2. STRESS is common and ubiquitous and hence the Total
Stress Management, which is a golden chance and
opportunity to blossom together, must also become
“common” or “ubiquitous”; i.e. accessible and available
to every one; in every nook and corner of the world.
Now; we have to see why and how; NAMASMARAN is a
core of Total Stress Management, or why and how Total
Stress Management is actually a byproduct of
NAMSMARAN!
Let us begin with our experience that when we are
agitated; by our physical needs, passions, emotions,
thoughts and ideas, and feel restless to satisfy them!
But some of us simultaneously get agitated by the plight
of people! The plight of people enthralls, wakes up, and
inspires us to bring about change (revolution) so as to
eradicate these plights. This leads to intellectual and
emotional turmoils and motivation and mobilization in
several ways. Thus we may read, study, participate in
struggles, philanthropic activities and so on. The social
circumstances however; appear dark and annoying. The
change, the revolution appears to be the only purpose of
3. life, even as the exact program of action and/or blue print
of the revolution; are obscure.
The frenzy of all these complex feelings are so much, that
any proponent of God or NAMASMARAN appear as
“unconcerned about peoples’ true needs, unbothered
about real issues such as poverty and injustice; and hence
antisocial, hypocrite, parasitic or at best; stupid or
gullible”!
The restlessness within; is so much that it propels us to
search for instant solutions and impatiently! It compels
us towards addressing every problem that appears in the
news papers or on TV, apart from those in our own
personal life.
As a result, we get engrossed in relevant physical service,
philanthropy, active participation in sociopolitical
struggles, emotional expression in poetry, intellectual
analysis, discussions, public speeches, writing articles and
books etc. These appear to be the methods of self
assertion and solution to the problems!
Most importantly; withdrawal from such activities is
suffocating, unbearable and killing!
4. Namasmaran appears to be a despicable escapism from
such “very useful and urgent” activities. As regards it
social importance, it appears to be actually
counterproductive. It appears to paralyze us; who are
facing problems; and make us parasitic and paranoid! It
appears to make us dependent and helpless. It appears to
discourage, distract and dissuade us from accepting the
challenges of life in personal and social life and facing
them victoriously!
The fervor of our mind never gets calmed by the advice
and idea of NAMASMARAN, though many a times we
appreciate the honesty and selflessness of the individuals
advocating it.
One important experience however begins to turn us
towards NAMSMARAN.
Which is this experience?
The experience of endlessness of human grief, malady,
disease, tribulations, problems and the agonies and
helpless ness; which together; constitute STRESS! We
begin to realize that all our activities are not nonsense;
but they are piecemeal and ad hoc. They are not holistic.
5. They are not radical. They at best provide temporary,
symptomatic or palliative relief.
Second realization that propels us to NAMASMARAN; is
the universal nature of NAMASMARAN!
By virtue of being free of every possible prejudice and
devoid of every possible kind of intellectual, emotional,
social, cultural and other impositions it is truly universal
and NOT sectarian. It NEVER interferes with the
tradition, custom or belief systems of any body. In fact it
reorients us to our own selves! It provides profound
empowerment and reenkindles our potential to blossom
together! It revitalizes and rejuvenates every kind of
person from any age, religion, ideology, theism, atheism
and all possible socioeconomic and other differences.
Simultaneously if we read various arguments regarding
NAMASMARAN in books such as the biography of Shri
Brahmachaitanya Gondavlekar Maharaj, by Prof. K.V.
Belsare; coupled with our experiences with a variety of
activities of service and social struggle for justice; we
begin to get convinced that NAMASMARAN can evolve
and transform our perspective, vision, intellectual
framework, emotions and instincts; and evolve us to
6. conceptualize the Total Stress Management by
blossoming us into objective or cosmic consciousness.
We begin to realize that; if this happens in every walk of
life; then it could usher in; individual and global
blossoming, by actualizing revolution with truly holistic
contents i.e. globally benevolent perspective and policies!
We generally feel like sharing our perspective with
others; and hence may write books on NAMASMARAN,
VISHNUSAHASRANAM, GEETA etc., publish them,
try to sell or distribute them, and/or spread the message
of NAMASMARAN with our perspective; as far and
wide; and in as many ways; as we can!
But at this juncture we have to address some arguments
against NAMASMARAN as well!
1. NAMASMARAN does not seem to do anything, if
compared to for instance; scientific research or socio-
political manipulations! It does not seem to work and
produce results; even comparable to those produced
by relatively simple agricultural activities or other
handicrafts! On this back ground; what is the basis to
7. prove that NAMASMARAN can lead to global
blossoming?
There is no basis; excepting inner conviction! We have to
practice and verify. There is nobody else who can
provide the proof! In short we are privileged to practice
and experience ourselves and not depend on anybody else
for the proof! We are honored to have the freedom of
NOT having to believe in anybody!
2. If we say that NAMASMARAN evolves us into
objective or cosmic consciousness or imparts global
perspective, then the argument is, “Can you prove the
cause and effect relationship?”
The answer obviously is “No”! We can not prove that
NAMASMARAN evolves us into objective or cosmic
consciousness or imparts global perspective! Even if we
provide the whole concept of Total Stress Management
or holistic perspective; one could always argue that this
concept has nothing to do with NAMSMARAN! Hence
here also there is freedom of not having to believe!
3. At some point; we realize that our opinions were not
changed through “our will”, but were changed due to the
8. influence of factors beyond our comprehension
constituting the “field”, cosmic consciousness or God that
encompasses and influences not merely “us” but
everything; including the people in the universe! Hence;
whether people in the world would get associated with
NAMASMARAN and evolve into cosmic consciousness;
would also be determined by the same “field”!
What is the proof for existence of such a field?
Obviously; we have no proof that a field exists and
influences us! Because even if it exists and influences; we
can not show the cause and effect relationship of such
influences on our life and hence we can not provide any
proof for such blossoming (which may be “our mission or
vision”)!
There is again freedom to practice and experience and no
burden or getting shackled into intellectual framework
made by some one else! There is no compulsion to get
drowned in the some body else’s’ words but freedom to
soar in the realm beyond words!
4. Another argument is; NAMASMARAN has no
influence on individual or social life; practicing
NAMASMARAN is wastage of time! One may feel that
9. NAMASMARAN has benevolent role, because of
erroneously attributing the good changes in him or her to
NAMASMARAN! Actually it could be the other way
round; that is; good changes in him or her; have lead to
him or her to develop interest in NAMASMARAN!
This argument is because of inability to “see” anything
tangible and rather the addiction to believe in a thing;
only if it is tangible! It can not therefore be refuted. It
can only be satisfied if the questioner exercises his or her
freedom to blossom his or her capacity to “see”!
None of the questioners; amongst us; has to slavishly
believe that NAMASMARAN can influence the social
life, because the blossoming is irresistibly omnipresent
impossible to be turned blind eye to; amongst and
around the practitioners of NAMASMARAN.
If we have doubt about whether NAMASMARAN
blossoms us into cosmic consciousness, or cosmic
consciousness absorbs into NAMASMARAN; or cosmic
consciousness some how is related to NAMASMARAN;
or whether NAMASMARAN has anything to do with
cosmic consciousness; then also there is freedom to
10. blossom and experience rather than condemned to get
buried in the sterile semantics!
All in all, practice of NAMASMARAN and the
experience associated with it; are innate and beyond
linguistic comprehension and communication; though the
glimpses of its supremacy can be described. We have
freedom NOT to believe in NAMASMARAN; and
provisionally accept, study, experiment out and
experience!
It appears however, that soon; the individuals and the
societies of world; would get freedom from the conflicts
generated from fulfillment or otherwise; of their physical
needs, instincts, feelings, arguments, flights of
imaginations, infatuations and restlessness, and get the
privilege of being associated with NAMASMARAN,
objective bliss, cosmic consciousness, globally beneficial
perspective, policies and their implementation;
irrespective of the nature of cause and effect relationship
(which also incidentally; is a product of human
intellectual framework!)!
11. 5. What is the sense in the claim that there is active peace
in NAMASMARAN; as suggested by some? What is
“Active Peace”? What is so great about it?
The “Active Peace” is a concept to suggest desireless
(absence of subjective desire) desire i.e. objective desire.
This is a stage in life reached through NAMASMARAN.
It can not be and need not be arbitrarily imposed on
oneself, because, even as it is pleasant to those who
achieve it; it is not usually imaginable and hence
agreeable to us; who are engrossed in sensual pleasures.
In fact we find it quite dreadful to be “freed” from these
“pleasures”! This is a kind of “fear of loss”! We become
miserable even with the thought of such “dreaded
freedom”! However if we think keenly, then we can (in
the course of NAMASMARAN) imagine how sublime
and towering is this stage, why it is acclaimed in books
like Bhagavad Gita; and why knowingly or unknowingly;
we all tend to move towards it.
6. Is it not true that NAMASMARAN has nothing to
offer in material terms?
12. It is true that NAMASMARAN does not ensure any
concrete material gains as such. But NAMASMARAN
actually “converts” us from our “seeker” status into a
“master” status! We become masters of our petty selves!
In fact this is the hallmark of progress in any culture;
anywhere in the world.
However; what sort of conversion we undergo; what sort
of masters we become; has no tangibility. Hang delivered
a child and having become mother; need not be proved to
others; or need not be proved by getting certified from
others. The mother knows it more than anyone else! It is
her privilege! Hence this change within us through
NAMASMARAN is accessible to experience and not
dependent for its validation on any words and proofs!
7. Why is NAMASMARAN ridiculed by many of us?
NAMASMARAN binds us in “something” non sensuous;
and due to our immaturity; appears to force us away
from our likes and dislikes i.e. our ego. Since this is
painful; we ridicule it as foolish, escapist, nihilistic,
nonsense and erratic activity.
13. 8. Is it not true that NAMASMARAN is a kind of
paranoid behavior or slavish behavior?
Initially; NAMASMARAN gives us the feeling of
submission, prostration, defeat, surrender, prostration
by negation of ourselves. But actually this negation is of
ego, and victory of our true self. But since we do not
realize this initially, we feel that this is an unpleasant and
discomforting paranoid activity, which is not true.
9. What is the use of practicing NAMASMARAN right
from childhood?
If we practice NAMASMARAN right from childhood
even without much understanding; this subconscious
learning experience remains in our subconscious and is
pivotal in setting us free from our lower self. Because of
NAMASMARAN we become oriented to our higher
selves and keep blossoming! We become relatively far
more patient and persistent in the process of Total Stress
Management and overcome intense impulses (arising
from our ego or lower self) to give up NAMASMARAN!
Thus we overcome or conquer the STRESS resulting
from the conflicts between lower and higher self. This is
14. why we should practice of NAMASMARAN right from
childhood. We call it japa, jaap, jikra etc.
10. Is there any reason to believe that the world would
unite and blossom?
No. There is no reason to believe in anything. There is no
reason to disbelieve; or waver and vacillate either!
It is however a golden opportunity and privilege to
practice NAMASMARAN and be free to “see” the world
re-exploring the hitherto imperceptible unity and
blossoming together!! This is analogous to appropriate
linking of the bogies of a train; or assembly of various
parts of a car; or even connection of various types of cells
in a body!
It must be clear by now to all of us; that the STRESS can
be managed temporarily and symptomatically by
shopping, shower, swimming, skating, skiing, singing,
slimming and such other ways; which serve as adjuvant
measures.
Moreover; it must also be clear that we have the greatest
bounty; in form of studying and practicing Total Stress
15. Management and NAMASMARAN; embodying holistic
perspective, policies, plans, programs, implementation
and administration; at all levels; and realizing individual
and global blossoming; inside and outside!
This is how NAMASMARAN is an inevitable and
inseparable core of Total Stress Management, or in fact;
Total Stress Management is a byproduct of
NAMASMARAN!
Let us understand NAMASMARAN in some more details
and from different angles.
Namasmaran usually embodies; remembering the name
of God, Guru, great souls; such as prophets and
whatever is considered as holy e.g. planets and stars. It is
remembered silently, loudly, along with music, dance,
along with breathing, in group or alone. Further,
NAMASMARAN is either counted by some means such
as fingers, rosary (called SMARANI or JAPAMALA), or
electronic counter; or practiced without counting. The
traditions vary from region to region and from religion
to religion.
However the universal principle underlying
16. NAMASMARAN is to reorient our physiological and
social being; with our true self and establish and
strengthen the bond between; our physiological and
social being; with our true self; and finally reunification
or merger with our true self!
Since individual consciousness is the culmination of every
activity in life; and NAMASMARAN the pinnacle of or
culmination of individual consciousness;
NAMASMARAN is actually opening the final common
pathway to objective or cosmic consciousness; so that
individual consciousness in every possible activity gets
funneled into or unified with Him (our true self)!
Thus NAMASMARAN is in fact the YOGA of YOGA in
the sense that it is the culmination of consciousness
associated with every possible procedure and technique
in the yoga that we are familiar with. It is the
YOGA of YOGA because it is the culmination of
consciousness associated with all the activities in the
universe, which it encompasses as well! It is YOGA of
YOGA because everybody in the world irrespective of
his/her tradition and the beliefs; would eventually,
ultimately and naturally reach it; in the process of
liberation. Even so called non believers also would not
17. “miss” the “benefit of NAMASMARAN as they may
remember true self through one symbol or another”!
Just as NAMASMARAN is YOGA of YOGA it is
meditation of meditation also! This is because the natural
and ultimate climax of every form of meditation; is
remembering true self or merging with cosmic
consciousness effortlessly!
These facts however have to be realized with persistent
practice of NAMSMARAN and not blindly believed or
blindly disbelieved with casual approach!
In short NAMSMARAN is super-bounty of cosmic
consciousness for every individual to realize it (cosmic
consciousness)! This is truly a super-bounty because a
person, who experiences it, rises above mercenary,
commercial and even professional and charity planes and
manifest super- transactions in his or her life!
These are just few observations to give rough idea about
what is NAMASMARAN. NAMASMARAN is an ocean
of bliss. Its true meaning is beyond description in words
and has to b experienced, not by one or few persons
sporadically; but most preferably, by billions!
18. The culmination of NAMASMARAN is ANUSANDHAN,
which is a state of ultimate freedom; or being connected
with true self; through the name of God as inspired by
the Guru (NAMASMARAN); in traditional practice.
ANUSANDHAN is beyond all subjective considerations
and pursuits; and has benevolent effect of facilitating
ANUSANDHAN; on the entire universe!
NAMASMARAN would certainly enlighten, empower
and enable some people; out of those billions practicing
NAMASMARAN; to evolve, guide and consolidate; the
global conscience and empower the global perspective,
policies, plans and programs; and thereby usher in global
unity, harmony and justice.
We should not merely believe, disbelieve, imagine,
conjecture, or theorize casually; about what is written
here; and should not develop presumptions, prejudices,
liking, acceptance, disliking, rejection or respect; and
should not 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.
