Many of us; are under STRESS because of some unknown and irresistible obsession and compulsion to change the situation in which we live. Often we think of changing the world, society, family members; and sometimes ourselves!

However rarely do we spend time in going to the root of our obsession, compulsion and the stress!

We use the word “change” frequently; but do we understand its purport?

The next question is; what do we imply; by “changing the world”?

What exactly in the world do we want to change?

Do we want to change the looks of the sky?

Do we want to change the way of lightening?

Do we want to change the way Sodium hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid?

If we observe carefully, then we realize that; “change” as is noticed, observed or desired by us; is our perception; subject to the capabilities and interpretations of our brain and our technological competence.

When the changes are beyond our range; of observation and interpretation; then we do not perceive or recognize them. In fact; the world is changing to far greater extent than we believe; and with much faster speed than we can imagine! Even every fraction of a moment is full of myriads of changes!

For us; “change” simply means; “change in whatever we see as the causes of ‘our’ discomfort”! It is obvious that this is a very subjective and fractional perception of the vast reality of the millions of events (changes) already taking place beyond our perception and imagination in the universe!

We are restless to change; the global, national or local circumstances (which do not suit us; and hence are “bad”); to suit our subjective physical, instinctual, emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs and desires (“good”).

Our needs and desires could be in terms of our hunger, thirst, security etc. Or they could be; physical lust, whims and fancies, craving to govern, craving to control. They also could be our obsession of an ideological prototype or a blue print; of the world, nation, province, town, village, institution, family or an individual.

Thus; if we try to change the circumstances or other person coercively and violently for our sexual needs, then we call it “crime”! If we try to sermonize and persuade the people for changing the world; then we call it “mission”!

Thus the quality of “change” we seek; varies from crime to mission! It is possible to introspect and find out what we are implying when we want to “change”.

Actually; our desire for change is a result of restlessness within; because of millions of metabolic, hormonal, neurohormonal and neural reactions and interactions; and their various permutations combinations. We must remember that we do not create all these! Further, the restlessness is compounded by the billions of interactions between all these; and those going on outside our body!

Hence let us understand that; our perception that the world is not “good”; actually means; “the interactions between us and the world are discomforting for us”! Hence it is obvious that we seek comfort; when we say we want to “change”!

But we, the world; and the interactions between us and the world; keep on changing beyond our perceptions of “bad” and “good”; we keep get dragged and the STRESS continues unchanged!

The nonliving entities, the plants and the animals do not seem to be under STRESS and do not seem to need any change in the world!

Thus the idea (ideology, obsession, struggle, mission etc) of “changing the world” is born out of the conflict between the perceptions dominated by the evolved parts of our cerebral cortex and limbic system versus the perceptions dominated by our general and special somatic and visceral sensations, hormones and autonomic nervous system.

In simple words; this is a conflict between our higher selves and lower selves; with respect to our discomfort, opinions or judgment on prevailing circumstances! Due to a variety of permutations and combinations of the interactions between outside and inside; the nature of the concept of “changing the world” could be different!

In other words; the idea of “change and its characteristics”; is a function of differential evolution and hence varies; amongst individuals, nations, religions and ideologies and other characteristics of groups of people; and even within one individual! This is why the “blue print” of dream world varies.

But as and when we “grow” more objective; we can see that the experienceable cosmic consciousness; which is beyond time and intelligence has been universal, ubiquitous and impeccable; and “engulfing, pervading and vitalizing” us; from time immemorial. Our instincts, emotions, thoughts and our overall “living” through the time is a variable reflection or function of this energizing and enlivening of our existences; by the cosmic consciousness.

The incoming “change in the universe” “irrespective of our subjective needs”; is “increasing recognition, acceptance and manifestation of the cosmic consciousness; through us, at individual and global levels; in our perspective, policies, plans, programs and activities; without; any uniform and/or fanatic blue prints. In other words this is Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN).

Is not such “Total Stress Management” a day dreaming?

If we carefully observe, then we find that everyone is responding to life; as per one’s own and hence differing perceptions! Not only are the responses different; but they are rigid and inflexible as if they were inevitable and predetermined; without any other alternative!

Some of us say the world is beautiful, while others say it is a hell. Some of us say; the past was better, while the others have exactly opposite opinion. Some of us seem to live almost mechanically and have no opinion as such, while many others seem to have surrendered completely and accepted the life whether good or bad. They have come to terms with it. They get dragged every day rather than “living”. They have ceased to dream. They do not have even the slightest of hope that anyone can help them in any way!

This phenomenon of different perceptions and different responses, which are often diagonally opposite has resulted into a kind of cacophony and chaos with indiscriminate violence in various forms. Amidst this; the blossoming of an individual and the universe; ushering in; universal unity, understanding, cooperation, generosity, harmony, justice, romance, sublime love and over all prosperity and profundity; seem to be sterile ideas.

This cynicism is one of the reasons; why the practice of NAMASMARAN, has been relegated; to a position of an escapist religious ritual (and passive entertainment in the retired, idle or ailing life); by majority of us.

The infinite scope and power of the NAMASMARAN has to be re-explored; with utmost sincerity and dedication. It has to be practiced every day; in every walk of life. It can enable us to see the world as it is and act in accordance with and in harmony with the innate (and cosmic) voice and light. This is a golden opportunity for us!

The STRESS of “changing” the world and/or ourselves; can be conquered through Total Stress Management (of which NAMSMARAN is a core) by “seeing” the “incoming change in terms of individual and global blossoming” and concur with it; through holistic perspective, policies, plans, programs and their implementations!