Zen Depression
Aug. 13th, 2003 12:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
morrigirlWhat jump started my latest reflective stint was starting to re-read "The Zen Path Through Depression" by Philip Martin. I read it last year while I was on jury duty and didn't find it at all helpful, mainly because I found it hard to relate depression to spirituality in any way shape or form. I had alotta issues with the text and that's why I've chosen to start with it as I dive back into the self-help ring. this time around i plan to examine and work out my problems with the text. And I'm beginning right...NOW!
Martin points out one of the main points of Zen Buddhism, that attachment creates suffering. We hurt ourselves in our constant search for pleasure. We exert tons of energy trying to avoid pain, and when we are content we worry about losing the thing that has made us happy, thus causing ourselves pain.
But he also points out that nothing is permanent. That everything in the world is constantly changing, nothing is permanent, therefore it isn't the impermanence that is the cause of our suffering but our attachment to all variety of impermanent things that make us unhappy because we cannot make them last forever.
He advises the reader to meditate and accept the impermanence of all things. And I of course am wondering "Well what the hell is ACCEPTANCE gonna do for you?" If one is attached to something simply accepting that it isn't lasting doesn't make it hurt any less when the thing goes away. We all know our loved ones will someday die. Doesn't make the loss of them any less painful when they leave. I can say that from first hand experience.
If this philosophy is ever to truly work, one must refrain from attaching even though Martin makes it quite clear that isn't the answer. But how else is one suppose to not hurt? Maybe I'm missing something but in order for Buddhism to work, you really can't CARE about anything. Which honestly would be all well and good if only attachment weren't such a cultural ideal.
Society tells us we should be attached to things and people: family, friends, spouse, future yadda yadda yadda. Many psychiatric disorders list lack of attachment or caring as a symptom. You are not allowed to not care in our world. You HAVE to care or else there is something wrong with you. Dependence is prized. Maybe that's why Buddhism stayed in the East. Western society just can't take the idea of independence.
I know I haven't really resolved anything with this entry, but that's okay. I'm not aiming to tie up all my ends. I'm just trying to explore the issue. Still not sure where I stand on the issue of attachment. But that's why I'm writing about it. So I can figure it out.
Martin points out one of the main points of Zen Buddhism, that attachment creates suffering. We hurt ourselves in our constant search for pleasure. We exert tons of energy trying to avoid pain, and when we are content we worry about losing the thing that has made us happy, thus causing ourselves pain.
But he also points out that nothing is permanent. That everything in the world is constantly changing, nothing is permanent, therefore it isn't the impermanence that is the cause of our suffering but our attachment to all variety of impermanent things that make us unhappy because we cannot make them last forever.
He advises the reader to meditate and accept the impermanence of all things. And I of course am wondering "Well what the hell is ACCEPTANCE gonna do for you?" If one is attached to something simply accepting that it isn't lasting doesn't make it hurt any less when the thing goes away. We all know our loved ones will someday die. Doesn't make the loss of them any less painful when they leave. I can say that from first hand experience.
If this philosophy is ever to truly work, one must refrain from attaching even though Martin makes it quite clear that isn't the answer. But how else is one suppose to not hurt? Maybe I'm missing something but in order for Buddhism to work, you really can't CARE about anything. Which honestly would be all well and good if only attachment weren't such a cultural ideal.
Society tells us we should be attached to things and people: family, friends, spouse, future yadda yadda yadda. Many psychiatric disorders list lack of attachment or caring as a symptom. You are not allowed to not care in our world. You HAVE to care or else there is something wrong with you. Dependence is prized. Maybe that's why Buddhism stayed in the East. Western society just can't take the idea of independence.
I know I haven't really resolved anything with this entry, but that's okay. I'm not aiming to tie up all my ends. I'm just trying to explore the issue. Still not sure where I stand on the issue of attachment. But that's why I'm writing about it. So I can figure it out.
