STRESS

AND

OUR HOME DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

One of the major causes of SRTESS is; the nature of personality! It is multidimensional and heterogeneous and hence literally under tension from different sides! We are; under suffering from shearing forces; from; physical body, instincts, emotions, intelligence, perspective, conscience and our soul! Similarly; we are also under strain; from our house, our village, our town, our province, our country and the world. In addition we also under tension from; our past, present, and future; and the varieties of our imaginary world! Thus; we have all the STRESS, which the other living beings have; and; is further added with intricate and complex issues; making it a difficult proposition to handle and conquer. We simultaneously need harmonious functioning of our body, we need fulfillment of our instincts, we need warm and comforting emotional interactions and we need clarity of thoughts from time to time in the form of convincing answers. We need fulfillment of ambitions. We need achievements of creation, mastery, control, and power over nature and others in other forms. Thus we feel at home when we are free of physical discomfort, our thirst is quenched, our hunger is satiated, sexually satisfied, living in our habitat, get emotional warmth, are intellectually clear, are in positions of power and status we

aimed at, and when we are in our village, town, state, province and our country. But even after all this we are still incomplete and not fully satisfied. We do not get the ecstasy merely by well being of body, fulfillment of instincts, by emotional gratification and also after clarification of thousands of questions. We do not get the bliss even after getting fame, money; gaining control over matter and several natural phenomena; and holding sway over people and other fulfillments. What is it that is missing? It appears that we suffer from STRESS even after all this because; all these fulfillments are like different components of an engine, which have to be assembled and they are like different organs, which have to together so as to achieve optimal functioning and homeostasis respectively. Taking another analogy; they like the different wires which have to be connected so as to illuminate the room. In simple words; all our achievements have NOT taken us to the innate abode of ours, the innate home of ours, where we can really feel at home. Unless we reach and experience the feeling of being at this home, which is common to all the inhabitants of the universe; we can not conquer the STRESS.

However ever as we are on our way to this home we keep getting glimpses of our home and also the pinnacle or ecstasy of bliss of being at home in true sense! This home of ours is not only deep within us but is simultaneously present in the deepest core of billions. This is a glimpse of the richness of the experience of Saint Dnyaneshwar who wrote in Marathi HE VISHAVACHI MAJHEE GHARA AISI MATI JAYACHI STHIRA KIMBAHUNA CHARACHARA APAN JHALA (He himself; becomes the entire universe (the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent), whose instincts, emotions and intelligence dissolve in; or get bonded with the aphorism; this whole universe is my home!) Total Stress Management, which begins with the study of meaning, causes, dimensions, effects, mechanisms, and management of STRESS and practice and sharing of Total Stress Management in terms of holistic perspective; policies, plans and programs and actions; ultimately merges in this state of being, through NAMASMARAN, which reminds of our true self and our home; where we really are victorious over STRESS and feel at home!

In our home; we (our self) are independent of everything and yet in bond with the core of everything; simultaneously! Here is the eternal and self generating fountain of ambrosia.