STRESS ASCETICISM AND INDULGENCE: DR. SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

Many of us feel that seeking truth is synonymous with asceticism. Naturally; some of us are tempted to capitalize on our notion; and show that they are ascetics! They pretend to have no physiological or material needs (even if they indulge secretly). We revere these people for their asceticism (whether apparent or real; but irrespective of their contribution to global welfare)! He or she; thus becomes a popular spiritual leader.

Physiologically; it is absurd to glorify/hate the asceticism, or indulgence. It is a different matter altogether; to evaluate the consumable commodities; from health point of view; or on the basis of their effect on consciousness. Seeking the truth (which is what spiritualism is); essentially implies objective and holistic perspective and striving for the blossoming of all!

In absence of study and practice of Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); the arbitrary and coercive asceticism or indulgence; due to; for instance; peer pressure; imparts pathological stress on a seeker of truth, who gets stunted and remains unjust, intolerant, prejudiced and petty.

STRESS AND THE CALL OF GURU: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

When we are in unbearable stress and nothing appears to provide solace, when life appears to have gone in vein; and when past, present and future appear to be null and void; we tend to start �sinking�! Our life begins to appear to be a tragic story of deception and defeat! We seem to be miserable total losers, helpless and desperate for help.

Everything in our body, mind and in the world; appears to be going away, without �giving anything�. It appears to be totally dissociated from us; or in fact rejecting us. There is total isolation.

This condition; when nothing and nobody appear to provide urgently needed life line; is shattering, uprooting and devastating!

In such a dark and hopeless state of void; when we are gasping for life; we �experience� a loving and assuring call from our innate core; which is enthralling and encompassing everything conceivable by our consciousness.

�Come on! My dear, I am your destination and destiny! I am your culmination! The millennia of your subjectivity are mere contingent in my omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent absolute consciousness. I am your true self! �

This call fills our existence inside and out. It instantly connects us with everything hitherto �lost�! It transforms us from isolated drop to the entire ocean. It is enlivening and recharging; every molecule of body and in fact the whole being! It is distinct and unforgettable! It is haunting from within and without!

It is said that practice of NAMASMARAN enables us to listen to such a call of guru; and conversely, such a call of guru reinforces our motivation and interest in NAMASMARAN. We get empowered to proceed with NAMASMARAN far more buoyantly and help ourselves and the billions; simultaneously; to rejuvenate and blossom!

TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT AND TIME: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

As we study stress; and Total Stress Management; the �stress of the passage of time�; strikes our attention! This stress may not be easily noticed as it is a bit subtle.

But the painful and stressful feelings of nostalgia; are often soul stirring and the subject of art and literature. Can we bring back the golden moments shared with our brothers, sisters, parents and grandparents? Can we bring back the childhood friends, adolescent love and more mature romance?

Don�t we have this agonizing experience of loss of time; and our inability and helplessness to resist its passage? Don�t we get emotional; while going down the memory lane?

The concept of time is an enigma; a mystery; in several ways. A continuous process; of changes in the world and in one�s body; stimulate the human brain. According to the stimulation of various receptors in different tissues of the body there are modifications in neuro-humoral secretions, metabolism, and consciousness associated with them!

As a result; we experience things and events. Further; they last �long� or �short� and become unbearable or absorbing! But they are always fleeting! Time is thus a passing, fleeting or relative reality.

We can verify; if; through NAMASMARAN (the core of Total Stress Management); we can go beyond this subjective individual consciousness (ego) and the �stressful helplessness� of playing in the hands of (what we call) �time�! We can also verify if we can go beyond the three dimensions and �time�; and if this engenders; pleasant transformation in us and the universe; called God�s plan or spiritual renaissance.

STRESS, CULTURE AND LANGUAGE: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Stress begins with conception and is conscious, subconscious and unconscious. But the prevalent manifestations of stress; in individual and global life; originate from our ignorance of �true self�.

This gives rise to �petty identity of self� and petty perspective of universe! As a result; thinking is founded on wrong assumptions, prejudices and premises. Such thinking is not holistic. It is sectarian, fragmented and full of conflicts, stress and ill effects in individual and global life.

Since one of the functions of intellect; in association with feelings and passions; is language; the language of a person and a social group reflects the conflicts and stress in that individual; and social group.

We can find many examples of the �linguistic symptoms�; of stress in the languages of individuals, groups and cultures.

Thus cow is referred to as Gomata; i.e. mother cow; expressing love, care, respect, appreciation; in societies where the Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); is traditionally practiced. Others; look down (knowingly or unknowingly) upon cow; as an eatable product and call it; beef!

The rivers are revered as mothers, who feed their babies, in societies where the Total stress Management; is traditionally in vogue for millennia. The rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Narmada are referred to as Maiyya (beloved mother). Others; treat the rivers; as mere sources of water, with some physical characteristics, area and at the most; scenic beauty.

The societies, where the Total Stress Management is ingrained in customs; call the plants; such as Tulasi (holy basil i.e. ocimum sanctum); �Goddess Tulasi� and worship them. Where as the societies lacking this perspective; treat them as mere living elements; lower down the scale of evolution; with some medicinal or other properties.

The earth is called Bhoodevi (Goddess earth) and Bhoomata (mother earth) in such cultures with holistic perspective inherent to Total Stress Management. Earth is treated as a physical nonliving phenomenon and simply called earth; by those who are oblivious to such concepts.

We can quote many examples.

By Total Stress Management, the perspective becomes holistic and is characterized (apart from many other things); by holistic perspective and language. Hence the myriads of forms in the universe are treated and gratefully revered as deities or incarnations of the ultimate and absolute truth, the true self of an individual. That is how there are prayers for earth, sun, rain, ocean, wind and water apart from other elements.

We find words with subtle, deep and profound meanings such as NAMASMARAN, SWADHARMA, dhyana, guru, guru-tatva, shraddha, prayashchitta; and karma, krama, raja, bhakti, jnana, laya hatha and other varieties of yoga and the aphorisms such as ATMANO MOKSHARTHAM JAGAT HITAYA CHA (for one�s liberation along with simultaneous emancipation of the universe).

This richness and profundity of attitude and language show the holistic health of the society and the culture.

In absence of Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); the stress remains mismanaged and causes suffering (sin)! It gets reflected; apart from other aspects of behavior; in the language.

In Sanskrit it said:

PAPENAIVA NRUNAM VAANI BHAVET KATUKA BHASHINI
DAINYA MATSARYA PARAMA SHUBHA ASHUBHA VIVARJITA

This means;
Language; of a person, who has sin (pettiness, jealousy and meekness) in his heart i.e. who lacks holistic perspective of individual and global blossoming; is sharp, biting, burning, scalding, and unconcerned and un-bothered about anyone�s true welfare!

LEARNING FROM MAHATMA: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It is said that Mahatma Gandhi preached that you don�t see, hear or speak ill about any one.

I have given some explanation about this in my book �Stress: Understanding and Management�.

But more recently I have begun to realize that the essence of this preaching is;

When we start �seeing� the common root of the apparent universe, through the practice of NAMASMARAN; we begin to realize that all of us are actually driven by the same root cause; (MAHAKARAN).

This perception leads to following conclusions.

Whatever and whomever; we see, hear or speak about; is a reflection of the same common source as ours. We are equally responsible for what we see, hear or speak about.

So; we begin to introspect and stop getting agitated by the apparent chaos and disturbances and stop acting violently (seeing bad, hearing bad and speaking badly about) or feeling helpless.

We realize that the radical solution to the problem is intensifying our NAMASMARAN so that you we merge with the MAHAKARAN and cast constructive influence effectively; on the apparent disturbances and chaos inside and outside!

It is well known that Mahatma Gandhi (and Acharya Vinoba Bhave also) had a very strong conviction about the paramount importance of NAMASMARAN in life and practiced NAMASMARAN with topmost priority. We have a golden opportunity to verify this conviction.