STRESS, DEATH AND REBIRTH: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

One of the worst kinds of STRESS results from imminent death. We feel stressed even with the thought of our death; or that of our near dear ones. Usually we remain occupied in something or other and keep on escaping from such thoughts, calling them �negative�. If we are for some reason; in a hospital, we prefer to remain engaged in �positive thinking�!

We are not only afraid of death, but we are afraid of rebirth; as it forces us into; an unforeseen and possibly painful life; of an �individual or animal�.

The fear of death is a common phenomenon; with a physiological basis. Thus the fear is actually a sensation that results from autonomic outflow (impulses) causing visceral activities; such as pain in the chest, throbbing of heart, sinking of stomach, cold clammy extremities, and giddiness due to reduction in blood supply to brain.

The fear of death is actually because we identify strongly with these phenomena causing unpleasant sensation. The fear is more as and when we experience these unpleasant sensations (till we are able to detach ourselves from them). Hence the children are possibly not afraid due to inexperience. The very old ones are also probably not afraid as they too experienced to be afraid; as compared to us!

In other words; the STRESS is due to the fact that death of �our body� is considered to be or actually deeply convinced to be �our� death. In fact many of us believe that everything in life comes to an end after the death of the body. According to them the idea of rebirth is merely a vain imagination. They think it is an excuse; to deny the sovereignty and supremacy of nature and �our� inevitable mortality.

Let us understand the death and rebirth little more; so that our STRESS is reduced.

Let us appreciate that; the death (rebirth) does not always refer to the whole body. Our body cells are dead and lost to a variable extent; and new cells are born from time to time. Even our passions, emotions and thoughts are undergoing changes; in terms of vanishing of the old ones and appearance of the new ones. But we remain the same individuals!

Thus without denying our association with the changing existence, we can; to start with at least imagine; and later experience that we are changeless backdrop or background or substratum on which the changing cells, tissues and also; bodies are born, grown and perished. The consciousness is constant and the cycles of birth and rebirth continue on and within it!


In fact; the birth and rebirth; as we see and perceive; are the product of our physiological senses, our cerebral cortical capabilities and their limitations. The consciousness however �exists� beyond our limitations!

Rebirth; thus is not a matter of belief or disbelief. It is not a hypothesis, a postulation or a theory and certainly not a wild imagination or bluff; to explain the results of good deeds and bad deeds; or anything else. It is not a psychological tool for consoling or pacifying the suffering of people.

Rebirth of identities pertains to concurrent consciousness and memories. This is observed in case of certain historical figures such as Shripad Shrivallabh and Narasimha Saraswati (1378 to 1458). Others do not have the memory or consciousness to endorse rebirth.

The proof of the rebirth; through science; needs an accurate identification, definition and understanding of consciousness as a separate entity. Because; we have to show; birth (easy), death (easy) and the individual consciousness and its relation to the individual who is born and dead; that �persists� after death (very difficult; unless we have a gadget that can capture the existence of individual consciousness).

So far; we do not have such a gadget. Moreover; our consciousness can not capture our consciousness in its entirety. �Our consciousness� cannot identify or demonstrate �our consciousness�; as a separate entity; to �our own consciousness�! Hence currently; it is not possible to �prove� rebirth!

However; if we practice NAMASMARAN; we can verify; these otherwise mysterious and esoteric aspects of birth, death, rebirth and immortality.

IDOLS, STRESS, VALUES AND HISTORY: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

If the history books are studded with photographs and praise of invaders; and neglect of the freedom fighters and saints; then it creates conflicts. Same is true for the divisive (and hoax) theory of �Aryan invasion� that surreptiously indicts division into �Indigenous Dravids� and �Alien Aryans; and condemnation of certain rituals and traditions; suggesting indirectly; that all other religions; are better!

Severe stress; due to lack of accuracy and purpose in history; can culminate into prejudices, bitterness, bigotry, hatred, rivalry, fanaticism, unrest, riots, terrorism and so on.

When such superficial and petty teaching and/or propaganda are dominant; they suppress our inner growth, silence our inner voice and crush our conscience! We are attracted by the royalty and repelled by the poverty; tempted by the riches and repelled by the rags; excited by the abundance and depressed by the paucity and abstinence!

Even historians do not seem to grasp the undercurrents in history; which are probably beyond their comprehension!

Take for example; the depiction of personalities. The real heroes; the saints; appear sympathogenic (deserving sympathy or pity) and the film stars, the political leaders and other celebrities; appear intoxicatingly attractive and grand!

However, our education and acculturation; are often influenced by the geniuses of the particular period; who have almost realized truth. In addition; our values and our idols and ideals; are determined our constitutions, moods; and even whims and fancies!

Hence; even as; our values and idols; are conflicting; they are not blatantly superficial, shallow, and petty or mean. Our yardsticks for idolization and idealization are NOT uniformly retrogressive. Our values are not uniformly vulgar and/or antisocial. They are multifarious; with various complexities and shades. They are evolved subconsciously; and shaped mysteriously! Hence; strange it may appear; but our values and idols do not conform to only our superficial perceptions!

Thus our idols are violent (war heroes such as Chatrapati Shivaji), nonviolent (Buddha, Gandhi, Mahavir, Jesus Christ), economically rich (Bill Gates), economically poor (Vinoba Bhave), physically strong (Mohammed Ali, Dara Singh), physically weak (Srinivas Ramanujam, yogis (Patanjali) and indulgent (kings); and those who served in British Service; (British Army, Police, Administration); and freedom fighters!

To overcome our stress resulting from conflicts; we have to introspect and find out what determines our apparently opposite values and idols! All our idols; are larger than �routinely perceived concept of individual life�! They have manifested the vision and actions (although at times contradictorily); involving the well being of a sizeable section; or whole society; and/or they have transcended the usual human needs, greed, worries and capacity, in their respective fields!

We often feel that the solutions of our opposing idols are final, exclusive and can bring about permanent and everlasting heaven on earth.

But; how can there be a permanent heaven on earth; and of what nature; and how can millions of generations of living forms (living and to be born); conform to our ideas? Is it sensible; to impose a hope of illusive heaven; on ourselves; and/or on others?

This implies that; stress of history, ideals, values, ideologies and idols; can be managed totally; if we demystify all opposing values and idols and go to their eternal center; by blossoming from within and being objective. This is possible; but not by merely reading and discussions; but through the practice of NAMASMARAN as assured by the immortal gurus.

STRESS AND CONCEPTUAL STRESS: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Conceptual stress is not a separate entity. It is a part of over all process of stress. We can also call it intellectual confusion, doubts, chaos, conflicts, suspicions etc; born; out of physical, metabolic, endocrine, autonomic, and nervous i.e. instinctual, emotional and intellectual interactions; with internal and external environment.

It is true that we should manage to bypass or ignore some questions, and rightly so; e.g. mathematical problems need not; as a routine, bother a biologist. Similarly, the problems of school children are best dealt with in the text-books and guides and the experts in those fields; and need not worry a musician.

But there are issues which are a) inevitable b) inseparable c) unavoidable, d) faced by most of us; and affect our personal, family and social life; as well as the life of the society as a whole; immensely. These issues produce Conceptual or Intellectual Stress!

In modern life; the pace of life has become very fast. The nature of the influences of the scientific and technological advances is much more complex and there are rapidly emerging new issues and we are unable to understand and deal with them. Morality, ethics, customs, traditions and conventions, which guided us in past; are being proved inadequate and/or irrelevant!

Conceptual stress results from day to day questions; such as celibacy or free sex, divorce no divorce, legalization of homosexuality or no, caste based reservations or no, charity or SWADHARMA, vegetarianism or non vegetarianism, theism or atheism, rationality or shraddha, productive element in education or no; and so on!

Health related issues are even more troublesome. Thus complexity, mysteriousness and dread of; AIDS, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, muscular dystrophy; cause stress.

To give a simple example, excessive and unfounded fear of cancer; is a case of conceptual stress. Cancer phobia many times results from inappropriate views, feelings and actions (conceptual deficiency) about cancer, its nature, its symptoms such as pain and its outcome.

A patient of cancer phobia may suspect that he/she has cancer, whenever he/she gets pain. If he/she gets repeated pain, in a particular organ then he/she starts suspecting cancer of that particular part! This leads to morbid fear, anxiety, worry, and sense of helplessness; due to imagination of pain, agonies and physical, mental, economic and social dependence helplessness.

Conceptual stress involves:
1. Defective or inaccurate perceptions, imagination, ideas, thoughts, guesswork;
2. Lopsided, disproportionate imbalanced emotions;
3. Unreasonable instincts and unnatural physical needs,

These are associated with disturbed rates, interrelationships and proportions in electrophysiological interactions in brain, secretion of neurotransmitters, hormones; and metabolic activities. These cause deleterious effects on personal and social health.

�Conscious� conceptual stress is minimal or absent if we are totally ignorant and adjusted to a self centered, petty, indifferent, reflexive, passive, callous and stereotyped life style like a lower animal. But still; there can be �subconscious� stress; and it can play havoc!

Conceptual stress is not merely determined by the technological advances and their complex effects; but also by our nature, constitution and overall resilience, tenacity, fighting spirit, patience, killer instinct and objectivity. Confusing information about the risk of computers and mobile phones, radiations of mobile towers, swine flu, bird flu, chicken Gunia, cyber crimes; creates stress.

Maximum conceptual stress is developed; when begin to grow. As our perspective assumes global dimension our thinking reaches out to probe into; and explore the mysteries of various natural phenomena, our feelings reach out to the miseries of the millions including animals; the conceptual stress multiplies! This stress amongst Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Lokamanya Tilak and others; gave new light to world.

Our conceptual stress also; increases as we search for solutions to the conflicting situations and observations and inexplicable issues and come close to the solutions; but encounter difficulty in expressing them! This becomes more disturbing when our solutions are proved ineffective, though not inaccurate! Since we seem to fail we get quite stressed in persisting with our views and mission; but cannot abandon them too! We are in agony! Why are we ineffective if we are accurate?

At this point the very foundation of our existence begins to shake and our existence almost gets uprooted! But through this devastating dark night; dawns; the capacity to assert ourselves and conquer the stressors on the one hand; and there is visible benevolent impact of Total Stress Management on the other!

The key factors involved throughout; is NAMASMARAN, which is very simple. There is no need of any technique, money, methodology, technology, cooperation; or anything for that matter. It is beyond all kinds of �barriers and walls� of beliefs and non beliefs. It is a super-solution provided by the immortal galaxy of saints, seers and sages; from round the globe, but most importantly by Shri Brahmachaitanya Maharaj Gondavlekar.


Lastly; every one of us is bound to go through the conceptual stress knowingly or unknowingly and hence; there is no escape. We can conquer it through NAMASMARAN (remembering our true self); and get the empowerment and enlightenment; and vision, clarity and clues; to individual and global blossoming; or else; suffer and inflict others with our suffering.

DOUBTS ABOUT NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

NAMASMARAN, is a fundamental and universal solution (other solutions being adjuvant) for the perceptible transition from individual and universal problems; to individual and universal blossoming.

In rigid and unquestioning body consciousness; we can be callous and oblivious to the pain of others. We can be �happy� and �stoic� and free of doubts; whether we practice NAMASMARAN or not; till; we ourselves are not inflicted; or are in tribulations.

But doubts creep in our mind; due to sensitive and inquisitive body consciousness; manifesting into our genuine concern; for the sectarian and piecemeal approaches and policies; revolving around petty perspectives, thoughts and vested interests; in various (political, social, economic, medical, industrial, agricultural, educational and even �religious and spiritual�) fields; to everyone�s detriment.

We cannot be happy and fulfilled from anything else; other than self realization, that is freedom from the overwhelming impact of body consciousness. This is true liberation or mukti or Nirvana; and is coupled with universally beneficial policies and their actual implementation in all the fields of life.

If NAMASMARAN is meant for mere �self realization� and not for social revolution; then how can merging in NAMASMARAN completely; be cosmic self, the reflection of which is the universe and society? Hence there cannot be any individual liberation without the actual reflection (the details of which may vary) in personal and social life.

All the ideas and pursuits of �personal� liberation; without tangible changes in environment; are petty and actually counterproductive. But the feeling of personal liberation in absence of such changes; is theoretically possible; as nothing is impossible! The concerned individual himself or herself; has to decide; whether he/she is; on the way of liberation or actually liberated; or is callous and in self deception.

Doubts about NAMASMARAN creep in mind; because of the agonies of the burning problems of the people; at global to local levels; in as much as the doubts spurt by our physical pains, financial crisis, and humiliation in personal life. There is no disagreement and no denial; that this is due to the body consciousness.

NAMASMARAN, is inseparable from globally beneficial perspective, policies, plans and programs, to be evolved by the leaders in different fields, and their meticulous implementation by the masses; and thereby; the successful individual and universal blossoming in actual day to day life.

All this can be disproved by their own examples; if self realized people, having nothing to do about society and have no influence on the society whatsoever; bring forth other evidences of their self realization

STRESS is universal. But if it is mismanaged its impact on individual and global life varies.

One of the major factors that determines; the impact of STRESS is the kind of occupation we are involved in.

Thus STRESS in life of a painter, a teacher, a doctor, a judge, a fire fighter, a quality control officer in drug or food industry, an architect or a civil engineer involved in constructing dams, bridges, flyovers, pilot of a air plane, railway engine drivers, would not affect the individual life or social life to the same extent and in the same way.

The other factor determines the impact of STRESS; is our position in any given job.

Thus if we are students in primary school; our STRESS has relatively less effect on the wellbeing of the school, family and the society. If we are headmasters; the influence would be more. If we are education inspectors, education officers, education directors; then the impact would be much more. If we are education policy makers; then the impact would be far reaching and on generations to come.

In other words as and when we are in policy making, decision making, planning, governing and administrative positions; the effect of STRESS on individual and global life is far more than when we are not.

(These are general statements. Theoretically the STRESS of any individual; whether a new born baby (if it is precious for the entire family), a toddler (if commits some mischief in a car), or even an animal (bird causing plane accident or a wild animal entering residential areas); may have significant impact on society; in a particular situation.

Coming back to our original points; if we are leaders in crucial fields; then the impact of our STRESS is far greater on ourselves and the society. As a corollary; if we the leaders; become conscious, committed and capable of holistic solutions; its impact also would be far reaching on the society and the generations to come.

The idiosyncrasies of a petty person can sometimes match with those of millions and when such an individual emerges as a leader, the idiosyncrasies culminate in mass mania. As a result, we can see ill intentioned mass movements, demonstrations, strikes, agitations, and even riots and civil wars! The tragedy is that these outbursts serve either mediocrity; or mean purpose and vested interests!

The mediocre leaders and their followers are shackled in the fetters of their pitiable and loathsome mediocrity (as many of us could be). It is as if they are unable to rise from the mud they are drowned in!

(But stress (and its management) of a common man/woman also; assumes a mammoth form by virtue of our number; and influences the making and functioning of our leaders. His/her consciousness, conscience, consensus, commitment and capacity; also have global dimension and can have benevolent influence; on our leaders).

Let us understand that natural differences in color and character; features and appearances; qualities and peculiarities; and limitations and potentials; as such; are harmless and are part of human civilization. But these same; when generate pride, prejudice; exploitation, imposition, pressurization, suppression, cheating etc; they become natural constraints and restraints in the way of evolution of and practice of global perspective essential for development of a global leadership.

The sectarian perspective leads to consolidation of petty identities such as color, race, region, history, religion, language; based on petty interests; and divide and tear apart violently; the world in pieces.

Global leadership must have a vision of underlying global unity amidst the apparent diversity. Global leadership must also have the perspective and appreciation of the innate and inherent complementarity amidst the apparent contradictions and controversies. Such leadership would inspire and initiate; the marshalling and utilization of the human resources for the Conscious Evolutionary Transformation or Holistic Health, or Superliving or Total Stress Management of the mankind. These words (explained in my books) are deliberately used as they convey and imply a specific and clear cut content of the otherwise ambiguous terms �welfare�, �progress�, �development�, �modernization� etc!

We can be true global leaders in our respective fields; if we prefer to grow beyond our biological potentials, by preference and NOT compulsion, because such growth in itself is the greatest gain!

If we understand this; then the option of becoming a true leader opens for us.

We begin to recognize our innate urges or the calling of our soul (and differentiate them from our petty and superficial wants or temptations) and live single mindedly; according to �these innate urges� matching with those of billions (called �VISHVACHE ARTA� in Marathi) and be true leaders.

Living unwaveringly in accordance with our innate urges (matching with the aspirations of billions i.e. VISHVACHE ARTA); and at the same time being considerate about their limitations; confirms us as true leaders; and the study and practice of Total stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN) empowers us in being such exemplary leaders.

We need not believe in this; but study, analyze, question, contradict, argue, practice and verify. It is however not possible to verify this; with mere casual approach, reading, discussion, guesswork, conjecture or imagination.

BUT WHAT IS NAMASMARAN?
Namasmaran usually embodies; remembering the name of God, Guru, great souls; such as prophets and whatever is considered as holy e.g. planets and stars. It is remembered silently, loudly, along with music, dance, along with breathing, in group or alone. Further, NAMASMARAN is either counted by some means such as fingers, rosary (called SMARANI or JAPAMALA), or electronic counter; or practiced without counting. The traditions vary from region to region and from religion to religion.

However the universal principle underlying
NAMASMARAN is to reorient our physiological and social being; with our true self and establish and strengthen the bond between; our physiological and social being; with our true self; and finally reunification or merger with our true self!

Individual consciousness is the culmination of every activity in life. NAMASMARAN is the pinnacle of or culmination of individual consciousness and the final common pathway; to objective or cosmic consciousness. Thus we get funneled into or unified with our true self (objective or cosmic consciousness)!

Thus NAMASMARAN is in fact the YOGA of YOGA in the sense; that it is the culmination of consciousness associated with every possible procedure and technique in the yoga that we are familiar with.

It is the YOGA of YOGA; also because; it is the culmination of consciousness associated with all the activities in the universe!

It is YOGA of YOGA because everybody in the world irrespective of his/her tradition and the beliefs; would eventually, ultimately and naturally reach it; in the process of liberation. Even so called non believers also would not �miss� the �benefit of NAMASMARAN as they may remember true self through one symbol or another�!

Just as NAMASMARAN is YOGA of YOGA it is meditation of meditation also! This is because the natural and ultimate climax of every form of meditation; is remembering true self or merging with cosmic consciousness effortlessly!

These facts however have to be realized with persistent practice of NAMSMARAN and not blindly believed or blindly disbelieved with casual approach!

In short NAMSMARAN is a super-bounty of cosmic consciousness for every individual to realize it (cosmic consciousness)! This is truly a super-bounty because a person, who experiences it, rises above mercenary, commercial and even professional and charity planes and manifests super- transactions in his or her life!

These are just few observations to give rough idea about what is NAMASMARAN. NAMASMARAN is an ocean of bliss. Its true meaning is beyond description in words and has to be experienced, not by one or few persons sporadically; but most preferably, by billions!

One is said to achieve ANUSANDHAN, which is a state of ultimate freedom; or being connected with true self; remembered through the name of God as inspired by the Guru (NAMASMARAN); in traditional practice. It is beyond all subjective considerations and pursuits; and has benevolent effect of facilitating ANUSANDHAN; on the entire universe!

The last point is; NAMASMARAN is being practiced by billions even now. But even though all of them may not be enlightened instantly; at least; some of them would certainly be enlightened and empowered to evolve, guide and consolidate the global conscience and thereby manifest global unity, harmony and justice; through holistic policies!