2. When we are born our first identity; of which we are not
even aware of; is that of our body! We do everything
unknowingly to survive!
Subsequently, we begin to identify ourselves; with our
mother, father, family members, friends, nursery, school,
college, village, language, culture, traditions and so on!
Gradually we start growing further and get awareness of
nationality and the world in which we live.
It is important to note that one identity is not
contraposed to another, and we live with these identities
in harmony. Just as we care for our body, so do we care
for our parents, family, friends, school, college, spouse,
children, society, village, region, nation and world; with
an almost automatically developed sense of proportion.
However, the life is not always simple and smooth!
As we begin to grow and mature; and internalize the
concept of universal unity; we begin to develop a value
system; that involves; prioritization our activities and
choices; in view of the importance attached to our
3. identities. So, we begin to sacrifice; what could be called
the gains of one identity; for the sake of other identity!
This is how the process of “gradation of identities” and
“not denying them”; begins!
Thus we can sacrifice our body needs; for our family,
where the family identity is given preference over my
bodily identity. Similarly; we can sacrifice the interests of
family members; if they go against the interest of our
country. Our national identity is given preference over
our family identity.
Not only this, we begin to rise above our identities related
to our traditions, culture, customs, rituals, religious
practices, if they go against the interests of the mankind!
Here our identity associated with the mankind is given
preference over the identity associated with traditions,
customs, rituals, religious practices etc.
It is important to realize that this is a process of
unfolding of and manifesting of our true self; where we
do not become the “enemy”; of our identities associated
with our body, family, institutions, village, region,
culture, customs, religious practices, traditions, and
nation!
4. We must understand that if this process is punctuated;
then our inner growth is stunted. In as much it is
unnatural to deny our physical and subsequent identities;
it is antinatural; to stop growing get saddled in; one or
more of the “primitive identities”.
The leaders with such primitive and restrictive identities
may attract us; because; restrictive concepts justify and
pamper our own sectarian thinking, mean selfishness,
petty ego, and disgruntlement and dissatisfaction due to
our own drawbacks! Not only that we may get enamored
by some kind of chauvinism, but also; we may get
trapped in fanatic and terrorist ideologies, which
promote primitive and restrictive identities. This is
usually; because of our own often subconscious
agreement; due to our stunted inner growth and mental
dwarfism making us; perverted, arrogant, jealous, and
violent and so on!
These days; we watch and listen to the issue of “Marathi
asmita” on TV.
The “asmita” can be defined as; any primitive (not
unnatural or abnormal) identity; either humiliated or
5. hyped and glorified disproportionately; and thus
converted into an oversensitive and sentimental issue.
We must understand that restricting our identity to
being Marathi creates a conflict in our mind when it
comes to judging humane and inhuman acts.
A person committing inhuman acts; if is Marathi and a
person serving mankind selflessly happens to be non-
Marathi, whom should we identify myself with? Whom
should we consider as “ours”? Whom should we accept,
love and respect? This holds true for other identities such
as our family, nation, religion and so on; as well!
There is no denial whatsoever that we are Marathi, but
we are not merely Marathi!
We must understand that seekers of truth involved in the
blossoming of mankind; whether belong to any of our
primitive and restrictive identities or not; are my soul
mates! It is said that one of the simplest ways of realizing
this; is and blossoming with the universe; is practice of
NAMASMARAN. It is up to us; however, whether to
keep blossoming together with the universe, or to get
trapped in the restrictive identities and throttle our soul!
6. We should not merely believe, disbelieve, imagine,
conjecture, or theorize casually; about what is written
here; and develop presumptions, prejudices, liking,
acceptance, disliking, rejection; and go into uncertainty,
dilemma, indecision, wavering, and vacillations! In stead;
we should; though provisionally; accept and actually
study and practice TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT
and NAMASMARAN; and verify.
