STRESS

AND

AGING

DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR
Aging is usually associated with dwindling of efficiency of
all the body systems and organs. It is associated with
debility, dependence, disease, despondence, despair,
decreased income, and dejection; which are frightening
and stressful!

This stress; to some extent; is also because; all this

scenario of aging appears almost unavoidable and
insurmountable; to many of us bordering the 40s, 50s
and 60s. This is especially true for those of us, who have
not yet accomplished their dreams and aspirations (in
their own eyes). This feeling of “much to be achieved and
time running out” is stressful.

The guides in print and electronic media on fitness, home

remedies, diet, exercise, yogasanas, entertainment,
hobbies and charitable activities are in plenty. The
guidance in all these is valuable and helps many of us in
overcoming stress during aging.

Thus many of us try to improve health, avoid disease,

preserve independence, develop fitness, enhance
performance, stamina, flexibility, power, speed,
coordination, physical form, looks etc. and also engage in
philanthropy and conquer the stress of aging.
They take regular bath, eat green leafy vegetables and
sprouted beans and other nutritionally rich foods, drink
cow milk with halad [turmeric] and sunth [dried ginger],
practice pranayama and some exercises and yogasanas,
joyously entertain themselves and others through their
hobbies, do lot of philanthropic work and also practice
NAMASMARAN, i.e. remembering the name of God and
try to defeat stress!

But having said this in appreciation; we have to

introspect and find out why are the efforts (which are
required urgently); for a holistic perspective, policies and
their implementation; for individual and universal
blossoming (including the conquest of stress during
aging) are inadequate!

Is it because the holistic perspective, policy making and

its implementation have not become the convictions of a
huge majority of us?

Why do majority of us tend to think in a sectarian and

fragmented manner, especially when they are not
criminals, vicious or bad as such?
Is it because the holistic perspective is not being studied,
understood, assimilated, promoted and propagated
adequately?

Why is this so?

Is this because the holistic perspective is not recognized

as the urgent necessity for the basics needs of billions, by
most of us?

Do most of us think and feel that holistic perspective,

policies, programs, plans and their implementation;
appears to be unrelated to the basic needs of life?

What is the reason for such unawareness about even the

need of understanding, practice and propagation of
holistic perspective, policies, plans, programs and their
implementation; and such dearth of motivation amongst
apparently intelligent, kind hearted and well meaning
senior citizens amongst us?

Is the reason hidden in our ego, our passionate

involvement in our subjective self identity, our strong
and selective sentiments about our own bodily,
emotional, intellectual and other considerations?
Does our ego prevent us from zealously acquiring and
sharing the objective wisdom?

Do we tend to remain content or unhappy in our egoistic

subjective “achievements” or “failures” respectively?

Are we unable to see the benevolence of objective

wisdom, because of undue egoistic apprehension and
judgmental attitude; about the “shortcomings or
drawbacks” of the proponents of holistic perspective?

Are we unable to rise above our relationship/s and

prejudices, centered on ego?

Do we; more often than not; ridicule and oppose such

efforts of sharing objective or holistic wisdom; actively or
passively and overtly or covertly; and knowingly or
unknowingly; and boost the ego centered sectarian and
retrogressive forces? Do we infect the others also; with
our cynicism?

Is it true that frequently our ego is associated with; not

merely our material success in terms of popularity,
power or prosperity; but even our egalitarianism,
righteousness and our practice of NAMASMARAN?

Are we unable to penetrate and rise above the “clouds of

our ego” and enjoy the “sky of universal unity”?

Is it because we are unable “see” and even strive for the

beauty beyond the ego?

Is it because we do not try to realize; the role of holistic

and objective wisdom born out of NAMASMARAN; in
rejuvenating, revitalizing and reorienting us to our true
self? Can we not appreciate the role of realization of true
self and its expression for individual and global
blossoming; the part of which is conquest of stress during
aging?

These introspective exercises bring us to the reiteration,

practice and sharing of NAMASMARAN for conquering
stress of aging; as steadfastly and buoyantly as possible,
without ignoring its reflection (the holistic perspective,
policies, programs, planning and implementation at
individual and global levels) in everyday life!