Tuesday, 28 August 2018

Bitter truths of spiritual journey leading to sweetness

Bitter Truths of Spiritual journey leading to Sweetness
-          excerpts of personal spiritual diary from 2015 to 2018
      1.      Action
2.      Awareness
3.      Celibacy - Purity
4.      Concentration
5.      Detached Observer
6.      Ego
7.      God
8.      Mind
9.      Physical Body
10.  Silence
11.  Soul Consciousness
12.  Signs
13.  Tolerance
14.  Will Power

I. ACTION
1          Know that whatever job you do, wherever you are, you help all types of people by doing all types of job by your abilities, strength of character. In fact all types of actions are spiritual not just only those actions what you think are spiritual.
2          Even sweeping the floor, supplying water or furniture, all gives comfort, peace of mind, happiness to souls.
3          If u are not happy with what you are doing, find the spiritual aspect of all actions or make a shift gradually.
4          Always have faith and hope. Learn from your experience and keep moving / changing. Never it’s too late, even from now, you can pick up.
5          Sense is not under control, is reflected in normal activity of the person by their restlessness.
6          Re-experience the past emotions, being light (detached), to stop the emotional charges.
7          Think and act from being unlimited awareness is known as soul conscious
8          Think and act from limited awareness is known as body conscious
9          Practice...practice...practice....
10        Spend more time in meditation to settle karmic accounts to keep health, wealth and happiness stable.
11        Don’t be a prayogi(experimenting) soul but loving soul. By love for God you get all powers than being a prayogi -experimenting soul.
12        5 to 6 am is to be used for planning or doing important work.

II. AWARENESS
1          There is weakness when there is lack of spirituality in awareness, vision and attitude - 1972 avyakt murli
2          Always keep the method and fortune maker in awareness.
3          With Constant self awareness, all stimuli are totally under control.
4          Without Constant awareness of self, stimulus goes out of control.
5          With one thought you are God conscious and with more thoughts you are soul conscious.
6          Incorporeal is awareness of * at the centre of forehead. Egoless is God consciousness. These two are maintained when we are viceless, free from disturbance of chit or sub and un conscious mind.
7          Be aware of clear awareness, alertness, the highest bliss connected with unlimited mind without any limited thought, all the time. Not to use mento emotional energy. Perception, perceived and perceiver, all three has to remain together.
8          When there is awareness of *, the body-chest remains straight-alert. When there is no awareness, the chest droops.
9          Every second and Constantly be aware of self * with attention and awareness not becoming completely action conscious at any point of time.
10        Not just thinking as point* but knowing, seeing and feeling as * with natural expanded awareness free from conscious of body.
11        Being a *, by awareness of * natural qualities, to remain connected - naturally combined in supreme * awareness to receive power and to control the five elements (body and nature).

III CELIBACY - PURITY
The only method to remain celibate is by keeping the mind free from images of all physical beings, not thinking about any individuals or things, not recording their images, not looking at them at all, not watching images of human beings.
This is possible only when we experience the sweetness, lightness of our own self and God all the time constantly even during interaction with human beings. Constantly in touch with own spiritual nature, natural feelings of peace, love, happiness, bliss, not registering any images or thoughts of physical world in the mind even when we come in contact with them.
For this, the mind has to be kept constantly (every second) clean and clear, like the mirror if there is dust, the image is not reflected as it is, but keeping it clean the images are clear. Similarly, our mind has to be kept constantly clean without getting lost in awareness of any physical being or objects or information or action, not attracted to anyone or any thing, always lost in awareness of self or God consciousness.
By completely becoming free from the physical or body consciousness, free from compulsions of physical senses / organs / habits / past thoughts, free from mind being influenced by anything physical, constantly reveling in higher level of subtle and spiritual consciousness, we remain pure and celibate.

IV. CONCENTRATION
1          Let the mind be focused, concentrated and attentive (without tension) on One, all the time.
2          Practice continuous focused concentration to have spiritual experience in paramdham, in subtle world with all deities and BapDada, and also with different qualities.
3          Constant remembrance being focused and attentive and with one thought with lightness, feeling that we think, speak and see through soul, from(through) forehead, and looking at others as soul.
4          Where attention is, power is generated. Have constant attention on self to realize the complete power of self – soul…..Concentration, Focus.
5          Become like God to read thoughts of others. By Attention.
6          Everyday Practice concentration of thought- third eye, focus.
7          Stop reading and listening to knowledge  but only practice concentration on soul and supreme soul. (Note: Daily morning, listening to Divine version is a must).

V. DETACHED OBSERVER
1          Soul (Observer)...mind(Instrument of soul)....body(Soul work through organs)
2          Be a detached observer, so that mind will become calm, and keep the body relaxed, become bodiless, so that you become free from burdens of mind and body to experience the natural quality of bliss.
3          Always remain a detached observer, satchitanand, whether anand (bliss) is there or not, still remain a detached observer all the time. (Being a detached observer leads to bliss).
4          1st step is to remember self (be a detached observer). 2nd step is to experience the inner smile and inner bliss dying alive from body awareness like ketu, the one without head(ego).
5          Soul consciousness is silence, being a detached alert observer and use mind only when it is required, like the military army alert soldier.
6          Remain like a lotus flower and ocean, attached but detached, extrovert and introvert at the same time.
7          Be a detached observer all the time and use the mind and intellect whenever required being a master almighty authority. 
8          Practice detached observer, more time in solitude, to get thoughts on what to do for God (service) and others, and also to dwell into deep soul conscious to regain lost powers.
9          Four Stages / Awareness: a. Sakhi stiti (detached observer stage), master almighty with power to face, incorporeal and unlimited b. Atam abimani-incorporeal, egoless, viceless, blissful, loving, whilst alone. c. Dehi abimani or angelic stage during normal interaction, egoless and viceless and d. God consciousness, unlimited awareness.
10        8.8.17 murli speaks about not incurring sin by mothers who are compelled by husbands.
11        To experience soul all the time completely detached from body while walking, reading, talking. This happens when we are detached from body, mind and all physical world.
12        Every day spend time in solitude to get new insights.
13        Forget even remembrance of God or self * since they are just thoughts, just be aware of self by looking at the wall or space. (to experience being self combined with God)
14        More self awareness, there is natural remembrance of Supreme *.
15        Remembrance of * helps to keep the self free from physical beings and objects.
16        Being clear, self naturally remembers the paramdham blissful Supreme* in the here and now.
17        Know self as * not any part of this body and focus on * all the time.

VI. EGOLESS
1          Why mood changes? Because we see the physical form (people and objects) instead of * (soul).
2          Even repeating thoughts can be applied full stop when you lose your ego and replace it with God's love and remembrance, this should be maintained constantly.
3          Action: be egoless and live only in 100% Baba's (God’s) awareness all the time, Bapsaman (like God).
4          Remain constantly embodiment of love and power, being egoless (Baba in mind-lost in love) and seeing everyone as soul.

VII. GOD
1          By remembering Baba (God), we become cheerful. But how to remain cheerful all the time even during seriousness? (Remain light and cheerful from within)
2          Remember Baba and be cheerful all the time, being aware even during sleep, otherwise you incur loss every second.
3          Let the deep meditation attract the souls, towards God.
4          What is not achieved by sakhi stiti, atmic stiti and dehi abimani is achieved by Paramatmic combined stiti.
5          Become completely dependent on God, take less (right) quantity of food with awareness so that it never upsets the stomach and divert attention from self awareness.
6          Being God-like: Practice being unlimited, in mind, like advaita awareness like Baba, incorporeal.
7          Surrender (Will Power) all plans or thoughts to God. Keep being lost, experience more absorption again and again.
8          Don’t just be detached and soul conscious. To receive power, be Combined and God conscious, unlimited, detached, powerful and loving both at the same time and all the time be God-like. Son shows Father, practice this, the only goal of life.
9          There is only remembrance of God, no thought of soul.
10        be prayogi (experimenting), but lost in love of One.
11        Meditation: be in powerful Supreme awareness with unlimited awareness, Bapsaman (God-like).
12        Be conscious along with experience of supreme with all His qualities and power, all the time.
13        One is to lost in love of Baba and reflect Him. Other is to become like Baba with all Godly powers like the guru and guru's guru of Swami Rama.
14        Ask and do everything by asking Baba (not any human being).
15        Feel Baba as floating (star), real as He is.
16        Baba does not have any relation in this world even friends and colleagues. Be like Baba detached from all known people.
17        Maintain the blissful point state of mind all the time, 24hrs,  to experience power of drishti(vision) like Baba and have same unlimited love for man and animals free from all limited relations.
18        Remain merged in love constantly. Not to forget Baba even for a second, even during actions. Constant natural attention of love.
19        Just being soul conscious makes the head heavy. What is required is to become unlimited in love and unlimited in power. Know self as soul to become unlimited. Know God to become unlimited. Or become unlimited in love and power to connect with self and God.
20        Remain sheetal (cool) like Baba(Brahma-Adam) and shiv baba (God, Allah, Jehovah) all the time even while writing, talking, watching movies, doing asanas, all senses and mind to be cool even during experience of 5 vices. Once you become completely free from physical awareness by having constant self awareness, 5 vices never appear.
21        Dharana, dhyana and samadhi- remember Supreme*, become one with Him and get lost in Him in His awareness.
22        Shiv Baba (God) need not have mind. (conscious and sub conscious mind need not exist since God does not have physical and subtle body unlike human beings).

VIII. MIND
1          When I do not associate with the mind, I remain as I am, detached observer of my mind.
2          All spiritual effort and practice is not to become detached from world, people, things or thoughts but to detach from unconscious attachment/association of i (soul) with my mind, thoughts, people/things.
3          One is the expression of soul by unconsious association with mind, is known as body conscious, the cause of all suffering.    The other is expression of soul by conscious association (and dissociation) with mind is known as soul conscious (with angelic qualities).
4          The powerful original expression of soul conscious is to remain detached from mind, being as I am, being a detached observer of mind, asochtha (only one stream of thought at a time), like sun, moon, trees. They never think but do things at the right time.
5          Merge conscious into sub conscious and subconscious into conscious, to always use subconscious at all the time.
6          Egoless, lost in love of God, no i or mine, Asochtha.
7          Being in Sub conscious is soul conscious without using mind (but one thought at a time, not many thoughts).
8          Mind (with more than one thought) is conscious and soul (being a detached observer with single stream of thought) is subconscious.
9          When conscious becomes still, sub conscious (soul) unites with the divine consciousness, becomes combined.
10        Constantly be combined(with Godly unlimited awareness) without ego, either loving or detached. And because every thought uses your time, energy, mind and modify the biological system, it is advised to restrain as much as possible from worldly thoughts except service (actions that are useful to self or others).
11        To remain in conscious awareness all the time in deep peace. Use mind and intellect only if required. (use it with self-control without much speed).
12        Maintain balanced state of mind all the time even while preparing or consuming food.
13        See mind not as a separate organ but the thoughts of soul. Conscious and sub conscious are thoughts due to body conscious and super conscious (feelings or one pure stream of thought, of peace, love, happiness, bliss) is due to soul conscious. And super conscious are permanent memories unlike conscious and sub conscious. (Note: Superconscious is also known as sub conscious or deep natural state of awareness)
14        Stop thinking from now onwards, just act and dissolve the mind to save energy loss. (to act directly from Consciousness – like God).
15        Use sub/super/soul conscious mind at all times avoiding conscious thinking and decisions. No waste thoughts.
16        Wake up naturally early in the morning to have good yoga but have the intention before sleep. (to wake up automatically).
17        Method is Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

IX. PHYSICAL BODY AND SPIRITUALITY
1          Every illness has a cause. Identify the cause to get rid of the effect along with medicine. This is more effective for Mental disorders than using psychiatric medicine or psychometric chart.
2          Afternoon, body can digest better so eat more in the afternoon and eat less for dinner.
3          More you practice point or remember Baba (God), the pineal gland (brain) gets electrically charged to have spiritual experience.
4          Prepare to keep mind, breath and body calm and relaxed to remain aware throughout the night to be in God's lap, to make next day and every day powerful and to make final moments to be in Baba's remembrance.
5          Learn the muscle testing and also learn to know by intuition being self aware
6          Sleep in shavasana, sleep, walk and speak in bodiless stage. Bodiless stage can heal, rejuvenate body.
7          Mind has to be silenced, Amygdala-sub conscious has to be quietened. Vagus nerve/as per vagus theory, crisis has to be generated physically, mentally and emotionally to release the blockages. This  can be done by gazing, passes up to solar plexus, passes to crown chakra to influence front lobe-cortex, by synchronizing the movement, all without words, holding the head  by holding left and right temple-forehead, passing right and left lobe, by strong and repeated  intention (not words). Regression can be done by touching the third eye-activating the third eye.
8          Constantly remain beyond the 5 senses of body consciousness including mind by constantly remembering only the supreme point free from all physical objects and beings.
9          Not to see or think about any human being-any individuals.
10       Stage fear is due to wanting to act unnatural (to impress others), not prepared to speak officially, not having real required information to share.


X. SILENCE
1          Be powerful with unlimited silence and love, with one (stream of) thought at a time, either one thought of combined self and Baba(God) or one thought of action (along with feelings of peace and bliss) all the time.
2          Experience unlimited awareness-silence-mind free from all thoughts of soul and God like advaita awareness. (Note: When the mind becomes still or focused on one stream of thought, the unlimited awareness/consciousness/silence is naturally felt. It is like we naturally get connected with unlimited consciousness of God and other elevated souls)
3          (As per Carl G. Jung) Intuition of knowing unknown things is part of certain personality but still those intuitive thoughts can be God's touching.
4          By imagining, things or people are made to act according to the imagination, like example of LIOR SUCHAR, the mentalist who performs stage shows on psychic abilities.


XI. SOUL CONSCIOUSNESS
1          When we imagine self and others as soul, it is bit difficult because mind cannot think/imagine two things at the same time, cannot focus on wordly thoughts and soul at the same time. But as we continue the practice, the awareness changes. Instead of imagination (thoughts), now it is feeling, awareness of self and others as consciousness and this consciousness(feelings) can be maintained even when there are thoughts (of actions). So, it becomes easy day by day, and you feel energetic, powerful, concentrated. I feel that even some discomforts of the body also disappeared, it’s really worth trying.
2          Like Jesus said, more we become innocent child-like, simple, light, more easier is to experience soul consciousness.
3          God is known as Asochtha, the One who never thinks (but only one stream of thought at any point of time) and so we, His children.
4          To experience bliss most of the time. When required, at times, to use power, unlimited awareness (of being a detached observer). Use thoughts only at the appropriate time and related to appropriate task. Other times experience self awareness, bliss by proper thought management.
5          See all human being on their forehead * even while watching movies.
6          And also keep the number of thoughts as least as possible to experience lightness of intellect. ( more number of thoughts make the mind/consciousness heavy)
7          To remain in awareness of (self) constantly being dead to all the past, to maintain natural awareness of Supreme (soul) naturally all the time.
8          24 hours, even during actions, (feelings/conscoiusness of) sweetness and silence to be maintained all the time to remain sweetly combined with awareness that God is doing all actions through me (karavanhar sab kar rahe hai) with awareness of ** (self remain combined with Supreme Soul) to remain free from the influence of senses.       This also helps to manage the psychological, biological and social influences.
9          The combined form ** (self remain combined with Supreme Soul) will help in quick transformation at all levels even preparing to handle higher responsibilities with balance of mind.
10        Feel the silence, lightness and sweetness of self. Then focus on Supreme Soul to experience the unlimited awareness along with silence, lightness and sweetness.
11        There is a simple practical method (of five minutes exercise) to learn the spiritual method of realizing self - by staring wall or any object or God. Watch (Stare) the wall (or empty space) doing nothing being self aware (seeing through third eye) and be aware of the awareness. (This leads to bliss which can be maintained all throughout the day).
12        Throughout the day, maintain the light awareness what you experience in the morning meditation/silence.
13        Be aware of * (soul and God) all the time, free from all types of bodily attraction of self and others.
14        Feel point (soul) and lightness all the time along with balance of qualities, like love and law, serious and entertaining, together.
15        Consider self as a soul and remember God. Similarly, feel lightness of point (soul) to think and act.
16        Be * and feel the subtle lightness all the time to remain free from body awareness and to experience all qualities of soul.
17        Be in super conscious state of mind all the time, the combination of conscious and sub conscious mind (free from the past or present thoughts but feelings of peace, bliss love and light).
18        Be light, all the time to deal with greater situations and also to express lightly to deal with new environment.
19        Soul Consciousness is important to reverse the ageing process. By identifying with body, body becomes old, makes you feel old / tired.
20        Look (be conscious) at others as souls, not to see the face or body, to leave the body in remembrance of supreme light.
21        * is unlimited in consciousness and without using eyes, * knows every incidence. * knows, not sees.* is light, sweet in nature.
22        Know (feel) self as consciousness expanded (like an aura) outside body, even whilst thinking (doing all actions), all the time.
23        Look at others as souls and remain free from 5 vices along with attraction and from 5 elements, known as 10 headed Ravan.
24        Remain combined free from waste influence of ego, mind and intellect (but use it only when necessary).
25        Feel the lightness sweetness of (body, mind and every cell) at amritvela (early morning meditation) and also throughout the day.
26        Just be light keeping mind free of all thoughts including point of light (free from images of everything) like Brahma (Adam), angelic.
27        Remembrance: Practice remaining combined 24hrs.
28        Self Awareness: Know self as * instead of the human form.
29        Be * and feel the limited and unlimited awareness and also feel the light, light body in every cells of the body.
30        Plan during amritvela on what to think throughout the day. (you will find that all you thought get done automatically during day time)
31        With open eyes feel the all the time and maintain it for full day.
32        Either remain egoless or combined or in gratitude (towards God) to remain light along with unlimitedness.
33        Be aware of soul in all actions so that there is awareness even in sleep.
34        Constant attention and constant love for God even if we have to slow down in action, thinking and speech. Remain constantly light, not becoming action conscious.
35        For natural soul conscious, natural remembrance, natural bapsamaan (God-like), be egoless, die alive and perform all actions free from i and mine.
36        Complete detachment means like Dadi Prakashmani, totally died alive of all the past. Baba Himself saluted her. Just Me, the soul and Baba(God). None else. I soul and Baba soul. Nothing else in the mind.
37        Initial experience of sweetness with Baba: Egoless (free from various subtle egos) carefree stage connected with Baba, similar to the stage of final stage of Dadi Prakashmani, combined stage, Bapsamaan(God-like) stage, the stage of first visit of soul on earth-golden age free from all past (clean and clear mind and consciousness).
38        Sweet Silence is natural remembrance of Baba and has to be constant.
39        Not to think or feel i am a soul but experience egoless soul consciousness and along with sweet remembrance (consciousness/feeling of bliss, sweet, gratitude) of Baba.
40        See, know (feel) self and others as soul.
41        Be in the conscious of supreme soul awareness, unlimited lightness without ego.
42        Be egoless and extremely light in meditation and also in action. Experience of lightness of soul and supreme soul is spirituality.
43        Egoless lightness/sweetness of soul or egoless might of soul has to be experienced constantly, as fresh in every moment. Be aware of and its power every moment and be light in every moment during interaction.
44        During action and during meditation, to be aware of S being light, clear with clarity, all the time. And in deep meditation, the physical world and objects disappear and only and S remains.
45        Be conscious and self aware all the time including during sleep and dreams.
46        Be a point (consciousness) free from even the conscious of own body and others body constantly connected with God (feelings of bliss), died completely from the old world (old consciousness of physical habits).
47        Be aware of soul-point of self all the time like the image of the body is there in consciousness all the time. (replace image of body with image of soul/consciousness).
48        Replace image of the body with point of self (awareness).
49        The weakness is due to not practicing seeing everyone as soul.
50        At all cost, practice seeing everyone as soul (not to see the body or face). Very very important.  And whilst looking any person, look at the soul-* at the centre of forehead. Be point, see only point-soul in every body in all interaction with everyone.
51        Always be aware of 3rd eye and look, do all actions with awareness of 3rd eye. Remain connected with Sup* through 3rd eye.
52        Not remembering any body or things means not to get attracted by maya.
53        Seeing self as * (with attention on centre of forehead) means not to get attracted by five sense organs and also the mind.
54        The soul conscious of point and expanded point seem to be own imagination. Become free from imagination and experience the real awareness by the actual feeling as it is. The real experience is of light, as if experiencing and speaking through a garb - aura of light - like aakash vani (sound from the space), in Baba's words. The expansion of this aura should be the unlimited consciousness.
55        The awareness of aura (garb of light) is only the result of practicing self as point of light. 
56        Be equal like supreme point of light, like earlier days Dadi Gulzar (Baba’s) expressions, 24 hrs constantly.

XII. SIGNS
1          And one of the signs you are focused is, you will have dreams of seeing yourself floating or flying.
2          It is always a good practice to keep a diary next to your bed to write about your dreams, generally they are astral travels, if your stage was good during day time or at amritvela.
3          Less we think during day time, less imaginative dreams but more astral travel and astral healing.
4          Feel lightness of being a point all the time, even one minute (or few hours) of this practice make us keep flying in dreams.

XIII. TOLERANCE
1          Constantly experience the qualities of soul with pleasure and all powers-tolerance, angel-double light, detached and loving, free from all subtle arrogance of body consciousness, like a deity-benefactor, sweet in nature.
2          Practice few and slow thoughts and actions, to remain connected with Baba all the time and in every moment.
3          Less speed jn thoughts and actions helps to maintain the stage (of being combined, lightness and bliss) whilst in action.

XIV. WILL POWER
1          To surrender even mind and remain aware of Supreme Soul and His qualities.
2          The soul should be free of all types of attachments being died alive. The volcanic yogic stage has to be maintained 24hrs in a natural way, egoless stage.
3          To be sakshi (detached observer) and saathi (in company with God) all the time.

Monday, 23 April 2018

Psychology of Depression

Psychology of Depression and Emotional Healing

(Please refer the flow chart for this article)

1) There are 3 types of depression: 1) Everyday depression 2) Major Depression which is persisting for 2 weeks 3) Severe Depression - of loss, thoughts of suicide, losing interest.

2) Major Depression is loss of pleasure - anhedonia along with great grief and great guilt. It has distorted thinking of terrible, getting worse and hopelessness. It is a disorder of thought rather than an emotion. It also features psychomotor retardation - moving and speaking slowly, eating and sleep also declines. They learn to be helpless, is quite generalized. The more someone has an internal locus of control, the less likelihood of depression. A major depression is an outcome of particularly severe lessons in uncontrollability. Exposed to stressors early in life have a life long increase in CRH (Corticocorpin Releasing Hormone) levels in their brain.

3) Stress and Depression go together. Stress: Human stress is a response due to uncontrollable ideas, protective and preparative thoughts. We call it anxiety, neurosis, paranoia or needless hostility. It is caused just by thinking (by imagining). Those with Major Depression experience more stressors and lack of social support, winding up, socially rejected. First Major Depression have undergone recent and significant stress. Stress emerges as triggers for first few depressions. Later mind clock takes over.
Link between Stress, Anxiety, Mental disorders and Depression: Stress leads to anxiety. Anxiety is of different types like phobia, OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), GAD(Generalized Anxiety Disorder), PTSD. Anxiety is disorganized coping with stress. Chronic anxiety leads to depression.

4) Psychodynamic: Psychological cause explained by Freud:
a.       Mourning is a normal depression and it recovers quickly.
b.      Melancholia is major depression.
Every loving relationship is a balance of hatred as well as love. Ambivalence of intense love and intense hatred cause Melancholia. Celebrating (the love) and Grieving (the hatred), the person under depression takes on some irritating traits of the other person to convince the argument and the world. Here the Aggression is turned inward.

5) Biological: 
1. Abnormal neurotransmitter levels and their abnormal communication
2. Abnormal hormone ratios
3. General vulnerability.
4. Extremes of psychological stress cause endocrine changes of depression. Genes, act in stressful environment, glucocorticoids is due to stress response. Stress and Glucocorticoids bring neurochemical changes of depression.
5. Limbic system involved in stress response. Above limbic is Cortex which thinks negative in people with chronic depression. Front portion of Cortex is ACC (Anterior Cingulate Cortex) involved in emotions like feelings of pain and fear. By Hypnotic Suggestion, by Counseling, ACC never becomes active. Another part Amygdala is hyperactive on depression being sad. Front of ACC is Frontal Cortex. Left PFC is associated with positive moods and right with negative moods (Choice is yours).

Hormones Glucocorticoids (prepares brain for future-next stressor) present in depression and Catecholamines(epinephrine and norepinephrine appears to deal with present situation-current stressor) in psychiatric disorders like coping activity or stress or anxiety. During trauma Amygdala learns to react in PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  Glucocorticoids work differently in Amygdala. If sympathetic system is relaxed, Amygdala never reacts in PTSD - Relaxation can help.

Why only some of us fall prey to this awful depression?
Because some of us are exposed to lot more stress than others. Like, history of early life stressors makes lot more vulnerable. Stress depletes norepinephrine causing biology of vulnerability. It is the interaction between the ambiguous experiences that life throws at us and the biology of our vulnerabilities and resilience’s that determines which of us fall prey to this awful disease.

Emotional Healing by Relaxation (Hypnotherapy)
By relaxing the person, it is easy to access the exact memory that associate, distort, generalize, assume for processing the day-to-day information received by the brain. By accessing them we can identify and remove the cognitive distortions of CBT by understanding the Psycho-bio-social causes. Emotional healing by relaxation also helps to deal with the sub/un conscious memories of psychodynamic theory to balance the defense mechanisms-function of id, ego and superego.

Role of Positive Psychology and RajYoga to deal with Depression

Character, Strengths and Virtues are the bedrock of the human condition and that strength-congruent activity represents an important route to the psychological good life. Positive psychology is able to help people evolve toward their highest potential. The classification, similar to DSM and ICD, described in the book “Character, Strengths and Virtues” by authors Christopher Peterson and Martin E.P.Seligman published during 2004 concerned that inadequate progress was being made from well-worn problem-fixing approaches and that an approach based on recognizing people’s strengths and aspirations might prove more effective. Positive Psychology has devised a classification of character, strengths and virtues (addressing the “good” teenager concern) and ways of measuring them (addressing the program evaluation concern) and this classification and measurement strategies they have created can be applied much more broadly.

Rajyoga which is being taught since 1936 focuses on self awareness and empowerment of mind, the practice of which develops the character, strength and virtues described in Positive Psychology. To deal with Stress and Depression, which are the main cause of Physical and Mental illnesses, (modern medicine reveals that 75 to 90% diseases are psychosomatic–stress related), Brahma kumaris and Annamalai University, Tamilnadu has jointly introduced Diploma, P.G. and M.Sc courses on Counseling and Spiritual Health where Healthy Life Style, Managing Psycho-Bio-Social Cause, Emotional Healing and Self Empowerment through Spiritual Intelligence are being taught to deal with Non-communicable physical and mental diseases to create a stress free peaceful, happy and healthy life.



References:

Azeem Dana (2014) “Instant Healing”, A guide for Emotional Healing: Bloomington-U.S.A: Balboa Press

Christopher Peterson and Martin E.P.Seligman, (2004) “Character Strengths and Virtues”: A Handbook and Classification; Oxford University Press,U.S.A

Deepak Chopra, M.D. Healing from Depression www.chopra.com

McLeod, S. A. (2015). Psychological theories of depression. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/depression.html

Mental Health Strategy, Dubai - United Arab Emirates

Robert M.Sapolsky (1994, 1998) Why Zebras Dont get Ulcer-the Acclaimed Guide to Stress and Stress related diseases and Coping, U.S.A

Seligman ME, et al. "Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions," American Psychologist (July–Aug. 2005): Vol. 60, No. 5, pp. 410–21.

Spirituality Health Inner Values Academy (2017) Shrimat Bhagawad Gita by God Shiva, Create Space, U.S.A

Taittriya Upanishad, Ancient Vedas, India

Saturday, 14 April 2018

Psycho-Bio-Social Factors of Depression

Psycho-Bio-Social Factors of Depression
from
Paper 1 Unit 4 and Paper 4 Unit 5

Msc Counseling and Spiritual Health: Paper 1 Unit 4

1) Stress: Human stress is a response due to uncontrollable ideas, protective and preparative thoughts - for no reason unlike animals (Like humanbeings, animals never have thoughts of protecting themselves-anxiety for future). We call it anxiety, neurosis, paranoia or needless hostility. It is caused just by thinking (by imagining).

2) There are 3 types of depression: 1) Everyday depression 2) Major Depression which is persisting for 2 weeks 3) Severe Depression - of loss, thoughts of suicide, losing interest.

Major Depression is loss of pleasure - anhedonia along with great grief and great guilt. It has distorted thinking of terrible, getting worse and hopelessness. It is a disorder of thought rather than an emotion. It also features psychomotor retardation - moving and speaking slowly, eating and sleep also declines.

3) Stress and Depression go together. Those with Major Depression experience more stressors and lack of social support, winding up, socially rejected. First Major Depression have undergone recent and significant stress. Stress emerges as triggers for first few depressions. Later mind clock takes over.

4) Psychodynamic: Psychological cause explained by Freud:

a.       Mourning is a normal depression and it recovers quickly.

b.      Melancholia is major depression.

Every loving relationship is a balance of hatred as well as love. Ambivalence of intense love and intense hatred cause Melancholia. Celebrating (the love) and Grieving (the hatred), the person under depression takes on some irritating traits of the other person to convince the argument and the world. Here the Aggression is turned inward.

5) Biology of depression:

a.       It is from experimental psychology, explains cause as loss of control and of predictability. They are learned to be helpless, is quite generalized. Not due to physiological stress but due to psychological stress of not having control or not able to predict, and give up, never attempt coping response, no motivation. They have cognitive distortion and over generalizing and motor retardation. Less capable of coping even with simple and easily solvable task.

b.      The more someone has an internal locus of control, the less likelihood of depression. There are links among stress, personality and depression. Learned helplessness is a learned behaviour taught all too well previously.

c.       A major depression is an outcome of particularly severe lessons in uncontrollability. Exposed to stressors early in life have a life long increase in CRH (Corticocorpin Releasing Hormone) levels in their brain.

6) Depression is pessimism specific to the effects of one's own skilled actions. Subjected to the uncontrollable stress, we learn to be helpless, we lack the motivation, assume the worst, lack the cognitive clarity to perceive things which are going fine, an aching lack of pleasure.

7) Integration-Conclusion:

Depression is caused by stress caused by:

a. Psychological: 
1. Pathological over exposure to loss of control and outlets for frustration (cognitive distorted belief by over generalization)
2. Freudian: Internalized battle of ambivalence, aggression turned inward.

b. Biological: 
1. Abnormal neurotransmitter levels and their abnormal communication
2. Abnormal hormone ratios
3. General vulnerability.

c. Stress unites psychology and biology theories

d. Link between Stress and Depression: Extremes of psychological stress cause endocrine changes of depression. Genes, act in stressful environment, glucocorticoids is due to stress response. Stress and Glucocorticoids bring neurochemical changes of depression.

e. Major Depression: Stress of extremes of lack of control and outlets cause

1.      Psychological: Cognitive distortive belief of learned helplessness
2.      Emotions: Anhedonia
3.      Behaviour: Psychomotor retardation,
4.      Neurochemical: Disruption of serotinin, norepinephrine and dopamine.
5.      Physiologically: Appetite, sleep, sensitivity to glucocorticoid- feedback regulation.

Why only some of us fall prey to this awful depression?

Because some of us are exposed to lot more stress than others. Like, history of early life stressors makes lot more vulnerable. Stress depletes norepinephrine causing biology of vulnerability. It is the interaction between the ambiguous experiences that life throws at us and the biology of our vulnerabilities and resilience’s that determines which of us fall prey to this awful disease.

M.Sc Counseling and Spiritual Health Paper 4 Unit 5

1. Hypothalamus (also mid brain and hind brain) release hormones and instruct ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) to reduce blood pressure. Limbic system involved in stress response. Above limbic is Cortex which thinks negative in people with chronic depression. Front portion of Cortex is ACC (Anterior Cingulate Cortex) involved in emotions like feelings of pain and fear. By Hypnotic Suggestion, by Counseling, ACC never becomes active. Another part Amygdala is hyperactive on depression being sad. Front of ACC is Frontal Cortex. Left PFC is associated with positive moods and right with negative moods (Choice is yours).

Hormones Glucocorticoids (prepares brain for future-next stressor) present in depression and Catecholamines(epinephrine and norepinephrine appears to deal with present situation-current stressor) in psychiatric disorders like coping activity or stress or anxiety. During trauma Amygdala learns to react in PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  Glucocorticoids work differently in Amygdala. If sympathetic system is relaxed, Amygdala never reacts in PTSD - Relaxation can help.

Link between Stress, Anxiety, Mental disorders and Depression: Stress leads to anxiety. Anxiety is of different types like phobia, OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), GAD(Generalized Anxiety Disorder), PTSD.

Anxiety is disorganized coping with stress. Chronic anxiety leads to depression.

Bio-social Factors: DNA shared by the parents, present environment-people, situations, chronic illness that affects immune system, hormonal imbalance, personality influence depression.

Psychological Factors: Depression happens due to anxiety, phobia, ocd, GAD, PTSD caused by the discrepancy between stressors and its coping responses.

Treatment

The good news is, if you have will power to remain free from past habits and attachments of mind(past impressions), you can overcome stress and thereby prevent depression.

Msc Counseling and Spiritual Health: Paper 1 Unit 4

Dealing with Depression through RajYoga

1. Not to speak of illness, not to think about the past.

2. Use powers to transform, tolerate, accommodate, become unlimited in awareness.

3. To be free from bondage, desire, sorrow, peacelessness, sanskar and attachment. Find God, have clear aim, not to get influenced by people, not to cry or become distressed, become fearless free from all weaknesses.

4. Remain stable in Avyakt(Relaxed Bodiless) stage and practice it all the time till it become natural.

5. Detach by knowledge, by mind, change your karma-actions, relationship and connections, thinking

6. Practice five forms of self awareness:  I am a Child, I am a Godly student, I am a spiritual pilgrim, I am a warrior (spiritual warrior against my own vices) and I am a Godly helper.


Monday, 2 April 2018

Message For Teachers who teach spirituality and values in education

Translation of the Hindi message received from Education wing Office, signed by BK Bro. Mruthyunjaya, Vice Chairperson of Education Wing and Dr.BK.Pandiamani, Director-Value Education Programmes, Brahma Kumaris, RE&RF

Beloved Divine brothers and sisters,

During this years annual meeting, it was decided that value in education and spirituality will be taught to school children from 1st standard to 12th standard. Based on this, the syllabus had been prepared.

It is requested to the Divine family that if you have any suggestions, you may call 9414153090 / 9560455797 and if you have contents like songs, poem, short stories related to value education and spirituality for school children, for the prepared syllabus, you may please send it BEFORE 31.5.18 to bkveschoolsyllabus@gmail.com in english typed-editable format.

Most important is, it should be related to the prepared syllabus and the mentioned Class/Grade.

With Divine intervention, hope we receive your cooperation in introducting this course to all schools.

Note: To receive the syllabus contents in pdf format, kindly send a request to email: mentalhealthghtc@gmail.com


The Original Message:

बापदादा के दिलतख्तनशीन, विश्व सेवा में निमित्त दैवी बहनें एवं भाई,

ईश्वरीय मधुर याद-प्यार।

अत्यन्त हर्ष की बात है कि इस वर्ष की वार्षिक मीटिंग 2018 के अंतर्गत शिक्षा प्रभाग की मीटिंग में `मूल्य शिक्षा और अध्यात्म' के पाठ्यक्रमों को स्कूलों में प्रारम्भ करने पर विचार-विमर्श किया गया जिससे विद्यार्थियों का सर्वांगीण विकास हो सके। इसी उद्देश्य को लेकर स्कूल पाठ्यक्रमों (School Syllabus) हेतु एक प्रपोजल - पहली कक्षा से लेकर बारहवीं कक्षा तक बनाया गया है जो इस पत्र के साथ संलग्न हैं।

आप सबसे नम्र निवेदन है कि इस प्रपोजल को पढ़ने के बाद यदि कोई अमूल्य सुझाव देना हो तो हमारे मोबाइल नं. 9414153090 / 9560455797 पर सम्पर्क करें। इसी प्रकार इस पाठ्यक्रम में आपको कुछ सुझाव व अन्य सामग्रियां जैसे- Song, Poem, Short Stories, etc. इत्यादि जोड़ना हो तो हमें अंग्रेजी में टाईप करके हमारे ई-मेल: bkveschoolsyllabus@gmail.com पर भेजने में सहयोग करें। आपका प्रत्येक सुझाव विद्यार्थियों के अनुकूल होना चाहिए। सुझाव भेजने की अंतिम तिथि 31 मई, 2018 रखा गया है। 

मुझे पूर्ण विश्वास है कि बापदादा की सूक्ष्म इशारों को समझते हुए शिक्षा प्रभाग के इस नवीन  और उच्चतम सेवाकार्य में आप सभी का अवश्य सहयोग मिलेगा।

शुभ आशाओं सहित,

ईश्वरीय सेवा में,
ब्र.कु. मृत्युंजय
कार्यकारी सचिव
ब्रह्माकुमारीज, आबू पर्वत

डॉ. ब्र.कु. पांड्यामणि
निदेशक, मूल्य शिक्षा कार्यक्रम
ब्रह्माकुमारीज, आर.ई.आर.एफ.

Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Opportunity to implement Baba's knowledge in schools

An opportunity for BK students who want to implement Baba's knowledge in schools:

HRD Ministry invites suggestions on rationalizing curriculum for class I to XII

Urgent need to rationalize school curriculum for all round development of students: Shri Prakash Javadekar

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=176983

A copy of your suggestions and syllabus contents may also be sent to mentalhealthghtc@gmail.com