“By virtue of the processes of the subtle body, the living entity develops and gives up gross bodies. This is known as the transmigration of the soul. Thus the soul becomes subjected to different types of so-called enjoyment, lamentation, fear, happiness and unhappiness.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.29.75)

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अनेन पुरुषो देहानुपादत्ते विमुञ्चति
हर्षं शोकं भयं दु:खं सुखं चानेन विन्दति

anena puruṣo dehān
upādatte vimuñcati
harṣaṁ śokaṁ bhayaṁ duḥkhaṁ
sukhaṁ cānena vindati

“What is your stance on the idea of going to therapy? You see people bringing it up a lot these days. They say we should not be ashamed to talk about ‘mental health.’ Of course, there is always irony to these situations. The people bringing up mental health are often the ones who treat people terribly. At least that has been my experience. They yell and they scream. They demean others over something trivial like political affiliation. They accuse others of violence due to silence. I am still having trouble understanding that one. How is not saying something the equivalent of taking a hammer to someone’s head? Perhaps these are the people that need to work on their mental health, since they seem to have lost their minds.

“Anyway, before I descend further into making jokes, think about the landscape, as it stands. You have these online coaches, who often try to cash in on their credentials. They have a medical degree, you see, and so now they can make videos about what to eat. They are a doctor in real life, so they charge other people fees for advice on everything from finding purpose in life to taking care of their children. Then there are the professional counsellors. There is the corresponding medication that gets prescribed. These mass shootings almost always involve some kind of anti-depressant medication in the background. You are not supposed to bring that up, but I will.

“Are these psychologists good or bad? Are they helping people or hurting them? The joke I have always made is that you only need to see a therapist if you have no real friends. If you have a friend, you can share your troubles with them. Most of the time, people are not desperate for solutions. They just need an outlet. They want to unburden themselves, if you know what I mean. They need someone to talk to.”

The opinion of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is that there must be acknowledgment of a critical factor. This is the first requirement. It is the baseline condition; sort of like showing your medical coverage card prior to the appointment with the doctor or therapist. If you lack this basic understanding, you will not make meaningful progress.

That factor is the difference between matter and spirit. More specifically, there are two kinds of matter at play with the living being, who is always viable. There are the gross elements: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. There are also the subtle elements: mind, intelligence, and ego. The subtle elements make the subtle body. It is the subtle body which triggers the further development of the gross body.

To assist in our understanding, let’s say that I decide to enter the field of mixed martial arts. For whatever reason, life is not cutting it for me, at the moment. I am bored. I lack direction. I want a sense of purpose. In the beginning, I start training. I change my diet. A few months later, I enter my first competition. It does not go well. Familiar with the term “rag-dolling”? That perfectly describes the visual. I get tossed around the ring. Afterwards, I can barely walk. It feels as though my entire body is broken. Bruises everywhere. Blood pouring out. Not a pretty sight.

On the surface, the cause for my suffering is the opponent. They are the ones who dealt the blows. You could also pin the blame on my lack of ability. I did not really know what I was doing. I was not properly equipped to participate in the sport.

The truth is that the subtle body is responsible for the change to the gross body. The mind made the decision to participate. The mind decided to change course. If my mind were under control, properly directed, and able to deliberate on the long-term consequences of the decision, my gross body would look vastly different today.

This same principle applies to all predicaments. Every problem we face. Every difficulty we encounter. For every bout of depression, there is the mind steering us in the wrong direction. For every time we feel like there is no hope, that there is nothing which can be done to lift us back into enthusiasm and excitement, it is the mind which has gone astray.

“One should always engage in the Lord’s devotional service. As recommended in the archana-marga, one should worship the Deity in the temple and constantly offer obeisances to the spiritual master and the Deity. These processes are recommended to one who actually wants to become free from material entanglement. Modern psychologists can study the actions of the mind—thinking, feeling and willing—but they are unable to go deep into the matter. This is due to their lack of knowledge and to their not being associated with a liberated acharya.” (Shrila Prabhupada, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 4.29.75 Purport)

Bhagavad-gita offers a solution. There is the mechanical way. We can sit down and study. After absorbing information, which is actually timeless wisdom, we can then deliberate. We can consider the hypothetical story from above and discover for ourselves how the patterns repeat with other endeavors. Once we recognize the pattern, it is easier to control the mind.

The other way is to simply think of something better. Direct the mind towards the most wonderful place. Not surprisingly, the destination of the all-attractive vision of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is ideal. He is known as Krishna since there is nothing about Him that is lacking. He directly makes the recommendation to always think of Him. We do not have to speculate in this area.

मन्मना भव मद्भ‍क्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु
मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me

“Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.65)

In Closing:

With confidence proceed,
Not for speculation need.

Otherwise trouble to find,
From uncontrolled mind.

Aspect of subtle body found,
Future to its decisions bound.

Better thoughts on Krishna increase,
And from cycle of rebirth release.

Categories: questions

Tags: dailyprompt, hare krishna, mental health, poem, poems, poetry, psychology