NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT: (A HEART TO HEART DIALOGUE) PART 2.
DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Student: I understand what you say; but not quite convinced by the analogies! It is difficult to accept NAMASMARAN even provisionally and begin its practice!
Teacher: We have to bear in mind that most of us; are initially ignorant; like a new born baby. If new born baby did not breathe; because it did not know about its value; then it would be dead. In the same way; if we did not practice NAMASMARAN; right from the beginning, then we would be dead due to deprivation from the nectar of conscience; deep within us! Hence even if you are not convinced about the analogies; it is vital to begin practicing it. In the course of our discussion and your own practice; you may either confirm its pivotal role in Total Stress Management and accept it; or rule out its role altogether; and reject it!
Student: OK Sir! Even as it is difficult; I will do it. This is because; firstly; I respect your earnestness; and secondly; if I am not convinced at the end; I am free to quit it. But Sir, Please tell me how I should start its practice.
Teacher: It is advisable to start remembering the name of any entity you love and revere selflessly and maximally. This is important because; this remembrance of a particular name you choose; is the first step; to realize the ultimate truth, which it implies! Secondly; you may remember it audibly or silently, may or may not use a rosary and do this; when you wake up in morning, before you go to bed; and before eating or drinking!
Student: Is that all? No other conditions?
Teacher: Yes! That is all! No conditions. No other paraphernalia!
Now; let us come back to your question. This doubt about NAMASMARAN arises; firstly because; there is a conflict in our mind; produced by what we observe and what we are preached. On the one hand; we observe all the life; full of its complexities and contradictions, which appears real; and on the other; we are preached that it is transient, ephemeral and illusory.
We find it difficult to reconcile; the day to day inevitable struggle to fulfill the needs for survival; such as food, water, shelter; and the idealism of seeking and realizing the truth beyond all these! We find it hard to bridge the chasm between the day to day apparently real suffering; and the apparently illusory quest of truth; in the form of different modes of devotion, penance and meditation including NAMASMARAN. We find it difficult to relate the actual transactions in life (political, economic, educational, medical and other fields of life); and the apparently inconsequential, superfluous and idealistic pursuits. In fact; we are unable to see any coherence between the compulsions of daily life and the so called urge supposed to be present in every one; to seek and realize truth, which of course, we hardly know!
Student: You have restated my question more explicitly and exactly! How can this idle practice of NAMASMARAN (or other devotional practices involved in religions and or spiritualism), devoid of any rational and tangible solutions and activities; help in Total Stress Management?
Teacher: I understand your question, because even I had this question once upon a time! We will come to it in sequence.
During childhood; I was neither aware of the meaning, causes, dimensions, mechanisms of stress; and its far reaching effects on individual and social life, nor I understood the meaning of NAMASMARAN!
In those days; I used to feel contented for a while; in passing, getting ranks, getting awards, winning competitions, friendships, achievements, entertainment, infatuations, utopia and also; helping the others in one way or another. The pains and failures did disturb, albeit temporarily. What could be the reason for all this?