Counteracting Negative Emotions

Effective handling of emotions holds the key to health and happiness. Since health and happiness are universal aims, we will do a great favour unto ourselves if we learn to be adept in warding off negative emotions and employ the positive ones gainfully and in the right manner. By ignoring this aspect, we not only jeopardize our health, but also deprive ourselves of the fountainhead of bliss that lies hidden within. Timely examination, analysis and corrective measures need to be fervidly taken to pave way for healthy and joyous living.nnRevered scriptures delineate emotions to be avoided and the ones to be cultivated. The Bhagavad Gita is a scripture that expounds extensively the positive and negative emotions. While the positive ones lead to divine endowments, the negative ones germinate evil tendencies. The fruition of human life lies in cultivating the former.nnAnger, fear, anxiety, hatred, contempt, jealousy, malice, etc. are some of the more common negative emotions. Before we see what Lord Krishna Himself has declared in the Gita, let us read what psychoanalysts and immunologists have to say on such emotions.nnDr. Alexio Carrel, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, has said, “Emotions determine the contraction or dilation of the small arteries and are accompanied by changes in the circulation of blood in tissues and organs. Envy, hate and fear, when they become habitual, are capable of starting organic changes and diseases. Moral suffering disturbs health profoundly. Protracted sorrows and constant worry prepare the way for the development of cancer. Such emotions induce striking modifications of the tissues and tumors.”nnA joint study of psycho-immunology has revealed, “The results of strong emotions develop in the digestive track; the stomach tightens up so badly that it cannot perform the digestive movements. It may be even the colon, whose spasms bring on constipation, ulcers and appendicitis. Such disasters are never brought on by a single emotional shock; they come after many prolonged tensions, of fear, worry or anger, have set up a habit in the muscles.”nnScriptures too deal with the deleterious effects of anger and fear. Lord Krishna affirms that anger, lust and greed are the triple gates of hell. At another place, the Lord says, “Only that man enjoys equanimity of mind who is free from anxieties amidst adversity, is indifferent to pleasure and not affected by passion, fear and anger.” Elucidating further, He says, “The man who has not controlled the senses develops delusion, suffers from clouding and destruction of memory and reason, and finally reaches perdition.” n nWhile fear is the acknowledgement, conscious or unconscious, of one's spiritual, moral or physical weakness leading to inactivity of the mind and powerlessness to get results, anger is an emotion which seriously hurts a person's health. The combined effect of these negative emotions is awful loss of health and happiness. The impact is so deep that by the time we realize it, the fangs of venom have eaten the vitals of our being. If not checked, it is sure to endanger our true self. nnThe triad of faith, persistence and prayer has been prescribed by sages and scriptures to overcome negative emotions. Wrong understanding of the three often results in failure. However, by proper understanding and assiduous practice, one is sure to succeed. nnThe Bible says, “If you have faith, nothing is impossible unto you. All things are possible to him who believeth.” Faith in self and God is handed out as a valuable remedy to counter fear and worries. Those who lack faith in themselves cannot repose faith in God. For faith to be firm, unflinching and a reasoned one, a solid foundation is needed. Our body, mind and intellect - minus soul - being inert matter, cannot provide this base. It is the soul, the activating entity behind the body, mind and intellect that can transform fragile belief into rock-solid faith. It is not mental rumination but actual perception of the soul through the eye of spirit which can convert 'mere belief' into faith unshaken by the severest blows of life. nnOnce the third eye is opened by a perfect sage of the time, desired results start flowing in a simultaneous fashion by regular meditation on the divine light of soul. The flawless dispensation of God is fully comprehended. There is no greater purifier of latent negative tendencies than the divine light. nnFaith makes the practice of persistence an easy task. Talent, education and a charming personality are no substitutes for persistence, for it opens up treasures which give perennial joy. Victory ultimately belongs to the most persevering. Edmund Burke has said, “By gnawing through a dyke, even rats can drown a nation.” Evidence shows that the indwelling spirit does not let anyone enjoy fruits without passing persistence tests. Even Lord Krishna advised Arjuna “not to surrender to impotence, for it is unworthy of him, being a human being. Shake off pettiness and awake.”nnThe next is prayer. Make life a constant prayer. Upon being blessed with revelation of the sovereign secret of the soul, one realizes the inadequacy of a formalized routine of words which is nothing but refuge for weaklings; a childish petition for material things. Bear in mind that faith precedes prayer. As the Bible puts it, “God rates our sincerity by our faith.” Lord Krishna says in the Gita, “Even a confirmed sinner can become righteous if he worships Me with sincerity.”nnPrayer is not just worship but a visible emanation of our worshipping spirit - the most powerful form of energy. Its influence on the human body is as demonstrable as that of secreting glands. The results are visible in terms of increased physical buoyancy, greater intellectual vigour, moral stamina and a deep sense of realities of human relationships.nnIdeally, make prayer an effort to reach and communicate with God. He is the ultimate healer. He alone is giver of wisdom and redeemer of our sins. Say your prayers upon revelation of innate divinity for reaping the best results, for words and language are insufficient to commune with God. Attain the eternal prescription of Brahma Gyan (divine knowledge) from a living mystic. nnSumming up the approach to be adopted to counter the disobedient emotions, Sri Ashutosh Ji Maharaj, who has embarked upon a noble mission of making tormented humanity perceive and experience the inner core of man, says, “The individual soul is a silent harp in God's choir whose strings require to be swept by the divine breath (Holy Name, the primordial vibration) to chime in with the harmonies of universal spirit. It calls for revelation of spirit within. This divine chord is unfailing to make man arched and buttressed from within lest the body temple crumbles to the dust.”n