Depression
One of the biggest obstacles to obtaining mental health is depression. It is now recognized as a disease of the mind although it might be termed as an affliction of the spirit. Under its spell, a person feels weak even when he is a giant of a man physically. When it strikes a man, he has no defense for it because it strikes at the very core of his being and he feels totally hopeless and helpless. it occupies his mind and all he could think about is how low he is feeling. He does not feel like moving about or doing something productive, such exercise he deems useless. He seeks oblivion and may turn to drink or drugs to banish the feeling of uselessness that envelops him. This only makes it worse for him. He feels lethargic and sleepy.
They say that faith can move mountains. A man who is inspired by faith the exact opposite of a man in the grip of depression. One might say that these are manifestations of the same mechanism of the mind but differing only in the flavor or coloring of it. Many peorple exhibit both symptoms and used to be termed manic-depressive but the more modern term is bi-polar disorder. It is not surprising that all of these things are happening in the province of the mind. Western scientists and philosophers tend to dichotomize the human being as being made up of body and mind. Oriental philosophy tends to see a human being as a whole being and view the body as nothing more than the cruder aspect of the mind. In Tantra, the body is called kamamaya kosa or "the food layer". A man therefore seen as having many layers that perform certain function but nevertheles participate in one being.
The body therefore, directly influences the functioning of the mind. In Chinese philosophy, the repository of emotions are the different internal organs. To take an example, the kidneys are seen as the vessel containing fear and is the organ directly concerned with the water factor. As such, a man in extreme fear may lose the control of his bladder and wet his pants. The organ that is related with sadness or sorrow is the lungs. This would perhaps explain why people with good lungs are very energetic and cheerful.
If we accept this theory to be correct then we might perhaps postulate that keeping the body fit through outdoor activities and good exercise can help alleviate feelings of depression. This is not to say that such a simplistic approach is the cure-all for depression. It simply states that there might be a physiological basis for depression and getting the body's energy system moving could flush out the undesirable stagnancy that plagues the body. Coupled with meditation, great strides can be made to maintain a balance in the chemical secretions and energy levels of the different organs of the body thus promoting physical as well as mental health.
Meditation stabilizes the physical processes and promotes harmony in the different organs of the body thereby accelerating healing in the affected portions of the body. Meditation calms down the parasympathetic system and allows the secretion of endorphins and higher-level hormones that creates a feeling of well-being. Very little is known about the pineal gland but in ancient texts, it is credited with secreting a substance they term as madhu which means "honey"
One seldom finds a person who meditates who is depressed or depressive. It appears that meditation causes mental equilibrium to be achieved thereby attaining peace of mind and mental health.
They say that faith can move mountains. A man who is inspired by faith the exact opposite of a man in the grip of depression. One might say that these are manifestations of the same mechanism of the mind but differing only in the flavor or coloring of it. Many peorple exhibit both symptoms and used to be termed manic-depressive but the more modern term is bi-polar disorder. It is not surprising that all of these things are happening in the province of the mind. Western scientists and philosophers tend to dichotomize the human being as being made up of body and mind. Oriental philosophy tends to see a human being as a whole being and view the body as nothing more than the cruder aspect of the mind. In Tantra, the body is called kamamaya kosa or "the food layer". A man therefore seen as having many layers that perform certain function but nevertheles participate in one being.
The body therefore, directly influences the functioning of the mind. In Chinese philosophy, the repository of emotions are the different internal organs. To take an example, the kidneys are seen as the vessel containing fear and is the organ directly concerned with the water factor. As such, a man in extreme fear may lose the control of his bladder and wet his pants. The organ that is related with sadness or sorrow is the lungs. This would perhaps explain why people with good lungs are very energetic and cheerful.
If we accept this theory to be correct then we might perhaps postulate that keeping the body fit through outdoor activities and good exercise can help alleviate feelings of depression. This is not to say that such a simplistic approach is the cure-all for depression. It simply states that there might be a physiological basis for depression and getting the body's energy system moving could flush out the undesirable stagnancy that plagues the body. Coupled with meditation, great strides can be made to maintain a balance in the chemical secretions and energy levels of the different organs of the body thus promoting physical as well as mental health.
Meditation stabilizes the physical processes and promotes harmony in the different organs of the body thereby accelerating healing in the affected portions of the body. Meditation calms down the parasympathetic system and allows the secretion of endorphins and higher-level hormones that creates a feeling of well-being. Very little is known about the pineal gland but in ancient texts, it is credited with secreting a substance they term as madhu which means "honey"
One seldom finds a person who meditates who is depressed or depressive. It appears that meditation causes mental equilibrium to be achieved thereby attaining peace of mind and mental health.
posted by underdog at 10:39 PM
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