STRESS

AND

VALUE CRISIS

DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR
STRESS and value crisis are interwoven intricately.
Which is the cause and which is the result; is difficult to
say! Many of us are not even aware of what is value
crisis.

Value crisis means being misguided with respect to our

aims, objectives and purpose of life. Value crisis means
conflicts and confusion with respect to our missions and
ambitions in life. Value crisis means misconceptions
about what we like, love, respect, adore and dedicate to.
Value crisis means inability to deicide and implement our
choices. Value crisis means difficulty in internal
evaluation and prioritization. Value crisis is uncertainty
in giving more or less importance to our likes, dislikes,
principles, relations and living accordingly.

Having understood value crisis; it may be easy to see how

it could cause or exacerbate STRESS.

The maximum, respect or following for DHARMA and

SHASTRA; was a cherished value in the past. It has
become feeble and almost ineffective today.

We are overtaken by the value of unleashing of

individualism and are overwhelmed by the craving to
fulfill our individual whims and fancies even at the cost
of others. Individualism has variably infected our
perspective, policies, programs, plans and their
implementation at individual and global levels.

We are possessed by the value of making quick money,

fame and popularity. We are obsessed by the craving to
achieve all kinds of power and sway on people. The
media is also immersed and intoxicated by individualism
and hence keeps on creating; tempting hype of hollow
glamour and petty successes in individualistic pursuits;
besides attributing glorified martyrdom to petty failures
(as in case of the novel and movie/s Devdas)!

As a result, we either become “successful” in our

individualistic and almost always antihuman pursuits; or
we become “failure” and turn towards crimes and
suicidal activities. The remaining amongst us; lead the
life of compromises. In any case; we are STESSED;
because; individualism NEVER gives the fulfillment and
satisfaction to anybody.

Individualism; thus has caught us in a state of suffocation

and STRESS, through which we are unable to find a way
out.
The return to the old value of respecting DHARMA and
SHASTRA appear to be very difficult, because
DHARMA and SHASTRA of any particular religion are
not likely to be accepted by or even beneficial to the
whole world.

The solution in this STRESS of value crisis is evolving

individualism into SELF REALIZATION and
democracies into GLOBAL BLOSSOMING. One of the
simplest ways for this; is; teaching right from the
childhood; the principles and practice of
NAMASMARAN (which is the core of Total Stress
Management).

But NAMASMARAN in itself would just begin to solve

the problem. The real CONQUEST OF STRESS; would
ensue; through actual and global implementation of
holistic medicine, holistic education, holistic agriculture,
and holistic laws and so on (Total Stress Management);
to keep on developing an environment catalyzing SELF
REALIZATION and GLOBAL BLOSSOMING.

It is then; when the working conditions, monetary

returns and public appraisal and accolades; required for
smooth progress to SELF REALIZATION and
GLOBAL BLOSSOMING are available for all of us in
different jobs or professions; that the philosophical
notion; “every work has its own dignity and glamour”
would be actually vindicated.

It is then that we all can live to the best of our

satisfaction; and CONQUER STRESS by going to the
root of our job and churning out the results beneficial to
ourselves and the mankind and thereby keep facilitating
the wellness cycle of Total Stress Management.