Thus; MEDIATTION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; are inseparable from; physical, psychomotor, productive, instinctual, emotional, intellectual, creative and spiritual study and practices; linked with; study and application of the holistic solutions in the fields of health, education, agriculture, art, industry, economy, education, environment; which is called holistic renaissance, superliving or Total Stress Management.

1. STRESS
AND
MEDITATION
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. Beware of mediation!
“Beware of meditation”? Why should we or any one; bother
about such a caution? Isn’t such caution itself; actually
misguiding and harmful?
What is wrong in the instructions given at the time of
meditation workshops? These instructions appear to be meant
for composure and relaxation of mind.
For instance, these instructions are;
“Lie down in the open on your terrace; focus your mind on the
blue and clear sky, gradually the sky would enter in you and
you would have transcended mind”,
“Sit in lotus position. Let the atmosphere in your room be free
of insects, free of dust, free of noise and free of other
distractions. You may light an incense stick. You can have a
photo or painting of your Guru or a deity who elevates your
mood or inspires you. Then begin by breathing slowly and
observe your own breathing”, “Sit in a lotus posture. Breathe
slowly. Focus your mind on a spot at your navel”,
“Observe a round spot on a plane background of the wall. Sit
quietly. Let the thoughts flow”,
and so on!

3. There appears to be nothing wrong in these!
Yes; actually; there is nothing wrong in meditation per se and
there is nothing wrong in the instructions as well!
The word meditation has its root, in “healing”. Meditation is in
practice in different forms for millennia in countries like India.
Meditation has no religious bias or cultural prejudice.
Meditation has whatsoever no element of any kind of coercion.
Meditation is a state that follows the process of evolution of
body, instincts, emotions, intelligence and perspective and
relaxes and endows peace!
But there is everything wrong; when the same word;
“meditation” is misused to sell an “escapist mercenary
gimmick”; as a panacea! It is detrimental to the buyer and
seller; because it makes us callous cowards!
Hence the word “meditation” is used here to imply; the
commodity and mirage that is hyped, marketed, sold; as if it is
an instant panacea for all the problems of universe; which we
pay for; heavily and stupidly! This “meditation” is actually a
caricature or even a vulgarization of meditation.
But beyond all this; to reach the truth, let us ask ourselves the
following questions!

4. Can we feel relaxed simply by meditation as is promoted and
taught; 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?
Conversely; can we feel relaxed by sheer practice of meditation;
even as we have to take such decisions against our conscience?
Can we feel relaxed just by meditation; even while taking all
such decisions lying down and suffering from them?
Can we conquer the STRESS of commuting; irrespective of the
crowd and other physical torture; merely by meditation?
Can we conquer the STRESS of lack of housing, water,
electricity, education, medical care; by meditation alone?
If not, then we need something far more holistic than mere
meditation, especially in the form and way; it is hyped and
marketed. We need what may be called Total Stress
Management.
What is Total Stress Management?
1] Total Stress Management (TSM) constitutes; understanding
the concept of STRESS, going to its root causes, effects,
pathophysiology, mechanism, dimensions, support systems,
holistic measures of management; as completely as possible!

5. This requires active intellectual efforts by the participants.
Active intellectual participation makes it more difficult and
less popular.
Relaxation programs; meditation, pranayama, bhajan,
arbitrary tips in the management books; as well as ready to use
products; are easy and provide; instant emotional solace and
relaxation; even if it is temporary. But if the root causes are
NOT treated, then they prove to be counterproductive!
2] TSM constitutes efforts towards simultaneous welfare of one
and all and not merely that of an individual. This requires
broadening of perspective. This is time consuming and may not
give instant results in terms of tangible petty gains!
This also makes it more difficult and less popular because
everyone is already preoccupied and hard pressed with
personal problems of one kind or another. Coming out of one’s
“individual universe” is a Herculean task for most of us,
because we fail to understand; how welfare of ‘others’ would
contribute to ‘our welfare’!
The mercenary marketing of so called meditation breeds
indolence, inertia and socially respectable easy temporary
escape.
3] TSM deals with STRESS; in totality.

6. We equate with mere tension, anxiety, worry, sleeplessness,
irritability, depression, frustration etc. Actually this is only a
small and conscious part of STRESS. STRESS is universal.
Every living being has STRESS. STRESS is actually conscious
and also unconscious. Unconscious STRESS forms a major
part and is not perceived!
This also leaves most of us to commit the blunder of believing
that we do not have STRESS!
The mercenary marketing of “vulgarized caricature of
meditation” has made us believe that we can sit in a cozy room
and solve all our problems, without any kind of evolution! We
remain in fool’s paradise that; through the short cut of such
“so called meditation” we can manage stress; without making
any difference to the material life of ours and the others! We
forget the importance selflessness and simultaneous global
blossoming in all the fields of life.
4]TSM teaches that perspective, policies, planning, execution of
sound intellectual solutions to personal and social problems
can not be substituted by un-intellectual emotional games and
gimmicks; such as so called meditation and so called devotion
and so called charity.
TSM teaches that real meditation, real devotion and real
charity; are impossible; in absence of intellectual efforts to
rectify the social homeostasis!

7. Many of us feel that it is impossible to solve social problems
and hence fail to do our own bit in this direction and get
dragged into; the caricature of meditation. It is a part of many
stress relaxation or stress management programs and is least
demanding. It does not involve thinking, questions, arguments
and action, but pampers our passivity! We simply have to
“take the trouble” of joining some group by paying fees. It
often pampers our basal instincts, personal emotional needs
and intellectual escapism; through similar peers; and the
ambience, food and glamour associated with it!
5] The concept of TSM is not new in essence; but is new, novel
and holistic in its exposition.
Many of us; from media, politics, religion and other fields are
not aware of TSM. It is also true that due to the frenzy of
material success; we do not have innate thirst to learn about
TSM.
It is strange; but true; that most of us; in scarcity (due to
frustration) and in abundance (due to delirious obliviousness)
are not able to grasp and practice TSM!
Marketed gimmicks of meditation never ask us to study (uphill
activity) any social problems! They pamper our indolence and
pettiness! Hence most of us find them comforting.

8. 6] TSM aims at harmony between perspective, intelligence,
emotions, instincts and body; and aims at best efforts of global
welfare through laws, rules, and conventions and so on.
The farce of meditation has nothing to do with anybody else
other than the individual himself or herself! There is implicit
or explicit indifference; and no botheration about the world,
society or family!
7] TSM firmly upholds individual freedom to achieve Total
Well Being and suggests us to acquire and practice such
freedom!
The marketing of the gimmicks of so called meditation; is a
part of promoting our individualistic pursuits of petty
pecuniary goals, through fashionable escapist tantrums, which
alien us from rest of our brothers; and degrade us as human
beings!
8] TSM is not an explicit part of already existing tradition,
religion or atheism. It does not pamper any personal ego and
does not seek sponsoring by any multinationals or corporate
houses. It is an irresistibly incoming thing; independent of all
this and would be a universal force that would blossom the
universe.
The escapist gimmicks of “so called meditation” have support
and sponsorship from; the multinationals, corporate houses,

9. celebrities, businessmen and political leaders for their personal
gains. This support and sponsorship is sometimes even more
than that for any entertainment business and personality!
Hence “marketing meditation” is a far more popular and
flourishing (but not fulfilling the conscience) business!
9] Total Stress Management suffers demoralization due to non
acceptance by; the pro-tradition, theist, anti-tradition and
atheist groups!
The so called meditation does not interfere with any policy
matters and does not come in the way of our own and others’
vested interests or prejudices; and hence has no opposition;
from theist and atheist traditions!
10] Relative delay in publication, reading and consensus
building of TSM; is often interpreted as God’s will!
It is true; that such a delay; is God’s will! The success of the
crass mercenary, treacherous and mean gimmicks of
meditation is also God’s will!
But the change that is imminent; is also God’s will, which we
may or may not be able to see!
11] The Total Stress Management (TSM) being a relatively
new exposition can be misunderstood, ignored or criticized;
hence there is delay as well as obstacles. But it is bound to

10. succeed; because it is God’s will, cosmic decision and the plan
of absolute enlightenment or writing on the wall!
The “so called meditation” has no such fear of being
misunderstood, ignored or criticized! It is going to perish
because of the inherent limitations, vanity and contradictions
in it!
12] TSM involves genuinely honest struggle to engender
holistic renaissance. It involves dedicated efforts to overcome;
inappropriate asceticism, indulgence, frustration, inaction,
non-assertion and even escapism.
The caricature of meditation lacks the genuinity, honesty,
intensity, involvement, dedication and the adventure of pursuit
of truth! It is trivial, irrelevant, ineffective and insignificant in
every respect.
13] The TSM involves unavoidable uncertainty of life! This is
because there is no false assurance about tangible gains such
as; health, money, fame, power, or even moral superiority!
The mediocrity of so called meditation makes it superficial and
farcical. It does not have anything to do with our (and others’)
hearts and souls; and our wellbeing! Since it does not need
serious involvement it keeps on appealing most of us as a
casual activity; and hence it spreads like a fashion.

11. 14] The TSM totally lacks the dictatorial attitude and
nurturing of vested interests e.g. forming a cult or establishing
an institution or organization!
It is universal and hence; even though it goes on making a
definite and significant difference in several ways; nobody
would get a credit or profit from it!
The traders of “so called meditation”; succeed; largely because
of the cooperation of other businesses and the games of
management!
15] TSM lacks the excitement associated with glamour and
glitter involved in entertainment businesses such as cinema,
sports etc. Hence it does not pick the fancy of even talented
individuals.
The so called meditation and stress relaxation programs are
emulating the entertainment and showbiz; and hence no
wonder; are amassing money, glamour and glitter.
But with globalization, the passivity is dwindling (though
imperceptibly) and compelling the global political and
intellectual leadership to study and practice TSM; even though
in different semantics.
16] Some of the books on TSM are comparatively less lucid
and little more tedious, because of the emphasis given on

12. accuracy and efficacy rather than literary qualities. But, when
the social psyche gets ready for digesting certain concepts (e.g.
oneness of spiritualism and materialism and oneness of theism
and atheism); TSM is bound to spread like wild fire.
The mirage of “so called meditation” dwells in hallucinatory
utopia and hence is easily sold!
We are bound to understand its true nature and hollowness; as
all of us are evolving. Hence; we would abandon it forever; due
to its being palliative, alien, escapist and thus
counterproductive in nature (multiplying problems in
individual and social life)!
18] It is also possible that there are still some inaccuracies and
or deficiencies left in TSM, which have to be rectified, while
studying and practicing it. This is going to happen as the world
is already coming together and blossoming together; in spite of
the apparently dismal picture!
The hyped and marketed tricks of meditation and stress
relaxation have built in contradictions and/or deformity of
pettiness. Hence they are bound to be shunned!
19] The personal deficiencies of any one who studies TSM; are
considered as human and hence neither glorified nor
condemned nor hidden. TSM does not flourish on such
falsities; but aims to blossom together.

13. The deficiencies of the traders of the vulgarized meditation
however; are concealed and hidden; and often; an unjustified
and unphysiological asceticism is claimed, hyped, glorified and
sold!
All this is due to utter darkness (TAMAS) of ignorance; and
bound to vanish with rapidly spreading enlightenment.
20] Most importantly, the NAMASMARAN i.e. being
connected with God; is a hallmark or actually a core of TSM.
The “farce of meditation”; ignores, neglects or even discards this
aspect completely! This is because; the fashion, fancy or whim of
meditation and yoga can be “marketed and sold”; and have a
greater potential to cheat and (and for common people to get
cheated) financially. Whereas NAMASMARAN is free; and
hence without any scope for financial cheating or getting cheated.
To remain involved in the “trivialized”, “vulgarized” and
“mercenarily marketed” so called MEDITATION; without any
reference to; and concern for; the objective material conditions
in and around; is; “self inflicted ‘spiritual’ perversion”!
Can the practice of MEDITATION, “help” the leaders, policy
makers, decision makers, planners, administrators and the
sufferers amongst us; to evolve and transform the scenario, and
if yes; when?

14. Is the philosophy and practice of MEDITATION, 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; and merely keep practicing the
so called MEDITATION, without any reference to the objective
material conditions”?
The HOLISTIC 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
respectively.
The holistic international perspective, policy making, programs
and their implementation at ground level; constitute intellectual,
emotional, instinctual and physical manifestations; of
MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN.

15. MEDITATION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN never were, never
are and never would be sterile in terms of individual and global
blossoming!
But what is marketed, sold or freely distributed (with ulterior
motive), under these same “names and titles”; is cut off from
ground realities; and devoid of the holistic solutions; and hence is
trivialized and vulgarized caricature of MEDITATION, YOGA
and NAMASMARAN; and hence sterile or counterproductive!
Thus; MEDIATTION, YOGA and NAMASMARAN; are
inseparable from; physical, psychomotor, productive,
instinctual, emotional, intellectual, creative and spiritual study
and practices; linked with; study and application of the holistic
solutions in the fields of health, education, agriculture, art,
industry, economy, education, environment; which is called
holistic renaissance, superliving or Total Stress Management.