STRESS

AND

NAMASMARAN

DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR
STRESS is common and hence Total Stress
Management, which is a golden chance and opportunity
to blossom together, must become “common” i.e.
accessible and available to every one in every nook and
corner of the world.

Now; we have to see why and how; NAMASMARAN is a

core of Total Stress Management, or why and how Total
Stress Management is actually a byproduct of
NAMSMARAN!

Most of us experience that when we are charged with

physical needs, passions, emotions, thoughts and ideas,
we feel restless to satisfy our needs.

But some of us simultaneously experience a process

within us that agitates by similar plight of the people!
The plight of people enthralls, wakes up, and inspires us
to bring about change (revolution) so as to satisfy the
needs of people. This leads to intellectual and emotional
turmoils and motivation and mobilization in several
ways. Thus we may read, study, participate in struggles,
philanthropic activities and so on. The social
circumstances however; appear dark and annoying. The
change, the revolution appears to be the only purpose of
life, even as the exact program of action and/or blue print
of the revolution; are obscure.

The frenzy of all these complex feelings are so much, that

any proponent of God or NAMASMARAN appear as
“unconcerned about peoples’ true needs, unbothered
about real issues such as poverty and injustice; and hence
antisocial, hypocrite, parasitic or at best; stupid or
gullible”!

The restlessness within; is so much that it propels us to

search for instant solutions and impatiently! It compels
us towards addressing every problem that appears in the
news papers or on TV, apart from those in our own
personal life.

As a result, we get engrossed in relevant physical service,

philanthropy, active participation in sociopolitical
struggles, emotional expression in poetry, intellectual
analysis, discussions, public speeches, writing articles and
books etc. These appear to be the methods of self
assertion and solution to the problems!

Most importantly; withdrawal from such activities is

suffocating, unbearable and killing!
Namasmaran appears to be a despicable escapism from
such “very useful and urgent” activities. As regards it
social importance, it appears to be actually
counterproductive. It appears to paralyze us; who are
facing problems; and make us parasitic and paranoid! It
appears to make us dependent and helpless. It appears to
discourage, distract and dissuade us from accepting the
challenges of life in personal and social life and facing
them victoriously!

The fervor of our mind never gets calmed by the advice

and idea of NAMASMARAN, though many a times we
appreciate the honesty and selflessness of the individuals
advocating it.

One important experience however begins to turn us

towards NAMSMARAN.

Which is this experience?

The experience of endlessness of human grief, human

malady, human disease, human tribulations and human
problems; which together we call STRESS! We begin to
realize that all our activities are not nonsense; but they
are piecemeal and ad hoc. They are not holistic. They are
not radical. They at best provide temporary,
symptomatic or palliative relief.

Second realization that propels us towards

NAMASMARAN; is the universal nature of
NAMASMARAN!

By virtue of being free of every possible prejudice and

devoid of every possible kind of intellectual, emotional,
social, cultural and other impositions it is truly universal
and NOT sectarian. It NEVER interferes with the
tradition, custom or belief systems of any body. In fact it
reorients us to our own selves! It provides profound
empowerment and reenkindles our potential to blossom
together! It revitalizes and rejuvenates every kind of
person from any age, religion, ideology, theism, atheism
and all possible socioeconomic and other differences.

Simultaneously if we read various arguments regarding

NAMASMARAN in books such as the biography of Shri
Brahmachaitanya Gondavlekar Maharaj, by Prof. K.V.
Belsare; coupled with our experiences with a variety of
activities of service and social struggle for justice; we
begin to get convinced that NAMASMARAN can evolve
and transform our perspective, vision, intellectual
framework, emotions and instincts; and evolve us to
conceptualize the Total Stress Management by
blossoming us into objective or cosmic consciousness.

We begin to realize that; if this happens in every walk of

life; then it could usher in; individual and global
blossoming, by actualizing revolution with truly holistic
contents i.e. globally benevolent perspective and policies!

We generally feel like sharing our perspective with

others; and hence may write books on NAMASMARAN,
VISHNUSAHASRANAM, and GEETA; in Hindi,
Marathi and English. We may; besides getting them
published, try to sell or even distribute them free of cost
and spread the message of NAMASMARAN with our
perspective as far and wide as we can!

But at this juncture we have to address some arguments

against NAMASMARAN as well!

1.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! On this back ground; what is the basis to
prove that NAMASMARAN can lead to global
blossoming?
There is no basis; excepting inner conviction! We have to
practice and verify. There is nobody else who can
provide the proof! In short we are privileged to practice
and experience ourselves and not depend on anybody else
for the proof! We are honored to have the freedom of
NOT having to believe in anybody!

2. If we 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”! We can not prove that

NAMASMARAN evolves us into objective or cosmic
consciousness or imparts global perspective! Even if we
provide the whole concept of Total Stress Management
or holistic perspective; one could always argue that this
concept has nothing to do with NAMSMARAN! Hence
here also there is freedom of not having to believe!
3. At some point; we realize that our opinions were not
changed through “our will”, but were changed due to the
influence of factors beyond our comprehension
constituting the “field”, cosmic consciousness or God that
encompasses and influences not merely “us” but
everything; including the people in the universe! Hence;
whether people in the world would get associated with
NAMASMARAN and evolve into cosmic consciousness;
would also be determined by the same “field”!
What is the proof for existence of such a field?

Obviously; we have no proof that a field exists and

influences us! Because even if it exists and influences; we
can not show the cause and effect relationship of such
influences on our life and hence we can not provide any
proof for such blossoming (which may be “our mission or
vision”)!

There is again freedom to practice and experience and no

burden or getting shackled into intellectual framework
made by some one else! There is no compulsion to get
drowned in the some body else’s’ words but freedom to
soar in the realm beyond words!
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
him or her to develop interest in NAMASMARAN!

This argument is because of inability to “see” anything

tangible and rather the addiction to believe in a thing;
only if it is tangible! It can not therefore be refuted. It
can only be satisfied if the questioner exercises his or her
freedom to blossom his or her capacity to “see”!

None of the questioners; amongst us; has to slavishly

believe that NAMASMARAN can influence the social
life, because the blossoming is irresistibly omnipresent
impossible to be turned blind eye to; amongst and
around the practitioners of NAMASMARAN.

If we have doubt about whether NAMASMARAN

blossoms us into cosmic consciousness, or cosmic
consciousness absorbs into NAMASMARAN; or cosmic
consciousness some how is related to NAMASMARAN;
or whether NAMASMARAN has anything to do with
cosmic consciousness; then also there is freedom to
blossom and experience rather than condemned to get
buried in the sterile semantics!

All in all, practice of NAMASMARAN and the

experience associated with it; are innate and beyond
linguistic comprehension and communication; though the
glimpses of its supremacy can be described. We have
freedom NOT to believe in NAMASMARAN; and
provisionally accept, study, experiment out and
experience!

It appears however, that soon; the individuals and the

societies of world; would get freedom from the conflicts
generated from fulfillment or otherwise; of their physical
needs, instincts, feelings, arguments, flights of
imaginations, infatuations and restlessness, and get the
privilege of being associated with NAMASMARAN,
objective bliss, cosmic consciousness, globally beneficial
perspective, policies and their implementation;
irrespective of the nature of cause and effect relationship
(which also incidentally; is a product of human
intellectual framework!)!
5. What is the sense in the claim that there is active peace
in NAMASMARAN; as suggested by some? What is
“Active Peace”? What is so great about it?

The “Active Peace” is a concept to suggest desireless

(absence of subjective desire) desire i.e. objective desire.
This is a stage in life reached through NAMASMARAN. It
can not be and need not be arbitrarily imposed on oneself,
because, even as it is pleasant to those who achieve it; it is
not usually imaginable and hence agreeable to us; who are
engrossed in sensual pleasures.

In fact we find it quite dreadful to be “freed” from these

“pleasures”! This is a kind of “fear of loss”! We become
miserable even with the thought of such “dreaded
freedom”! However if we think keenly, then we can (in the
course of NAMASMARAN) imagine how sublime and
towering is this stage, why it is acclaimed in books like
Bhagavad Gita; and why knowingly or unknowingly; we
all tend to move towards it.

6. Is it not true that NAMASMARAN has nothing to offer

in material terms?
It is true that NAMASMARAN does not ensure any
concrete material gains as such. But NAMASMARAN
actually “converts” us from our “seeker” status into a
“master” status! We become masters of our petty selves! In
fact this is the hallmark of progress in any culture;
anywhere in the world.

However; what sort of conversion we undergo; what sort of

masters we become; has no tangibility. Hang delivered a
child and having become mother; need not be proved to
others; or need not be proved by getting certified from
others. The mother knows it more than anyone else! It is
her privilege! Hence this change within us through
NAMASMARAN is accessible to experience and not
dependent for its validation on any words and proofs!

7. Why is NAMASMARAN ridiculed by many of us?

NAMASMARAN binds us in “something” non sensuous;

and due to our immaturity; appears to force us away from
our likes and dislikes i.e. our ego. Since this is painful; we
ridicule it as foolish, escapist, nihilistic, nonsense and
erratic activity.
8. Is it not true that NAMASMARAN is a kind of paranoid
behavior or slavish behavior?

Initially; NAMASMARAN gives us the feeling of

submission, prostration, defeat, surrender, prostration by
negation of ourselves. But actually this negation is of ego,
and victory of our true self. But since we do not realize this
initially, we feel that this is an unpleasant and
discomforting paranoid activity, which is not true.

9. What is the use of practicing NAMASMARAN right

from childhood?

If we practice NAMASMARAN right from childhood

even without much understanding; this subconscious
learning experience remains in our subconscious and is
pivotal in setting us free from our lower self. Because of
NAMASMARAN we become oriented to our higher
selves and keep blossoming! We become relatively far
more patient and persistent in the process of Total Stress
Management and overcome intense impulses (arising
from our ego or lower self) to give up NAMASMARAN!
Thus we overcome or conquer the STRESS resulting
from the conflicts between lower and higher self. This is
why we should practice of NAMASMARAN right from
childhood. We call it japa, jaap, jikra etc.

10. Is there any reason to believe that the world would

unite and blossom?

No. There is no reason to believe in anything. There is

however golden opportunity and privilege to practice
NAMASMARAN and be free to “see” the world re-
exploring the hitherto imperceptible unity and
blossoming together!! This is analogous to appropriate
linking of the bogies of a train; or assembly of various
parts of a car; or even connection of various types of cells
in a body!

All in all; we have the fortune to appreciate that

NAMASMARAN is inevitable and inseparable core of
Total Stress Management, or in fact; Total Stress
Management is a byproduct of NAMASMARAN.

I must be clear by now to all of us; that the STRESS can

be managed temporarily and symptomatically by
shopping, shower, swimming, skating, skiing, singing,
slimming and such other ways; which serve as adjuvant
measures.
Moreover; it must also be clear that we have the greatest
bounty of studying and practicing NAMASMARAN and
Total Stress Management embodying holistic
perspective, policies, plans, programs, implementation
and administration; at all levels; and realizing individual
and global blossoming; inside and outside!