STRESS AND DESIRES: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Is it appropriate to advocate desirelessness; or fulfilling of all desires; right from childhood? This is very important question in Total Stress Management i.e. individual and global blossoming.

In general; many ascetics advocate arbitrary suppression of desires; and austerity; and the individualists uphold indulgence and fulfillment of all desires right from childhood!

Irrespective of the semantics, both aim at maximum fulfillment, which is embodied in a state called STHITAPRAJNA. The meaning or purport of this state is neither annihilation of; nor indulgence in desires; but culmination or sublimation of all the individual desires into the cosmic desire. This is an evolved, buoyant and a dynamically fulfilled state. This is not a state of surrender; but sublime, victorious and ecstatic state of merging with the cosmic consciousness.

The suppression and indulgence are double edged weapons. Suppression can inflate ego and indulgence can spill the life into vanity. Hence; what is required; is grooming and channelizing life; into ultimate fulfillment. Hence; the needs of the newborn babies, infants, toddlers, children, youths and the elderly are variable and ought to be fulfilled; by holistic perspective, policies, plans and programs and their implementation; at all levels.

This requires NAMASMARAN, which reorients us to the precise and sublime duty (SWADHARMA) at every stage of and every walk of life; and helps us to march joyously and victoriously; from; the states of enjoying the personal desires; to the state of sublimating them in cosmic desire! Hence the leadership of the world; should introduce the study and practice of JAPA, JAAP, JIKRA, NAMASMARAN i.e. remembrance of one’s true self; in all the courses; at all the stages of education; and in every walk of life!