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Confronting Depression
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When people have depressed spirits, it may be because they are identifying their fortunes with the fate of the material body. The material body is subject to all kinds of attacks and inconveniences from material nature. If you put all your hopes in what happens to you in the world of sense, then your fate is going to be no more fortunate than the fate of any other material object, which is destined to decay. So how do you go beyond the world of sense to set your affections on something that is eternal and joyful? That is where the nine types of devotional service come in, which begin with hearing about and chanting the glories of the Lord.
The sense of hearing should only be used to hear glorious things spoken of about Krishna. Speech should only be used to talk about the wonderful activities of God. All the senses should be used to serve the Lord unconditionally. The mind and the senses cannot be made inactive, but always have to have something to be occupied with. The only way to rise out of depression is to fix your attention on something that is higher. Krishna is the subject of devotion for those who have overcome attraction for the illusory pleasures of the material world, which always bring one into bondage and never offer real liberation.
A lot of people these days face depression, which can be described as a lack of enthusiasm about life. I would like to talk about the issue of depression with anyone who is willing from the perspective of how Krishna consciousness can help someone overcome their depression and have joy in living.