioned and astonished by worldly experiences.

It is detached and is lost in its own world. The mind is either agitated and indulges in self-pity and may even think of suicide, or as a result of aatma-manthan, self-analysis, it could gather itself, and determined with new enthusiasm, give truthful direction towards a life of complete and whole awareness. It could even wander in the search of a true guru.

Western psychology has called the mental condition of staying away from the world in a state of inaction and indolence in the darkness of loneliness - as the disease of depression.

This word is now used frequently in the common everyday language even by the young. Lost in the maze of tension, depression and boredom, they block all paths for growth.

Depression is not a disease. When a mentally evolved human finds the world meaningless, in other words, when the true face of the world becomes visible to an emotional and sensitive person, this state of plateau or 'camp' is created. Mental hurt is not the only reason for it.

A break or hindrance in the mental, spiritual and economic growth can also be a reason for this condition.

A human who does some soul searching, meditation and contemplation rises from this plateau or base camp due to his own will power (soul power) and gets a new lease of life, new energy. He moves forward.

Those who indulge in it, wallow in this state, get mentally ill-balanced, and even harm themselves. This is sin, an insult to the internal powers of human.

It is difficult to know when depression is silently creeping into our lives. It starts by repeated feeling of vikrati, indifference or boredom.

The span of the intervals between the states of depression becomes less and less, and the dependency on medicines or outer means increases. When this happens, realise that the problem may have been suppressed but not fully resolved.

A wise person is one who recognises these symptoms, does self-analysis, makes suitable changes in his routine and daily activities and maintains discipline.

Realising one's truth, be determined to never let your growth stop based on the laws of Nature. This is true purusharth, endeavour. Life is a sadhna, penance, for this effort.

The person who goes through depression and emerges as a better human being, only he can contribute towards humanity and is capable of bearing future plateaus.

Depression is just a plateau, a base camp to reach the topmost, highest peak. How will you ever reach the top of the peak, if you disintegrate on the way. O human, learn to move forward with enthusiasm after complete rest and preparation at these base camps.