Being a depression patient, how to detach from family to be a devotee of Krishna?
A girl devotee asked like this:
Prabhuji . i face many health problems. i am a fatty girl my height 5 ft n weight 72 kg..i am also a depression patient taking medicine. i feel pain in my whole body n neck n shoulder n hand. for that i can’t take so much pressure in any work like studies n household work even mentally i can’t tolerate little bit pressure. bt i always try to do devotion. bcz i want to be a devotee. bt i can’t do so much by physically n mentally. bt i really want to be devotee like u. i want to wake up at 4a.m bt i can’t. i contact with a dietician she gives me diet for that i have to eat after 2-3 hrs after every meal. bt i don’t feel gd bcz it feels me wasting of time.. if i always doing this when will do devotion. n i have to do yoga n pranayam 1.5 hrs so i feel vry depressed n often i feel seek plz hlp me my health disturb me a lot plz help
i want to be emotionally very strong so that i do my devotion very well bcz my father don’t like this.. i hv no attachment with things bt hv lots of attachment with poeple. i lv my fmly n frnd n other ppls also.so plz tell me how to detach from this. i can’t stay away from them. plz tell me wht should think to be detached. i’ m vry cnfusd plz,help me plz help me to be a devotee of krishna… without u, i hv no person to get help plz plz help me plz hare krishna…
REPLY:
My first advice to you is: Don’t develop negative thoughts about being with the family. For you, your family is very important. No outsiders can help you like your family members help.
Only the “Mental Detachment” is advised by me in many of my replies. Physical detachment is impossible now a days because if you detach from family and go, you will have some other outsiders to attach.
In this kaliyuga, practicing devotion from within the existing set up is much suitable. Because, wherever you go, you will see the impact of kaliyuga.
Just perform your duties to the family members and also to yourself. Detachment means accepting the reality that the relations will not come to us for ever and hence we should not develop expectations for their association for ever. That’s all. Skipping the duties meant for the family and escaping from them is not detachment. First understand that.
If skipping the family is detachment, Krishna would not have lived with His parents when he was present on earth. But, He remained a loving boy for His parents and entire Vraj Dhama. Then, he had many assignments with Pandavas also. Did He refuse them?
If you note the life of Krishna on earth, though He remained a loving person to all, He did not hesitate to leave them when the need came. He left His parents, Gopis and Gopas like a sanyasi to fulfill other duties waiting for Him, not to escape from duties.
He too married 16,108 girls, but, He did so just to fulfill their prayers, not for His pleasure and none of the wives could make Him involve in the activities induced by the senses. He always remained stable in all His activities.
When He finished all his assignments on earth, the time for His leaving came. He left like a sanyasi without any feelings. He also saw His countrymen killing themselves.
Thus, Krishna Himself showed us how to lead a detached life with duties unaffected.
Therefore, hereafter, do not think of physically detaching from family. Be normal and do not think excessively in this matter.
And, as far as devotional practices are concerned, instead of performing Yoga for one and a half hours, chant Hare Krishna Maha Manthra sincerely sitting in a silent place. Add breath control (Pranayama) while chanting itself. Thus, you will get more time to chant. If you chant single mindedly, you need no other Yoga practices. Chanting SINGLE MINDEDLY is the best Yoga. For physical health, if you perform all the household activities and walking daily, no other yoga is required.
Since you gave depression, you need family and friends. You should not lead a physically detached life. So, be with positive minded friends. Read the lilas of Krishna as much as possible.
Take part in the joyful and blissful kirtans in the temples that will rejuvenate your soul and mind. Do not read heavy topics since you already have depression. For you, these four things alone are sufficient: (1) Chanting sincerely (2) Honouring prasadam (3) Following four regulative principles such as (i) no meat, (ii) no gambling, (iii) no intoxication and (iv) no illicit affairs (4) Taking part and dancing in kirtans and reading lighter contents and lilas of Krishna.
Too much of negative thoughts will affect your psychology. Be positive that Krishna is with you and is taking care of you and He will be with you all the time.
Just perform your duties with a balanced mind and be cheerful. Just keep on praying Krishna to show His mercy and make you eligible to go back to Him.
All the best.