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Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Thoughts on Depression

Thoughts on depression by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Lack of idealism is the main cause of depression among young people today. Life appears to be so meaningless to these children, who are either too scared of the competitive world or bogged down by heavy stimuli. They need inspiration, and spirituality is that inspiration that can keep the spirit up.


Depression sets in if there is a lack of zeal to fight. Aggression is the antidote to depression. Depression is lack of energy; anger and aggression are bolts of energy.

When Arjuna was depressed, Krishna inspired him to fight and thus reinstated life back to him. If you are depressed, do not take Prozac – just fight for any cause.

If aggression crosses a certain limit, it leads you back into depression. That is what happened when King Ashoka won the Kalinga War – he became depressed. He had to take refuge in Buddha.

Wise are those who do not fall either into aggression or depression. That is the golden rule of a yogi. Just wake up and acknowledge you are a yogi.