STRESS

AND

FEAR
OF

NAMASMARAN

DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR
STRESS is caused by several factors and if mismanaged;
manifests in several different unpleasant symptoms. Basically
there is a vicious cycle. STRESS distorts our cognition, affect
and conation in the form of confusion, emotional disturbances
and inappropriate actions, responses or behavior;
respectively; and these in turn aggravate our STRESS.

One of the symptoms of mismanaged STRESS is fear. But the

nature of fear also varies. In as much as there is fear of death,
disease, dejection, debility etc; there is a strange fear of
depersonalization!

What is this fear of depersonalization?

Depersonalization means living without a particular identity.

Let us understand and appreciate; that we live with some

identity such as lawyer, artist, scientist, and farmer and so on.
Every identity has some capability, some skills, some
influence. During STRESS the power becomes less, and the
drawbacks and liabilities of the identity start mounting. Thus;
a lawyer ma lose his/her practice, artist may not lose his/her
popularity, scientist may fail in his/her experiments and the
farmer may suffer loss due to drought.
The reason we suffer and build up our STRESS; is not merely
because of the financial loss; but due to the unbearable burden
of the liability of our identity! Our identity is a part of our
ego. Since the identity becomes a liability; our ego is hurt,
which produces unbearable STRESS!

The solution to this problem is to retrieve the strength from

the deepest core that is beyond our ego and identity.

Naturally most of the traditional and rational stress

management experts advise the practice of NAMASMARAN.
NAMASMARAN helps us disperse the clouds of our identity
and ego (akin to depersonalization); which is essential and
inevitable for reaching our core; the source of light and
power!

But since we are habituated or addicted to live with our

identities; egos or personalities; we find it dreadful and
insecure to live without them.

This is especially because; NAMASMARAN is devoid of any

tangible assurance or support! NAMASMARAN does not
provide any sensory pleasure. It is neither pleasant to look at
nor melodious to ears! Neither it has haunting smell nor does
it have gustatory charm. Neither it is a matter of sexual
excitement nor is it a matter of melodrama. Neither does it
satisfy intellectual urge nor does it produce any humor!
Neither does it bloat our ego nor does it provide any
emotional solace.

When we begin the practice of NAMASMARAN; we are

afraid of this life without any identity, ego; and without any
concrete security and support! This appears like death!

We have to appreciate that; even as this peculiarity of

NAMASMARAN makes it dreadful; this very peculiarity that
makes us capable and empowered to live without any
support! It is this peculiarity that makes it the most cherished
treasure by seekers of truth; through millennia and through
out the world.

Let us understand that this “supportless living”; without the

clouds of identity and ego; empowers us to be support
ourselves! This life is not the same as; (in fact quite different
from) debilitating depersonalization when one becomes
oblivious to one’s personality due to dementia.

In this state of “being the support ourselves” we do not think

that “we need support”, or “we provide support” as we feel
when we are caged in identities, egos and personalities. In this
state of empowerment we have outgrown them. There is no
“kick of doing”; but in stead; there is “ecstasy of being
harmony”; with nature.