STRESS, CULTURE AND LANGUAGE: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

Stress begins with conception and is conscious, subconscious and unconscious. But the prevalent manifestations of stress; in individual and global life; originate from our ignorance of ‘true self’.

This gives rise to ‘petty identity of self’ and petty perspective of universe! As a result; thinking is founded on wrong assumptions, prejudices and premises. Such thinking is not holistic. It is sectarian, fragmented and full of conflicts, stress and ill effects in individual and global life.

Since one of the functions of intellect; in association with feelings and passions; is language; the language of a person and a social group reflects the conflicts and stress in that individual; and social group.

We can find many examples of the “linguistic symptoms”; of stress in the languages of individuals, groups and cultures.

Thus cow is referred to as Gomata; i.e. mother cow; expressing love, care, respect, appreciation; in societies where the Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); is traditionally practiced. Others; look down (knowingly or unknowingly) upon cow; as an eatable product and call it; beef!

The rivers are revered as mothers, who feed their babies, in societies where the Total stress Management; is traditionally in vogue for millennia. The rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Narmada are referred to as Maiyya (beloved mother). Others; treat the rivers; as mere sources of water, with some physical characteristics, area and at the most; scenic beauty.

The societies, where the Total Stress Management is ingrained in customs; call the plants; such as Tulasi (holy basil i.e. ocimum sanctum); ‘Goddess Tulasi’ and worship them. Where as the societies lacking this perspective; treat them as mere living elements; lower down the scale of evolution; with some medicinal or other properties.

The earth is called Bhoodevi (Goddess earth) and Bhoomata (mother earth) in such cultures with holistic perspective inherent to Total Stress Management. Earth is treated as a physical nonliving phenomenon and simply called earth; by those who are oblivious to such concepts.

We can quote many examples.

By Total Stress Management, the perspective becomes holistic and is characterized (apart from many other things); by holistic perspective and language. Hence the myriads of forms in the universe are treated and gratefully revered as deities or incarnations of the ultimate and absolute truth, the true self of an individual. That is how there are prayers for earth, sun, rain, ocean, wind and water apart from other elements.

We find words with subtle, deep and profound meanings such as NAMASMARAN, SWADHARMA, dhyana, guru, guru-tatva, shraddha, prayashchitta; and karma, krama, raja, bhakti, jnana, laya hatha and other varieties of yoga and the aphorisms such as ATMANO MOKSHARTHAM JAGAT HITAYA CHA (for one’s liberation along with simultaneous emancipation of the universe).

This richness and profundity of attitude and language show the holistic health of the society and the culture.

In absence of Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); the stress remains mismanaged and causes suffering (sin)! It gets reflected; apart from other aspects of behavior; in the language.

In Sanskrit it said:

PAPENAIVA NRUNAM VAANI BHAVET KATUKA BHASHINI
DAINYA MATSARYA PARAMA SHUBHA ASHUBHA VIVARJITA

This means;
Language; of a person, who has sin (pettiness, jealousy and meekness) in his heart i.e. who lacks holistic perspective of individual and global blossoming; is sharp, biting, burning, scalding, and unconcerned and un-bothered about anyone’s true welfare!