NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (PART 9) DR SHRINIWAS J. KASHALIKAR

Student: What exactly you mean by SWADHARMA? Can
you clarify further?

Teacher: From absolute truth manifests; SWADHARMA as a
source of SATPRERANA, SADDHARANA, SADVICHAR,
SADICCHHAA, SADBHAVANA, SATPRAVRUTTI,
SADVASANA, SATSANKALP and SATKARMA, which
together constitute SADACHAR. I am going to explain all
this in the course of time!

Student: Now I am able to appreciate what you mean by the
assurance of the inner prompting! You could not have persisted
in your search-a totally thankless search- of panacea; in
absence of listening to the inner prompting! It is clear that in
absence of this; stress in my life made me mean and in turn; the
meanness aggravated the stress! I got trapped in non holistic
or sectarian perspective, thinking, feelings, instincts and
actions, which enabled me to adopt only piecemeal solutions.
These solutions in turn; casted deleterious influences on me
and I became a victim of a perpetual vicious cycle of stressdeterioration-
stress-deterioration!

Teacher: Yes! You are right! But please do not feel guilty.
It took about three decades for me to understand this much!
Moreover please note that this understanding also; is not
absolute!

Student: Thank you very much sir, for your consoling and
comforting reassurance! Please elaborate further on stress,
Total Stress Management and NAMASMARAN!

Teacher: Surely; I will! Please tally it with your experience
of stress; so that our discussion can prove more fruitful! The
stress is present during embryonic life, in all age groups,
during sleep and dreams, during conscious, subconscious as
well unconscious states and also during coma! Moreover; it
is present in all forms of life! Thus; stress is far too deep
and far more ubiquitous than what is presumed. It is as vast
as life! Hence it is the same as MAYA i.e. everything that
we see, know, think, feel, experience, like, dislike, love, hate
and irresistibly and irrevocably lose in the past! MAYA is
a fleeting phenomenon and hence involvement in MAYA is
followed by emptiness! In simple words, MAYA is everything
other than NAMA!

Student: This is exactly what is extremely difficult to believe!
How can I deny the existence of the harrowing reality?

Teacher: I know it is difficult to believe! But actually it should
not be believed in! It is only through the persistent practice
of NAMASMARAN that the consciousness is raised to a
* NAMA NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT * 37
level from where the fleeting nature of �harrowing reality�
becomes evident!

NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (PART 7): DR SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Student: But how could one bring about socio-political changes, in absence of active participation in politics or social movements? How could one overcome the stress in personal life? How could one get a promotion in job; by this work, which has no value? How could one get financial security without following the demands of the job and market? Don�t you think, this path does not assure social welfare as well as personal well being? I think; in such a situation; you must have gone through a lot of turmoil in spite of your inexplicable whisper of deeper instincts! How can all this help me?

Teacher: That is true. I was in turmoil. Neither personal success, nor the social goals; were being realized. It created self doubts, self abnegation, and self pity and so on. I had nothing to hold on to!
But in spite of all this; there was much more than a silver lining! I always had enormous and intense; though far from complete; fulfillment in terms of being in tune with the whisper of my deep instincts; now growing into the inner voice of my conscience! I assure you; being in tune with the inner voice will help; not only you in trekking this path, but millions and millions! You just have to learn to listen to this inner prompting! Even as it was quite indistinct in those days; it gave me the assurance that I was on right track and was sure to make a wholesome contribution to the content of sociopolitical movements and personal wellbeing!

Student: Isn�t your whisper of deep instincts, the inner voice of your conscience or the inner prompting; a mysterious entity?

Teacher: It appears mysterious when we are not familiar with it. But when we identify and get conversant with it; it is no more mysterious! I did not know the significance of the inner prompting at that time. But it helped me and would help you also; to keep going; from strength to strength! I did not yield to pressure of the surroundings! Even amidst despair, frustration, helplessness and hopelessness; I still did not have the feeling of a total defeat!

Student: Was it at that time; that you turned to NAMASMARAN?

Teacher: No! I did not turn to NAMASMARAN even at that time; but as I said earlier, I was never cut off from any doctrines or traditions. NAMASMARAN was one of the many things I was studying.

Student: But then; how did you manage your frustration? Please tell me. It will help me in managing my stress.

Teacher: Like anybody else; I also tried to contend myself; by being in friends� company, by being flattered and by indulging. But being hollow; by their very nature; these things could not satiate and quiet me! In fact; they churned me from within; and propelled me for an even more intense search for that essence or abstract link connecting various doctrines! So, I kept on searching for it and also for a panacea that would work in all ailments, all sufferings, for all nations, all races, all classes, all religions and all ideologies; and at individual as well as global levels! But let me tell you; this propulsion was not a conscious, deliberate and planned effort! It was just happening in me! I had no control over it. I could not start or stop it. The search was irresistible! I was possessed by the ever growing inner prompting!

Student: This was; how the exploration brought you closer to the holistic concepts and the panacea!

Teacher: Yes! But I did not even know the word holistic! I simply kept on studying and wherever feasible; practicing and verifying different ideas. I was still far away from any holistic concepts and any panacea!

Student: Sir! Is my desire to seek advice from you; actually a result of inner prompting, which I could not identify till now; as �inner prompting�? Now I am more anxious to understand and actually verify the usefulness of your present concepts of Total Stress Management and NAMASMARAN!

Teacher: Of course! Your desire is born out of your inner prompting!
Actually it is around this time that I began to realize that all what I had written had some value. But was not universal and did not spring from the ultimate depths of my heart! Naturally, it did not reach the ultimate depths of the hearts of others! In other words, the solutions could not be universally effective and far from complete.
In fact; I realized that this was true for all the written solutions, decrees, commandments and prescriptions, which I had come across! They had a great value and a great role for different individuals and different societies at different times. But they could not be universal; in view of the effectiveness; and also in view of personal freedom. They needed enlightened modifications or refinements from time to time with realization of their essence i.e. the abstract yet strong link uniting them! This could make them appropriate to different periods, places, social, cultural, religious and political situations.
Now my task was to re-explore, re-discover or re-invent that single, simple and easy to practice universal solution � panacea, which could evolve a holistic perspective to make this possible! It also had to enable us to think benevolently for the universe and evolve policies, plans and programs benevolent to the universe! This could be according to our capacity, constitution and position; In other words; it had to impart a holistic thinking. It had to evolve irrepressible love and care; i.e. holistic feelings and holistic instincts! Lastly; that panacea had to engender cooperation amongst us to execute the policies, plans and programs of global benefit, which we can call holistic actions or behavior.

Student: In short; that panacea had to bring about a change in the world that would influence every individual life in totality; so as to enable him or her to evolve holistic perspective, policies, programs, plans and their implementation in his or her respective field.

Teacher: That is right! This practical solution � a panacea, which I had not yet found with certainty; thus had to; revitalize and rejuvenate the environment inside and outside of an individual; so as to enable him/her to help evolve himself/herself and others from inside as well as outside. It had to be so much democratic that it had to be available to every individual irrespective of age, sex, occupation, caste, creed, tradition, custom, race, religion, nation and any distinction for that matter!
After thinking of several possibilities, thanks to my Guru; Shri Brahmachaitanya Maharaj Gondavalekar; I realized that �NAMA� is the essence and the connecting link and �the single, simple, easy to practice and democratic universal solution�, which fulfills all the criteria about the panacea; is NAMASMARAN.
In short, much before the concepts about Total Stress Management were crystallized, I identified the potentials of NAMASMARAN.

TRUE SELF AND NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Student:
Sir! What is true self?
Teacher:
When we refer to self; it usually embodies and connotes a mixture of instincts, feelings, thoughts and vision, associated with the metabolic reactions, hormonal interactions and effects of neurotransmitters. All these interact continuously with the environment (The environment may be internal or external. Further; it may be; physical, chemical, biological, psychological, social, cultural or political. When it is characterized by people in the process of realizing true self; it is called spiritual environment). Thus; self with specific characteristics is recognized as a person; and said to be born and dead; distinguishing it from the body. The biographies do not describe merely the body; of an individual; but describe in details all above!
An object with three dimensions has a beginning, an end, a form and an identity. The space, which occupies; the inside and outside of that object; has a beginning and end. It has a form and an identity related to the object which it occupies from within and from outside.

Further; the time, which occupies a beginning, existence and end of an object; has also the identity of that object! For example; the time characterizes a house; as a 50 year old house! The period has an identity. The time that occupies the birth, life and death of an individual also has an identity. We call it the life of an individual.

Further; an individual human consciousness is associated the matter, the interactions, the energies, and the space and time; occupying all these! with
Self is associated with all above and it has a distinct identity.

True self is beyond all that has been referred to above! It is inside as well as outside. Our final destination is this true self. At one time or another; every one inevitably gets dissolved in the true self. Here the separate identity is dissolved in the cosmic consciousness and we lose separate and shackling existence. This is God; described with either no attributes or infinite attributes!
Student:
How to identify this true self?
Teacher:
The true self is the final and supreme controller. Since it has no form, no characteristics and no attributes, by which we can identify Him! However; He has descended in the consciousness of few; as NAMA and enthralled them with His attraction (ARTA, JIJNYASU, ARTHARTHEE, and JNANEE), remembrance (NAMASMARAN), orientation (ANUSANDHAN) and merger (MOKSHA)! Following them is the way of identifying and merging with true self!

NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (PART 5) DR SHRINIWAS J. KASHALIKAR

Student: Did you; as a result; turn to spiritualism and NAMASMARAN?
Teacher: Actually; during this learning process itself; I was never cut off from religion, spiritualism, occultism, mysticism etc. I was eclectic. I was always enthusiastic to know and accept, anything; globally benevolent and internally satisfying.
Student: What merit did you find in spiritualism?
Teacher: There was something magnanimous and noble in the religious and spiritual traditions that attracted me and commanded my respect and even reverence. I did not know what it was, but there was something that haunted me! It could be; the perspective of universal unity, utmost noble heartedness, total selflessness, unquestionable honesty, exemplary simplicity, adorable kindness or something extraordinary linked God i.e. true self!
Student: What were the shortcomings?
Teacher: I thought the religion and spiritualism were alien from the socioeconomic and political mainstream. Various cults, traditions, creeds and religious practices appeared marginalized and merely survived on donations. I thought they had become the caricatures of themselves; even though; in some instances at least; they did some appreciable charitable work.
I found that spiritualism that I came across; provided temporary psychological solace, without much change in the objective conditions, in which a person lived.
In short I could not be satisfied by materialistic approach as well as the religious and spiritual traditions I came across. I could not find a way of simultaneous inner as well as outer; and individual as well as global blossoming.
Student: That means; you were not quite satisfied with the then prevalent materialism as well as spiritualism!
Teacher: I felt that I had yet to meet the �self� of atheists and �God� of theists! Actually I could, though faintly; perceive the fact that; what the atheists would call self, was the same, which was revered by the theists as God. This was why I could neither dislike atheist tradition; nor the theist tradition.
Student: But this must have kept you away from both traditions!
Teacher: I was not away from them, but I was not a conformist part of them.
I tried to pursue the whisper of my deep instincts, which cherished the essence of both traditions as and in the form I came across, but was not in perfect conformity with any of them.

I had a distinct feeling that; innate aspirations of all the doctrines I came across; were those of global welfare and innate fulfillment. They were in complete agreement. But I was not able to identify the link connecting them. Hence intellectually as well as emotionally; I was restless. I had a lot to learn. I had to expand my perspective. I had to expand my intellectual as well as emotional horizons. I was falling short. Hence I kept on reading and experimenting. But I did not find any specific solution. I merely came to a provisional conclusion that there was a need to raise the mass consciousness, trigger mass awakening; and initiate or boost the fight against injustice in every field. I began to write and share my restlessness, my criticism, my enthusiasm and my dreams.

NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (PART 3) DR SHRINIWAS J. KASHALIKAR
Student: This was apparently because; you were still superficial. You had not gone to the depths. Oh! Do you think I am also superficial at present?
Teacher: Don�t feel bad! But it is natural to be superficial initially!
It is only later; that I began to get disturbed by poverty; and other miseries in the society; born out of it; besides of course; my own needs and wants, which were increasing as I was growing. Hence there was growing urge to help others; apart from petty pursuits!
I began to study and follow wherever feasible; the teachings of different thinkers and visionaries; in different fields of life; in addition to the curricular texts; so as to improve myself.
Around this time I also came across NAMASMARAN. But it appeared gullible or callous to me; to simply advocate NAMASMARAN for every problem, instead of actively helping the suffering people! Hence I found that one of the simplest, easiest and practical things; to improve myself was to try and be charitable.
Student: You must have tried it!
Teacher: Yes! I did. But through my experiences and observations over years; I found; that even as charity was necessary; as an immediate rescue and relief activity; on the long term basis; it proved to be insufficient; and at best; a palliative symptomatic treatment. It could not be a radical treatment of the root cause.
Student: Can you clarify? At least apparently; the charity in any form; is a very noble activity. It has a healing effect. It gives solace to millions.
Teacher: I will clarify what I mean. Charity is always nobler; as and when compared with total inaction, self centeredness, petty selfishness, profiteering or meanness. Charity does help in emergency situations. It is extremely valuable as a rehabilitatory activity. Moreover; it is also important in terms of satisfying our own innate need to help others! Actually in absence of charity all of us get suffocated, though most often we are not aware of this deep rooted suffocation due to being cut off from our own conscience!
But the reason I felt unsatisfied with charity; was because; barring emergency situations; often it was found to be misused. It led to perpetuation of irresponsibility, dependency, lethargy and parasitic tendencies; in those who were beneficiaries and it developed condescending attitude, arrogance; and even cheating and unabated exploitative behavior in those who practiced charity. Through introspection I found that charity did not eliminate the evils within me; whether I was a helping person or a helped one!