WHAT IS THE INNOVATION AND MAIN QUESTION/HYPOTHESIS UNDERLYING THIS PROPOSAL? The main study objectives are to assess heart rate variability (HRV), other autonomic parameters and depression scores in patients with late life depression undergoing an innovative mind-body therapy 'automatic self-transcending meditation' (ASTM) not previously evaluated in a randomized controlled manner in the treatment of late life depression:The investigators hypothesise that in patients with LLD treatment as usual(TAU) +ASTM will lead to a significant increase in HRV from baseline to end of study period as compared to treatment as usual TAU. The investigators also hypothesise that ASTM+TAU will cause a significant difference in other autonomic parameters including heart rate and blood pressure changes in presence of a physiological stress test (hand grip), depression and depression related pathologies such as anxiety and improve quality of life compared to TAU.