| Depression is a disease of the mind. Zen, | | | | else. Zen purges the mind of any low self |
| which is about mental state, may offer a new | | | | esteem. |
| perspective of the disease. | | | | |
| | | | Longing for something you cannot have creates |
| Millions of people are suffering from | | | | pain. In life, pain occurs when expectations |
| depression. It is one of the most common | | | | are not met. In Zen, every moment remains |
| mental disorders that may adversely affect | | | | with that moment. For this reason, everything |
| mental health. There are several current | | | | is changing, and impermanent. To desire or |
| theories about the causes of depression: | | | | crave permanence from something impermanent |
| hereditary predisposition, chemical | | | | is a disease of the mind. This is the real |
| imbalances, or hormonal changes. A more | | | | cause of depression. |
| widely accepted theory of the cause of | | | | |
| depression is � distorted thinking. | | | | Once the pain is created, an individual (or |
| Depression is deep internal pain initiated by | | | | the psychiatrist) begins to seek analysis and |
| disturbed thinking, which may or may not be | | | | explanation of the pain, hoping to find a |
| due to chemical imbalance of the mind. Zen | | | | solution to the problem. According to Zen, |
| offers an interesting explanation of this | | | | life is never a problem to be solved. Life |
| disease of the mind. | | | | never has a problem, and if there is a |
| | | | problem, that is because you have created it |
| Zen is NOT a religious belief. Despite having | | | | for yourself. Once you have created a |
| its origin from Buddha, Zen is not the | | | | problem, you need a solution to the problem. |
| foundation of Buddhism. Zen is an enlightened | | | | In attempting to solve the problem, you begin |
| mental state focusing on the present moment. | | | | to analyze the problem and examine the |
| | | | options available to solve the problem, thus |
| First of all, according to Zen, there is no | | | | generating stress, which only intensifies the |
| such a disease as "depression." Zen does not | | | | problem. Compounding problems triggers |
| label an individual as "sick" or "mentally | | | | depression in an individual. |
| ill." According to Zen, sickness is just a | | | | |
| human condition, and any "labeling" only | | | | It is human instinct to avoid pain. By |
| compounds the problem of sickness. | | | | avoiding pain, you subconsciously create more |
| | | | problems requiring more solutions. Unlike |
| Many individuals suffering from depression | | | | modern psychiatry, the way of Zen is not to |
| have a distorted perception of self-worth. | | | | question, analyze, or dwell upon pain. If you |
| Instead of accepting who they are, they want | | | | do, you are in fact creating the setting for |
| to be what they wish they would like to | | | | suffering. According to Zen, you must accept |
| become. Their hunger for the verisimilitude | | | | the good as well as the bad in life; in other |
| of realty often fosters delusions and a host | | | | words, pain is natural. Just learn how to |
| of other mental problems, such as confusion | | | | receive it. Pain is not avoidable in life, |
| and distress. Zen focuses on who you are, | | | | but suffering is. If you dwell upon pain, you |
| rather than your "desire" to be somebody | | | | perpetuate the suffering. |