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Can we feel relaxed simply by meditation even as we are in the STRESS of paying about 30 percent income tax (apart from sales tax, property tax etc.) without knowing how it is spent?
Can we feel relaxed by sheer practice of meditation; even as we have to undergo STRESS of taking such decisions under some pressure and against your conscience?
Can we feel relaxed just by meditation; even while taking the suffering of STRESS from all such decisions; lying down?
Can we conquer the STRESS of commuting irrespective of the crowding and other traveling menaces; merely by meditation?
Can we conquer the STRESS of lack of housing, water, electricity, education, medical care etc. by meditation alone?
It is true that various practices of meditation and yoga, are “marketed and sold” or “bought” by many of us so as to conquer STRESS. In contrast; NAMASMARAN is not directly sold and can not be sold.
It is true that the fashion, fancy or whim of meditation and yoga, which can be “marketed and sold”; has greater potential to cheat and get cheated financially. Whereas; NAMASMARAN is free and hence there is no scope for financial cheating or getting cheated; directly.
(Many self styled gurus and cults organized around them; can sell the “specialization of giving or advising name of God”; though NAMASMARAN as such is not directly marketed or sold)
But the question in common is; “Can the practice of MEDITATION, YOGA and/or NAMASMARAN “help” the leaders, policy makers, decision makers, planners, administrators and the sufferers amongst us; to evolve and transform the scenario, and if yes; when?” Or is the philosophy and practice of MEDITATION, YOGA or NAMASMARAN a mere “running after the mirage of STRESS MANAGEMENT”?
Are these questions erratic, irrelevant or heretic? Is it arrogant to think; that it is “self inflicted spiritual castration; to neglect every evil in self and the society and keep practicing MEDITATION, YOGA or NAMASMARAN; without any reference to the objective material conditions”?
The answer provided is that; all religious precepts, spiritual endeavors, spiritual disciplines, festivals, celebrations and a variety of rituals including MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; are basically meant for evolving objective or holistic perspective and working in accordance with it.
If we take the analogy of the body functions, then the MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; constitute the biochemical, biophysical and bioelectrical activities in brain; and holistic international perspective, policy making, programs and implementation at ground level; constitute intellectual, emotional, instinctual and physical manifestations.
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN never were, never are and never would be sterile in terms of individual and global blossoming; but when marketed, sold or freely distributed, if they are cut off from ground realities; and devoid of the holistic solutions, then they are merely the caricatures of “MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN” and hence sterile and often counterproductive!
Looking at from another angle; MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are actually the states of being when we are connected with our true selves or our innate core; in as much the are procedure or methods! As the methods; they are really incomplete and inadequate; without certain essential prerequisites. In other words; MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN as methods; are like breathing OXYGEN and are essential for life; but incomplete and inadequate without other physiological activities required for optimum health; so as to reach the ultimate enlightenment; the states of culmination of the practice of YOGA, MEDITATION and NAMASMARAN.
Let us remember that as methods; YOGA, MEDITATION and NAMASMARAN are NOT complete and certainly NOT the ENDS in themselves.
Taking example from day to day life; all of us know, that as a rule; we have to finish, primary, secondary and college training before we take up the study or research of Ph D. Similarly; we have to; as a rule; go through; physical, psychomotor, productive, instinctual, emotional, intellectual, creative and spiritual study and practices; for our inner growth and blossoming; and arrive at, understand and practice the holistic solutions in the fields of health, education, agriculture, education, industry, environment (schools, colleges and universities) and reach their culmination the final enlightened states of TOGA MEDITATION and NAMASMARAN (Ph. D.);
What we practice under the guise of “meditation” in absence of such solutions is harmful and a schizoid and knowingly or unknowingly hypocritical and hence detrimental activity of trying to convince ourselves and preach others; that we are ATMA. SOULS, BRAHMA, YOGIS, SACCHIDANANDA i.e. the eternal bliss personified etc; when in fact we are in agony and misery.
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are actually the evolved states of being as we blossom; in the process of active efforts to implement holistic solutions to individual and social problems! The validity of this statement can be verified through our experience; but NOT merely by a casual approach and casual enquiry; without any study and practice.
One more problem is that of fear; but not of death, disease, dejection, debility etc; but of depersonalization; i.e. living without a particular identity; such as lawyer, artist, scientist, and farmer; because of MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN.
This is paradoxical! Every identity has some capability, some skills, some influence. But during STRESS the power becomes less, and the drawbacks and liabilities of the identity start mounting. Thus; a lawyer may 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 MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN, which help 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. We question; “How to (and also why) forget ourselves; in MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN? Isn’t it frightening to forget ourselves? Moreover, isn’t forgetting ourselves voluntarily; almost impossible? Besides isn’t it akin to a defeatist state of total self effacement, self denial, escapism and cowardice?”
This question is asked; especially because; MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN are devoid of any tangible assurance or support! They do not provide any sensory pleasure. They are neither pleasant to look at nor melodious to ears! Neither they have haunting smell nor do they have gustatory charm. Neither they are a matter of sexual excitement nor are they a matter of melodrama. Neither do they satisfy intellectual urge nor do they produce any humor! Neither do they bloat our ego nor do they provide any emotional solace.
When we begin the practice of MEDITAITION, YOGA and 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 MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; makes them dreadful; this very peculiarity itself makes us capable and empowered to live without any support! It is this peculiarity that makes them the most sought after and cherished treasure for the 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 we becomes oblivious to our personality due to dementia, unconsciousness or ignorance as well as state of getting excited, elated, disturbed, agitated or unhappy in a variety of situations due to our identities or ego.
In this state there is forgetting of all individual and subjective doubts and suspicions; while we are engaged in satisfactorily remedying the situations from the root cause! In this state; we are focused on; as well as active and in harmony with the controlling center (which is beyond the concept of change and often referred to as BHAGAVANT or PARAMATMA) of all situations, which are ever-changing and illusive (and hence often referred to as MAYA in Indian literature).
In other words; 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 our 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 or God.
But mere intellectual explanations; and theoretical discussions, arguments and deliberations and controversies on the intricacies involved in stress management; without actual experimentation; are NOT useful. They do not reach the seeds of our being; the seeds of our happiness! The practice and propagation of NAMASMARAN; however; reaches and nurtures these seeds of our being and the happiness blossoms!
We need not believe or disbelieve in any of this blindly and impatiently! It is better accept provisionally; think over, study and give TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT (the core of which is NAMASMARAN) a fair trial, if and when we feel the urge!
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Source by Shriniwas Kashalikar
