Recently a "chemically depressed" friend, who is smart but keeps repeating depressing behaviors and thoughts, said to stop recommending books on happiness "as they don't help my depression." (See Curing Depression piece.)
I think that this needs to be cleared up, as it is a viewpoint that is not valid.
The very essence of depression is having beliefs and doing behaviors that produce unhappiness, and to let go of the theoretical dependence on "out there" to create our happiness. Therefore, it would make sense that those who are happy believe the opposite of what the depressed person feels - and it seems obvious that the person who keeps repeating the depressive thinking should change over to and adopt the healthy thinking. (Duh!)
In ALL studies I have seen (which are a lot), happiness is mostly a natural state that can be achieved through removing that which is an obstacle: the thoughts that are erroneous. The thoughts that are erroneous can be spotted with a foolproof mechanism: if you feel bad, it is due to an erroneous thought.
In Thomas Bien's practical, understandable book The Buddha's Way Of Happiness (notice that the title doesn't say "to" happiness), he used the phrase for us "to see that the realm of nonsuffering, the realm of happiness, is right here and now." In other words we need to stop the needless, pointless practices and thinking that are the cause of our suffering - and realize that success and happiness ain't "out there."
Many people poo-poo this idea, but if they really learn more they would certainly agree with it.
See "Moods - Causes And Cures - Removing The Obstacles".
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