Previous   Next

STRESS & NISHKAMA KARMA: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

One of the enigmas of Geeta (Gita) philosophy is NISHKAMA KARMA, which means action without expectation of a particular result. This concept has caused wide spread confusion and stress!

How can we perhaps do anything without expectation of a result, when we see that everything is associated with a result; excepting perhaps involuntary actions and activities during sleep?

The following are some explanations.

1. If we focus on; or get obsessed by a particular result; or start “day dreaming” about it; then it can mar the procedural skills and concentration. Hence we have to do away with such obsession.

2. It is also true that we should not get involved in the result, because it can disappoint us if we don’t get the expected result. This is also fair and pragmatic and can protect us from imminent reactive depression or psychiatric maniacal elation.

3. The successes and failures; and the joy and grief respectively; are hallmarks of our subjectivity. Geeta teaches us to grow from subjectivity to be objectivity, where our actions and results cease to remain personal or subjective. Their credit or discredit are NOT ours! This is what happens when rise above the subjectivity completely. This is NISHKAMA KARMA!

4. Most actions are associated with results, their cause and effect relationship; do not follow a subjective logic. This is especially true of thinking, feelings, motivations, and missions etc, which are inexplicable in terms of their nature (physico-chemical details), interactions, influence and effects. Their nature and results; can not be qualified or quantified by routine gauging and assessment.

5. In short; Geeta (Gita) inspires us to evolve our actions; from crudity, subjectivity and insistence on certain cause and effect relationships; to precision, skills and most importantly; quality of feelings involved viz. objectivity (total selflessness or complete merger of purpose with that of nature or God. In other words; to enlighten our action uniformly in its conceptualization, beginning, and end! This is what makes it free of any subjective reactivity to results!

6. From yet another angle; when our subjectivity dissolves into objectivity, the cosmic wisdom flows through our actions; hence as said earlier; we don’t own any patent right or credit or the onus of failures of such really evolved actions. One such absolutely evolved action is NAMASMARAN (remembering one’s true self). It is a UNIVERSALLY BENEVOLENT NISHKAMA KARMA!

7. From yet another angle; the “soul” or the very purpose of the actions is ISHWAR (God) and the result is MAYA (subjective perceptions)! Dwelling on result is forgetting the soul, the very purpose or ISHWAR (God) of action; and getting lost into MAYA.

STRESS AND COMMUNICATION: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

One of the most natural, innate, inevitable, inseparable properties of beings; is communication. It goes on amongst; us, birds, animals, plants, organs, tissues, cells and molecules; in body, fetus and mother; and during sleep and dreams. Its nature and various permutations and combinations; are not yet fully understood.

Today we have internet, mobile phones and video conferencing and other speedy means to connect and meet physically. But chat, gossip, flattery, accolades etc; may elevate the mood temporarily and superficially; but cannot reach the soul and cannot accomplish heart to heart communication. Lack of satisfactory communication is a major cause of stress.

The causes of unsatisfactory communication are:

1.The characteristic limitations of our brain, the number of synapses, the synaptic connections, synaptic interactions, neuro-hormones, hormones and autonomic nervous system and environment inside; and outside and apparently remote facts in space and time, which influence our perceptions and hence; “our capacity to share truth”.

2. Moreover; we are engrossed in superficiality and pettiness; and so; are unable to reach our subconscious and unconscious stratums and conscience and the “self”, which is beyond concrete and constant identity. It is not even possible to understand our own and others’ perceptions, feelings, instincts and needs; because they are too subtle and rapidly changing!


3. But apart from the above two reasons; what we share with others; is only after (unknowingly or knowingly) filtering through the doubts about acceptability, fear of condemnation, apprehension about fall in our own evaluation, shyness to accept our “basal aspects” or fear of punishment.

4. There is limitation to our ability to express and also there is limitation to what a language can express.

5. There is a dilemma about what we expect from ourselves; and what we actually do; and causes stress. We try frantically but in vain; to overcome such stress; by “assuming to be” “what we think we should be”. This stress is further complicated by being “torn apart” between; “what others should think/believe us to be” and “what we think we are”! It is actually a stressful shadow fighting because we cannot determine or decide; “what people think or should think; about us.”

But in spite of all these; the simple and inexpensive way of NAMASMARAN; can empower and enable us to reach our core; and accomplish “soul to soul” and not merely “heart to heart” communication. We are fortunate and privileged; to know and verify this!

Previous   Next