NAMA, NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (PART 8) DR SHRINIWAS J. KASHALIKAR

Student: I really appreciate the intentions and the reasons
underlying the development of these concepts. But I am still
not quite convinced as to how the NAMASMARAN can be
useful to me!
Teacher: Fine! Actually I also had not developed the
conviction about NAMASMARAN at that time, which I
have today. In fact; as I said; I had no idea even about the
holistic concept of stress. It was merely an identification of
the panacea. I had just begun to understand; the suffering in
life; more holistically and the need of making the solutions
also more holistic! There was still; a lot of ambiguity with
respect to the details; as to how NAMASMARAN would
enable us to understand the problems more holistically and
evolve holistic solutions!
It is only then, when I began to study the physiological and
pathophysiological aspects of the meaning, mechanism,
* NAMA NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT * 33
causes and effects of stress; that it became clear; that the
stress in an individual influences adversely; the social life
and the support systems; and vice versa! Moreover it also
became clear that the spiritual, religious, philosophical,
ideological, political, social, economic, psychological,
physiological, pathophysiological and clinical/medical
approaches to understanding and management of stress were
complementary. I realized that the stress management at
merely at individual level or merely at social level could not
be optimally effective. It had to be a simultaneous process of
individual and universal blossoming.
This was the germ of Total Stress Management!
This led to further study of NAMASMARAN as a panacea!
I had studied NAMASMARAN and practiced it earlier; but
by now I started appreciating its power to transform an
individual; in terms of empowering him or her to develop
a holistic perspective, thinking, planning, programming
and implementation and thus influence the universal
support systems and the universal life.
Student: I think I shall be able to appreciate the importance
of NAMASMARAN as I learn more about stress! But it
seems that this revelation was satisfying!
Teacher: In a way; yes; because even though the essence of
this realization was clearly stated in the literature, which I
had come across; it was not explicit. The focus was on God
* NAMA NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT * 34
realization, salvation, liberation, emancipation etc, without
a clear reference to the concrete material counterpart of the
global welfare.
Most of the well meaning atheists as well as theists; in
spite of harboring an enlightened and a conscientious
heart; and generous mind; did not realize the importance of
NAMASMARAN as a means of growing more objective.
They did not understand the pivotal role of NAMASMARAN
in breaking the shackles of ego and subjectivity. They did
not appreciate the fact; that the policies, plans, programs
and their implementation; needed to be; increasingly holistic
and could surely be made; increasingly holistic, through
NAMASMARAN.
I realized that true atheism is; nullifying the stupefying
influence of apparent environment; and true theism is
ability to realize the otherwise imperceptible true self!
Even the materialistic and spiritual pursuits in my nature;
were fully satisfied, when I realized that every material
pursuit; including the sustenance and nurturing of our
physical existence; becomes meaningful, worthwhile and
fulfilling, when aimed at culminating into the realization
of true self! With this understanding the atheist and theist
facets of my mine; were simultaneously satisfied!
In absence of this understanding it appeared to me that there
was a strong possibility of atheists as well as theists going
astray, skip their duties (SWADHARMA); remain selfish
* NAMA NAMASMARAN AND TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT * 35
and indolent; and yet infatuate; either “social revolution”
or “individual liberation” respectively.
I thought, this error of omission of the universal
benevolence of NAMASMARAN, was as real and as big;
as that of being oblivious to the omnipotent benevolence
of true self or God!