STRESS AND PRARABDHA: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

PRARABDHA, SANCHIT and KRIYAMANA refer to past deeds and the present deeds respectively.

It is customary to describe a particular calamity as a part of PRARABDHA, when there is no etiology. In medicine also we often use the term idiopathic i.e. where the cause is not known.

The stress results when we attribute all the problems to the PRARABDHA and give up efforts. This is true in personal as well as social life; but especially in social life; because social evils do not bother us so much; as our own personal problems do.

In our religious and spiritual endeavors aimed at self realization or our immortal state; we often neglect; the social evils (attributing them to PRARABDHA) and in our striving for social welfare we forget the essence of life viz. immortal bliss.

As a result; the spiritual and religious endeavors gradually crumble into petty fetish for some esoteric personal gains and the social endeavors get fossilized to mechanical activity without innate fulfillment.

The pursuit of spiritual, religious and social endeavors is actually the same; viz. individual and global blossoming into the experience of immortal self and universal unity and eternal bliss. The former two; focus on the inner development while the latter focus on the all the material development conducive to such inner development.

We need spiritual and religious endeavors such as NAMASMARAN just we need oxygen; and we need all the wisdom and expertise in the science, technology, medicine, agriculture also; just as we need food, water etc. These two are inseparable for life to culminate into efficient individual and global blossoming.

Further; we need NAMASMARAN for our personal inner growth and enlightenment and self realization; but we need holistic perspective, policies, plans and programs for the social development and harmony conducive to NAMASMARAN and growth and enlightenment; in everyone�s life. These two are inseparable.

Therefore; all our institutions e.g. education, research, health care, administration, defense, police and so on; need the detoxifying vital sap of NAMASMARAN as an integral part; and all our religious and spiritual institutions need awareness, motivation and participation in global welfare.

The spiritual and religious endeavors cut off from the mainstream life; degenerate into petrified and parasitic rituals; and the mainstream activities cut off from spiritual and religious endeavors (e.g. NAMASMARAN) degenerate into belligerent and destructive chaos.

STRESS, ENTERTAINMENT AND AMRUTANUBHAV: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It is undeniably true that entertainment forms a vital aspect of our life. Different experiences of excitement, entertainment, recreation, relaxation, lazing, brooding, basking, gossiping and even indulging and so on; are attractively interesting, infatuatively captivating, pleasantly absorbing and hence universally enthralling. These experiences sustain and nourish business and industry in religion, culture, art, fashion and so on! In fact these experiences dominate every walk of our life all over the world.

But if we seriously introspect, then we would find that we do not get the lasting fulfillment; in spite of such experiences.

This lack of fulfillment is divine restlessness, which is akin to the restlessness of a pregnant woman. Just as the restlessness of a pregnant woman; cannot be satisfied by anything other than a safe delivery; resulting in a birth of a healthy baby; followed by healthy mother-baby interaction; the divine restlessness can not be satisfied by any entertainment.

This is exactly why and how; the concepts and practice of Total Stress Management, Superliving, Holistic Health, Holistic Medicine, Holistic Education; and others; with different names and titles; but similar and holistic purport; are evolved all over the world embodying the individual and universal blossoming!

Our participation in any of the above; with top priority to NAMASMARAN; helps us appreciate AMRUTANUBHAV, a literary super masterpiece by Shri Dnyaneshwar Vitthal Kulkarni; popularly known as Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, Dnyanadev Maharaj and Dnyanoba Mauli, (13th century; Maharashtra).

STRESS AND SERMONS: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

We are taught to stand, walk, jump, run, talk, read, write and such many skills! But we are not inspired and guided to know and be ourselves! This statement may appear strange; but if we ponder over it; a bit seriously; then we would be convinced about it. In fact we don�t seem to realize that such inspiration and guidance; is even needed!

Actually some religions and cultures; have made provisions; to educate and empower us to know and be the immortal self that we actually are; through acculturation. These provisions have been wise and appropriate for different ages, occupations, times of the day, regions, seasons and so on; to ensure step wise self realization and growth and blossoming of the society.

But since the wisdom in these religious and cultural practices has become obscure; we are left with a big intellectual vacuum or void and confusion.

We add to this confusion and chaos; by sermonizing ultimate state of self realization and highest standards of devotion, dedication and sacrifice! These unrealistic and impossible ideals and standards are almost always; unachievable and hence cause severe conflict and sense of guilt and enormous stress!

But apart from this perceived stress, our personal and social behavior remains unguided, uncontrolled and hence devoid of even average personal and social norms. This leads to deterioration of personal and social life; in every possible way.

We have to realize that even as we sermonize to �devote, dedicate, and sacrifice everything� so as to see God and to get liberated from the cycle of birth and death; and give examples of great devotees and self realized saints to justify our preachings; how many of us have seen God and are free from the cycle of life and death? Are we not creating hell for ourselves and others?

Actually; as a result of all this; we live reflexively, superficially and casually; in accordance with; the stimuli impinging on us from environment; inside and outside our body and perpetuate stress; in individual and global life; in the form of inappropriate perspective, policies, plans, programs and actions; at individual and global levels.
In absence of Total Stress Management, not just our sermons; but all the efforts towards; globalization, development, progress, advancement, modernization, health care, charity and stress management; fail, in blossoming and fulfilling us and the universe!

Total Stress Management, the core of which is NAMASMARAN; embodies; knowing and being our true selves; and expressing ourselves; in holistic perspective, policy making, planning, programming, execution and administration; step by step; thereby fulfilling our self; while blossoming the others.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

1. What is the basis to prove that NAMASMARAN can lead to global blossoming? NAMASMARAN does not seem to do anything, if compared to for instance; scientific research or socio-political manipulations! It does not seem to work and produce results; even comparable to those produced by relatively simple agricultural activities or other handicrafts!

2. If I say that NAMASMARAN evolves us into objective or cosmic consciousness or imparts global perspective, then the argument is, �Can you prove the cause and effect relationship?�

The answer obviously is �No�! I can not prove that NAMASMARAN evolves us into objective or cosmic consciousness or imparts global perspective!

The �field�, cosmic consciousness or God that encompasses and influences not merely �me� but everything; including the people in the universe! Whether the people in the world would also change and begin to get associated with NAMASMARAN; would also therefore be determined by the same �field�!

3. What is the proof for existence of such a field?

Obviously; I have no proof!

4. Another argument is; NAMASMARAN has no influence on individual or social life; practicing NAMASMARAN is wastage of time! One may feel that NAMASMARAN has benevolent role, because of erroneously attributing the good changes in him or her to NAMASMARAN! Actually it could be the other way round; that is; good changes in him or her have lead to interest in NAMASMARAN!

This argument also, can not be refuted. What can be said is that cosmic consciousness or objective bliss is somehow associated with NAMASMARAN.

5. But even this can not be proved. Neither can I show that some one is linked (through NAMASMARAN) to cosmic consciousness, nor can I can I prove that those; who are not practicing NAMASMARAN; are dissociated from cosmic consciousness or objective bliss!

All in all, practice of NAMASMARAN and the experience associated with it are essentially personal and beyond linguistic communication.
One may or may not believe in them; and provisionally accept, study, experiment out and decide their validity or otherwise!

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.