Page 32 - NAMAH-Jul-2022

When Depression is a “Psychological Necessity”

James Anderson

Abstract
A time comes in Integral Yoga when the transforming Force comes down into the physical.
This often triggers an adverse reaction in its consciousness, causing a depressed state, which
will be exacerbated if the vital is weary and the mind is disturbed. It is an inevitable process
and Sri Aurobindo called it a “psychological necessity”. The author shares his experiences.

of individual merit: they come to us all. In
our initial passage, we live in the realms
of duality and our egoistic consciousness
ensures that we go backward and forward
between contrasting states. That is a reality.
It would be valid to say that not all of these
are self-inflicted because these turnings serve
a purpose in our personal evolution. They
happen for a reason.

The problem is, the episodes experienced
sometimes seem to have no justification at
The diversions on our journey all. We get immersed in them and are unable
to identify their true purpose. We identify

In Integral Yoga, we sometimes need to take with these states and so we become one with
detours in our journey to the supernal Truth them. We have to climb to a much higher
and Light. The path is not always sweetness poise to discover the knowledge behind these
and joy. Dismal corridors need traversing; rather perplexing experiences. Once we have
there are trials and tribulations we must all and usually with the benefit of hindsight,
endure and pass through. They cannot be we see they had provided a solid means for
avoided and there is an inevitability about assimilation before proceeding to higher steps
their processes. It is not really a question of self-integration.

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