ASK MAULANA — Your Questions Answered

ASK MAULANA Your Questions Answered There are some who speak and talk about past negative experiences. Is it not important to forget the past? Yes, it is very important to forget the unpleasant experiences of the past. Because, the choice in this context is not between forgetting and not forgetting: The real choice is between living with all kinds of bitter memories and totally freeing yourself from them. Try to forget unpleasant memories, for the alternative to this is living in bitterness and that is not a good choice for anyone. The habit of forgetting leads you to many good things. It saves you from distraction, it economizes your energy, it prevents you from wasting your time, and it shields you from negative thoughts. All these things are so important for a better life that any sacrifice to achieve it is certainly worth it. How to explain the phenomenon of depression? Depression is a sign of mental disturbance. Such disturbance leads to intellectual upheaval and, finally, to brainstorming. Depression is a symptom of deprivation. When you think that you are seriously lacking in something that you earnestly desire, this thought is bound to lead to depression. Depression is not a physical phenomenon: It is psychological in nature. If you feel that you have gained what you wanted to gain, that will give you a sense of satisfaction. But when you feel that you have failed to achieve your goal, it leads to depression. In the first case, your life very soon comes to a full stop, but in the second case, your life goes on, punctuated by commas. What should one do when provoked? Our world is one of provocation. Whenever there are provocations, big or small, you have only two options: Either to succumb to anger and hatred and fail to do anything positive in the situation, or to remain patient. By being patient, you save time and energy. Being patient means having a calm nature. When you are calm you can serenely face a challenge without allowing yourself to be provoked, making yourself strong enough to overcome all difficulties. Only patience will enable