1. STRESS
PHALA
AND
MAYA
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. One of the major causes of stress is
inability to cope with the effects, results
or fruits (phala) of our action. This is
because; our actions are associated with
feelings. Failure therefore can be insulting
to our intellectual esteem, hurting to our
deep seated concerns or humiliating to
physical honor.
We must appreciate that we feel hurt not
merely if our ideology, faith, love and
behavior are criticized, but even if our
near and dear ones are criticized. We get
agitated even if our pets are blamed. We
feel disturbed even if our possessions are
underrated.
The anticipated effects results or fruits
(money, appreciation, honor, awards,
accolades etc) are thus deeply associated
with everything we take pride in and
hence; we feel insulted, humiliated and
dejected, if we don’t get them.

3. Thus poverty (deprivation), disease and
loss per se, are not the only causes of pain
and misery, but the insult of failure and
the guilt associated; that we are
undeserving, incapable or sinners; is the
major cause of agony! This is why a monk
is not miserable even if his financial status
is poor.
Our actions are NOT merely physical
actions as in case of physics, where we
could easily neglect the results; which are
mere reactions!!
In contrast; the success in terms of
money, fame, honor etc; can boost our
ego and give us illusory feeling of
unrealistic greatness and make us
arrogant and callous.
The “karma-phala-tyaga” i.e. detachment
from the result or fruit of our action; thus
is actually; the detachment from our

4. thoughts, emotions, instincts and body,
i.e. everything subjective, individual or
personal i.e. MAYA!
One may or may not believe but the
aphorism of the saints is that; the
consistent and steadfast practice of
NAMASMARAN; irrespective of any
“result or fruit” in terms of personal
gains or losses; is the hallmark of Gnostic
individual.
One of the greatest illusions of even the
great intellectuals; is their subtle but
strong projection and expectation of a
certain pattern of a dream society
(PHALA). This is MAYA and causes
stress to one and all. Let
NAMASMARAN be the whole and sole
concern and let the social change follow;
as the dawn follows the sunrise!