“Since you must follow a doctor’s advice, even when stricken by ordinary illness, What need is there to mention those who are constantly stricken with the illness of so many faults, attachment and the like?”
Santideva
An alarming number of Americans are suffering from depression. Medications used to treat depression have a host of side effects, including suicide. An alternative treatment includes meditation, staying focused in the present and other Buddhist techniques. The Metta Bhavana (development of lovingkindness) is also recommended for those who experience depression. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or MBCT has proven to be more effective than anti-depressants. See the article “Buddhist meditation ‘as good as drugs’ at beating depression” in the Buddhist Channel web page, http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=7,7461,0,0,1,0. The Mind Life conference features the co-operation between the Dalai Lama and some of the country’s top medical minds, studying the medical significance of meditation and training the mind.