Unexplained Sadness: The Cancer of the Soul and the Medicine from the Buddha

Have you ever sat by a quiet river, watching debris drift past, only to feel an inexplicable sadness rise within? This sorrow does not stem from any specific reason, yet it swirls upward like dark clouds. It may be a sign of what Senior Monk Thich Chan Quang calls psychological cancer – depression.

Depression – When Sadness Has No Cause

In his dharma talk at the Vesak celebration, the teacher shared the story of a plane flying from Spain to Germany that was crashed into a mountain by the co-pilot, taking one hundred and fifty lives. Investigations revealed the sole cause was depression – a bout of unexplained melancholy that drove a person toward death, dragging countless innocent souls with them.

"Depression is a natural form of psychological illness where a sadness arises without finding a cause. One remains sad, and thoughts pile up, intensifying this rootless sorrow."

The Power of Optimism Amid Adversity

Conversely, there are those who refuse to succumb to sadness even after losing body parts in accidents. The teacher recounted a man who lost a leg in a collision. When friends visited, he said, "It is fine; now I only need to buy one shoe instead of two, saving half the money!" Such optimism does not arise naturally but is a great store of blessings accumulated beforehand.

"Those who possess this spirit of optimism and willpower have gathered immense merit; it is not something that simply appears on its own."

Buddhism – The Torch That Dispels Afflictions

According to the teacher, the highest goal for practitioners is to attain an unmoved mind – free from afflictions, sadness, or anger. The Eight Worldly Winds – gain and loss, fame and disrepute, praise and blame, pleasure and pain – cannot shake such a state. A poor abbot once lost a gold bar. His disciples panicked, but he merely said, "Before we had this gold, we lived just fine." This is absolute peace.

"Even when humiliated to the utmost, one remains calm, without resentment or hatred. When plotted against or oppressed severely, one stays peaceful, without sadness, anger, dislike, or enmity."

Depression – The Cancer of the Soul

Like physical cancer, depression is an invisible tumor within the psyche. It does not show up on X-rays or brain scans, yet it causes sadness to flow ceaselessly. Patients find no reason for their pain and often do not wish to end it. Without care and treatment, it leads to suicide. For Buddhists, understanding this is the first step toward prevention and helping those around us.

"Depression is a form of invisible psychological cancer. It cannot be seen through X-ray, ultrasound, brain surgery, or scanning."

Practicing for a Joyful Life

From these teachings, we can draw practical lessons. Do not nurture sadness. When unexplained sorrow arises, transform your thoughts so they do not accumulate into an ocean of despair. Cultivate humility by viewing yourself as grass or dust, thereby avoiding arrogance and excessive self-esteem. Maintain an unmoved mind by practicing equanimity before praise or blame, victory or defeat, so you are not swept away by afflictions. Start today with small acts: pick up trash, serve meals, and help others with genuine joy.

Remember, true happiness lies not in material possessions or fame, but in the peace within the mind. When our mind is unmoved, all external storms are merely passing breezes.