Overview of Metapsychiatry

The basic principle of Metapsychiatry is that Life is good. Life is the harmonious unfolding of all that is good within a context of Love and Intelligence. Looking at the world we live in, this statement is preposterous. Anyone who watches TV, reads a newspaper, has difficulties in their job, families and finances is experiencing a life that seems to be the exact opposite of harmony, good, loving and intelligent. On what basis does Metapsychiatry, and other enlightened teachings, make this outrageous statement?

Enlightened teachings, such as Metapsychiatry, point out that the suffering we experience in life is a result, not of a cruel “God,” nor of a random universe, but of the mental climate we live in. For example, when things do not go the way we had wanted or expected, it seems natural to be upset, angry, agitated or sad. Yet, none of these reactions are intelligent. In other words, none of these reactions that seem so natural will help heal the suffering or alleviate the problem. In fact, these reactions have a good chance at increasing the suffering in the situation.

A note from Marlene, a student of Metapsychiatry, says it all: “Hi Nancy-
Just wanted to report a “breakthrough” i had today. I’d just finished teaching an early yoga class and was at a strip mall in Bedford, noticing that despite the beauty of the day, i wasn’t feeling so great: the class was just OK, i had lots of paperwork waiting for me at home, etc. I just wasn’t OK. I thought, “these are just thoughts…..” and then BAM!, a much clearer voice- “You are taking yourself personally.” I laughed, felt peaceful, and the peace has stayed all day, paperwork and all.
I love the idea of “don’t take yourself personally”! It makes so much sense.

Thanks for the class.”

Metapsychiatry points out that “life” did not create the idea of how the situation “should” be nor did “life” set up the expectation of how it should turn out. These ideas and expectations come from cultural and social influence and conditioning. They are part of the “mental climate” of life experiences. We are not to blame for this climate, but we have been influence by it and it is our task to heal from it. If a fish is born and raised in polluted water, the pollution will influence the physical condition of the fish – yet the essential nature of the fish is not polluted. If the fish finds itself in unpolluted water it will self-heal toward it’s essential nature.

Metapsychiatry and other enlightened teachings, provide methods to wake up from the conditioned mental climate and can provide a context of healing ideas within which to see the essential nature of life – the good of life, that is the essence of what is even when we can’t see it through the cloud of “mental garbage.”

Marlene’s “enlightened moment” demonstrates her awareness of agitation, unhappiness and her recognition that these are just thoughts – not who she really is. Her study of Metapsychiatry provided her with the tools and the concepts to recognize the mental influence and to know what really is.