*a nice one received from* From: niranjanprasad mohanty <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*BEATING DEPRESSION BLUES* By Niranjan Prasad Mohanty I.E.S(Retd) Depression: Ah! That has become a synonym for the civilized man today. What to say of ailing minds and hearts, even healthy hearts and minds in healthy bodies are fast cultivating the habit of going into depression at the drop of a hat. Even those who are not really depressed have a tendency to announce from rooftops that they are really depressed. Somehow it has become a fashionable word spoiling the good health of good human beings. A teacher ticks off her taught in a classroom and the pupil, instead of taking it sportingly, goes into depression. At times the pupil takes little food and that worsens the situation. In some cases anorexia sets in leading to further mental and physical complications. Such anecdotes are from real life scenario and not from the make believe world of the silver screen. Both the listeners and narrators of these complicated situations of the new generation relish the very thought of going into make believe depression. Little they realize that what passes off as a mere joke initially for the youth may eventually prove fatal to them when they cross the magic age of 40. Moral of the story is: `do not allow the thought of or the word depression make a dent in your otherwise healthy personality.' Depression damages the psychological side of an individual's personality and at times it is irreparable. Let us all keep the very thought of depression at arm's length and never allow it to cross the proverbial *Lakshman Rekha* which protects a healthy mind in a healthy body through Vedic precepts and practices. Let each man and each woman draw own dividing lines. On the inner side of the dividing line lie health, happiness and high morale leading to longevity. On the outer side lie depression, disease and death. In a Ved mantra the prayer is for 100 years life where the human being remains in command of all his mental and physical faculties till his last breath. The magic mantra is: *Pashyem sharadah shatam, Jeevem sharadah shatam, Shrunuyam sharadah shatam, * *Prabravam sharadah shatam, adeenah shyam sharadah shatam, bhuyasch sharadah shatat * The mantra means: May I have a logical perception for 100 years, may I live for 100 years, may I hear for 100 years, may I consciously speak for 100 years and above all may I remain independent in body, mind and spirit throughout my 100 year long life. May a life like this cross the 100 years barrier and keep going on and on. One may wonder whether it is possible to put into practice what one prays for in this Ved Mantra. Of course, it is. One has to make conscious effort to achieve the aim. Even in the present day world there are many men and women who have lived for more than 100 years and have led a happy and healthy life. Notwithstanding the smog and multi-pollutants of air, food and drink, there are certain steps that an individual may take to attain the goal of longevity, health and happiness.. To mention just a few of them, morning fresh air, moderate and regular exercise, a balanced diet and positive attitude to solving problems in life go a long way in helping an individual live happily and healthily for 100 years and may be more.. * Pranayam*, that is, control of the incoming and outgoing breath is the master medicine of many an ailment. The life-giving breath is called the *Pran Vayu* or the life giving oxygen. If one does *Pranayam* for 20 to 30 minutes every morning, initially under the guidance of a Guru and later on independently before pollution of air begins, one will never have respiratory problems. Once the system is healthy half of the battle of combating diseases is already won. It is now time we examined afresh the main causes of depression that we notice in our fellow human beings. A thorough dissection of its anatomy will help us beat the blues of depression. More often than not depression starts with stress which entwines you and locks you in. We may describe stress as our inability to diffuse, transform or channelise negative thought patterns creating a standstill in our thought process. Some eminent psychologists, after a thorough research covering a wide spectrum of human beings across the continents, have reached the conclusion that our inability to banish negative thoughts allows them to become our permanent non-paying guests. In due course of time they domineering guests don't even let the hosts run their shows in their own habitat. Obviously, this phenomenon causes stress. It is understood that men and women of the developed countries are more prone to depression than their poor cousins in developing countries. As many as 17.5 million Americans suffer from one form of depression or the other. No such authentic figures are available about the developing world. However, for all human beings depression indeed is one of the worst diseases of modern times. It affects the nervous system and obviously leads to disfunctioning of digestive system. The human body goes sick because of the sick mind and by and by the sickness affects the entire physical and mental system. Some men and women who cannot cope with effects of depression take to alcohol and in a worst situation take to dangerous drugs. Royalty is no exception to it. All saints and *Sanyasis* as well as medical officers have been counseling depressed persons and telling them not to take to alcohol or drugs. Alcohol and drugs do not cure depression. On the other hand they aggravate the situation. Let us understand once and for all that taking a pill or a peg is by no chance and anti-depressant. Please remember that you cannot wish depression away. You have to fight the depression blues both physically and mentally. Physical exercise and taking course to Ved Mantras for prayers will help you drive away depression. The social system comes in play to help out old men and women, especially spinsters, widows and widowers who are more prone to depression. They have no one to fall back upon for moral or material support. Irrespective of age, human beings are gregarious by nature. In old age if men and women miss anything most it is the human company. Lack of human company causes deep depression. Here is a scenario that may be your own. It is a lovely morning. The morning sunshine, the blue sky and the cool breeze make the day a pleasant one. Not for me though. I have just left the bed at seven in the morning after what I think was an uninterrupted sleep. And yet I feel tired. I am constantly yawning. I just don't know why. I have to make a couple of important phone calls and make appointments. But I do not feel like picking the phone receiver and dialing the number. It is sheer inactivity, a sign of withdrawal from the social obligations. I experience a lack of enthusiasm in life itself. A rundown feeling indeed. Friends point out that I look a wee-bit distraught. I know their comment is an understatement of the year. They are just polite. I ask myself why do I look run down. Am I undergoing a bout of depression? Something in my heart tells me I am not far from truth. Well, there is a way out. It is reading, reciting and meditating on the Ved Mantras to take my mind off the nagging feeling of withdrawal caused by depression. Through experience many a sage and a commoner have found Ved mantras as the best anti-dote to the poison of depression. By reciting these mantras and meditating on their meaning, an individual gives a very strong autosuggestion for a long and healthy life where he always bounces like a ball on account of unadulterated joy and may live even beyond 100 years. Once you wish to live long you can never suffer from depression. The positive thought of living happily and healthily will banish the negative thought of depression. So recite the mantra, meditate on its meaning and make conscious and vigorous efforts to live by its tenets. Once again it is a healthy combination of both *prarthana* and *purusharth* (prayer and correlated conscious action) that helps a man or a woman develop a well rounded personality without angularities. Let us imbibe teachings of Ved mantras and drive out depression for ever. Mr.Niranjan Prasad Mohanty I.E.S(Retd) Bhanudaya Building,Kesharpur,Buxi Bazaar P.O Cuttack-753001,Orissa,India. Phone:+(91)-671-2621515. Pray God to Bless You.. ===================================== -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] 09360069227 http://gansripar.blogspot.com ============================ अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥ ============================ "alternate e-mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED]" There are no miracles in life. 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