The study of stress leads to many questions.

One of them is; �What is true self?�

It is true that most of the experiences of life (including the questions in our mind); are determined by our cognition, affect and conation; which in turn are produced by the physiological processes described (and not described) in physiology and other the literature.

The physical pain and pleasure, the instinctual deprivation and fulfillment, the emotional sadness and happiness, the intellectual confusion and clarity; and the subsequent behavior; constitute individual life and that is �individual self�. This individual self veils the �true self�, which �is� there; but not restricted by individual limitations and �is� beyond the purview of individual life and three dimensions.

As and when; one begins the practice of NAMASMARAN; the veils of individual self become rarefied and the true self (which �is� already there) surfaces. When the �true self� thus surfaces or manifests; the cognition, affect and conation begin to rise above the limitations of individual physiology; and one�s cognition, affect and conation begin to be universal. The universal phenomena (the sickness and health of the billions i.e. universal or cosmic self) begin to determine the cognition, affect and conation, of �somebody�! That �somebody� is referred to as �cosmic self�, �God�, PARAMATMA and �is� �true self�, which is universal, immortal and destination; of every thing in universe; or in other words; everything in the universe is contingent in it.

The surfacing or manifestation of the true self is inevitably associated with actual ushering of cosmic homeostasis through the universal (holistic) perspective, policies, plans, programs and implementation!

This transition of individual self to merger with true self is also inevitable and contingent in the true self.

This transition can be �quick or slow� in accordance with the degree of ignorance, apathy, indolence and fossilization of the individual self.

Having said this much it has to be appreciated that Veda has declared that the true self is beyond description, by the words �Neti, neti� i.e. �indescribable�, but every seer has affirmed that it is realizable, through the practice of NAMASMARAN and SWADHARMA i.e. participation in SUPERLIVING.

In as much as the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of �I am Brahma� are responsible for the subsequent indolence and indifference to mainstream life and false self contentment and self righteousness, the misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the concept of �God� by the so called theists or believers; are responsible for the parasitic helplessness and inaction.

I could understand this role of these misinterpretations and misunderstandings; when I looked into myself; and realized the necessity of NAMASMARAN; even more intensely!

It is high time; we realize for our own blossoming, that God is an experience of self realization and not a matter of paranoid beliefs and delusions, with respect to His role in day to day individual gains and losses; as clearly stated in the 5th chapter of Gita. God is a phenomenon within; and has to be explored and experienced; that is all. It is like the freshness one experiences after bath. We do not believe or preach the others to believe in the experience of freshness!

NAMASMARAN empowers us to be self sufficient and self reliant and in the course of time helps us; meet or merge with (yoga) our true self; and we get inspired in terms of holistic perspective, policy making, plans, programs and their implementation, in personal and social life.

NAMASMARAN also frees us from fanatic and regimentalized paradigms and we begin to appreciate that; the needs (normal and physiological i.e. conducive to self realization) of individuals and societies; vary at different stages; and in different circumstances of life; and also as per individual variations; thus; beliefs, struggles, protests, philanthropy, reservations, escapism etc. have a place in individual and society, as per the degree of evolution.

Apart from the ills and evils in our life and society, those irritate or put you off, the very fact that you can not do
any thing makes you miserable.

You then try to compensate it with alcohol or flattery from stooges and feel great but only to recoil back to
feeling of uselessness.

You may feel while practicing NAMASMARAN; that you are wasting your time out of helplessness; and
glorifying it as spiritual practice! This feeling of yours is horrible!

This is due to overwhelming and unrealistic influence of surroundings compounded by media.

The vicious cycle of defective perception, feelings and actions leads to perpetual misery.

But persisting with and being firm with the practice of NAMASMARAN orients you to your true self.

As and when one gets the intense urge to share one�s desires, passions, needs, feelings, thoughts, imaginations, intuitions, dreams and convictions; one is motivated; to talk, sing, dance, write, paint etc.

The activity of sharing becomes a pleasurable lifeline! This activity of sharing gives immense pleasure, when it is easy. Thus sharing of passions of food, sexual gratification, traveling; sentiments of love, care etc; and aspirations such as money, power, publicity etc; are easily shared. The feelings of anger, revenge, insecurity, fear etc are also easily shared. One can get gratification from such sharing, though it fades through time and one is left to bask in the glory of bygone past, or get depressed!

But sharing the aspirations of welfare of universe is very difficult to articulate and share effectively. This is because such aspirations have a relatively weak physiological substrate or template in the brain, in the form of cerebral cortex; as against the other aspirations which are strongly supported by subcortical structures in the brain.

The TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (not merely the individual stress, tensions etc and their ad hoc, reductionist and escapist stress management or stress relaxation) is therefore; very difficult to articulate and share! The concept, scope and potentials of NAMASMARAN are also difficult to articulate and share smoothly and pleasurably!

In as much as the sharing (studying, practicing, talking, reading, writing etc) the TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT form part of TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT, it does not produce instant results and hence is not as gratifying as the sharing of other things is! One has to keep on sharing while constantly and continuously remembering that; even though the TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT is the holistic and most urgent solution to universal stress, it is very difficult to comprehend, appreciate and practice! This remembrance makes one; patient, buoyant and strong enough; to victoriously pursue the practice and sharing of TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT without getting depressed and frustrated.

Right from the birth; �I� begin to need! I need food, protection, nursing, shelter, clothes, entertainment, pampering and so on!

Gradually my �needs� begin to get converted into �wants�!

I start �wanting� better food, better protection, better nursing, better shelter, better clothes, better entertainment, more pampering and so on!

Soon, all these �wants� necessitate the physical, political and monetary power and thus �craving� for power is produced!

The �craving� leads to all actions directed at fulfilling the �craving� irrespective of; or rather at the cost of others!

But why should there be stress?

Strange it may appear, but; even if every craving of mine is fulfilled, still I remain restless and unsatisfied (stressed); unlike the animals and plants!

The reason is; the plant and animal life is apparently almost free from choices and hence almost free from conflicts (and stress)!

I am however; evolved to get the �freedom� to make choices and �condemned� to get conflicts (and stress) due to dilemmas!

Barring the infancy, the choices begin to hover around and conflicts begin to emerge, producing stress and erosion!

Satisfaction of physiological needs, instincts, emotions, thoughts and behavior are influenced variably by ethics, rules, regulations, laws, conventions, traditions, religious precepts, commandments and so on! They all cast their influence and create conflicts and stress!

The stress is especially marked; because, neither can I; further revert back to animal behavior and feel satisfied, nor can I cope with the preaching of selflessness!

Even if I begin to forego my cravings, wants and even needs, the subtle desires that I should be loved, respected, admired, cared for, served and so on; still remain active; though in dormant form! The feelings that �my� desires are fulfilled, �my� advice be obeyed, �my� concepts be practiced, create stress!

The human life is apparently very short to transcend from selfishness to selflessness!

The stress therefore; does not get managed, either in �me� or in the society!

One way of expediting this stressful, strenuous and tardy transition from physio-pathological and animalistic selfishness to conscientious selfless cosmic consciousness; is getting involved in the practice and propagation of NAMASMARAN!

Why should I (not merely practice, but) propagate NAMASMARAN?

It is because, �the love of NAMASMARAN� is not as physiological and as strong as the various needs, wants and cravings described in the foregoing; and hence the hype of selfishness can burn; the selflessness and cosmic consciousness; budding in my (and everyone�s) heart!

It is also because, if I do not propagate and promote NAMASMARAN, it would amount to boosting, promoting and passively propagating the dehumanizing forces that hinder the process of selfishness to selflessness; by crushing the selflessness and cosmic consciousness blossoming; not only in my mind but also; in the social psyche!

Practice and propagation of NAMASMARAN ought to lead to the evolution of perspective, policies, plans and programs of universal benevolence, amongst the leaders (international, national and local) on the one hand; and the ability to support and follow them amongst the common people.

This is what would create the environment of optimal fulfillment of needs; and facilitation of the transition of selfishness to selflessness, thereby ushering in greater unity and harmony in various aspects of individual and global life!!

Practice and propagation of NAMASMARAN, ought to ensure that the philosophy and spiritualism no more indulge in hollow jargons! Selflessness is no more preached to those who have nothing to lose! Nonviolence is no more hammered on those who are the victims of worst possible violence! The lessons of love and romance are no more professed to those who have to go through violent struggles for every morsel of food and every sip of water.

The practice and propagation of NAMASMARAN must inevitably conceive and ensure that the laws, rules, regulations, traditions, conventions are organized and reorganized around the premise of �Progressing from selfishness to selflessness amidst the environment of optimal fulfillment of physical, instinctual, psychomotor, productive, emotional, creative, intellectual and spiritual needs and aspirations; of one and all�!