STRESS

AND

DHARMA

DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR
One of the major causes of STRESS; is the religious
persecutions and forcible conversions. The wounds of
the religious oppression have still been bleeding in
many places; and their marks and scars are too
obvious to go unnoticed; in several other places and
people. Even today; religious fundamentalism and
fanaticism are indiscriminately violent and
destructive.

The
If we understand the meaning of DHARMA; then its
potentials to evolve; individual freedom into self
realization and democracy into global blossoming;
would be clear.

DHARMA means a principle that holds the universe

together. It has two aspects. One is conceptual and the
other is practical; which are complementary to each
other.

In conceptual aspect there is intellectual study and

mental work such as meditation, NAMASMARAN
etc. In Hindu or SANATANA DHARMA this is called
SHRUTI. In practical aspect there are codes of
conduct evolved over thousand of years; aimed at
 individual and global blossoming. In Hindu or
SANATANA DHARMA this is called SMRUTI.

In today’s context it must be understood for own

clarity (and Total Stress Management); that
Hindu is a DHARMA and not a religion. The
word religion is derived from the root; religare,
which means to bind; is not at the root of Hindu
DHARMA and it is not evolved from it.

In today’s context; it must also be understood;

that everything we do to connect with the truth;
right from the birth to death, in every season,
through out 24 hours and in any corner of the
world is DHARMA. Not only all religious and
scientific activities, but all spiritual and yoga
activities aimed at realizing the truth, (that holds
the universe together in harmony), are essentially
parts of DHARMA.

The essence of DHARMA is everywhere; be that a

house, a hospital, a laboratory, a school, a college,
a university, a court, an industry, a farm, a
 gymnasium; or any institution for that matter;
wherever there is search and pursuit of truth
through any activity by any every individual!

In fact; art, literature, music, dance; and

everything we do; either contributes to our being
connected with truth (DHARMA) or
disconnecting from truth (ADHARMA).

DHARMA; is thus meant for not only mankind

belonging to different religions and regions; and
his welfare; but for the welfare of all the inmates
of the universe!

The TAMOGUNA and RAJOGUNA, which are

prevalent amongst us; lead to delusion,
superstitions, fanaticism, obstinacy,
fundamentalism, hatred, contempt, prejudice and
lopsided, analytical and reductionist thinking
bereft of holistic perspective; respectively; and
make it difficult to understand this concept of and
potential of DHARMA.
This leads to a kind of animosity between theist,
atheist, spiritual, material and other ideologies
and different religions.

TAMOGUNA and RAJOGUNA and their typical

outlook and (harmful) actions; are presumably
due to disintegration and in-coordination
between; right and left cerebral hemispheres;
between higher and lower centers in the brain,
between central, autonomic, neuroendocrine and
endocrine systems; and metabolism, and between
intellectual conviction, emotional appreciation
and instinctual fervor! This leads to; thinking in
one way, feeling in another way and yearning
through passions in yet another way!

This is precisely one of the major STRESSORS in

the world; in the individual and global life.

The solution for this kind of STRESS is; study,

practice and sharing of The Total Stress
Management (the core of which is
NAMASMARAN); with due respect to everyone’s
freedom; and is a DHARMA in today’s context
that can reunify (without conversions) all of us;
the inmates of universe belonging to different
religions, ideologies and traditions!