Basic Human Feelings

Can we safely say “I feel, therefore I am”? The clichés are still around: “trust your gut feeling”, “follow your instinct”, “listen to your heart, not your brain”, and so on.

Many people do follow their feelings in their dealings, but are often labeled “being too emotional”. More rational ones often pat on their own backs for having earned the black belt of suppressing their feelings and doing the logical things. In either case, the feeling, or the conscious subjective experience of emotion, is real. The neurons have fired.

Take “sadness”. When a good friend is killed in a car accident, many people would feel sad. When a good mother dies of breast cancer, her loving daughter would feel sad.

Should they feel sad?

The emotion of “happiness” is deceivingly simpler. When Dr. House cures the dying but still caring teacher of a trifactor of autoimmune, carcinoid, and hypothyroidism, her previously hopeless middle school students would jump up in hysterical ecstasy.

Should we go round them up and quiet them down, because we shouldn’t feel “happy”?

We have support groups for every possible supposed human tragedy in the world, but there is no support group for “joyous and grateful teenagers whose teacher just recovered from ungodly diseases”. Why not?

An answer from a Hindus or a Buddhist is quite simple and consistent. Basic human feelings are false reactions to the illusion of realty. The neurotic firing is preconditioned. One needs to liberate himself from the maya of duality. If someone is telling you his parents survived a 20 car pile up without a scratch, you may respond “what’s for lunch”?

When a good Christian is terminally ill, his brothers and sisters would diligently pray for the invalid. Their motive is pure yet confusing. If the patient recovers, it’s Lord’s work. The happy and praising neurons are firing. If the patient doesn’t make it, it’s also Lord’s work. Since He is omni-benevolent, the passing of the patient shouldn’t be a tragedy, but a part of His Grand Plan. The death of the sick just served Lord’s Purpose. Lord got what He wanted (not surprisingly). Therefore, death is not just good but great. The happy and praising neurons should reload for action again. So if someone is telling you about a dying Christian, you don’t have to wait for the end. Just jump right in with “Good for him” or “Good for her”, with both of your thumbs up opposing each other. (Note: you should wait at least until you know the gender of the patient).

So an oversimplified note to support group organizers on all subjects. For Hindus and Buddhists, teach them to learn how to feel nothing. For Christians, teach them how to feel joy and gratitude in all cases.

Life made easy? Maybe.