The 'Dark Night' of the Mind

[thornbush]

In the doldrums of life....
When you feel that hopelessness is setting in...darkness pervading and clouding...
When in the words of the Sutra...when you feel that...

http://www.ymba.org/BWF/bwf41.htm#force
...when all power and status are lost and nothing survives,
when his Prime Minister, great officials,
his inner court and outer cities,
his elephants, horses, carts,
and treasures of precious jewels can no longer accompany him...

Have you faced such moments? What did you do?

[dumb bonbu]

when i was younger during my uni years, i did some stupid things and as a consequence ended up in a very dark place. but even in the 'Dark Night' the light of Great Compassion penetrates - i was supported and cared for by health professionals and loved and held close family and friends. i was fortunate enough to recover quickly.

looking back, all i can feel is thankful. samsaric pleasures have a downside and the hells can definitely be experienced in this world as well as the next. but perhaps in some way it played a part in leading me to commit to the Three Jewels and on reflection i see that even before i was aware of it, Great Compassion embraced and held me in its arms.
so now, even when dark clouds hover, i know that Amida's light shines through even the darkest night and i say the nembutsu and am thankful.

[Luke]

Have you faced such moments?

Yep.

What did you do?

In the distant past: played video games and swore a lot.

In the recent past: did tonglen meditation, reflected on impermanence (i.e. nothing sucks forever), and wasted time on the internet.