Mismanaged STRESS can cause accidents; directly as well as indirectly. Thus the direct influence of the STRESS is through indisciplined, irresponsible, careless, uncontrolled and haphazard driving. The indirect influence of mismanaged STRESS is through the ad hoc, populist, indisciplined, irresponsible, careless, uncontrolled and haphazard; decision and policy making, plans, programs; and their implementation.

It is true that at young age; we feel like riding bicycles, scooters, motor cycles and cars. There is a craze of riding and racing on a vehicle. There is attraction for speed.

(The horse, donkey, camel, elephant and even buffalo riding are popular. But the number of animals is dwindling due unabated slaughter and devouring of animals. Moreover; the margins of profits in �animal ride businesses�; are possibly not as attractive as in the vehicle industries and trades. Since our entire life is profit centered; there is no promotion and/or hype of animal rides! Naturally; these rides are rare these days.)

As our (governments, industries, traders, banks, advertisers and the entertainment business) policies and programs of the; revolve around profit; there is artificial aggravation of biological instincts and craze of riding, speeding and racing; irrespective of its consequences! There is hype of hollow glamour, glitter, pomp, style, fashion and �one up man-ship�.

Our policies complement one another; in capitalizing on such crazes and creating social hazard and menace! Thus; excessive import and production of cars, motor cycles, scooters etc.; provision of easy and soft loans; promotion, marketing, hype of style statement and fashion; lead to morbidly hysterical demand and excessive increase in personal vehicles on road.

This leads to the STRESS of traffic jams, pollution; and accidents; in spite of ad hoc and piecemeal measures such as increasing traffic police, stringent traffic rules, compulsion of helmets etc.!

The root of this stress can be largely overcome by; adequate production and promotion in terms of quality and quantity; of vehicles of mass transport such as buses, locals, metro rails, monorails; and soft loans; for the purchase and use of these; in preference to private cars, and three and two wheelers.

The final culmination of all philosophical, scientific, artistic and other endeavors; such as penance; is the realization of immortality.

Actually; this process of realization of immortality; is a contingent; in the super phenomenon of absolute and true (SAT); vital, eternal and immortal (CHIT); bliss (ANANDA).

This process; of realization of �true self�; is inseparably associated with universal benevolence; reflected in literature, paintings, music, discoveries, gallantry etc.

This is directly evident in the masterpieces such as; Geeta, Dnyaneshvari, Amrutanubhava and Dasbodh, and indirectly; in customs and traditions such as yoga, pranayama; creations such as sculptures, architectures, paintings; and scientific and technological revelations.

Today; this process of realization of immortality; is being predominantly translated into; what can be called; Holistic Renaissance (development of holistic perspective, policies, plans, programs and their actual implementation for individual and global blossoming), Superliving or Total Stress Management; characterized by reconciliation in ideologies, religions, races, nations etc.

At present the common minimum program of participation in this mega process; appears to be the universally accepted practice of remembering the immortal true self (God, Allah, Ishwar); called NAMASMARAN, JIKRA, JAPA, JAAPA etc.

STRESS AND CASTE SYSTEM: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It is very true that one of the worst types of stress; is stress due to exploitation. Physical, sexual, emotional, intellectual, social, economic, political exploitation cause stress. But social and cultural aspects of exploitation (embodied in caste system) are hallmark of a unique kind of stress. This stress makes both; the exploiters as well as the exploited; infectiously and sickeningly stressed!

If we wish to conquer this stress, then we have to learn the root causes of why; and the ways of how; we get trapped in it!

Actually; we are never; �mere exploited� or �mere exploiters�. We harbor both; within us; simultaneously.

Actually; we harbor all of castes; simultaneously within us. In fact; dealing with castes separately; and trying to manage their stress is simplistic, superficial, ineffective and unjust to many; and counterproductive.

Physiologically; we have different control mechanisms, which control our thinking, feelings and our behavior. Thus we have prefrontal cortex, sensory, motor and association areas of cortex, limbic and autonomic nervous system, brain stem structures, spinal mechanisms; and neuroendocrine, endocrine, metabolic controls; in order of evolution.

Our perspective, thinking, feelings and behavior; in individual life and social life; are determined and characterized; by which of these control mechanisms is predominant in our life.

If we (our thinking, feeling and behavior) are predominantly governed by endocrine, metabolic and spinal mechanisms, then we are bound to have prevalence of all the stressors; such as exploitation, pettiness, jealousy, hatred, fanaticism, fascism, lust, cruelty, crudeness, intolerance, indifference, sectarianism, indiscriminate violence, treachery, betrayals, cheating, filth, diseases, and accidents. In other words we are bound to create hell for ourselves and others.

If we are predominantly governed by sub-cortical brain and neuro-endocrine parts; then there would be material progress (increase in ideas, innovations, trade, industry, import, export, technology, crafts and arts, and military strength and so on) in individual and social life.

But this progressed is plagued by individualistic, selfish, competitive, restless, ambitious, subtly exploitative and subtly violent trends. The glamour, glitter, pomp and pride are multiplied without holistic and inclusive growth!

Hence; fragility, fickleness, impatience, pessimism, cynicism, suspicion, aloofness, irresponsibility, recklessness, belligerence, vagrancy, chaos, cacophony, separations, divorces; and subtle, silent, sophisticated, cunning and organized violence towards one�s own self and others; in individual and universal life are increased!

If we are governed by limbic and autonomic nervous system; then we have dictatorship, which may be socialistic, benevolent, disciplined with good amount law and order; but some restriction individual freedom. This would restrict individual blossoming and artistic and creative and holistic blossoming of an individual and the society.

Hence we need the predominance of the control of prefrontal and sensory-motor cortexes i.e. the control of conscience and enlightenment (said to possible through the practice of NAMASMARAN) in individual and social life; to conquer the stress of exploitation embodied in caste system.

This control embodies holistic perspective, thoughts, feelings, aspirations, conceptions, articulations and overall behavior; evident in holistic politics, holistic economics, holistic education, holistic health, holistic medicine, holistic agriculture, holistic industries, holistic trades, holistic banking, holistic art and literature and holistic sports conducive to individual and global blossoming!

If we see the undercurrents (presently not quite conspicuous) of this rapidly globalizing mega-process; of Total Stress Management or holistic renaissance; then we would ecstatically participate in it!

STRESS AND PRALHAD: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

PRAAYENA DEVA MUNAYAH SWAVIMUKTIKAMAA
MAAUNAM CHARANTI VIJANENA PARAARTHA NISHTHAA
NAITAANVIHAAYA KRUPANAAN SWAVIMUKTI EKO
NAANYAM TADASYA SHARANAM BHRAMATONUPASHYE


Oh Lord, in general, most of the great saints, sages, yogis and rishis renounce the world, live in seclusion and observe silence in search of salvation/liberation for themselves.

Since you are the only savior for my billions of brothers; and since they can not get salvation from anywhere else (in case I do not seek it from you for them), hence I do not want to be a mean person to seek liberation for myself alone.

So says the great Pralhada as is articulated in SHRIMAT BHAGAVATAM.

The stress (and conceptual stress) is a universal phenomenon. Billions suffer from it. The stress is multifactorial and has to be managed in a holistic way. This is possible if the enlightened and selfless experts and world leaders with holistic perspective; come together and work in coordination.

Thus few can (and not all) understand and manage it; even for the others. It is their privilege and DHARMA to help others in managing the stress. Individual liberation and individual stress management in isolation; is not possible as it is intricately and inseparably bound with the liberation and stress management of billions others!

This essence of Total Stress Management was exemplified in the lives of the great mythological figures Bhagiratha and Prometheus.
Bhagiratha brought the river Ganga (hence also called Bhagirathi) from heaven to the earth and Prometheus stole fire from Zeus to save the mankind.

STRESS AND JUSTICE: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Some times; we feel that God would do justice; and at other times; we should do justice. But in both cases; the feeling is impulsive, ad-hoc and superficial; and the approach is; fragmented and ineffective. The modus operandi and the details are also not clear.

With NAMASMARAN we go deeper within ourselves; and find; that we are potentially as sinful or virtuous; as anyone else in the world; and the measures for bringing the people to justice; are equally and urgently required for us. So; we stop being judgmental and impatient to bring the others to justice.
Instead; we practice NAMASMARAN and assert our true self; so as to evolve and share; globally beneficial perspective, plans and policies.

This is how; we stop waiting helplessly and desperately for imaginary �God� or for the �others� to do justice; and concur with our true self; in engendering �justice� in the world; and also conquer �our stress�! Our beliefs of �God bringing about justice� stupefy us; and our belief of �we� bringing about justice�; intoxicates us with arrogance, indiscriminate violence or sterile excitement.