How to Conquer Depression

Depression is a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep. It is indeed a very miserable state to be in. Those who are in depression find life to be unbearably miserable and often think of dying and sometimes even go so far as to commit suicide. Depression is described as follows in the Srimad Bhagavatam, 11th Canto, Chapter 25, Verse 18:

sīdac cittaṁ vilīyeta
cetaso grahaṇe 'kṣamam
mano naṣṭaṁ tamo glānis
tamas tad upadhāraya

"When one's higher awareness fails and finally disappears and one is thus unable to concentrate his attention, his mind is ruined and manifests ignorance and depression. You should understand this situation to be the predominance of the mode of ignorance."

So what can the depressed person do to conquer over this miserable state of mind and become fully jolly and enthusiastic?

Srila Prabhupada wonderfully writes in his purport to text 5 in the Narada Bhakti Sutra as follows:

"When one becomes disappointed in his service to the Supreme Lord, that disappointment must be rejected and replaced with confidence in attaining the ultimate goal, love of Godhead. The devotee should patiently follow the rules and regulations of devotional service so that the day will come when he will achieve, all of a sudden, all the perfection of devotional service. He should not lament for any loss or any reverse in his advancement in spiritual life. This patience (dhairya) is the third positive item for advancing in devotional service."

So the point is that one should not punish himself for his lack of Krishna consciousness making himself miserable and depressed. Instead one should always have full faith in the process of Krishna consciousness and reward himself by always enthusiastically engaging in Krishna consciousness with his mind, words, and deeds in spite of the many impurities that are naturally there in the heart of a neophyte devotee. In this way he will kick out depression ands make regular steady progress towards attaining the ultimate goal of pure love of Godhead, in which he will be swimming in an ocean of unlimited transcendental bliss at every minute. Thus he will easily conquer over depression and experience a joyful life of Krishna consciousness every day.

Depression is Miserable State of Mind

Video for the Day

From the Meat Department

Answers According to Vedic Wisdom

Question: Desiring to More Closely Serve Lord Krishna?

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

Please accept my humble obeisance at your lotus feet.
All Glories to Your Divine Grace.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I hope that you and Gurumata are in good health.

Dear Srila Gurudeva,

When I do my rounds I feel that I am getting closer to Lord Krishna and I want to serve Him more closely, but at the same time Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said we should be the servant of the servant of the servant, which I try to follow. So is it okay to have this feeling of serving Lord Krsna more closely?

I remain your worthless servant,

Vasundhara devi dasi

Answer: That Is a First Class Desire

From: ISKCON Austin, Texas

My Dear Vasundhara,

Please accept my blessings.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Yes, the desire to serve Krishna more closely is a first class spiritual desire. You should continue hankering in this way. At the same time you should remember that this state of being close to Krishna will be achieved by your perfecting the art of serving your spiritual master and Lord Krishna’s devotees.

I hope this meets you in the best of health and in an ecstatic mood.

Your ever well-wisher,
Sankarshan Das Adhikari