1. STRESS
AND
ENTERTAINMENT
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. Entertainment has become a necessary and inseparable
part of many of us. In fact for many of us it has become
essential aspect of our life. Many of us have become
dependent and even addicted on entertainment in one
form or another.
Many of us measure the index of our happiness on the
basis of how often and how many varieties of
entertainments (and items of luxuries) we “enjoy”!
There are many STRESS management guides, which
advocate; hobbies, shopping, socialization, meditation
and such measures; apart from some fitness tips; for
STRESS management.
It is natural therefore; that whenever we suffer from
STRESS; we turn to entertainment. Not only whenever
we are sad, depressed, bored or going through some
unpleasant situation, but also for feeling; relaxed, elated,
euphoric, high, better, excited, buoyant and “on top of
the world” we turn to some kind of entertainment.
This is why; we like even what is said and written about
entertainment. We love the entertainers; in fact; we
adore them! This has made entertainment (and STRESS

3. management) a roaring business and lucrative career for
millions amongst us. Even the print and electronic media
are addicted to entertainment and constantly keep on
following or actually chasing; the entertainment
personalities (celebrities), activities and even the “love
affairs” and “sex scandals” and “gossips” for the
“stories”!
But in spite of this; why do most of us (even those from
media and entertainment business) continue to suffer
from STRESS? Why is this so? Why are we not at peace
with ourselves or why are we not satisfied or fulfilled?
Why do we need counselors and support systems in
different forms? Why do we suffer from various diseases
caused or complicated by STRESS? Why do we suffer
from STRESS and spread it to others?
To find out the answer; we have to know the limitations
of entertainment (with very few exceptions) and find out;
even as entertainment means so much to us, “What is
beyond entertainment”!
If we reflect on our experience, then we discover that
entertainment (with very few exceptions) does not enter
and empower our conscience! It does not enter our inner

4. being and does not take us near the sublime and
immortal reality. It distracts us from reality; but does
not empower us to fight the challenges in real life!
In nutritional parlance; entertainment is “junk food”! It
really tempts us and pleases us temporarily, but erodes
and weakens us deep inside! It is deceptively attractive
and delicious but harms our health. It smells wonderful
our drains our vitality and vigor.
Every time we go through the entertainment
(periodically, repeatedly and frequently) we get drained
of time, energy and money and become perennially
empty. Entertainment (with very few exceptions) is
unproductive and uncreative. It does not and can not
blossom us from within.
As students of physiology and anatomy we never were
taught that there is a “center of fulfillment” beyond
entertainment! But at this instance I hypothesize such a
“center of fulfillment” (which may actually occupy the
whole brain and/or be an altered state/s of activation of
synapses and secretions of neurotransmitters; in
different permutations and combinations)!

5. The entertainment caters to many centers in our brain
and hence is undeniably important; but can not cater to
the “center of fulfillment in our brain”!
We have neither striven enough through
NAMASMARAN to develop this “center of fulfillment”
nor have we bothered to participate in Total Stress
Management to satiate it!
We seem to be harping on entertainment, going through
different experiences of trivial pleasures and boredom; in
slumber. This is more so; in wake of individualism,
pettiness, superficiality, whims, fancies, obsessions; and
casual approach; without heed to the ancient precepts
embodying “the development of the center of fulfillment”
through SANSKARAs and their essence; the
NAMASMARAN.
This has made us frail, weak, and vulnerable to
marketing and buying addictive, useless and often
counterproductive entertainment (sometimes even under
the garb of spiritualism), leading to retardation of our
inner growth and fulminant and malignant growth of the
individual and social STRESS!

6. This has further proliferated; the individualistic and
petty pursuits of profiteering and exploitation; thereby
jeopardizing the blossoming of one and all!
If we develop and satiate “the center of
fulfillment” right from the childhood through
SANSKARAs, NAMASMARAN and
participation in Total Stress Management i.e.
blossoming of one and all, then we can certainly
conquer the STRESS, which is invincible to
entertainment!