Depression and Spiritual Progress

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We are all subject to the action
of the three gunas or qualities

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of nature.
They are always shifting as they

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shift.
Our outlook, mood, physical

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responsiveness, vital energy and
mental framework all undergo

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corresponding changes.
None of the three gunas remains

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constantly in the forefront.
So there will be times when we

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are ruled by sattva and other
times by rajas or tamas.

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When Thomas comes to the front,
we can experience various forms

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of dullness, fatigue, tiredness
of body, vital force and mind.

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Naturally, in such a status, it
is easy to experience the state

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of depression.
Inner work needs to continue,

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particularly the aspiration,
patience and perseverance that

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reminds us that there are
brighter times ahead once the

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Thomas lifts.
During this time, the Sadhna

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continues, even though on the
surface we are not focused on

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this or attending to it due to
the influence of Thomas.

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Once the Temasek energy shifts,
we can observe the progress that

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has taken place in the interim.
As long as we remain under the

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control of the Gunas, we remain
fixed in the actions of the

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nature procrity.
If we shift to the standpoint of

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the witness consciousness, we
can create a space of separation

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for ourselves whereby we can
observe the play of the gunas

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and the changing moods and
energies that they bring to the

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nature while remaining free and
unaffected in our inner being.

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The more we identify with this
external being, the more we tend

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to suffer as we undergo these
constant changes and their

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impact, the mother observes.
Quote Depression is a sign of

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weakness of a bad will
somewhere, and bad will in the

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sense of a refusal to receive
help and a kind of weakness

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that's content to be weak.
One becomes slack.

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The bad will is obvious because
there's a part of your being

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which tells you at that moment
depression is bad.

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You know that you shouldn't get
depressed.

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Well, the reply of that part
which is depressed is almost

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shut up.
I want my depression.

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Try, you will see.
You can try.

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It is always like that.
And then later one says again

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afterwards, afterwards.
I shall see.

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For the moment I want it.
And besides, I have my reasons.

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There you are.
It is a kind of revolt, a weak

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revolt, the revolt of something
weak in the being when one comes

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out of the depression in one's
bad will.

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Well, then one realizes that
there was an attack and that

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some progress had to be made,
and that in spite of everything,

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something within has made
progress, that one has taken a

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step forward, usually hardly
consciously.

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It is something which needs to
progress but doesn't want to,

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and so takes this way like a
child who sulks, becomes low

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spirited, sad, unhappy,
misunderstood, abandoned,

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helpless and then refusing to
collaborate and as I just said,

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indulging in his depression to
show that he is not happy.

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It is specially in order to show
that one is not satisfied that

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one becomes depressed.
One can show it to nature, one

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can show it.
That depends on the case you

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see.
One can show it to the Divine,

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one can show it to the people
around 1:00, but it is always a

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kind of way of expressing one's
dissatisfaction.

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I am not happy about what you
demand that this means I am not

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happy, and I shall make you see
to it that I am not happy.

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But when it is over, and when
for some reason or other one has

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made the necessary effort to
come out of it and has come out,

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when usually realized that
something in the being has

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changed.
Because in spite of all bedwill,

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most often the progress was
accomplished not very swiftly,

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not very brilliantly, not for
one's greater glory, surely, but

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still the progress was made.
Something has changed.

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End Quote.
Reference Srioro Bindu and the

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Mother, Looking from Within,
Chapter 4, Ordeals and

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Difficulties, pages 94 to 95.