Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, was a live guest on the “Ramazan Sevinci” program, hosted by Bekir Develi and broadcast on TRT 1. Emphasizing that believing in a higher authority and having a mental refuge has therapeutic value, Tarhan stated that true freedom is the freedom from the slavery of the ego. Tarhan also underscored that ideal happiness is happiness dependent on an internal cause.
“Humanity needs spiritual solutions”
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar University, stating that science is a journey, noted that having a mental refuge has therapeutic value for humans.
Tarhan, speaking about the history of psychiatric illnesses, said; “Manic depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia to depression – these have existed since humanity's inception. As neuroscience discovered their neural correlates in the brain, definitions emerged. People always have a feeling of emptiness. There is always a need. Belief systems, certain elders, and Sufi education used to fill this. There were monks; people obeyed them and found comfort. There is a similar void. Something will fill it. This is being attempted to be filled with science. There are so many areas where science is insufficient! Science is not a point of existence. Science is a journey. Currently, there are third-generation psychotherapies. With these therapies, science has shown that believing in a higher meaning, a higher power, a higher authority, and having a mental refuge actually has therapeutic value. Humans need spiritual solutions.”
“True freedom is the freedom from the slavery of the ego”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that ideal happiness should depend on internal rather than external causes, said; “Even in the worst conditions, a person can achieve happiness and peace. They can find satisfaction despite everything. In psychology, this is referred to as authentic happiness. You can achieve happiness whether you are in prison or in a palace, you find the same happiness. Like plants that bloom in all four seasons. Happiness is constant. In the definition of happiness, there is the happiness that modernism teaches us, saying ‘let this happen, then I'll be happy; let that happen, then I'll be happy.’ This is happiness dependent on external causes. However, ideal happiness is happiness dependent on internal causes. It is a person's ability to achieve happiness with references from their own inner world. This is also true freedom. True freedom is not about breaking chains, demolishing walls, unleashing desires, and living as you please. True freedom is being free from your desires and impulses. How can a person who is a slave to their own ego be free? Is a person who falls into pleasure traps or uses drugs free? Think about all types of addictions, from digital addiction onwards. They are all forms of slavery, captivity, and enslavement. Therefore, true freedom is the freedom from the slavery of the ego.”
“Artificial intelligence is seen as the new god…”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, pointing out that modernism has changed the philosophy of life, said; “100-200 years ago, people believed in an absolute power, an absolute will, within any belief system. That is, Christians also believed in a holy spirit, a higher power, regarding the existence of life after death. With the successes brought by technology, they have now started to see themselves as earthly gods. Currently, artificial intelligence is seen as the new god, and global capital is seriously making plans and projects for this. The Metaverse is not a simple project. Modernism has changed our philosophy of life and our purpose in life. Our previous purpose in life was to reach God, to attain His pleasure. People used to follow their ego, but many could eventually regret it. Now, it is said that everything happens and ends in this world. They do not see the need to think about death and the afterlife.”
“Let's use technology for good, right, and beautiful purposes”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that artificial intelligence will be beneficial when used correctly, said; “If artificial intelligence is used for good, it will be very useful in the treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis of many diseases. Technology itself is inherently neutral. Therefore, instead of opposing technology, it is necessary to use it for good, right, and beautiful purposes. The greatest power right now is big data. If we use big data, we will tell the truths.’”
“Before, humans needed one thing, now they need twenty…”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, pointing out why people are unhappy in this age, stated that people's reasons for living have changed. Tarhan said; “Firstly, people adopted the pursuit of pleasure as their purpose in life. Secondly, the expectation level has risen. Before, a person needed one thing, now they need twenty. Another feature of this century is that it has increased stress levels. In other centuries, someone living in the forest might see a lion once or twice a year, but now we are constantly under tension, as if seeing a lion every day in traffic. There is a constant fast pace of life. We chase pleasure. There is an eagerness to live fast. This also raises stress levels. Expectation levels have risen. Living standards have risen. In other words, the capitalist system also encourages happiness through consumption.”
“When we say self-transcendence, connecting with God emerges”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, mentioning that emotions have entered the realm of science since the 2000s, said; “In the 2000s, there is a work by Nobel laureate Kahneman. He said, ‘Man is not homoeconomicus, but homopsychologicus.’ He said that people invest more in things they love and value highly, not according to basic needs. Therefore, a global paradigm shift occurred after the 2000s. That is, emotions entered the realm of science. Self-transcendence, or the ability to transcend oneself, entered the realm of science. At the top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, there is the goal of self-actualization. On top of that, Maslow placed another goal: self-transcendence. Before Maslow's death, he said, ‘The highest need among human social needs in this world is not self-actualization, but self-transcendence.’ When self-transcendence is mentioned, connecting with God emerges. Doing something for society, for existence, for the Creator…”
“In this age, the greatest miracle is steadfastness”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stating that one of the most important skills in developing psychological resilience is the ability to delay gratification, said; “There are psychological resilience trainings. One of those trainings is the ability to delay gratification. A person learns to say no to their ego. This is the skill of delaying. This does not exist in other living beings, only in humans. Whether to acquire this skill or not is left to human free will. How to use it is left to them. One of the most important skills in developing psychological resilience is the ability to delay gratification and pleasure. The second is endurance. Perseverance and steadfastness. Taqwa is translated as 'fear of God.' The word Taqwa has dozens of meanings. Its most important meaning is for a person to persevere in righteousness. In this age, the greatest miracle is steadfastness. To remain steadfast. If a person can persevere in righteousness here, they can better reach their goal. Righteousness also teaches perseverance, and the Ramadan fast teaches that to people. There is a certain right. That's why you say, 'I have to endure this.' The patience here is active patience. There is a purpose, you are trying to gain Divine pleasure. You make sacrifices for some things to reach this high goal. The most difficult thing is for a person to control their eating impulse. Someone who controls their eating impulse also succeeds in managing money, managing their life, and managing their emotions.”
“What's important is to be on the path…”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stating that fasting provides people with many skills, said; “We gain the ability to remain calm under stress. We put ourselves under stress. For example, we put our stomach, bone marrow, our system under stress. It gets shocked. Therefore, they also begin to repair themselves, autophagy kicks in, and they start self-repair. They start consuming unnecessary substances. In other words, it leads to renewal. This has also been done with plants. They place plants that haven't bloomed for a long time in a dark place, and after three days, the plant supposedly says, 'Oh no, I'm dying,' and immediately starts to bloom. The Ramadan fast is similar. It gives people hunger, and the purpose here is to revive. What's important is to spread this throughout the entire year. It is to fast not just with our stomach, but with all our organs. Achieving this is not easy, but what's important is to be on the path.”
“The language of action is more effective than the language of words”
Tarhan, reminding that parents should use persuasion and conviction methods instead of lecturing their children, said; “It is enough for parents to be an example. They should not give lectures or sermons. [What they say] goes in one ear and out the other for children. Instead of using methods of pressure, intimidation, threat, or suppression with children, we will approach them with methods of fostering love, conviction, and persuasion. The method of persuasion, conviction, and fostering love is the method of this age. Let's not translate Taqwa as fear, please. Let's translate it as truth, righteousness, and steadfastness. Young people challenge, test, and drive their parents crazy. They observe their reactions. If the parents persevere in righteousness, the child also finds the right path. Being an example to young people is very important. The language of action is more effective than the language of words. Because it settles into the developing souls and life scripts of children. Children revise those life scripts according to their own lives in later years.”