................................Understanding Depression
Y We are so dependent on others for our wellbeing and happiness, that there is every possibility we will fall into depression if they don't play their part well. People who suffer from depression are actually suffering from attention-need. Over time, something happens; they don't get enough attention from the people they expect to get it from and they are not capable of handling it. Just one word is enough from any person to put them into depression. What do they do? They start taking medicine to cure it.
You see, these people with depression need to be shown that their energy source lies within them. And meditation can show them that. Depending on the sincerity with which they do the meditation (recommended meditation is Mahamantra meditation explained later in the chapter), they can simply harness the energy inside them and come out of depression. Medicines will dull them even more. This needs to be understood.
Daily Awareness Practices
Y Be aware of your motivation when you do things for others. When you do something for others, it is good to give attention, give respect but it should be out of a deep energizing love, not out of fear; not because we are afraid that they will take away their certificates of approval.
Never invest so much in others' opinions that they become the center of your life. Don't make others the source of your energy. Don't depend on others for your psychological survival.
Every time you do something for someone, ask yourself, 'What is my motivation here? How will I feel if the person receiving this does not respond in the way I expect him to respond? Do I have expectations? Is my motivation pure love?' Be very clear what your motive is.
When you are dependent on others for your happiness, you are giving them control of your life. Be your own source of energy and inspiration! Come to a clear understanding that real joy is not possible when you place your center on someone else. If you understand this, half the problem is solved. ```
It is not possible to make another totally happy, so stop trying. Even if you do succeed in making someone feel happy, you are allowing them to depend on you for their happiness, to prop themselves up with it. This will only satisfy your ego and foster dependence. It is not a foundation for a lasting relationship. First of all, satisfy yourself and find fulfillment in yourself, that is enough. And let this fulfillment have nothing to do with the people around you. Let it be just a bubbling energy inside you, irrespective of the conditions and people outside.
Doing Things Intensely
Daily Awareness Practice
You might have experienced, when you do anything intensely, you will forget yourself. You might have experienced this many times in your lives. It can be anything that you do. It can be as simple as coloring or painting or reading. When you go deep into it, you forget yourself.
When you have an intense headache, just try doing something interesting very deeply; your headache will go away. It is because you are continuously aware of your head that your headache continues to bother you. The moment you go deep into something else and lose awareness of your head, your headache will simply disappear. Only when you remember your head, you will have a headache.
When you go deeply into any emotion, only that emotion remains and you cease to exist. This is what we mean by 'totality'. Be total and intense in everything you do. Then 'you' will disappear. This moment of 'you' disappearing, you may experience for just a few seconds. But if you work on being intense and total in everything, this experience of 'you' disappearing will happen more often to you and for longer periods also. Soon, you will master the art of doing work intensely, and being absent yourself! You can then turn off and on at your will. You become independent of the work that goes on outside.
Responsibility
Daily Awareness Practice
The more responsibility you take up, the more you expand. Responsibility is something that can be easily shrugged off. But if you don't shrug it and keep on shouldering it, you will expand and the divine energy will automatically flow in you. And you can take up more and more responsibility only when you feel overflowing energy in you.
For example, Nithya spiritual healers need to take up as much responsibility as possible for the suffering and pain around them and heal people. When you feel that you are responsible for healing the pain around you, you will automatically stand up to help reduce it in some way or the other. People often think that it is enough if they do things for their own family. This is a way of contraction, not a way of expansion. You need to expand for growth to happen. You will radiate energy when you stand up with responsibility. Existence will automatically flow through you when you take up responsibility. So just take on responsibility with joy!
When you are confronted with seemingly high responsibilities, simply nod your head to it. The mere nodding without resistance is enough. The rest will be taken care of by Existence.