Genetic Predisposition Is Not
Our Essential Nature
by
Spencer
Perdriau
©
October 2005
Unauthorised
reproduction prohibited
* * *
FORWARD
“Spencer Perdriau
offers us a more holistic and integral approach to psychological healing that
takes into account the deeper roots of human identity in the transcendent
Reality, which is never touched by age,
disability, illness, or death, but is ever new, ageless, wise, enlightened,
infinitely sensitive in its spontaneous capacity of love, kindness, compassion,
and mercy. This is our true identity, the essence of who we are, not the
phenomenal ego of earthly life. Spencer has grasped this truth through his own
experience of illness, which opened him up to the Source. His vision here is
refreshing, and makes a significant contribution to healing from the
perspective of genuine spirituality.
He is emerging as a
leader in this important area.”
– Brother Wayne
Teasdale (1945–2004)
Christian Monk and friend of the Dalai Lama
Author of The Mystic Heart and A Monk in the World
M.A. in philosophy & B.A. in theology
Adjunct professor of the De Paul University, Columbia College, CTU Chicago
Member of the board of trustees to the Parliament of the World’s Religions
Member of the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue
Coordinator of the Bede Griffiths International Trust
INTRODUCTION
The following email was
sent to Rabbi Laibl Wolf on October 1, 2005. It has been submitted
as the introduction of this paper to emphasize the overall perspective of the following
address.
Dear Laibl,
Many thanks for such a
kind and uplifting message. I have been feeling very down the last week or so,
and I really needed to hear from someone established confirm what I have always
testified to... The essential unity and equality of Spirit that sustains all.
Because of certain
issues raised in the mental health industry in recent years, concerning genetic
predisposition, I have been feeling extremely helpless and at a loss to voice
my work and perspective on this. Because the mental health industry is so
focused on the material perspective on reality, there is no room or
consideration given to the underlying essence of reality that is the same in us
all – that which makes us all equal... Spirit. ...My true self is in no way a corruptible lump of
pedispositioned genetic material. To that I say... Try going
to deeper essential levels of reality and you will find that
subjectivity is the same in us all.
For someone in my
position, unless I try to account spiritual reality to some justification
in terms of what is known to us via quantum physics, I am finding all my
hard work and efforts falling to accountability of the mainstream materialist
perspective on mental health. As you know, there is no hope whatsoever in a
materialist perspective on reality, and at present, I feel like I am being made
to look like a fool, and losing the battle to speak up for justice and human
equality on these issues. More than ever, we so need good spiritual education
in our lives.
So again, many thanks
for sending me your uplifting message(s). It makes all the difference to hear a
good positive voice echoing the same ideals and outlooks on life.
Many Blessings,
Spencer Perdriau
PS: Hope you liked my
DVD – Back to Normal Again and Beyond.
BODY
“Any Illness limits us from being who and what we truly
are.
Schizophrenia is an illness, not a person.
There is no such thing as a “schizophrenic”.”
As a human being who has lived free from any relapse or traces of
symptoms of schizophrenia for six years now, I think I am in the good position
to fairly state that I have fully recovered from the illness at this stage in
my life. However, having re-established my true identity and human dignity, I,
and people like myself, now have to contend with another blow to that
reestablishment with this somewhat disturbing modern–day theory that is all the
rage in the mental health industry of late – that being the perspective of
genetic predisposition as an absolute for all cases of mental illness.
From what I have been hearing and reading, modern research has
now lead the so–called experts to lean towards this new fad theory that mental
illness, the likes of schizophrenia, bi–polar, depression, anxiety etc. are
genetically imprinted before we were born. The mental health industry is now
trying to convince us that all mental illness, or any illness for that
matter, even to the degree of alcohol abuse, are all genetically predetermined,
and nothing is left up to environmental influences, and even if they are it is
just a situation waiting to trigger the predetermined genetics (of
schizophrenia, bi–polar, depression, anxiety etc.) in the first place.
In a nut shell, the mental health industry is saying that anyone
who has a mental or psychotic breakdown at any point in their life is, to put
it bluntly, a “genetic retard” right from the beginning. …Where is the dignity and equality in this
new fad absolutist perspective, I ask?! No way am I a genetic retard in
essence, or disadvantaged below you! Well, I am sorry, I do not agree with this
degrading, demoralizing, inhumane take on genetics. To that I say, try going to
deeper levels of reality and you will find that subjectivity is the same in us
all! That is what these so called experts cannot bring them self to admit or
even accept – that we are all equal in essence! Heaven forbid that you discover
you are just the same and just as equal in essence as a mentally ill person!
The likes of this new fad absolute perspective on genetic predisposition is
another true example of that continual prejudice people like my self always
contend with, and there is no dignity or equality in it whatsoever. As an
absolute for all cases, it is inhumane, immoral and inaccurate. From my
experience, it is incorrect. It is wrong.
To presume that any one particular mental illness is for a
certain genetically imbedded in our disposition before we are born and is going
to surface at some stage in life, is the equivalent of presuming your lottery
numbers are going to turn up at some stage in the next 0 to 80 odd years time.
To be totally fair and honest, this theory, which is nothing more than a
theory, is just as boarder–line psychotic as the real thing. Get me the most
qualified, renowned researcher and psychoanalyst in the mental health industry
currently in the world today, and I will bet he/she has no idea whatsoever what
type of mental illness a qualified embryo may experience later in life. What
genetic imprint is there that for certain defines and tells us that, yes, we
are going to have a catatonic schizophrenic episode at the age of 18 when our
girlfriend dumps us for Charlie during the fourth week of the summer holidays.
And by the way, on top of that, we’re going to throw in a supply of 12 months
depression in aftermath just to rub it in. Plus, another 3 guaranteed relapses
of psychosis within the next 13 years, situation, circumstances, and
environmental factors all covered. Come to think of it, we’ll also give you 155
staggered weeks of anxiety further down the line just to keep the ball rolling,
time and place all taken care of. And while we’re at it, how would you also
like to put up with a further 10 years, karma free, of bi–polar to go along
with all that? And just to top it all off, once you finally get over all that
and maintain some sort of mental stability, you will die of a brain haemorrhage
six moths later due to unforeseeable long–term medication side effects, at
which point your brain will be pulled out of your head without your family’s consent
to be cut up and used for further research into a cure for any one of the many
mental illness you will encounter in life.
…Yes, it is absolute
nonsense! Genetic predisposition for this, genetic predisposition for that…
Where does this new exaggerated psycho babble, mumbo–jumbo craze end?! No one
at all can define or determine the genetic predisposition of any one type, or a
multitude of mental illnesses that “may” result from various experiences in
life.
If the industry is going to be so bold to try and pin all
illness and defects in nature to genetic predisposition alone, then at least
give us some remaining dignity to this inaccurate presumption and acknowledge
the other side of the coin (the more important, essential aspects of life) the
good and positive in nature – love, kindness, compassion, grace, beauty, art,
music, creativity, endeavour, intelligence, wisdom, insight, realization,
genius and a multitude of other positives to this so–called genetic
predisposition.
The cold hard truth is that you so-called experts do not know at
all if genetic predisposition is a sure certainty or not. At present, with what
you have to go by, you are basing a taken-for-granted theory on very loose data
on such a huge and complex matters as genetic functions, which at present you
have only begun to scratch the tip of the iceberg. And that limited data you
have is not even 100% conclusive to start with. All you are doing is taking
statistical best guess with what you have to go by, at present. What will you
come up with, I wonder, in the next 5, 10, 20, 100 years time when you are yet
again surpassed with later knowledge about reality?? Unless you pin-point
something 100% true, conclusive and absolute, you are doing nothing more than
second guessing. You presume far too much with what you have to go by. At this
early stage of the game, you so-called experts are no more than inadequate
juveniles fumbling about in the dark of an endless matrix that is far beyond
your capabilities and current understanding. As a staff member of the
Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW recently surrendered to me in confidence, “We
don’t know.” So don’t presume to have the answers when in truth you have
nothing at all.
What is even further annoying and patronising is continually
hearing from these so-called experts the new coined example, if you have a
number of people who smoke marijuana and only one of them has a psychotic
episode as a result of taking the drug, why does that person have a psychotic
reaction to it and not the others? Maybe that person has a genetic
predisposition for psychosis? Well, I am sorry to tell you, that little example
doesn’t work either. That example is far too simple for such a huge, complex
issue as psychosis. That convenient little example is flawed, inaccurate and
has no basis whatsoever. It is nothing more than another second guess to the
situation. It is an example of convenience with no true substance to it at all.
There are probably over 1001 different types of human constitutions, dispositions
and individual traits, not even touching on genetic predisposition, that may be
prone to psychotic reactions due to drug use, let alone and to say nothing of
it being a predisposition to mental illness. It may be such things as
disposition sensitivity to certain stimulants, low immune system at the time,
creative traits, self criticism. So take your pick at any one of these and the
countess others that make up the totality of personal human traits – without
even touching on genetic predisposition. Such traits that are prone to
psychotic reactions due to drug use, but don’t you be so mug and presumptuous
to try and convince us with that lame marijuana tell-tale for the mere sake of
convenience and circumstance. It does not hold up in the big picture of reality
for “all” human constitution types that are prone to this particular
circumstance. So just give up and forget about that one thanks.
Even further debasing and patronizing is the newest theory to
hit the industry, which is the assumption that it is a disposition of
vulnerability that is prone to encounter such illnesses as
psychosis/schizophrenia. Yet again the so–called professionals try to lower and
reduce us (and again equality is nowhere at all in sight), as if implying that
vulnerability is some kind of liability, whereas if the real truth were to be
revealed, which in actuality, it is a state of “sensitivity” not vulnerability
that is the main disposition prone to encounter psychosis/schizophrenia. Knowing
full well myself, and from the testimonies of many others, it is sensitivity
that is at the heart of it all. A more positive and delicate quality, rather than
the negative and undignified as that of vulnerability.
Myself, being a spiritualist, I will account from an ethical and
moral perspective, the inaccuracy of the theory of genetic predisposition in my
address here, giving accountability with reference to quantum physics and
transpersonal experience.
I have never agreed with the theory of genetic predisposition as
an absolute for all cases, and I never will. I am certainly not a
schizophrenic, a “genetic retard” in essence. Do you suppose someone is a cancer
in essence it comes up in their life at some stage? No! They are not a cancer. Any illness is not our
original identity. Illness deprives us
of our original identity. And it is this difference that needs to be clearly
defined and distinguished. Schizophrenia is an illness, not a person. The
illness is not who they truly are, nor is it their original identity. That is
why there is no such thing as a “schizophrenic.” Behind and beyond all things, I am a human being,
first and foremost. Good health is what we all desire. Illness is what we all
want to avoid. Why? Because illness is not our true and comfortable state of
being, good health is. Good health is complimentary to our very source and
original identity. That is why we all desire, seek and strive for it. No one
tries to find a cure for good health. Why? Because that is our original and
true identity.
For starters, from a more holistic and transpersonal perspective
to reality, quantum physics verifies that subjectivity (our essential being)
goes deeper and beyond physicality. At the quantum level of reality,
subjectivity is identical in both mentally ill and sane persons. We are all the
same in essence. We are all made of the same essential stuff of reality. So
from this perspective, even if the theory of genetic predisposition were
correct – that our genetics is who and what we physically are – even then our human being and essential equality
with others is not wiped out or lost. Subjectivity (our “real” essential being)
is beyond physicality. We are still a human being, just like anyone else on
this planet. So no matter how prone our genetics may be to corruption, our
original and true identity is beyond the corruption of genetics, and material
reality for that matter. Essentially, we are “still” just as valuable and equal
as the normal person. Our human “being” is the same as anyone else. Our human
dignity still remains. So even if our genetics were mentally disadvantaged, our
human essence is still beyond all that, and just as pure and “normal” as the
so–called sane person. Regardless of what side of the coin we fall on (genetic
predisposition or environmental causes), our human dignity and equality is
still the same as any other regular individual. Our human essence still remains
untouched by any prejudice or distinction.
…And if the truth were ever to be known, I would say that it is
the particular characteristic traits of the individual that is the
genetic predisposition which may be prone to encounter any type of mental
illness due to various environmental factors experienced in life. It is the
characteristic traits that are the genetic predisposition, not the illness. The
illness is the result, not the cause. Initially, any form of psychosis is a
mental–chemical reaction to a certain traumatic situation encountered in
life. It is the particular characteristic traits that are the cause of any type
of mental illness, not the illness itself.
But getting back to the more immediate material reality for a
moment, I do not believe for a second that “all” cases of “all” mental
illnesses are genetically imprinted before birth. Maybe for some who have sadly
had the illness passed down to them from parents who have a family history with
mental illness, but I would testify to the reality being that horrific or
traumatic events suffered in life by a completely “sane” individual can
cause severe trauma that can throw a very healthy person’s mind into
psychosis. I do testify that a completely healthy chemically balanced brain (predisposition
free) can go into breakdown imbalance. That is why we call it a “break” down.
To use a simple analogy, genetic predisposition is coming from the angle
that if you break your arm in an unfortunate situation, you were hardwired for
it before you were born. // Environmental and relativity maybe (karma if
you are spiritually bent), but not genetics.
There are no exceptions to who can have a mental break. Life can
present the most terrible things to us that can cause the mind to break, so I
do not in any way testify that it is “all” genetically imprinted before birth.
If that were the case, then I would have to say that everyone has the genetic
predisposition of mental illness.
Just look at our recent natural disasters and terrorist attacks
in the last twelve months alone. How many perfectly “sane” individuals caught
up in all that catastrophe will suffer from some sort of mental breakdown
because of that? When pushed to extremes, even a perfectly “sane brain” can
encounter a mental breakdown. How can you so–called experts be so presumptuous
and deny such circumstances in life, and blatantly claim to the contrary?!!
With any type of mental illness, being it schizophrenia,
bi–polar, depression, or anxiety, they are all a mental reaction and result from various impressions received from the
environmental conditions at the time. In other words the brain is chemically
responding to the situation going on around you. Along with worry, stress and
history of personal issues, you have a pretty good cocktail that equals an
imbalance in brain chemistry. It is important to note that the brain imbalance
is a result of the situation, not the
cause of the situation, as genetic
predisposition boldly presumes. Depending on how the brain reacts to the
situation imposed, it is anyone’s guess what type of mental illness will result
from that. It is the individual’s particular disposition that will manifest the
most likely mental illness according to the situation at hand. This is the
genetic predisposition, the particular type of personality, not the particular
type of mental illness, which could be any one of the many as a result of the
personality. It is the personality that is the predisposition, not the mental
illness. The mental illness is the result. It is the personality that is the
cause.
As emphatic as the mental health industry tries to declare
that mental illness is not a result of guilt or weak personality, the
researchers who originally suggested this to start with are not being entirely
honest with them self or society for that matter. If they were truly honest and
telling of their psychoanalysis, they would be fair to state that individuals
who are sensitive in nature are more prone to have a mental breakdown. And, if
genetic predisposition were in any way an accurate theory, it would be more
correct and honest to state that the genetics of these particular individuals
who are of heightened sensitivity in nature and to nature around them, are more
susceptible to encounter a mental breakdown if they happen to experience some
sort of emotional or traumatic event in their life…
That is the genetic predisposition – heightened, acute and/or
sensitive nature. …Not the resulting schizophrenia, bi–polar, depression or
anxiety, etc.
The brain disposition of psychosis is a result, and let me again
stress the word “result” of a mental response to a certain traumatic situation.
Such an individual may be of a heightened, acute and/or sensitive constitution
to allow for such a breakdown into
psychosis. That is what psychosis is, a “breakdown” of brain chemistry.
Psychosis is not the cause of a
mental breakdown. Psychosis is the result
of a mental breakdown.
What genetic predisposition is trying to tell us is that
psychosis (or any one particular mental illness) is already dormant and wired
into our genes; that it is a cause …but it is not. Psychosis, or any mental illness, “results”
from a traumatic situation, and it is more the case with individuals with a
heightened or sensitive nature and constitution. Heightened, acute and/or
sensitive nature is the real genetic
predisposition that can allow for a particular mental breakdown to be
experienced in life. Let me state that again…
Heightened, acute and/or
sensitive nature is the real genetic predisposition that can allow for a mental
breakdown to be experienced in life.
Just for arguments sake, I would like to prove my point here
with a very real example. Take myself, there has been no trace of mental
illness in my family tree, however myself personally, I am sensitive in nature,
I have a strong creative bent, an eager curiosity, and I am rather
introspective. Now, given the right environmental situation, which is bound to
turn up at some stage given the million and one situations life throws at us,
my particular characteristics are a magic formula to be prone to manifest a
psychotic episode if anything goes traumatically wrong along my path of life.
And by the way, I have never been subjected to drug use.
…So do you see what I am saying, it is not the mental illness
that is the genetic predisposition. It is the individual’s characteristic
traits which are the genetic predisposition, not the manifesting illness. There
is no one gene or genetic imprint for schizophrenia, bi–polar, depression, or
anxiety, since these are just man–made names for various debilitating symptoms
of mental illness. But there are a number of gene characteristics that can
manifest these resulting symptoms. That is the difference… The illness is the
result, not the cause.
For all of us who have had a mental breakdown and have been
fortunate to overcome it, we all know deep down in ourselves why we went
through what we did…
…A little exposing here, but I would like to share for
correction’s sake… For me, when I had my initial break at 20, I was going
through a terrible time of identity issues and working out who I was (am), and
it didn’t at all help that I had fallen deeply in love with a girl who not only
did not reciprocate that, but further played that to her advantage by
playing mind games with me. So what happened...??... I racked my brains out for
four weeks trying to work it all out, and as a result I had my psychotic break.
As I said, there has been no trace of mental illness in my family tree, so
genetic hereditary is out in that respect. The reason why these illnesses are
so prevalent in late teens and early twenties, is because we ARE at a time in
our life when we are uncertain and unfolding our identity, and if we are in an
environment where that antagonizes our growth, we can get into all
sorts of problems, mentally and emotionally, with our thoughts and ideas about
it all. That’s what happened to me... And it is further the case with
individuals like me who are very sensitive in nature, and to nature. And in that
respect, I like the Dalai Lama’s take on life... Kindness... for if we were,
mental illness would drop a million–fold.
However,
on a more introspective level, the reason why I believe these illnesses are so
prevalent around teenage years and early adult life is because we are at a time
in our life when we are tying to work the world out, and ourselves too, and how
we fit into all of that. We are at a point where we are pondering life and
ourself in a big way. It is at this stage of life when the mind and conscience
is in overdrive. But the problem is that we are young and immature to have a
sensible balanced perspective on life, and as such, conscience may go too far,
causing us to analyse ourself excessively, and this can lead to exaggerated
ideas, paranoia, and if not released or talked about sensibly at the time, that
dwelling can get all out of control, leading to unhealthy ideas, excessive
paranoia, delusion, and eventually psychosis. For me, schizophrenia was like a
huge guilt trip. More accurately, it was feelings of guilt resulting from
immature thoughts from certain actions in my early adulthood that stirred my
conscience so strong that it went off the ricterscale to cause me to have
paranoid thoughts. (For this reason, I call schizophrenia “the juvenile
illness”, because it always comes down to immature guilt and uninformed
conclusions about life and ourself.) Initially, the paranoia was justified and
balanced with reason, but there comes a point where conscience becomes so
imposing, that dwelling upon dwelling takes place. The mind entertains all
sorts of scenarios and reasons for how and why things are the way they are, and
eventually, what was justified and reasonable paranoia takes a heavy, spiralling nose-dive into excessive
and unhealthy levels of interrogation-persecutory ideas and even delusion…
people out to get you, etc. And it is at this point, I believe, when psychosis
starts to manifest. As ironic as it seems, with something like the mental
illness of schizophrenia, in the early stages, just before the psychosis really
takes a hold, the faculty of conscience is actually rather acute, accurate and
active upon the mind. Compunction and introspection is very intense just before
the breakdown phase. So you see, schizophrenia is not just a generalised
genetic trait from way back in the gene pool from the hunter-gatherer days when
paranoia was due to the constant threat of that lion hiding in the bushes
waiting to pounce on you for his next meal. No. Mental illness cannot be
justified so neatly, simply and generally. As well as a number of genetic traits, the person’s character traits, and
sensitivity, has to be accounted, as well as their own unique personal life
history and environmental factors, which lead them to have such strong imposing
mind issues. As much as the industry tries to convince us otherwise – hello –
there are actually personal reasons and issues that alone can trigger the
initial paranoia, not genetics. It does not all come down to genetic
predisposition as these so-called experts presume to confirm to us as the new
fad take on mental illness. As ironic as it seems, conscience also plays a
major part in psychosis, mental illness.
I’ll say it again…
Heightened, acute and/or
sensitive nature is the real genetic predisposition that can allow for any
mental breakdown to be experienced in life.
To say that any one particular mental illness (schizophrenia,
bi–polar, depression or anxiety, etc.) lays dormant in the genes from birth and
it is just waiting for the right event to trigger it; this is a very fancy,
convenient, modern–day theory, but I do not think the industry or any qualified
psychologist or researcher should be so bold and arrogant to testify this
theory as absolute fact for “all” situations across the board. In short, it is
a perspective that is open for much accountability of error and correction.
More realistically, and accurately, and as I stated to start
with – a person of “particular” gene characteristics that may be prone to
encounter any one or a multitude of mental illness states, or any illness,
whether that being passed on through hereditary, or as a result of a traumatic
event(s) suffered in life.
As far as human dignity is concerned, the most inhumane factor
in all this is the outright condescension of these mental health experts, and
the industry itself, trying to confirm and console us that it is not our fault!
Like...thanks a million, guys!!... Next time just tell us we are complete
retards to the very bone with no hope of a normal life without the extra stigma
and prejudice of medication on top of that to keep us well! That’s like saying,
“Okay he’s had a psychotic break, so he’s another one for the ‘Genetic Retard’
basket.” You can be smug and arrogant all you like, but I can tell you now,
that my essential being – my true self – is in no way a
corruptible lump of pedispositioned genetic material. To that I say
again...
…“Try going to deeper essential levels of reality and
you will find that subjectivity is the same in us all.” We are all equal
in essence! When it comes to essentials, I am just the same as you, Mr.
And further, if mental illness does hang around for life, as
these experts keep persistently telling us, then try telling that to
individuals who fall into the very few 1 in 3 cases/types of psychosis, who
only have one mental slip–up and never have it again. …So much for genetic
predisposition!
When I attended the World Federation for Mental Health Biennial
Congress at Melbourne back in 2003, I actually attended a lecture given by
a qualified female doctor and researcher who talked on this very issue – that
mental illness is open to both situations, that traumatic events alone
can cause a psychotic break, and on the other hand there can also be a
genetic link.
Genetic predisposition as an absolute?…This fancy new modern–day
take on mental illness... is not accurate! It is incorrect! It is false! It is
wrong! And it is the most degrading, demoralizing, inhumane theory ever to hit
the minds of modern psychiatric science!
Our “entire” lump sum may very well be already “genetically”
determined before we were born, but any type of psychosis or psychotic
experience suffered in life is a result, not a predetermined cause.
So let me state it again so it is clear… It is the particular characteristic
traits of the individual that is the genetic predisposition which may be
prone to encounter any type of mental illness due to various environmental
factors (traumatic event(s)) experienced in life. It is the particular
characteristic traits that are the genetic predisposition, not the illness… The
illness is the result, not the cause.
CONCLUSION
Just as transpersonal psychology accounts to verify the
subjective source of all existence, so too is quantum mechanics coming closer and
closer to verifying consciousness as the basis and foundation of all reality,
not only from the reference point of individual observation, but from all
places everywhere, within, throughout and beyond everything. Not only is
consciousness subjective to individuality, but equally also to all reality in total. What is now being accounted for by
indirect scientific means has been accounted for throughout the ages,
throughout all world scripture, and spiritual traditions. As it is written…
“For in That we live and move, and have our being.”
Acts 17: 28
From the perspective of transpersonal psychology and quantum
physics, metaphysically speaking, I do accept that everything happens exactly
as it should, and in that respect from the complete gig–saw puzzle, the
absolute picture, yes, everything is set before it unfolds. But from the
cold–hard scientific/materialist approach to life, where there is no
appreciation and realization of the underlying essential reality of spirit
(boundless consciousness) sustaining all things in unity and equality, the
materialist perspective in this respect is extremely demoralizing, degrading,
fragmented and inhumane. It is an extremely dark perspective on reality...
and there is absolutely no hope or redemption in it whatsoever. This
materialist attitude does not acknowledge the incorruptible, boundless,
subjective unity throughout all reality, that sustains us all, and which is our
very essence, hence equal in us all. It is That, most importantly, that makes
us all equal.
So to the so–called experts and the mental health industry, I
say...
“Stop trying to cut us down!...
Our life is just as equal and valuable as yours
or any other! You can only go so far, and then you will
come to a point
where you will find your self in the
same boat, or rather, Ocean of Reality!”
Last time I checked, we all live on the same planet, in the same
star system, the same galaxy, and the same universe. We all exist in the same
reality, no matter what our mental perception about it all may be – delusional,
accurate or refined. No matter how
different our personalities may be, essentially and behind all that, we are all
made of the same stuff of reality. That is why in essence, we are all equal. We
are all the same in essence. And when it comes to human rights in that respect,
particularly with mental illness, that essence of equality has to be realized,
acknowledged and honoured by us all, if we are ever to achieve that quality and
value of life. Reality and existence, in total, is the same for us all. And as
we are all unique as individuals, we can take it any way we choose. But the
important thing is to remember the bigger picture – that we all share in the
same thing… Existence. And no one is
exclusive or separate from that.
I pray the time will come when the conscious underlying
unity/essence of reality is undeniably confirmed by science (“go quantum
physics!”), because then people like myself will never ever again have to be
continually stigmatized, crushed and reduced, and felt worthless by such an
inhumane theory that were are nothing more than a lump sum of corruptible
predetermined genetic material to the core, right from the very beginning…
Mental illness is the result, not the cause.
Any expression of manifest reality – emotional, mental or
physical – whether sick or well, is objective, and can in no way corrupt or
alter the subjective aspect of reality, or our self… The Experiencer or
Observer within. To my fellow battler’s, if you want to keep your dignity and
pride, always remember that your subjective self is totally true and free from
manifest reality. And to empower your dignity further still, I will let you in
on a little secret…
Your subjective self is just as healthy, normal and
exactly/identically the same as in a sane person. Subjectivity is the perfect God
Aspect that pervades, creates, sustains and retrieves all manifest reality
– you, me, everyone and everything, everywhere.
You want dignity? You cannot get any more dignified than that.
To realize that is far more empowering for you than anything else you could
ever achieve or hope for, because I can tell you now, that most individuals of
sane disposition are not even remotely aware of such equality and unity shared
in subjectivity – The Subjective Absolute of All, in All…
That is the only
Absolute. Not genetic predisposition!
To
actually realize the most important
and precious part of yourself is totally free and untouched by any violation of
manifest illness is an immense relief, comfort and very enduring empowerment to
go on to conquer and live free from the horrors of mental illness, far beyond
what any gross–biochemical material means could ever hope to achieve or offer.
I
am the person I am today from discovering such, and it is my greatest wish that
all sufferers of illness, mental, physical or emotional, are fortunate enough
to discover what I have. And it is now my primary objective to pass on that
precious knowledge for the benefit and well–being of others.
With
14 years experience, both in the fields of mental health and transpersonal
psychology (spirituality), my path is now fully committed to educate society
about the unified nature of reality, focusing on issues regarding human rights,
holistic ethics and mental wellbeing.
Even
if you so–called experts were correct, genetic predisposition is not our
essential nature, and nor is it an absolute of reality. Our subjective being is
behind and beyond all that, and that is the only absolute of reality that makes
us all the same and equal in essence. Always keep in good conscience, and
remember, that at the heart and essence of it all, we are all the same. We are
all equal.
Human
dignity and equality is the highest priority now that I have recovered from the
horrors of schizophrenia, and as long as I am around, I will always continue to
stand up for human rights, and defend that dignity and equality for people like
myself who have been through what I have...
Mental
illness is a result, not a cause.
And
genetic predisposition is not our essential nature.
– Spencer Perdriau
17th
October 2005
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Copyright © 2005 Spencer Perdriau