STRESS AND DESIRES: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Is it appropriate to advocate desirelessness; or fulfilling of all desires; right from childhood? This is a very important question; in the study and practice of Total Stress Management.

The puritanical element in us; feels that arbitrary suppression of desires is ideal and the individualistic, hedonistic or epicurean model upholds indulgence! Hence we vacillate between; simplicity and austerity; on the one hand; and extravagance and gratification; on the other; right from childhood! The conflict becomes grueling and stressful if not resolved!

The suppression and indulgence are double edged weapons. Suppression can inflate ego and dictatorial whims; and indulgence can nurture petty and parasitic selfishness.

Hence; the needs of the newborn babies, infants, toddlers, children, youths and the elderly are variable and ought to be fulfilled; optimally through holistic perspective, policies, plans and programs and their implementation; at all levels.

But; this can be achieved; if the leaders in the world; have a program of becoming objective! Similarly; there has to be a program; to help us (irrespective of age, sex, occupation, race, region, religion, ideology etc); to culminate or sublimate our individual desires; into the cosmic desire; benevolent to all.

Can NAMASMARAN, (JAPA, JAAP, JIKRA, SUMIRAN, SIMARAN, i.e. remembrance of one’s true self); be this common minimum program that can reorient us; to our sublime duty (SWADHARMA) in every situation of life; and helps us to march at least step by step; from; the states of “indulging”; to the objective state of sublimating petty personal desires in cosmic desire benevolent to all?