Therapy or counseling

Avatar of kendall1008@mail.comkendall1008@mail.com asked 10 years ago

Is it necessary for us to go back into our childhood or past to figure out why we do the things we do today? In terms of how we may act out or how we act as a whole in relationships? Or how we act in general, in ways that cause us suffering or harm to ourselves and others? There are many who say this is necessary in order to come to terms with and see ourselves more clearly. Is therapy or counseling necessary?

1 Answers
Avatar of Pooja AnandPooja Anand Staff answered 10 years ago

For acute disorders or personality problems such therapy may be required. For the ordinary personality problems and faults that we all share, like anger, insecurity, jealousy, etc., it is not necessary. It is certainly helpful to become aware of our own faults and personality problems, acknowledge that we have them, and then work to control them. However, the origin of these problems is much deeper than any event from our early life, or even past life. The true origin is maya itself. 

All the faults and negativities of the mind are inherently present in maya. Thus, a mayic mind will automatically have all these faults. The only way to overcome mayic faults is to overcome maya, which happens upon God realization (which is only possible by surrendering to God through bhakti).

As we practice bhakti and purify our mind by attaching it to God, these mayic faults are gradually reduced and we gain more control over them. This is truly curing the disease at its root, instead of merely controlling its symptoms.

Avatar of Lora MelzackLora Melzack replied 10 years ago

I have heard our problems stem from thinking we are the : 1. Controller, 2. Proprietor 3. Enjoyer and 4. The dear most friend. Also that we suffer from the Maya defects of possessing imperfect senses, being subject to illusion, having the tendency to commit mistakes and the cheating propensity . These play out in a variety of ways to enact the painful drama of material we experience on a daily basis. My question would be : ” even knowing this , how do live in this world of such defects and remain calm and unaffected?

Avatar of Anonymous replied 10 years ago

Equipped with this knowledge about the imperfections inherent in material existence, we should resolve to make use of the world for the maintenance of our body (and to live a good and virtuous life), but not expect this world to give us perfect happiness. Only God can give us perfect happiness. This is the formula: God is for your soul and the world is for your body. To the extent we attach our mind to God, we will be unaffected by the ups and downs of the world around us. And to the extent we are attached to the world (due to our false belief that the world is the source of perfect happiness), we will be disturbed by the worldly difficulties.