Conquer
Stress


Doctor
Shriniwas
Kashalikar


The news on tv showing; significant increase in mental illness due to poverty, unemployment and cut throat competition; should be an eye opener for all of us in the world.

My books related to total stress management written about15 to 35 years ago and even my speech during my internship in miraj; had emphasized the socioeconomic causes of physical and mental illness and are more than validated by this news. My views were then; ridiculed, humiliated, neglected, suppressed and at best; appreciated with mere lip sympathy, wry smile and ice cold response of zero cooperation.

My views ; more than endorsed by this news and its corollary; insist that we can never succeed in total stress management; without participating in the socioeconomic, political and other issues influencing our lives. We may or may not join a political party or an organization, but we have to assert our conscience, enlightenment, objective consciousness that is. Innate core of true self; for successful total stress management; firmly. All those (so called spiritual leaders and so called stress management professionals and so called yoga teachers); who are trying to advocate �merely personal stress management� and all those (political leaders); who are trying to solve social problems; through their ad hoc, petty and or callous politics; are bound to fail miserably.

Thus; the number of so called spiritual leaders and political leaders; being exposed and brought to justice is bound to increase exponentially!

The maharashtra government (and probably many governments in the world) is adopting alcohol promotion policies which ensure mass suicide or even worse than suicide! We all; if we witness these steps of government passively; then suffer miserably and exponentially; due to being party to the sin of passing on this legacy to the posterity! But this will not happen!

Such policies; responsible for the suffering of generations after generations; would be averted by the rising global consciousness.

Namasmaran that is. Reorientation to cosmic consciousness has to be the goal, the purpose, the core and the basis of every policy including the rejection of alcohol production. But mere opposition to alcohol without channelizing our vitality to cosmic self through namasmaran; can lead to defeat, frustration and many socio psychiatric and socio-pathological evils!

Let us understand that we can not appreciate certain convictions, unless we have been sufficiently evolved and become reasonably objective. Thus if alcohol is our weakness, then we can not appreciate and support the opposition to alcohol production; even if it is destructive to us and the society! This is what causes innate conflicts and stress!

Conquering these conflicts and stress; is difficult but inevitable! So, let us not be desperate and violent to others and or to ourselves! Let us simply practice and propagate namasmaran, assert our convictions, and experience the inner and outer revolution and individual and global blossoming!

Many adjuvant measures can be useful in conquering from time to time and in different situations; but can never replace namasmaran!

STRESS : A LIFE STYLE DISEASE
Stress is the condition that results when person-environment transactions lead the individual to perceive a discrepancy, whether real or not, between the demands of a situation and the resources of the person's biological, psychological or social systems. In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli. Stressful stimuli can be mental, physiological, anatomical or physical reactions.
Millions of people are looking for a magic supplement and herb combination that will increase their health and vitality. People are ingesting Coenzyme Q, pycnogenol, magnesium, Vitamin C, Gingko, Echinacea and thousands of other products and combinations. In many cases, these supplements give a slight energy and health boost. In some cases, the body needs both healthy foods and supplements to help recover from an illness. However, for most people, much of the increased need for nutrients is due in a significant part to a high level of daily physical and/or psychological stress.

Taking steps to relax and body and mind (in addition to getting adequate sleep) can be enormously healing and is highly recommended for those interested in healing acute or serious chronic illnesses or preventing future illnesses. Relaxation techniques can add enormous power to other holistic healing techniques. I hope that you take the time to make gradual changes which will allow deep relaxation and the healing and vitality that comes with it to become an increasing part of your life
Some Common Signs and Symptoms of Excess Stress
� Regularly walking, eating or working in a rushed way.
� Regularly thinking and worrying about the past or future.
� Frequent tension in the body (esp. neck, face, shoulders, back and chest, and stomach) which often goes unnoticed until one slows down, breaths deep and carefully surveys the body.
� Feeling of the "weight of the world" on your shoulders.
� Emotionally "on edge."
� Regular tiredness during the day.
� Significant need for outside stimulation to feel good (coffee, sweeteners, food, sex, TV, alcohol, money, accomplishments, etc.)
The Goal
Occasional challenges, both physical and psychological, are not unhealthy for most people. Occasional challenging projects, arguments, difficulties with children, difficulties at work/school, etc. are a normal part of life. These types of stresses are normal and can actually be strengthening. The goal is not necessarily to avoid all stressful events, but to develop the ability to relax during day-to-day activities and during challenging occurences (such as those mentioned above). Persons who are recovering from an illness should attempt to keep challenging situations to a minimum but not necessarily avoid them totally unless they are extremely weak.
Strategies For Stress Relief
As part of the process of curing an illness, promoting health & vitality and preventing illness and premature aging, it is important to gradually move towards a daily life that less stressful.
Some Strategies to Avoid
� Attempting to make everything in life stress-free.
� Focusing on every event and constantly reminding yourself to relax.
� Regularly avoiding the feeling of emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, joy, fear, etc.).
� There are a number of other things which will not work in the long run when used by themselves only -- long vacations, execise, etc.
The type of strategy which tends to work is the combination of gradually and gently trying to change one's habits plus regular practices or situations which help put the body in a relaxed state. Both types of strategies are important in promoting stress reduction.

Regular Practices and Situations to Promote Stress Relief

Note: The positive effects of these techniques vary from person to person.
Examples of Powerful and Healing Regular Practices
Taking a class and going to regular group practices can be crucial in promoting a regular practice. Some people have moved into teaching centers in order to be certain they will have a regular practice and promote healing and transformation.
� Yoga -- This is a wonderful practice for stress reduction and profound healing.
� Meditation
� Tai Chi
� Conscious Breathing Routine
� Pranayam
� Dancing
� Bioenergetics Classes
� Holistic Healing Retreat
� Vacation
� Massage (Some people practice regularly by exchanging with a partner.)

Daily Stress Reduction Tips

Note: As mentioned earlier, there will naturally be times when these tips are not used, but try to gradually incorporate them into your life where possible.
1. Add something beautiful to your life on a daily basis (e.g., flowers).
2. Do some enjoyable activities whenever possible.
3. Walk, work, and eat at a relaxed pace.
4. Take a short break after meals to relax.
5. If possible, go outside at least once per day and notice the simple things such as the weather, scenery, etc.
6. During the day, whenever you remember, notice and tension in your body (jaw, neck, diaphram, shoulders, etc.). Breath deeply and gently stretch and relax any tense areas.
7. If you notice your mind racing or worrying about the past or future, take a minute to breath deeply and gently focus on something in the moment such as your breath, scenery, birds.
8. Take breaks during the workday to relax.
9. Wear comfortable and loose clothing when possible. Take off your shoes when you can.
10. Avoid holding in feelings day after day, but instead, find a safe place to feel, express and embrace them.
Please be gentle with yourself. Some people find themselves falling back into excessively stressful habits from time to time. That is perfectly normal. Simply notice that change in a non-judgemental way and move back to the stress reduction practices and tips that promote a healthy way of life.
Stress Relief Ideas in Specific Situations
On many ocassions there are situations that come up which can cause significant amounts of stress. Listed below are a few such situations along with some ideas that I have found useful in addressing the situation. As in all of the idea listings on the Holistic Healing Web Page, please do not try to do everything at once.
� Financial Difficulties

Financial difficulties can be enormously stressful for some people because our goals and our security is wrapped up in the need to have sufficient finances. Such difficulties often don't magically disappear, but there are some steps that can be taken to reduce or eliminate the stress and worry while working one's way through these difficulties. A few suggestions include:
o Steps -- Carefully follow the plan outlined in the book, "Your Money or Your Life." This book will take you step by step towards financial independence. Following the program in the book can also be useful in helping to find your goals and make career decisions.
o Share -- Tell at least one close friend, family member or religious leader (e.g., minister, priest , guru) about your difficulties. Keeping the difficulties secret will often add stress and eventually cause inner turmoil.
o Faith -- Persons who have a regular Meditation Practice or Spiritual Practice often develop enormous faith that difficulties can be worked through successfully. The potential stress can be reduced many-fold through these types of practices. While it doesn't directly effect the financial situation, these practices can improve health, reduce stress, make it easier to see worthwhile opportunities and make it easier to change habits that may, in some cases, contribute to financial difficulties.
o Acceptance -- While it may seem strange, having a loving acceptance of oneself in the current situation is often an important key to making a permanent change in the situation. This goes hand-in-hand with having a strong faith. If you look at people who successfully turn their lives around, you will usually notice both a loving acceptance of who they are as well as a strong faith. The opposite end of the sprectrum are the unfortunate souls who have lost their faith and their self-esteem (or never had it).

o Inner transformational tool that addresses the situation. Some such tools are Meditation Practice, Spiritual Practice etc
o Persons suffering from psychological illnesses which are contributing in some way to the financial difficulties can, if possible, have these health problems treated by a Holistic Healthcare Professional
o Tasks and Time Constraints

There are situations where there is constant time and work pressure and which adds significant stress to one's life. Sometimes these situations are not easily avoidable. In order to start a medical training program with friends (who had planned to start at a specific date), I chose to continue to work full-time, take prerequisite classes nearly full-time and to continue to serve as the webmaster for the Holistic Healing Web Page. In order to come out of situations like these with one's health, it is helpful to consider a few ideas which I have related below.
o Small Tasks -- Spliting projects and assignments into small pieces and doing a small amount of work on a regular basis on these projects is perhaps one of the very best ways to prevent becoming overwhelmed with work.
o Priorities -- Choosing appropriate priorities for tasks is an important way to avoid stress. Is it better to performs A+ (4.0 grade) in school and study all of the time or to get a B average and spend the extra time having fun, exercising, etc.? Is it better to work overtime completing projects to earn extra money or job prestige and not see your family much or to somehow avoid overtime work and spend alot of time with your family? These are the types of decisions which are important and can have a significant effect on stress levels. The decisions should be made while keeping in mind what it important in life. In my case mentioned above, I chose to work extra hard for a year in order to start a medical program with my friends. But if such a decision would cause extreme stress that would lead to health problems, I would not have decided to work so hard.
o Stress Reduction Practices -- Continuing a regular practice of stress reduction techniques such as yoga, bioenergetics or meditation can help one get through busy times with one's sanity. It can be many times easier to develop a regular practice by going to a class. Most people can spare at least 15-30 minutes per day to perform a short routine.

� "I Hate My Job" Syndrome

Job stress can be one of the biggest sources of stress for many people. In many cases, people feel hopeless when thinking about solving serious problems on the job, dissatisfaction with the job, or making career choices. In fact, a large percentage of the people I have met have had this situation at one time in their life. It can be difficult to heal a chronic illness if you are experiencing a large amount of stress on the job. In addition, chronic illnesses may become more likely if the excessive on-the-job stress is not addressed. Below are a few ideas which may prove helpful.
o Program -- The first four ideas suggested for Financial Difficulties above are highly recommended in this situation.
o Improving the Job -- A couple of excellent resources for making the very best of a difficult situation are 1) the book, "The Corporate Mystic: A Guidebook for Visionaries With Their Feet on the Ground" by Gay Hendricks & Kate Ludeman
o Personnel Office -- The Personnel Office in most companies is responsible for helping resolve conflicts with other employees and for resolving and problems you are having with job responsibilities. If discussing the situation with your boss does not resolve the situation or if you do not feel comfortable discussing the situation with your boss, please consider whether the Personnel Office in your company can help find solutions for the problem.
o Exploration -- Pursuing creative expression in various ways can be helpful in finding goals that may one day become a career. While it may not seem possible upon initial evaluation, many exciting hobbies can eventually become careers. Therefore, it can be helpful to take classes and explore various endeavors while paying attention to what excites you as a possible hobby or career.
o Bioenergetics -- One of the goals with Bioenergetic Analysis is to help the student "find their own movement." By learning to find my own movement physically and expressing myself vocally using Bioenergetic techniques, I gained confidence and skills in both identifying and pursuing my own career goals. Others have seen similar effects. The classes can be helpful in this regard, but one-on-one work can be even more effective.
Difficulty Making Changes !!
Many people say I am having difficulty keeping a regular practice of yoga/meditation as well as eliminating habits that cause stress. I keep falling back into the same old patterns of stressful living and not taking care of myself. Do you have any ideas?

Having difficulty making changes can have a number of possible causes. Below are a few suggestions to consider:
o Class -- Taking a class can make an enormous difference in one's ability to keep a yoga or meditation practice going. I know some practitioners who give classes because it is easier for them to keep up a practice by doing so. Try to find a class near your home if possible.
o Friends & Family -- It can be much easier to make changes and sustain those changes you get regular support and love from close friends and family.
o Positive Influences -- Spend time around positive, cheerful people whenever possible. There's little that can drag a person down more easily than a lack of positive attitudes in one's life or excessive exposure to negative attitudes. Some people move to yoga or meditation centers or take retreats regularly at such centers in order to learn and to be around people who are positive and taking care of themselves.
o Programs -- Two different and very simple programs that people have found helpful are described in the following books. I would suggest only doing one program at a time.
o Meditation -- Inner Transformation techniques such as meditation has proven extremely helpful for many people in making changes.


Prof. G S Patnaik is a consultant orthopedic and spinal surgeon with advance degrees in orthopedic and trauma surgery ,sociology , economics,public administration.presently he is pursuing courses in management and international law. His interests includes study of scriptures of all faith and is a well known columnist and a gifted public speaker He can be contacted at Web Page: www.drgspatnaik.com

To be effective in treating stress, it�s important to be specific. With the Ayurvedic approach, we always try to target the etiological (causal) factors and then bring that area into balance. But we are careful not to create imbalance in other areas that may produce negative side effects.

Vata, Pitta and Kapha are the three psycho-physiological Ayurvedic principles (called doshas) that govern all the activities of the mind and body. A person enjoys perfect health if these principles are in perfect balance.
Each person�s constitution tends to be dominated by either one or two of these three doshas and very rarely by all three doshas. But whatever one�s constitution is, when a person goes out of balance, Vata destabilizes most easily. Vata is the dosha mainly affected by stress. We can explain this because Vata governs all movements in the body and the nervous system. This includes the in-and-out flow of the breath, the action of our limbs, the circulation of subtle energy in our organism, every current running through a nerve and the mind�s ceaseless flow of thoughts, words, and images. If there is too much movement in body or mind, which happens if stressed, the balance of Vata will be affected and imbalance created.

The nervous system becomes overstimulated with stress, creating an imbalance. Therefore Vata goes easily out of balance. Since dry, rough, airy, fast-moving, and irregularity are the core qualities of Vata, the Ayurvedic approach is to prescribe treatments, activities and foods that provide the opposite qualities: oiliness, grounding, slowness, heaviness, consistency and regularity.

There are three different manifestations of day-to-day stress from the perspective of Ayurveda - mental, emotional, and physical. Each requires different approaches and therapies.
Mental Stress
Mental stress, according to Ayurveda, is caused by an overuse or misuse of the mind. For instance, if you perform intense mental work many hours a day, or if you work long hours on the computer, it can cause an imbalance in Prana Vata, the mind-body operator concerned with brain activity, energy and the mind. The first symptom of Prana Vata imbalance is losing the ability to handle day-to-day stress. As the person becomes more stressed, it impacts mental functions such as dhi, dhriti, and smriti-acquisition, retention, and recall. The person�s mind becomes hyperactive, yet the person loses the ability to make clear decisions, to think positively, to feel enthusiastic, and even to fall asleep at night.
Therapies for mental stress
To address day-to-day mental stress, it is important to begin by managing mental activity. Secondly, you can take measures to pacify Prana Vata, for example, by:
� Favouring Vata-balancing foods, such as sweet, sour, and salty tastes, warm, nourishing, liquid and heavier foods
� Favouring warm milk and other light dairy products
� Performing a full-body warm oil self-massage everyday in the morning before the shower. This is called abhyanga in Ayurveda
� Doing breathing exercises (Pranayama) in the morning and evening
� Having a regular daily routine
� Eating meals at regular times and taking your time when you eat, avoiding eating on the run
� It is important to get plenty of rest, and if you are having trouble falling sleep, avoid stimulants like caffeine and sip on herbal tea instead. Relaxing aromatherapy and meditation can help calm the mind.
Emotional stress
Emotional stress can be caused by a problem in a relationship, the loss of a relative, or any situation that might hurt the heart. Emotional stress shows up as irritability, depression, and emotional instability. It affects sleep in a different way than mental stress - it can cause you to wake up in the night and not be able to go back to sleep.

Emotional stress disturbs Sadhaka Pitta, the mind-body operator concerned with the emotions and functioning of the heart.
Therapies for emotional stress
To balance emotional stress, you need to favour Pitta-pacifying foods and routine, such as:
� Favouring Pitta-pacifying foods such as the sweet, bitter and astringent tastes.
� Eating lots of sweet juicy fruits
� Drinking a cup of warm milk with cooling rose petal preserve or a pinch of fennel and cardamom before bed
� Cooking with Pitta-pacifying spices such as cardamom, coriander, cilantro (fresh coriander), fennel, and mint
� Going to bed before 10:00 p.m
� Taking regular breaks and time out avoiding overworking or trying to be an over achiever and Mr or Mrs Perfect. Moderation, don�t overwork.
� Keep cool. Avoid hot temperatures and food. Favour cool foods and drinks. Sweet, bitter and astringent tastes. Cool means at room temperature but not fridge or freezer temperature.
� Reduce spicy, pungent, sour, salty tastes and hot, oily foods.
� Allow for leisure time.
� Regular mealtimes, especially lunch at noon.
� Abhyanga (Ayurvedic oil massage) with cooling oil such as coconut.

All Pitta products: drink Pitta tea and season meals with Pitta churna (powder), practice cooling aromatherapy with Pitta aroma oil e.g. mint, sandalwood.
Physical stress
Physical stress is caused by misuse or overuse of the body, such as exercising too much or working for extended periods at a job that is physically taxing. This can cause a person to experience physical fatigue, along with mental fogginess, difficulty in concentrating, and dullness of the mind.

Excessive physical strain causes three sub-doshas to go out of balance: Shleshaka Kapha, the subdosha concerned with lubrication of the joints and moisture balance in the skin, Vyana Vata, which governs the circulation, nerve impulses and the sense of touch, and Tarpaka Kapha, which governs the neuro humors.
Another reason for physical stress can be too little exercise, which results in a sluggish digestion and the formation of ama, the digestive impurities that clog the channels. In either type of physical fatigue, the process of regenerating cells slows down, and thus the cells themselves become physically tired.
Therapies for physical stress
The solution is to balance Vata and to support Kapha to make the body more stable and nurturing, for example, by:
� Getting adequate rest and moderate exercise
� Taking breaks and time out
� Following a Vata-Kapha pacifying diet (like warm meals, not to light nor to heavy or oily, see your Ayurvedic practitioner for more particular information)
� Eating regularly and avoiding to eat on the run
� Performing the full-body warm oil self massage everyday

Even if we are prone to get dragged by the beast within us, and make life miserable for ourselves and the others, we still have potentials to blossom together; and they can be manifested!

Even as we are individuals and hence fallible; and make mistakes; we still have freedom to make efforts to be objective and accurate.

Even as we have limitations to our capacities, and are unable to achieve miraculous feats, we have freedom to make choices in terms of actions; from the options in front of us.

Even if it is true that the options available to us are depressing, degenerating, deteriorative, disastrous and destructive, we still have freedom to blossom through NAMASMARAN and make benevolent options available for ourselves, the people of the world and the subsequent generations.

This is exactly why I am writing this. I am convinced that; even as we are shackled in casual, petty, superficial, piecemeal and ad hoc approach on a variety of problems causing stress (and mismanage the stress); we still can develop holistic approach and work for individual and global blossoming and overcome stress! Some of the examples of how we can do this; in brief; (as the details are described in many books and articles; of mine and others); are as follows.

Thus;
For health problems; our solution is; more hospital buildings, more gadgets and more equipments.

Actually we need a thrust on study, practice and training of Holistic health and Holistic medicine. For example training in NAMASMARAN, byhearting hymns from different languages, learning about the medicinal uses of common foods and herbs, yoga, pranayama etc.

For the lack of education; our solution is licensing more institutions and greater use of learning aids and stationary.

Actually we must emphasize on Holistic Education (One which includes development and training in spiritual and productive domains in addition to cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains)

For unemployment and beggars on the road; our solution is payment to unemployed people and anti�begging law.

Actually we require to eradicate; with priority; the causes of unemployment such as policies, which destroy the self employment and small scale and home industries (e.g. excessive production of water coolers, air conditioners, auto rickshaws etc) and restrictions on traditional jobs (such as pot making, cane work, circus and others).

For traffic jam our solution is; building more flyover bridges.

Actually we need to reinforce the public transport system and curb the production and import of private cars and two wheelers, besides taking adequate measures to reduce the movement of people from villages to cities.

It is true that stern actions must be taken against rule and law breakers. Discipline must be enforced. Condition of roads must be improved. But these steps have their limitations and can not be heavily depended on. In fact corruption, cutting of trees, congestion, chaos and crimes can multiply, besides pollution.

For suicides of farmers; our solution is subsidy package.

Actually the solution is; to resort to empower the farmers and reorient them from market oriented harvests to what can be called soil friendly and health friendly harvests. The farmers have to be reoriented to the traditional wisdom of culture, agriculture and organic farming. They have to be reminded of; the use of neem, cow urine, cow dung etc. What is required; in addition; is making; water and electricity available with topmost priority. The ban on slaughter of animals would go a long way in improving the farmers� conditions.

For price rise; our solution is import.

The actual solution is; to ban all deceptive, aggressive and imposing advertisements, which create artificial demands leading to wasteful and luxurious economic (apparently pleasurable but effectively poisonous) activity in a small section of the society; leading to price rise; at the cost of the rest. For example; cold drinks, ice creams, fast foods, bars, restaurants, five star hotels, wines, alcoholic drinks, cosmetics and other luxuries are thriving but the vast majority is deprived of basic needs. In fact; the policy of production of and �marketing� for few, has to be reversed to; production and �exchange�; for the vast majority.

For socioeconomic backwardness; our solution is reservation policy.

Actually we require �productive and earn and learn� kind of education for all; so that unproductive unemployed and needy population would become empowered, productive, self sufficient and dignified in every way.

For the growing injustice and crimes; our solution is increasing the number of laws and police.

Actually we require simple and honest laws drafted in peoples� language and understandable to people so as to discipline the people for their growth; and simultaneously remove all the laws, which were created to suppress and exploit the people by the previous alien rulers. We require policies by which the traditional and ethnic art, sports, cuisine, remedies and skills are NOT ALLOWED to be suppressed by the tactics of the exploitative and individualistic marketing culture. In fact in the interest of everyone, the concept of individual and global blossoming; which we call SUPERLIVING or Total Stress Management has to be universalized; to overcome the globally disastrous individualistic, exploitative globalization!

For so called �lack of progress�; our solution is more foreign investment.

Actually; we must define progress in terms of holistic health and restructure our policies in every field such as health care, agriculture, industry etc rather than stooping and surrendering to the culture of pettiness, glamour and glitter.

For shortage of electricity; our solution is load shedding.

Actually we are required to shift our priorities from �appeasing the exploitative and luxurious few�; to the �welfare of all�, by stern energy saving measures; coupled with development of pollution free, low cost, low investment alternative energy sources.

For road accidents; our solution is compulsion of helmets.

Actually the number of private vehicles on the road has to be reduced, the number of public vehicles has to be increased, the weekly offs have to be different and the working hours also have to be different so that most people do not travel at the same time. Moreover, the on campus or nearby residence has to be insisted as and when feasible. Most importantly, holistic education and rejuvenation of traditional jobs must be ensured so that the helpless and forced movement of people to the cities and the inhuman crowding of cities can be reduced.

For shortage of fuel; our solution is; generalized sermons to common people (who in no way consume fuel) to reduce fuel consumption.

Actually the fuel needs can be reduced if public transport in improved and the bicycles are promoted. There has to be shift of policies from development of airports; to the improvement in public transport and the infrastructure in the villages, such as solar energy, wind mills, gobar gas and such many, food storage etc.

We can cite hundreds of examples to show how we; by NOT going to the roots of the problems; work brilliantly and artistically but in a superficial and petty manner, with individualistic, fragmented, sectarian and divisive perspective, in misguided direction of increasing stress! Hence our work is rendered ineffective and/or counterproductive! Further our talents are drained in extremely selfish and cheap entertainment options such as gambling, drinking, casinos, prostitution etc.

All the solutions provided can possibly be modified, or refined in terms of details, because, they are not the solutions provided by experts from those fields. But they surely indicate the most essential core or the crux of the solutions. There could be many more holistic solutions also. All these can be cooperatively and complementarily implemented universally; if the third eye of cosmic consciousness is opened through the ways of self development; such as NAMASMARAN.

Some years back �stress� was not heard of. We were never taught �stress� in our undergraduate and postgraduate medical curriculum.

In contrast, these days everybody is talking about or rather hyping the �stress�. In stead of identifying and healing the stress like any other problem, the �stress� is being used as a weapon to threaten and exploit us. The so called Stress Management experts, godmen and godwoman are mercenarily selling and �pumping in� and �forcing down� the so called �stress relaxation and stress management� full of false promises; through our throats!

In stead of providing holistic solutions, hollow sermons and impotent advices are being poured!

Actually stress is normal and inseparable part and a hallmark of life. It is a physio-gnomonic symptom of life! In other words; presence of stress indicates normalcy and liveliness. If we don�t have stress, it means we are dead!

Stress is like fire; if not managed (channelized) properly it can burn us and if managed (channelized) properly it can enliven and enlighten us! But if it is absent then we are cold, clammy and dead.

When we are stressed we go to godmen god women and counselors and long for blessings or advices. They give blessings and advices.

The meaning of the word BLESSING and KALYAN; incorporates simultaneous blossoming of an individual and the universe. It incorporates every development and gain that helps in such blossoming. The blessings are not just wishes given for our mere monetary profit or some such mundane gains; they are meant for fulfillment in our life. They are meant for the holistic blossoming of us and the society!

However many of us think that our stress would go away if we get material gains as often promised by mercenary �stress management experts� and "godmen and godwomen� . So we expect their �blessings� to provide petty gains and when we don�t get those gains, suffer miserably.

If a godman/godwoman (or any one whom we approach for relief from stress) is properly trained and adept in stress management he/she would never give false promises and/or guarantee. He/she would know how to bless you and also actually catalyze your blossoming and fulfillment in life. Hence if we are free from petty expectations, it would help us gain more from the blessings and protect us from bogus stress management professionals or godmen; who guarantee and promise many things other than holistic fulfillment!
If we practice NAMASMARAN, it can help us grow stronger and immune to the basal temptations of deceiving and exploiting as well as getting deceived or exploited.