STRESS AND FANTASY: THE TONIC OF SOUL: DR. SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

One of the best aspects of Total Stress Management; is to explore and nurture the child within us and thus; live buoyantly, bubblingly and ecstatically!

Why is this so? Isn’t it true that during childhood also there are pleasures and pains? Isn’t it true that there is STRESS during childhood also? What is the big advantage of exploring the child within us; and nurturing it? Even if the childhood appears charming and pleasant because of nostalgia; aren’t there problems also?

The answer to this brilliant question; is; we do not explore the child within us; for satisfying the nostalgia!

It is because the child is full of vigor, agility and flexibility and most importantly because of openness, imaginativeness, compliance and receptivity. It is because of the ability of the child to listen, think and believe in itself; that we explore the child as a part of Total Stress Management. It is because of the quality of the child to instantly outgrow the physical restrictions and limitations; and envision several possibilities; without cynicism and skepticism; and enjoy; the fantasies!

Fantasy is possibly the greatest tonic of soul! From time immemorial; literature and art has been vitalized by fantasy and this ability of the child is a great source of strength that directly springs from its soul; not yet thwarted by so called logic, reasoning and rationality (self imposed restriction of ego).

Fantasies are tonic to soul in more than one way! Fantasies make us humble about our frail physical and mundane capacities; and simultaneously imbibe us with power and hope; through accepting the possibilities (which go beyond the subjective rationality, reasoning and logic); and thus conquering the otherwise “impossible” difficulties or STRESS; and accomplishing the otherwise “impossible” tasks!

The soul of an individual (referred to as the child within) is indeed trapped in the restrictive limitations of the so called logical, reasonable and rational (subjective) thinking; and hence; the child within us; i.e. soul gets freed and breathes free; through fantasies and we begin to live vigorously and victoriously!

This is why; besides typical fantasies; the biographies of saints; full of miracles are read with utmost love, devotion and reverence; all over the world!

This is also why; billions of people belonging to different religions, cultures and faiths; accept NAMASMARAN without asking for any laboratory proofs and practice it; in one form or another; just because it is advocated by most of the saints and prophets!
This is also why; those who are shackled by the subjective framework of so called logic, reasoning and rationality; trapped in cynicism and skepticism; and are imprisoned in the jails of their restrictive intelligence; cannot; and do not; enjoy fantasies, biographies of saints and also; the freedom of practicing NAMASMARAN!