STRESS, DEFAMATION AND NAMASMARAN: DR. SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

It is a common experience that the accolades and admonitions from our parents, teachers, relatives, friends; and even our followers and fans (if we are a celebrity); determine our happiness and sadness respectively.

But why is this so?

This is because in our mind there is always a process of self evaluation on the basis of what we need and what we want; and what we feel and what others “need, want and feel”; about us. Sometimes we give more importance to our subjective views and at other times; to those of others!

But amidst this conflict, there are occasions when we tend to agree with the opinions of others but can not comply with them. For example, we may agree with the public opinion that speaking truth is great; but we may not be able to follow it; and then we may develop guilt, lowliness and self hatred.

If we cannot assert our conscience adequately, we may get bogged down by the subjective opinions of the others and develop bad self image! We can be devastated if public opinion about us; is spoiled. This stress of bad public opinion or defamation is there with us for millennia!

To avoid this stress; we try to hide; what is against public opinion. This forms the basis of our hypocrisy; on the one hand; and our black mailing by others; on the other! But even as we try to hide our “vices” from the society; these bad opinions keep reverberating in our mind and make us miserable by guilt complex, which can lead to violence towards ourselves (suicide) or others (murder)!

This can be prevented if we learn to forgive ourselves and others! But this is easier said; than practiced! Not only the defamation itself; but even the idea, thought and apprehension about defamation also; is so severe, that it can be destabilizing and devastating! We can get several examples in day to day life; such as sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, impotence, failures in love, examinations, and interviews and so on! Even the daughter’s marriage and related issues cause worry of defamation in many sections of society; in India.

In reality all the stress of defamation is essentially due to our subjectivity. Either we are weak, meek, helpless and diffident; or we are weak, arrogant, impatient and overconfident; because of our subjectivity. Hence the holistic solution for overcoming the stress of defamation; is to grow objective. The immortal gurus say that this is possible through the practice of NAMASMARAN.