NAMASMARAN AND THE GERMS OF STRESS: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It is true that NAMASMARAN is a means of salvation, liberation, moksha, self realization and/or immortality.

But �Practicing NAMASMARAN� without some essential stages of development given below; and waiting for salvation; is like a child expecting Ph D, without going in a school; and leads to gullibility, frustration or hypocrisy.

One example that highlights this; in spite of �practicing NAMASMARAN�; is our advertisements of disinfectants, washing powders, washing bars, toilet soaps, tooth powders, tooth pastes and water filters/ mineral water bottles; spreading the �stress of germs� and �germs of stress�!

Actually germ is a NOT a singular cause of infective and infectious diseases. If it were to be true; then in the mass of germs (approximately 100 times the mass of us); we would have been extinct long back. Moreover; the germs are not always harmful. Often they are symbiotic (beneficially dependent on each other), commensals (harmlessly coexisting together) and saprophytes (living on dead tissues), which are harmless and/or useful germs. Even those germs, which can infect and harm us (referred to as virulent or pathogenic); do so; only when our immune system i.e. body resistance is relatively inefficient (usually due to malnutrition); and/or their number is suddenly increased to defeat the body mechanism of resistance.

We would live far more healthily and happily, as; our hitherto closed door to swadharma, true self and God, would be open; if in the process of practicing NAMASMARAN; we pass through the stages of; SADICCHHAA, SADVASANA, SADBHAVANA, SADPRERANA, SADPRAVRUTTI, SADVICHAR and SADSANKALP (instincts, emotions, thoughts, perspective (policies, plans and programs) of individual and global blossoming) and desist from cheating or getting cheated.

EXAMPLE OF SATSANKALP, SADVASANA, SADBHAVANA, SADVICHAR AND SATPRERANA (ASPIRATIONS, PASSIONS, FEELINGS, THOUGHTS/POLICIES, AND PERSPECTIVE/MOTIVATION) OF AND FROM; TRUTH; THROUGH NAMASMARAN(JAAP, JAP, JIKRA, SUMIRAN, SIMARAN etc; i.e. remembering God): DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

The policy of excessive production and marketing (and passively buying and using) of cars and two wheelers (for the affluent few) and suppression of the production buses, trams, trains and other modes of public/mass transport; can be reversed by policy makers, whose mind has undergone purification through NAMASMARAN; and suffering of billions in many ways given below; can be prevented and/or shunned.

1. Excessive increase in number of vehicles on roads that leads to congestion and load on traffic police
2. Increase in fuel consumption, chemical pollution and import expenses; leading to increase of fuel prices and subsequent increase in the food prices and unbearable load on the farmers living in villages, where electricity is barely available for few hours. Thus the farmer community which is the heart of society becomes sick and moribund! This alarms real danger!
3. Increase in wear and tear of roads increases. Consequently there is increase in accidents due bad condition of roads as well as increase in the maintenance expenses and disturbance and delay to smooth traffic
4. Increase in noise pollution results due to; blowing of horns; which is especially troublesome; to hospitals, schools, and other places; where silence is essential.
5. Increase in traffic jams adding to further increase in fuel consumption and wastage of time, disastrously affecting the performance and/or productivity of the people of different occupations.
6. Increase in the number of vehicular accidents is largely contributed by simply the huge and increasing number of vehicles on road apart from other factors
7. Increase in vehicular exhaust causing global warming
8. Excess of load on local trains and other means of public transport [where ever available] and consequent accidents, quarrels and mishaps
9. Overall increase in tardiness in the traffic and increase in anxiety and tension, further increasing the quarrels, traffic crimes the number and severity of accidents and difficulty in providing medical aid (and disaster management) and other emergency services; due to difficulty in movement of ambulances and fire fighters.
10. The eco-friendly bicycles production and sale suffers due to �imposing and threatening� presence of cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, scooters etc.
11. Excessive production of vehicles; is associated with; unproductive and wasteful work; such as insurance, registration and traffic policing!
12. Increase (due to difficulty in enforcing law and order) riots, thefts etc due to slowing of police movement
13. Excessive production of un-degradable solid waste.
14. The need and construction of excessively wide and cement or asphalt roads at the cost of irreplaceable trees (extremely important for avoiding global warming, pollution, rain and organic manure) and open earth surface (extremely important and vital for absorbing and holding rain water) and unnecessary disruption of the natural habitat of the animals.

THE JOURNEY OF REALITY: DR SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Communication evolves from nonverbal to verbal but it fails to communicate completely and accurately. This is true even in the best of speeches, drafts and literature.

As a result; words often create misunderstanding and/or conflicts, which are variably violent.

But the words obviously serve the purpose of communication and hence cannot be abandoned.

What we talk or write; may not convey exactly what we feel due to our inability and also due the differing constitutions of the people. This is because our feelings from our interior are first filtered through our subjectivity and subsequently filtered through the subjectivity of the others.

Our passions, obsessions, missions, desires, goals and aspirations are subjective and inaccurate. When we go beyond actions and words, born out of them; we reach our true desire, which is objective, selfless and hence is the same; as cosmic, divine or God�s desire.

NAMASMARAN is a process of going into syncytium of interiors; common to all; and without separating barriers! It is the controlling source of all actions, passions, feelings, thoughts, words and articulations; including the holistic concepts! Hence NAMASMARAN is called the truest SAT KARMA (Action that takes us to the absolute truth).

Whereas various enlightened actions, speeches and writings are useful; they are inadequate and feeble; as compared to this vibrant, vitalizing, uniting and controlling source of universe; NAMA, SADGURU, the true self!

Actually SADGURU is in total charge of everything; including our vices and virtues, ignorance and knowledge, slumber and awakening, failures and successes, arrogance and humility, mania and depression, boastfulness and surrender; and our ultimate merger with HIM, the OMNIPOTENT, OMNISCIENT and OMNIPRESENT!

Introduction
A brain abscess is a pus-filled swelling in the brain caused by an infection. It is a rare and life threatening condition.
It happens when bacteria or fungi enter the brain tissue.
Symptoms of a brain abscess include:
Headache � which is often severe and cannot be relieved by taking painkillers
Changes in mental state such as appearing very confused
Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body
A high temperature (fever) of or above 38C (100.4F)
Seizures (fits)
What causes a brain abscess?
There are three main ways that a brain abscess can develop:
An infection in another part of the skull, such as an ear infection, sinusitis or dental abscess, spreads directly into the brain
An infection in another part of the body, such as the lung infection pneumonia, spreads into the brain via the blood
Trauma, such as a severe head injury, that cracks open the skull allowing bacteria or fungi to enter the brain
Although in around 1 in 7 cases the source of the infection remains unknown.
Treating a brain abscess
A brain abscess is regarded as a medical emergency. This is because the swelling caused by the abscess can disrupt the blood and oxygen supply to the brain. There is also a risk that the abscess may burst (rupture). If left untreated, a brain abscess can cause permanent brain damage and can be fatal.
A brain abscess is usually treated using a combination of antibiotics (or in some cases, antifungals) and surgery. Dr. B C Shah will usually open the skull and drain the pus from the abscess or remove the abscess entirely.
The sooner the condition is diagnosed and treated the lower the chance a person has of developing long-term complications.
Complications
Any damage to the tissue of the brain can result in long-term complications, such as:
Brain damage � which can range from mild to severe
Epilepsy � where a person has repeated seizures (fits)
Who is affected
Brain abscesses tend to only be significant problem in parts of the world where access to antibiotics is limited.
Brain abscesses can occur at any age, but most cases are reported in people aged 40 or younger. They are more common in men than women. It is not clear why this should be the case.
Outlook
Because of advances in diagnostic and surgical techniques, the outlook for people with brain abscesses has improved dramatically. Nowadays, deaths only occur in an estimated 1 in 10 of cases. Many people make a full recovery.
Symptoms of a brain abscess
The symptoms of a brain abscess can develop quickly or slowly.
In around two-thirds of people, symptoms are present for two weeks or less before they escalate to the point where the person needs to be admitted to hospital.
Common symptoms include:
Headache - the headache is often severe, located in a single section of the head and cannot be relieved with painkillers
Changes in mental state, such as confusion or irritability
Problems with nerve function, such as muscle weakness, slurred speech or paralysis on one side of the body
A high temperature (fever) of or above 38C (100.4F)
Seizures (fits)
Nausea and vomiting
Stiff neck
Changes in vision, such as blurring, greying of vision or double vision (because of the abscess putting pressure on the optic nerve)
When to seek medical advice
Any symptoms that suggest a problem with the brain and nervous system, such as slurred speech, muscle weakness or paralysis, or seizures occurring in a person who had no previous history of seizures should be treated as a medical emergency.
Any symptoms that suggest a worsening infection, such as fever and vomiting, should be reported to Dr. B C Shah immediately.
Causes of a brain abscess
An abscess is a pus-filled swelling caused by infection with either bacteria or fungi.
The abscess is created by your immune system as a defence mechanism. If the immune system is unable to kill an infection, it will try to limit its spread. Your immune system will use healthy tissue to form a wall around the source of infection to stop the pus infecting other tissue.
The routes for brain infection
Infections of the brain are rare because the body has evolved a number of defences to protect this vital organ. One of these is the blood-brain barrier, which is a thick membrane that filters out impurities from blood before allowing it into your brain.
However, in some people, for reasons not always entirely clear, germs can get through these defences and infect the brain.
The three most common routes for germs to enter the brain are:
Germs have already infected one of the nearby cavities in the skull (such as the ears or nose) and go on to infect the brain.
Germs have already infected another part of the body, get into the bloodstream, bypass the blood-brain barrier and then infect the brain.
Germs pass through the skull and enter the brain after the skull is damaged, for example after being hit by a blunt object or after a gunshot wound.
Though in around 1 in 7 cases no obvious cause for the infection can be found.
The causes of a brain abscess are explained in more detail below.
Germs from another infection in the skull
In up to a half of cases, the brain abscess occurs as a complication of a nearby infection in the skull, such as:
A persistent middle ear infection (otitis media)
Sinusitis (an infection of the sinuses, which are the air-filled cavities inside the cheekbones and forehead)
Mastoiditis (an infection of the bone behind the eye)
This used to be a major cause of brain abscesses, but because of improved treatments for infections, a brain abscess is now a rare complication of these kinds of infection.
Germs invading the brain through the bloodstream
Infections spread through the blood are thought to account for around 1 in 4 cases of brain abscesses.
People with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of developing a brain abscess from a blood-borne infection. This is because their immune system may not be capable of fighting off the initial infection.
You may have a weakened immune system if you:
Have a medical condition that weakens your immune system, such as HIV or AIDS
Receive medical treatment known to weaken the immune system, such as chemotherapy
Have an organ transplant and take immunosuppressant drugs to prevent your body rejecting the new organ
The most commonly reported infections and health conditions that may cause a brain abscess are:
Cyanotic heart disease, a type of congenital heart disease (a heart defect present at birth) where the heart is unable to carry enough oxygen around the body (this lack of a regular oxygen supply makes the body more vulnerable to infection)
Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula � a rare condition in which abnormal connections develop between blood vessels inside the lungs; this can allow bacteria to get into the blood and then into the brain,
Lung infections, such as pneumonia or bronchiectasis
Infections of the heart, such as endocarditis
Skin infections
Infections of the abdomen, such as peritonitis (an infection of the lining of the bowel)
Pelvic infections such as infection of the lining of the bladder (cystitis)
Germs invading the brain after a head injury
Direct trauma to the skull can also lead to a brain abscess and is thought responsible for 1 in 10 cases.
The most commonly reported causes include:
Skull fracture caused by penetrating injury to the head
Gunshot or shrapnel wound
In rare cases, a brain abscess can develop as a complication of surgery.
Diagnosing a brain abscess
An initial assessment will be made based on your physical symptoms and medical history, such as whether you have had a recent infection or a weakened immune system.
Blood tests
Blood tests will be carried out to check for the presence of infection. A high level of white blood cells in your blood indicates the presence of a serious infection.
Scans
If a brain abscess is suspected, the diagnosis can be confirmed using a brain scan.
Computerised tomography (CT) scan
A computerised tomography (CT) scan involves a series of X-rays taken of your body at different angles. This produces a detailed image of the inside of your body.
A CT scan can often detect the presence of the abscess and any associated swelling inside the brain.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce a detailed image of the inside of your body.
A MRI scan can provide a more detailed image than a CT scan so is sometimes used if the results of the CT scan are inconclusive.
CT-guided aspiration
If an abscess is found, Dr. B C Shah can use a CT scan to guide a needle to the site of the abscess and remove a sample of pus for further testing. This is known as CT-guided aspiration. The sample of pus should indicate the type of germ causing the abscess.
Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics will usually begin as soon as possible, even before a CT-guided aspiration is carried out, because it can be dangerous to wait for the results.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics can be used against a wide range of bacteria. They will be used before a specific diagnosis is made because there is a high chance they will be effective if the infection is caused by bacteria.
If the test reveals the abscess is caused by a fungus, the treatment plan can be changed and antifungal medication given.
Treating a brain abscess
Treatment for a brain abscess will depend on the size and number of brain abscesses present. A brain abscess is a medical emergency, so you will need treatment in hospital and will stay there until your condition is stable.
Medication
Surgery will be avoided if thought too risky or if an abscess is small and could be treated by medication alone.
Medication is recommended over surgery if you have:
Several abscesses
A small abscess (less than 2cm)
An abscess deep inside the brain
Meningitis (an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain) as well as an abscess
Hydrocephalus (a build-up of fluid on the brain)
You will normally be given antibiotics or antifungal medication through a drip (directly into a vein). Dr. B C Shah will aim to treat the abscess and the original infection that caused it.
Surgery
If the abscess is larger than 2cm, it is usually necessary to drain the pus out of the abscess.
There are two surgical techniques for treating a brain abscess:
Simple aspiration
Craniotomy
Simple aspiration involves using a CT scan to locate the abscess and then drills a small hole known as a burr hole into the skull. The pus is then drained through the hole and the hole sealed.
A simple aspiration takes around one hour to complete.
Open aspiration and excisions are usually carried out using a surgical procedure known as a craniotomy.
Craniotomy
A craniotomy may be recommended if an abscess does not respond to aspiration or reoccurs at a later date.
During a craniotomy, Dr. B C Shah will shave a small section of your hair and then remove a small piece of your skull bone (a bone flap) to gain access to your brain.
The abscess will then be drained of pus or totally removed. A CT-guided localisation system may be used during the operation, which allows Dr. B C Shah to more accurately locate the exact position of the abscess.
Once the abscess has been treated, the bone is replaced. The operation usually takes around three hours which includes recovery from the general anaesthetic (where you are put to sleep).
Complications of a craniotomy
As with all surgery, a craniotomy carries risks, but serious complications are uncommon.
Possible complications of a craniotomy are:
Swelling and bruising around your face, which is common after a craniotomy. This will die down after the operation.
Headaches. These are common after a craniotomy and may last several months, but should eventually settle down.
A blood clot in the brain (further surgery may be required to remove it).
Stiff jaw. During a craniotomy, Dr. B C Shah may need to make a small cut to a muscle that helps with chewing. The muscle does heal, but can become stiff for a few months, causing your jaw to feel stiff. Exercising the muscle by regularly chewing sugar-free gum should help relieve the stiffness.
Movement of the bone flap. The bone flap in your skull may feel like it moves and you may experience a clicking sensation. This can feel strange, but it is normal and not dangerous. It will stop as the skull heals.
The site of the cut (incision) in your skull can become infected, although this is uncommon. You are usually given antibiotics around the time of your operation to prevent infection.
Recovering from surgery
Once your brain abscess has been treated, you will probably stay in hospital for several weeks so your body can be supported while you recover.
You will also receive a number of CT scans, to make sure the brain abscess has been completely removed.
Most people will then need a further 6 to 12 weeks rest at home before they are fit enough to return to work or full-time education.
After treatment for a brain abscess, avoid any contact sport where there is a risk of injury to the skull, such as boxing, rugby or football.
Complications of a brain abscess
Possible complications of a brain abscess are outlined below.
Brain damage
Brain damage can range from mild through moderate to severe.
Mild brain damage can result in:
Headaches
Memory problems
Moderate brain damage can result in:
Changes in mood such as feeling restless or agitated
Problems with tasks that require high-level thinking such as planning and decision making
Difficulties with balance and coordination � the medical term for this is ataxia
Severe brain damage can result in:
Weakness in certain parts of the body
And in the most serious of cases � coma or persistent vegetative state
Mild to moderate brain damage often improves with time. Severe brain damage is likely to be permanent.
Brain damage is more of a risk when the diagnosis of a brain abscess was delayed and treatment did not begin quickly enough. Brain abscesses can now be diagnosed very easily with a CT or MRI scan, so the risk of serious brain damage is now low.
Epilepsy
A common complication of brain abscesses is epilepsy, a condition that causes repeated fits or seizures. Epilepsy is a long-term condition and symptoms can usually be controlled using medication..
Meningitis
In some cases, especially those involving children, a brain abscess can develop into bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain.
Symptoms of meningitis include:
Severe headache
Vomiting
High temperature (fever) of 38�C (100.4�F) or over
Stiff neck
Someone with bacterial meningitis will require urgent treatment in hospital; usually an intensive care unit (ICU).
Antibiotics will be used to treat the underlying infection. These will be given intravenously (through a vein in the arm).
At the same time a person may also be given:
Oxygen
Intravenous fluids (through a vein)
Steroids or other medication to help reduce the inflammation (swelling) around the brain

A HOLISTIC PRESCRIPTION: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

As we go on evolving; we begin to appreciate that a doctor�s prescription has to be aimed at healing; the body, instincts, emotions, motivations, thoughts, vision and behavior of an individual; and also the society.

This is because; just as the health of an individual affects the health of society; the vice versa is also true. Not only the international, national, regional and local policies, plans and programs in health care (which obviously influence the health of an individual); but also; those in different fields; such as education, agriculture, industry; influence the health of an individual.

Hence ideally; the prescription should include guidelines; about the preventive and curative measures; to the patient who himself may be a doctor or a policy maker in health care or other fields.

However; all the details of such guidelines cannot be expected from the treating doctor, who is trained merely in a particular field of medicine such as Homeopathy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda or Allopathy.

In such a situation; there has to be a �key instruction� that can �inspire� the appropriate guidelines in the patient, who may be a policy maker of; education, practice, research, production and marketing; in health care; and those in other fields).

The essential core of such key instruction has to be; its potential to �free� any individual; from subjective and sectarian perspective, thinking, policy making, planning and behavior; and empower him or her; to be objective and holistic and conceive the appropriate preventive and curative measures.

After decades of extensive study, research and experimentation for such a �key instruction�, which would be common to all prescriptions and making them holistic; I found one to my satisfaction with the grace of my Guru. This �key instruction�, which is upheld by my Guru throughout His life; is nothing else; but the traditional, simple, inexpensive and universally practicable practice of NAMASMARAN (JIKRA, JAAP, JAP, SIMARAN, SUMIRAN or remembering God�s name i.e. one's true self)!

NAMASMARAN rectifies our physical needs, passions, feelings, motivations, thoughts; and vision (perspective) and thus rectifies our behavior. This in turn leads to a continuous development of holistic health, which means; prosperity and profundity in individual and social life i.e. individual and global blossoming.

However; NAMASMARAN is not a pill or a tincture; and does not produce any tangible results! It is an invisible and intangible process of reaching and rejuvenating our connection with the seed (NAMA); of the tree (our individual and universal existence); and flowering and fruiting (the individual and universal blossoming).

I am away from holistic health. But like any ailing doctor; I too can prescribe this �key instruction� to the doctors, parents, teachers, leaders; (to add in their prescriptions) and make their prescriptions; to their patients, children, students and followers; respectively; holistic! In fact; being able to pass on this �key instruction�; is the greatest blessing and bounty!