Prabhupada, The Science of Self Realization, Ch 5: …The breathing exercises and meditational practices of yoga are very difficult in this age. They were difficult even five thousand years ago, or else Arjuna would not have rejected the proposal of Krishna. This age of Kali is called a fallen age. At the present moment, people in general are short-living and very slow in understanding self-realization, or spiritual life. They are mostly unfortunate, and as such, if someone is a little bit interested in self-realization, he is misguided by so many frauds. The only actual way to realization of the perfect stage of yoga is to follow the principles of the Bhagavad-gita as they were practiced by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. This is the simplest and highest perfection of yoga practice.
Lord Caitanya practically demonstrated Krishna consciousness yoga simply by chanting the holy names of Krishna, as they are mentioned in the Vedanta, the Srimad-Bhagavatam, and many important Puranas. The largest number of Indians follow this yoga practice, and in the United States and other countries also it is gradually growing in many cities. It is very easy and practical for this age, especially for those who are serious about success in yoga. No other process can be successful in this age.
The meditational process in right earnest was possible in the Golden Age, Satya-yuga, because the people at that time lived for a hundred thousand years on the average.
In the present age, however, if you want success in practical yoga, take to the chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, and feel for yourself how you are making progress. One should know for himself how much he is progressing in yoga practice. Practicing Yoga in the Modern Age
Transcendental meditation ‘can treat depression’
By Kate Devlin, Telegraph UK, Medical Correspondent, 07 Apr 2010:
Depressive symptoms almost halved among those who used the therapy over 12 months, researchers found.
Advocates believe that the meditation reduces stress and increases feelings of calm, sometimes described as “inner peace”.
Based on Indian traditions stretching back thousands of years, Transcendental Meditation became popular in the West in the late 1960s when it was taken up by the Fab Four and other celebrities, including Mia Farrow and Donovan.
It requires followers to sit quietly and concentrate, silently repeating an individual word or ‘mantra’ to themselves.
Tens of thousands of followers across the world claim that the meditation has made them happier and healthier.
Now new research shows that it is effective in the treatment of depression.
Even patients at risk of depression who had not developed the illness saw benefits, according to two studies which will be presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioural Medicine in Seattle.
Depression is a major cause of illness in Britain.
An estimated one in 10 people are thought to have been affected by clinical depression, in which a patient suffers a range of symptoms over a short period of time.
Half of sufferers will have clinical depression more than once.
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