Article

What role does spirituality play in managing depression?

Written by Dada Bhagwan

Topic: Self RealizationPublished January 29, 2025
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The spiritual science of Akram Vignan plays an important role not only in managing depression but in eliminating the feeling of being depressed altogether.

Depression can occur for a variety of reasons, and it has many different trigger points that set it off. While for some people an upsetting or stressful life event such as bereavement, divorce, illness, redundancy, and job or money worries can be the cause, for others, it could be one of the psychological factors like low self-esteem, cynicism, or a tendency to be overly self-critical. Different causes can often combine and trigger depression.

Regardless of the cause behind depression, let us look at some of the ways one can manage depression through Akram Vignan.

- If possible, first and foremost attai
Self-Realization. Through Akram Vignan, Self-Realization is very easy. We can achieve it in just an hour directly with the grace of the Enlightened One.

  • The more we focus on being depressed, the worse we feel. Therefore, at that time we will say, ‘This is not mine’ and thus create a divide between us and the feeling of being depressed. This is easier after Self-Realization, as the Enlightened One has put in a line of demarcation within, between who am I and who I am not, what is mine and what is not mine.
  • When we say, "I am depressed", the burden of depression increases tenfold. Conversely, when we say, "I am not depressed", the burden is reduced tenfold. We can practice this even when we have not attained Self-Realization.
  • Can spend some time visualizing the image of God we believe in. This calms the mind and helps restore inner stability.
  • After Self-Realization, as we say more and more, ‘I am full of infinite energy, I am an abode of infinite bliss’, the awareness of the Self enhances and the effects of depression wane off instantly.

So, the ultimate solution to managing depression is provided by spirituality, and the first step is to attai
Self-realisation (Gnan).

Self-realization frees us from the effects of depression forever. This is because we gain the awareness that the one who is experiencing depression is not me, it is this body complex. We realize that ‘I’ (the Self, the Soul) and the body complex (other than the Soul, whatever we identify with i.e. the mind, body, speech, name, etc.) are completely separate.

Through Akram Vignan, we realize who are by attending the Self-realisation ceremony (Gnan Vidhi), which is completely free of cost.

After attaining Self-realisation, we always remain in a blissful state, no matter what the circumstances we have to face, we do not get depressed.

Read more: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/spiritual-science/who-am-i-realize-your-true-self/what-is-self-realization/

Article author

About the Author

Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred withi
Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifested within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able to help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.

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