How Can I Stop My Depressing Thoughts?

Question: What can I do when I become depressed and even think of harming myself?

Response: Dwelling on the painful things in our lives can lead us into depression and even suicidal thoughts. But suicide only delays and increases the suffering, and does nothing to end it.

When I was young, I had appendicitis. As we were getting ready to leave for the hospital, I don't remember whether my father took my hand or I asked him to. But I clearly remember asking him to squeeze my hand, hard. The pain from the appendix was excruciating. But I realized that my father's squeezing my hand to the point it hurt (I can only imagine how difficult this must have been for him) took my mind off the pain from my about-to-burst appendix.

I could not focus on both at the same time.

This memory came to me when I read the following by Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda in How to Overcome Your Difficulties:

'“A noted British anatomist was once asked by a student what was the best cure for fear, and he answered, ‘Try doing something for someone.’ The student was considerably astonished by the reply, and requested further enlightenment whereupon his instructor said, ‘You can’t have two opposing sets of thoughts in your mind at one and the same time.’ One set of thoughts will always drive the other out. If, for instance, your mind is completely occupied with an unselfish desire to help someone else, you can’t be harbouring fear at the same time.”

Our feelings arise from what we tell ourselves. Trying to break negative thought patterns is very difficult, but this is what our practice seeks to do: to replace what is bad with what is good. Since we all have our own karmic pasts and habits, we each need to find what works for us. But essentially, we need to break into the current line of thoughts with something that pulls our mind away from what is bothering us.

Essentially, Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda, the anatomist, and I are saying the same thing: replace negative thoughts with positive ones. 

If I can replace one depressing thought with just one caring thought, I will have begun to turn my mind away from sadness or depression towards happiness. And with more of my thoughts arising from my caring for others, my own state of mind will be more firmly rooted in happiness. 

Is this easy?

Of course not.

Is it possible and worthwhile?

Definitely!

When you know for yourselves that certain things

are unwholesome and bad:

tending to harm yourself or others,

reject them.

And when you know for yourselves that certain things

are wholesome and good:

conducive to the spiritual welfare of yourself as well as others,

accept and follow them. 

~ Attributed to the Buddha ~

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra, Excerpt Thirty-three

People in the world strive for things of little urgency. Amidst extreme evils and severe sufferings, they diligently work . . . dictated by their minds. . . . Whether they have or do not have, they worry.

“People in the world strive for things of little urgency.” “People in the world” refers to the beings in the Six Paths. “Of little urgency” means of no importance. The beings in the Six Paths all busy themselves with unimportant things and forget the important things such as (1) knowing the truth of life and the universe, (2) understanding the transmigration within the Six Paths, and (3) transcending the Six Paths.

“Extreme evils and severe sufferings” are karmic results. “Extreme” means severe. “Severe evils” refers to the Ten Evil Karmas: the physical karmas of killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct; the verbal karmas of false speech, divisive speech, harsh speech, and enticing speech; and the mental karmas of greed, anger, and ignorance. As the Ten Evil Karmas increase continually, they are called “extreme evils.” When one commits such extreme evils, how can one not suffer retribution! Great suffering is transmigration within the Six Paths; small suffering is the suffering in one’s present life, from birth to death.

“They diligently work . . . dictated by their minds.” “Mind” refers to greed, anger, ignorance, deluded mind, and wandering thoughts. In this kind of environment, people work hard and busy themselves every day simply out of “greed, anger, ignorance,” and for “fame, prestige, gain, wealth,” the Five Desires, and the Six Dusts.

“Whether they have or not, they worry.” When one obtains something, one is afraid of losing it. When one does not have something, one craves it. So one worries both ways: when one has something and when one does not. This is the true picture of society and the world presently.

~ Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra by Venerable Master Chin Kung 

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra, Excerpt Thirty-two

Steadfast and unmoving are their vows. . . . They [bodhisattvas] seek the Way in a gentle and correct manner. . . . They are pure, firm, calm, and joyous.

“Steadfast and unmoving are their vows.” “Steadfast” refers to a calm mind. “Unmoving” means that they are set on one direction and one goal. Great Master Shandao said that if one seeks understanding, then one can learn any sutra. But if one wants to achieve attainment in cultivation, one can only succeed by delving deeply into one method. Therefore, cultivation is different from seeking understanding.

In today’s society, we should focus our energy on practice. This is the way to success. When the mind is focused on one method, one will realize the truth and be at peace.

“They seek the Way in a gentle and correct manner.” “The Way” signifies an impartial, upright mind. In the sutra title, the words “purity, impartiality, and enlightenment” convey the meaning of “gentle and correct.” “Gentle” signifies the Middle Way—not too fast and not too slow. “Correct” means according definitively with the Buddha’s teachings.

For example, we mindfully chant the Buddha-name and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land. We have deep belief and we sincerely vow. This is “steadfast and unmoving are their vows.” In daily life, we learn and practice based on the principles and methods taught in the sutras. This is “correct.” Our learning and practice will not go wrong.

“They are pure, firm, calm, and joyous.” When we learn and practice according to the principles and the methods, we will naturally have a pure and calm mind, and be filled with Dharma bliss. We will have a happy and perfect life. These are the wondrous benefits that we will get now.

~ Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra by Venerable Master Chin Kung 

Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra, Excerpt Thirty-one

Their bodies and minds are pure. They have no craving or greed.

“Their bodies and minds are pure.” The mind is the master. When the mind is pure, the body will be pure. But the body can also affect the mind. The Buddha taught us that our behavior should accord with the precepts and proper codes of behavior. The purpose is to help us nurture good habits in daily life—so that the mind will naturally be calm.

“They have no craving or greed.” Of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, craving, grasping, and becoming are the causes of one’s transmigration within the Six Paths. When one eradicates any one of the three, one will transcend the Six Paths. Craving is delusion, grasping is attachment, and becoming is karma. If one cannot eradicate craving or greed, one should eradicate grasping. If one cannot eradicate grasping either, then one can only try to eradicate becoming, but this requires advanced cultivation.

When Buddhas and bodhisattvas manifest in this world, they act the same way as we do. For example, Living Buddha Ji Gong, who was very well known to Chinese people, seemed to have craving and attachment. So how did he succeed in his cultivation? Because he did not have becoming. This was a very advanced achievement! We ordinary people cannot eradicate grasping or becoming, so we can only try to eradicate craving and greed.

When we have craving, we will have anger. When we have greed, we will be filled with greed, anger, ignorance, and arrogance. Greed is the root. When greed is uprooted, our afflictions will all disappear and the mind will become pure. When the mind is pure, the body will be pure. Ordinary beings can achieve this.

No craving or greed; pure are the mind and body. With this foundation, and with belief, vow, and mindfully chanting the Buddha-name to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land, we will definitely be reborn there.

~ Essence of the Infinite Life Sutra by Venerable Master Chin Kung