STRESS AND CONVERSIONS: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

It is high time we realize how important and urgent it is; to look at the stress in a holistic manner. This is because, neither the stress at individual level nor the stress at social and universal levels; be managed properly and effectively, without holistic perspective.

One of the major stressors is; the phenomenon of conversions.

While the instincts of not merely survival, but racial, religious, ideological, cultural, economic and political supremacy or helpless submission to them; are natural and understandable; they are undoubtedly retrogressive, exploitative, oppressive, coercive, and often brutal or suicidal.

While there can not be racial, ideological, cultural, economic and political conversion as such, the disguised, surreptious, concealed, covert or coercive conversion in the form of imposition of racial, cultural, economic and political characteristics, and passive submission to them; has been taking place in many parts of the world, for millennia.

These conversions in different forms are associated with deceptive, seductive, misleading and/or rabid propaganda and indiscriminate violence for racial, religious, ideological, cultural, economic and political supremacy and gullible submission to them.

If we introspect and try to understand and appreciate our own deepest aspirations, then we would realize that the basic idea of individual and universal blossoming does not call for any kind of conversions. In fact, these are in most instances only counterproductive and self defeating external changes reaping division, disruption and discord. They hamper the process of individual and universal blossoming, produce stress!

Our devotion and dedication to our innate core of our conscience; is marred by our basal, barbaric, fanatic and frantic efforts to convert others; or helplessly get converted. Conversion (whether by force, temptations or deceit) to certain names, titles, certain dress, certain arbitrary rules and regulations; is the greatest insult to self and others; and greatest violence against freedom.

Conversions per se; are nothing but promotion and/or imposition or submission to our pettiness, superficiality, whims, fancies, names and titles. They insult the basic tenets, motto and spirit; of our racial, religious, ideological, cultural, economic and political identities; viz. global welfare!

Hence we should oppose and resist; converting and being converted respectively! But it is easy to speak. How to practice it? How to free ourselves; from our basal instincts and the shackles of barbarism?

The answer is; to wake up and heed the preaching of immortal gurus and begin the practice of NAMASMARAN; as per our beliefs and traditions. It is the simplest and universal way!

Practicing, preaching, writing, publishing, broadcasting, sponsoring, discussing, sharing; in fact; doing whatever best we can; to promote NAMASMARAN; engenders individual and global blossoming, which is the basic and essential motto and spirit; of all religions and the whole mankind.