STRESS AND DHARMA: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

One of the major causes of STRESS; is the religious persecutions and forcible conversions. The wounds of the religious oppression have still been bleeding in many places; and their marks and scars are too obvious to go ignored; in several places and people. Religious fundamentalism and fanaticism (like other versions of fanaticism); are indiscriminately violent, destructive and also suicidal!

If we understand the meaning of DHARMA; then we would understand it its potentials to evolve; individual freedom into self realization; and democracy into global blossoming!

DHARMA means a principle that holds the universe together. It has two aspects. One is conceptual and the other is practical. These complement each other.

The conceptual aspect; embodies is intellectual study and mental work such as meditation, NAMASMARAN etc; and practical aspect; embodies codes of conduct; evolved over thousands of years by consensus. They are aimed at individual and global blossoming. In Hindu or SANATANA DHARMA these are called SHRUTI and SMRUTI; respectively.

As a part of Total Stress Management; we have to understand; that DHARMA is not a religion. The word religion is derived from the root; religare, which means to bind human beings in an organization. DARMA is derived from “Dharayati”, “Dharanat”, which means; to support and implies principles connecting and coordinating the universe including different religions, regions; and for the welfare of all the inmates of the universe!

Everything we do to connect with the truth; right from the birth to death, in every season, through out 24 hours and in any corner of the world is DHARMA. DHARMA is everywhere; be that a house, a hospital, a laboratory, a school, a college, a university, a court, an industry, a farm, a gymnasium; or wherever there is a search and a pursuit of truth through any activity by any individual!

In fact; the art, literature, music, dance; and everything we do; either contributes to; our being connected with truth (DHARMA); or being disconnected from truth (ADHARMA).

SATVA GUNA propels people to yearn for understanding and realizing the DHARMA and deal every problem in a holistic fashion. Holistic vision brings about blossoming of all activities; into DHARMA i.e. the supreme experience of the innate universal unity and harmony, by inmates of the universe.

The RAJOGUNA leads to lopsided, analytical and reductionist thinking bereft of holistic perspective. This thinking; leads to a kind of animosity between; the theist, atheist, spiritual, material; and different ideologies and different religions. The thinking is in one way, feeling in another way and yearning through passions in yet another way! This is precisely the cause of chaos in the global and individual life.

The TAMOGUNA and RAJOGUNA, lead to delusion, superstitions, fanaticism, obstinacy, fundamentalism, hatred, contempt, prejudice and lopsided, analytical and reductionist thinking bereft of holistic perspective; respectively; and make it difficult to understand this concept of and potential of DHARMA. This leads to a kind of animosity between theist, atheist, spiritual, material and other ideologies and different religions.

TAMOGUNA and RAJOGUNA and their typical outlook and (harmful) actions; are presumably due to disintegration and in-coordination between; right and left cerebral hemispheres; between higher and lower centers in the brain, between central, autonomic, neuroendocrine and endocrine systems; and metabolism, and between intellectual conviction, emotional appreciation and instinctual fervor! This leads to; thinking in one way, feeling in another way and passionately craving in yet another way!



TAMOGUNA leads to prevalence of dark forces of fanaticism, bigotry, lethargy, adamancy, indiscriminate hatred, malice, viciousness; and coercive, cruel and indiscriminate violence to impose their opinions, whims, fancies; under guise of religion, philosophy or ideology; on others!

Preponderance of RAJO GUNA and TAMO GUNA promote the ADHARMA. This is precisely one of the major STRESSORS in the world; in the individual and global life.

The immortal gurus say that; NAMASMARAN, i.e. JAAP, JAP, KIKRA i.e. remembering one’s true self; lets us identify and gradually blossom at individual and global levels; and experience the innate universal unity and harmony; and conquer the ADHARMA. One may; if one chooses to; grab the golden chance; and verify this statement.