How is it possible that in moments of depression and utter confusion the light of insight can enter sometimes?

It is because only in those moments do we throw out and reject old ideas / models of reality and basic assumptions we have made.

Thus it is a necessary machine wash (being locked in and spun round) that causes us to clear out the dross from our mind.

_()_

I would argue that such an ephiphany can only come from a religious experience if the process of healing is not gradual.

People with a religious faith are able to reconcile their depressive thoughts alot easier than those who don't. This comes from their convictions of not being neglected and looked after by some higher power. Reality does not conform to how these people want so they escape into the comforting false hope they see as the light. Atheists typically aren't able to console so quickly because it is a gradual process that keeps on wounding before it heals.

OH YES.

I know what you're saying. Pain is the great teacher. I think its because when we are happy we're not really thinking or anything else but the happiness and when we are sad and depressed we are more into thinking because we want to find a way to end the depression and the pain. The healthy way to do it is to look within and deal with it and by doing so we learn important things about ourselves.

My idea is that our true nature seeks enlightenment and an end to suffering. This is usually confused and sense desire takes over...its all related somehow.

I have learned much about myself through pain and anguish.

Possessing a M.Ed., I found that in moments of disarray your mind is actually learning something. When something seems to be "common sense" to you (whatever that means, but I digress), you have plateaued. You are comfortable. Moments of depression and confusion lead to insight because you are putting your strategies to work, thinking backwards. In his classic book, Dale Carnegie mentioned a preventative measure for this by simply working at a best-case and worst-case scenarios and then working backwards from each one.

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When "depression" and "utter confusion" comes about there is generally a "breakdown" of sorts going on.

When something "breaks down" there is thus the space for building and new things to grow in that "broken down" space.

The space for things to grow is where the "how" comes in.

That's the space, the moments, when the "light of insight" enters".

i.e . . . Hard soil makes it a challenge for new sprouts to grow. Break up (toil) that soil and there's room for the new sprouts to break through and grow.

That "depression / break down" is, in a sense, the "toiling of the soil". That "toil" is the space where the "light of insight" has the "how" capability to enter.

"Barns burnt down, now I can see the moon".

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The light of insight is our constant companion. Sometimes in moments of depresion or utter confusion we use our emotions to see her.

It may sound cliche, but it seems that it is often darkest before the dawn. In my experience, the dark nights of the soul lead to deeper insight, but I must learn to embrace the darkness as I do the light.

Because part of our mind gives up then which gives room for truth to enter without directly being pushed out by conditioned belief patterns

sure you may. you may even have extremely a powerful experience of humour and stable wit. melancholy is a lot misunderstood. in lots of strategies there are numerous varieties of melancholy with many motives and indications. I certainly have long status melancholy, stemming back some years. it is troublesome to describe all of it, yet incredibly the brief answer is sure.

Enter?

When did this light of insight ever "leave"? ;-)

This little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine!

Maybe it is that we only tend to notice this little flickering flame of insight when we are within our darkest of moments...