Stress and policies dr shriniwas kashalikar

STRESS AND POLICIES DR SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR STRESS AND GLOBAL POLICIES STRESS AND POLICIES TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS STRESS AND LOAN POLICIES TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS STRESS AND POLICY OF HOLISTIC EDUCATION STRESS AND POLICIES TO STOP CHILD LABOR STRESS AND POLICIES ABOUT CASTE BASED AND OTHER RESERVATONS FOR WELFARE OF ALL STRESS ANDPOLICIES ABOUT VARIOUS ADDICTIONS STRESS AND POLICIES ABOUT BLACK MONEY STRESS AND POLICIES TO OVERCOME GLOBAL RECESSION STRESS POLICY OF REPO AND REVERSE REPO STRESS AND POLICY OF TEACHING HISTORY STRESS AND POLICY OF HOLISTIC MEDICINE STRESS AND HEALING THE AILING HEALTH CARE STRESS AND POLICIES ABOUT SLAUGHTER STRESS AND POLICIES OF LAWS TO CONTROL CRIMES STRESS AND GLOBAL POLICIES Way back; when I used to read about the achievements of many illustrious and dedicated philanthropists; I used to feel tremendous respect on the one hand and tremendous despair (stress) on the other, because of the lack of holistic perspective limiting their role; in the world politics for individual and global blossoming. The news on TV showing; significant increase in mental illness (STRESS) due to poverty, unemployment and cut throat competition; endorses my perspective. My books related to Total Stress Management written about15 to 35 years ago and even my speech during my internship in Miraj; had emphasized the socioeconomic causes of physical and mental illness; and are more than validated by this news. My views were then; ridiculed, humiliated, neglected, suppressed and at best; appreciated with mere lip sympathy, wry smile and ice-cold response of zero cooperation. My views ; more than endorsed by this news and its corollary; insist that we can never succeed in Total Stress Management; without participating in socioeconomic, political and other issues influencing our lives. We may or may not join a political party or an organization, but we have to assert our conscience, enlightenment, objective consciousness i.e. innate core of true self; for successful Total Stress Management; firmly. All those (so called spiritual leaders and so called stress management professionals and so called yoga teachers); who are trying to advocate “merely personal stress management”; and all those (political leaders); who are trying to solve social problems; through their ad hoc, petty and/or callous politics; are bound to fail and perish unless they change radically i.e. become holistic in their approach. The Maharashtra government (and probably many governments in the world) is adopting alcohol promotion policies which ensure mass suicide or even worse than suicide! We all; if we witness these steps of government passively; then we will suffer miserably and exponentially; due to the biting of conscience; in passing on this legacy to the posterity! But this will not happen! Such policies; responsible for the suffering of generations after generations; would be averted by the rising global consciousness. NAMASMARAN i.e. reorientation to cosmic consciousness has to be the goal, the purpose, the core and the basis of every policy including the rejection of alcohol production. But mere opposition to alcohol without channelizing our vitality to cosmic self through NAMASMARAN; can lead to defeat, frustration and many socio-psychiatric and socio-pathological evils! Let us understand that we cannot appreciate certain convictions, unless we have been sufficiently evolved and become reasonably objective. Thus if alcohol is our weakness, then we cannot appreciate and support the opposition to alcohol production; even if it is destructive to us and the society! This is what causes innate conflicts and stress! Conquering these conflicts and stress; is difficult but inevitable! So, let us not be desperate and violent to others and/or to ourselves! Let us simply practice and propagate NAMASMARAN, assert our convictions; and experience the inner and outer revolution and individual and global blossoming! I am more than happy to see; most of the philanthropists realize this; and participate in politics i.e. policies, plans, programs and actions for public welfare (obviously not the dirty, party or petty politics)! Many of us may not agree with the details of the agenda of these people. But I am very happy to see this happen; because it is indicative of the dawn of individual and global blossoming, in perspective, thoughts, feelings and actions. World politics is; or rather ought to be; the expression of cosmic consciousness (converging into global consensus) with the perspective of individual and global blossoming. Thus people of such perception and conviction, when identify, appreciate, come together and interact; the pragmatic aspects of actual means and modalities of actions get crystallized. At present also this is happening, but in a rather imperfect, immature, inaccurate, insufficient, inadequate and ineffective manner. Primarily, this imperfection is that of perspective, conceptualization, conviction and actual experience or realization. The millions of different needs, wants, likes, dislikes, virtues, vices, actions, interactions, contradictions, dialogues, hopes and despairs of billions of living beings; of different ages; with different geographical, political, social, economic, cultural and historical backgrounds; one thing in common. This lowest common denominator is the deep seated urge; for individual and global blossoming; either voluntary or involuntary and conscious or subconscious! The visible hallmarks of this individual and global blossoming (though in formative or developing stage); are; millions of people being served food free of cost, millions of cows being cared for; as by Gondavle Sansthan, ISCKON and many other institutions, trees being planted by ISHA, millions of people being trained in yoga by Swami Ramdev and Patanjali Yogapeeth pariwar, Promotion and cultivation of herbal plants by Ahcarya Balkrishna, millions of people being trained in Sudarshan Kriya by Sri Sri Ravishankar and Art of Living pariwar, holistic medical practice by at least some holistic practitioners in the world and attempts towards justice in political, legal, economic, agricultural and health care areas, by many institutions and individuals all over the world. But in addition to them I strongly feel that Universal Practice of NAMASMARAN i.e. remembering one’s true self (about whom we are usually oblivious), right from childhood, according to the particular tradition. Availability, upholding and promotion of safe drinking water and vegetarian food Redefining the “holistic health”; as “Optimal intellectual, emotional, instinctual and physical actions to promote individual and global blossoming, in one’s field”. Practice and promotion of Holistic Medicine; i.e. “the art, science and skills of employing everything effective; in regaining and promoting holistic health”, as; essential and inseparable core of mainstream Medical Education, Teaching, Practice and Research. Holistic Education with emphasis on a) the principles and preliminary practices of holistic health and holistic medicine, b) productive domain c) affective, cognitive and psychomotor domains, d) empowerment through NAMASMARAN e) practical productive progress, self sufficiency; research and teaching in all education institutions! Even the specialized institutions would not be exception to “earn and learn”, “produce and progress”, “practice and pass” principles. The written examinations would be replaced by actual assessment of the skills, at all levels. All religious temples and places of worship would voluntarily incorporate educational, industrial, and agricultural and research activities; conducive to holistic health; thereby get re-integrated with mainstream life. Conversely, all educational and industrial houses would adopt the activities of religious and spiritual bodies and institutions; in which, the philosophy of holistic health is implicit (though variable in terms of semantics i.e. languages and terms). Getting up early, drinking of water in morning, rubbing the teeth, gums and palate in morning and using herbs conducive to dental, oral and general health, would be promoted as essential elements of holistic health. Byhearting of hymns and prayers of different religions; would be sung together; amongst all religions, in all institutions. Laws would be devoid of vindictiveness, conducive to holistic health i.e. formative, and hence rigorously and strictly executed; e.g. the persons soiling the public property would me made to clean without compensation the same, a corrupt person would be made to work double the duty hours, in minimum salary and those involved in misleading or deceptive commercials such as (98% stoppage of hair fall, double increase in height) would be made to participate in production, research, training and practice of holistic health and medicine, at no profit. The production of bicycles and vehicles of mass transport being echo-friendly would be encouraged as against vehicles of personal transport. Sanskrit would be researched and taught all over the world if after careful scrutiny of international well meaning intellectuals belonging to different religions; and found beneficial to mankind. The unifying elements and enlightenment in the lives of saints, seers and other reformers would be integral part of the curriculums. The doctrines of bigotry, fanaticism, Zionism, racism, wars and hatred would occupy minimum or if possible actually NO space in curriculum. There would be introspective research and dialogue over; whether the culture of slaughtering the cows and bullocks (and other animals) is an evolved and civilized act; beneficial to mankind? or is it preferable to love, care, adopt and coexist with animals? There would be extensive and conclusive debate, evolution of globally beneficial policies, laws, rules and their implementation in this regard; world over. There would be encouragement to folk sports as for the folk arts and folk music in preference to high tech sports and arts The defense policies would gradually become less barbaric, less cruel, less vicious, less prejudiced, less suspicious, less obstinate and more reconciliatory. STRESS AND POLICIES TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS Stress if not managed properly leads to defects in regulation, control, coordination, and harmony, efficiency inside and outside us. Stress leads to hundreds of psychological, neurological, endocrine and metabolic disturbances, which are reflected in the behavior also. One of the defective aspects of disturbed behavior is accident proneness. The mismanaged conscious and subconscious stress; directly leads to defective driving behavior and increase in vehicular accidents on road. But apart from this; when our stress is mismanaged; and when we are in positions of power; it leads to defective policies, rules and regulations related to vehicular production, marketing, conditions of roads, facilities of public and mass transport and maintenance of traffic in general. Accidents and many other related and consequent problems; are created by such defective policies and their implementation. Strangely; billions of us; the sufferers; who are so much stressed and are unable manage it; fall victim to the diseased model of progress. They can’t even identify and understand the defects in the policies; which are responsible for the increase in the number and severity accidents. The stress seems to have made these sufferers amongst us; so much incapacitated, inactive, indifferent, apathetic, cynical and frustrated; that they refuse to; or are unable to participate rectifying the causes responsible for accidents and their complications. Thus, they indirectly support and promote defective policies and their implementation multiplying accidents. It is easy to understand how a stressed individual is more prone to commit accident, but how mismanaged stress can lead to wrong and disastrous policies can be clear from the following example of policy about production of vehicles. Thus the policy of excessive production and marketing (and passively buying and using) of cars and two wheelers (for the affluent few) and suppression the production buses, trams, trains and other modes of public transport, which are urgently required for billions; leads to suffering of billions in many ways, one of which is increase in road accidents. The brief explanation of how this single policy can increase not only accidents but cause many related and consequent problems; is as follows. 1. Excessive increase in number of vehicles on roads leads to congestion and tremendous and unnecessary load on traffic police 2. Commensurate increase in fuel consumption causing chemical pollution and also in import expenses; leading to increase of fuel prices and subsequent increase in the food prices and unbearable load on the farmers living in villages, where electricity is barely available for few hours. Thus the farmer community which is the heart of society becomes sick and moribund! This alarms real danger! 3. Wear and tear of roads increases. Consequently there is increase in accidents due bad condition of roads as well as increase in the maintenance expenses and disturbance and delay to smooth traffic 4. Excessive increase in noise pollution results due to; blowing of horns; which is especially troublesome; to hospitals, schools, and other places; where silence is essential. 5. Traffic jams adding to further increase in fuel consumption and wastage of time, disastrously affecting the performance and/or productivity of the people of different occupations. 6. Increase in the number of vehicular accidents is largely contributed by simply the huge and increasing number of vehicles on road apart from other factors 7. Increase in vehicular exhaust causing global warming 8. Excess of load on local trains and other means of public transport [where ever available] and consequent accidents, quarrels and mishaps 9. Overall increase in tardiness in the traffic and increase in anxiety and tension, further increasing the quarrels, traffic crimes the number and severity of accidents and difficulty in providing medical aid (and disaster management) due to difficulty in movement of ambulances and fire fighters. 10. The eco-friendly bicycles production and sale suffers due to “imposing and threatening” presence of cars, motorcycles, rickshaws, scooters etc. 11. Excessive production of vehicles; is associated with; unproductive and wasteful work; such as insurance, registration and traffic policing! 12. Increase (due to difficulty in enforcing law and order) riots, thefts etc due to slowing of police movement 13. Excessive production of un-degradable solid waste. 14. The need and construction of excessively wide and cement or asphalt roads at the cost of irreplaceable trees (extremely important for avoiding global warming, pollution, rain and organic manure) and open earth surface (extremely important and vital for absorbing and holding rain water) and unnecessary disruption of the natural habitat of the animals. Thus, one wrong policy and its implementation can cause and increase several problems in society; apart from road accidents. Since this is one of the fallouts of mismanaged stress, the holistic solution is Total Stress Management (The core of which is NAMASMARAN); of every one of us. The immediate solution for the accidents is improvement of public transport system by improving; the production of buses (quantitative and qualitative), bus maintenance, bus frequency, preferential lane for buses, bus service and so on! More holistic solutions can be worked out and implemented by the experts with holistic perspective; solidly supported and strengthened by public opinion, consensus and movements. As stated earlier; one of the simplest ways for such stress busting; is beginning our own emancipation; through the practice of NAMASMARAN! STRESS ACCIDENTS AND LOAN POLICIES Mismanaged STRESS can cause accidents; directly as well as indirectly. Thus the direct influence of the STRESS is through indisciplined, irresponsible, careless, uncontrolled and haphazard driving. The indirect influence of mismanaged STRESS is through the ad hoc, populist, indisciplined, irresponsible, careless, uncontrolled and haphazard decision, policy making, plans, programs and their implementation. It is true that at young age; we feel like riding bicycles, scooters, motor cycles and cars. There is a craze of riding and racing on a vehicle. There is attraction for speed. (The horse, donkey, camel, elephant and even buffalo riding are popular. But the number of animals is dwindling due unabated slaughter and devouring of animals. Moreover; the margins of profits are possibly not as attractive as in the vehicle industries and trades. Hence there is no promotion and/or hype of these. Naturally; these rides are rapidly becoming extinct.) In general the policies and programs of the governments, industries, traders, banks, advertisers and the entertainment business; revolve around natural and artificially created crazes (based on biological instincts and emotions). They revolve around the craze of riding, speeding and racing; irrespective of its consequences! They revolve around the glamour, glitter, pomp, style, trend, fashion and “one up man” ship. They revolve around impressing the others! Thus; the government policies, industries, trades, banks, advertising and entertainment business; complement one another; in capitalizing and on such crazes and creating social hazard and menace! Hence there are the policies of excessive import and unmanageably infinite production of cars, motor cycles, scooters etc.; promotion, provision of easy and soft loans, marketing, creation of hype, style statement, fashion, and morbidly excessive and artificially created hysterical demand! This is the effect mismanaged of the STRESS of policy and decision makers, in different fields! It leads to excessive increase in personal vehicles, leading to all the STRESS of traffic jams, pollution; and accidents; in spite of ad hoc and piecemeal measures such as increasing traffic police, stringent traffic rules, compulsion of helmets etc.! The root of the problem viz. Complementarity and cooperation of forces; increasing the number of private and personal vehicles on the road; in preference to the public vehicles of mass transport; can be largely overcome by; 1) Adequate production and promotion (in terms of quality and quantity) of vehicles of mass transport such as buses and easily available low interest (easily affordable) loans; for the purchase and use of buses as compared to and in preference to private cars, and two wheelers 2) Normalizing of the disastrously excessive production and promotion of private and personal vehicles including two wheelers This can have some rectifying influence in terms of preferential purchase of buses and running public undertakings and private businesses of mass (bus) transport. The number of vehicles on road would reduce and the major STRESS would be largely overcome. The wellness cycle would begin. Loan policy to reduce personal vehicles and promote vehicles of mass transport; is not merely complementary to all the precautions everybody related to automobile industry and road transport; such as the car owners, drivers, pedestrians and the traffic police should take. In addition; being holistic and accurate; the impact of this policy is far more extensive; than any individual, departmental or institutional precautions, taken in isolation. Everything done to reduce personal vehicles; and promote vehicles of mass transport; is one of the globally beneficial decisions, policies, plans and programs; of the Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); and its propagation and implementation are also included in Total Stress Management. STRESS AND POLICY OF HOLISTIC EDUCATION Stress at individual and social levels; distorts our cognition, affect and conation (perception, feelings and actions); and leads to amongst many other evils; deterioration of international, national and local education policy and its implementation. The present day non-holistic (sectarian, prejudiced, vindictive, malicious, mercenary, exploitative and malevolent) education (formal, curricular, co curricular, extracurricular and informal) is a major stressor that though aids in petty pursuits; opposes our blossoming and further perpetuates stress and ill effects in the individual and social life. Let us review; the present perspective, policy and practice of education; as seen around. Even though education is defined in various ways; and often inadequately or incompletely; there has been a general agreement on the fact that education is basically a process of blossoming of an individual and the society. Hence it included three domains, which are as follows. The first domain is called AFFECTIVE DOMAIN. This means the state of mind. In simple words affective domain relates to how we feel. Thus when our mind is full of alertness, attention, enthusiasm, buoyancy, affection, concern, joy, tolerance, self esteem, mutual respect, mutual trust, commitment, dedication, love, romance, confidence, positive and victorious spirit, we would call it healthy affective domain. In addition; the zeal and concentration needed; in the pursuit of excellence in intellectual field, tenacity and endurance required; in skillful activities and patience and commitment essential; for internally satisfying and socially beneficial (conscientious) actions constitute affective domain. The purpose of education is to nurture this domain by designing suitable curricula and syllabi. The second domain of education is called PSYCHOMOTOR DOMAIN. This implies ability to appreciate skills and ability to perform physical and mental skills, with speed, accuracy, elegance, ease of performance etc. This may involve appreciation and performance of skills such as surgery, playing a musical instrument, playing basket ball or doing carpentry! The purpose of education is to nurture this domain through not only designing suitable curricula, syllabi but also by providing sufficient practical and demonstration classes; with all the necessary equipments. The third domain is called COGNITIVE DOMAIN. Cognitive domain incorporates accurate perspective, contemplation, correct perception understanding, conceptualization, analysis and recall of fact and problems, ability to evaluate, synthesize, correlate and make decisions, appropriate policies, plans and expertise in the management, administration, etc. It is clear that all these domains have three components each viz. Cognition [Perception], affect [Feelings] and conation [Response]. Thus cognitive domain would have intellectual perception, clarity and intellectual expression, affective domain would include feeling, motivation and response in emotional sphere such as poetry; and psychomotor domain would include grasp and internalization of a particular skill, confidence to perform it and actually performing it. Let us now see, how in spite of these goals; how it has come to be conceived as a process of achieving political, economic, scientific and technological supremacy and thus deteriorated to the present stage; where all the three domains are defective; apart from lacking in the spiritual and productive domains. In short; let us see how it has become a major stressor. For this; a brief consideration of the traditional education system in India would prove useful. Traditional Education System in India in general; ensured that: a] Careers were not selected on the basis of monetary gains, b] Careers were not selected arbitrarily on the basis of idiosyncrasies and whims, c] Some lucrative careers could not be sought after; in preference to the others, d] All careers ensured income and production from early age, e] All careers ensured that the society was benefited, f] All careers ensured security to all the social groups, g] All the careers ensured intimacy and closeness between young and old in the families. h] All careers ensured ethical education and passage of experience and wisdom; from generation to generation. These were merits. But it is also true that, the traditional system was apparently marked by deprivation of scholastic education on mass scale, apparently unjustifiable availability of education of jobs based on caste, deficient infrastructure for collective scientific and technological efforts, and an element of arbitrary imposition of hierarchy. The traditional education system has attained the present status of being a major stressor as a result of several stressful factors including the onslaught of the tempting and impressive individualistic doctrines. Thus the transition from traditional system to the present one (whether due to British, American or any other influence, but basically due to individualistic pursuits); has become a major stressor tearing apart the cohesive social fabric of India by failing to preserve and nurture the merits and discard and dispose off the demerits. As the education shifted from homes, home industries and farms to; nurseries, K.G. schools, schools, colleges, universities, corporate industries, research institutions etc. the transition became viciously poisonous. Cognition suffered because of: a] Huge number of students, in a single class making following three things almost impossible. These things are i] individual attention ii] dialogue iii] discussions, b] Lack of adequate salary, accountability, incentive and economic security to the teachers taking away the initiative of nurturing cognitive domain c] Increase in alienation with respect to student’s background and aptitude d] Lack of adequate incentive to the students in the form of creativity, production and earning, service to the family and service to the nation, takes away the motivation required for building up cognitive domain e] Lack of conviction essential in the growth of cognitive domain in the teachers and students because of outdated practical and demonstration classes, lack of interdisciplinary dialogue and in general the irrelevance of education to the realities of day to day life in as much as almost predictable consecutive unemployment at the end! The lack of conviction could be partly due to lack of participation by teachers in decision-making, policy making, development of curricula, syllabi etc. f] Emphasis on recall and hence rote learning thereby denying free inquiry, reading, questioning etc. thereby directly thwarting the cognitive domain g]] Too many examinations; with irrelevant parameters or criteria of evaluation [besides being unfair in many instances] leading to misguided and in most cases counterproductive efforts thus adversely affecting the cognitive domain h] Competitions where the manipulative skills, callousness, selfishness are given more respect, destroy the enthusiasm of growing in cognitive domain i] Information explosion affecting cognitive domain by either causing enormous and unnecessary burden on memory or inferiority complex j] Pressure of interviews causing constant tension and sense of inadequacy, right from the tender age, k] Protracted hours of homework in schools denying the students their legitimate right to enjoy their childhood and make them physically, mentally and intellectually unfit to grow in cognitive domain l] Irrelevant and unnecessary information loading in lectures in the form of monologue, leading to suppression of the spontaneity, originality, interest and enthusiasm so much required in cognitive development amongst the students, Affective domain suffered due to, A] Isolation of the children from their parents and their domestic environment at an early age [Making the parents also equally sad] B] Lack of warm bonds due to huge number, C] Cut throat individualistic and petty competition, D] Inadequate facilities of sports, trekking, educational tours, recreation and physical development etc E] Alienation from one’s social environment and culture Psychomotor domain suffered due to A] Almost total lack of opportunities to actually participate in skillful activities such as drawing, painting, sewing, sculpturing, carpentry, knitting, weaving, music, agriculture, horticulture, other handicrafts, various sports, performing arts etc. It is important to realize that promotion of psychomotor domain is evident but in its caricature form. It has no concrete economic realistic basis. The activities have no economic incentive and no productive element. Apart from the defects in the three domains; the other two domains viz. spiritual and productive; have not been included in the education. The spiritual domain that imparts universal perspective and globally beneficial outlook; incorporates inner blossoming of an individual through introspection, heart to heart communication (not merely discussion and arguments), mutual understanding and blossoming of the teachers and students together; through one of the most universal practices; viz. NAMASMARAN. Thus the spiritual domain is a key to conquer lust, whims, fancies, pride, arrogance, callousness, contempt, ungratefulness, prejudices, jealousy, hatred, meanness and so on; is never made available to the teachers, students and the others; associated with education. The present education system in India lacks the other important domain; viz. productive domain that empowers the people concerned with education. This prevents a huge section of society such as teachers, students, clerks, servants, sweepers and many others such as education inspectors, from being creative and productive. In addition it causes colossal loss of space, electricity, construction cost and so on. In addition because of the typical emphasis on rote learning it leads to phenomenal waste of “educational material” such as paper, bags, pencils, ball pens etc. It has to be appreciated that billions of rupees are spent on unproductive or rather counterproductive exercise of construction, decoration and maintenance of schools and colleges, electricity, and so called educational material, payment of millions of teachers and other staff members engaged, and exams conducted to test the “capacity and merit of rote learning”. This way we weaken the national economy, jeopardize the developmental activities. It also causes economic loss to everyone involved in education; while suppressing and starving their all three domains nurtured in productive activity. This is a single most important cause of 1] Reduction in the dignity of labor amongst those who continue to learn, as well as reduction in the income of the concerned families and the nation 2] Lack of education, lack of employment and starvation or criminalization amongst those who are forced to drop out because the poor villagers’ children normally contribute to the earning of the family. 3] Inhuman suffering of those millions of students dropouts, who somehow manage to get into the hell of cheap child labor for subsistence; due to economic reasons. In short, present day education system harnesses arrogance and diffidence; amongst those who continue to learn. But their spiritual, cognitive, psychomotor, affective and productive domains are defective. Their spiritual blossoming, self empowerment, creative wisdom, intellectual competence, productive skills, self sufficiency and even physical health are deficient. Thus we have increasing number of unproductive criminals and mental wrecks or highly competitive efficient maniacs pursuing petty goals at the cost of others! For those who are unable to continue the education; the abyss of being child labor, stealing, delinquency, criminals, perverts, beggars is wide open! The piecemeal approach or facilitation of petty pursuits (under the guise of development and progress) is not only useless but are in fact counterproductive! It leads to cancerous spread of industries with uncontrolled production of unnecessary utilities and their maddening marketing. These industries consume energy, fuel and add to undisposable waste and pollution. This sickening and stressful atmosphere nurtured by the present education; promotes the growth of terrorism on the one hand; and pretends to act against it (in a counterproductive way) on the other! Mainstream Education System and the courses and careers in it; revolve around and serve the grossly petty and superficial considerations, motivations and interests and this state of affairs; is strongly protected and strengthened by the elements with similar interests! Hence the present laws, rules and regulations also promote present education and its ill effects. Some institutions and individuals, for whom we have great respect, are involved in the holistic approach to education (mainstream, formal, informal, curricular, co curricular, extracurricular as well as education of physically and mentally challenged children). But these efforts are too feeble to make a difference to our life. While piecemeal approaches are failing; there is no adequate awareness and promotion of holistic education, which leaves the vicious cycle of stress distorting education and distorted education creating, aggravating and spreading the stress; to continue unabashedly and unabated. Hence; the ill effects of stress on present education and vice versa; can be eradicated if we understand and propagate the defects in present education and promote holistic education as an international solution. It has to be appreciated that no statesman, no political leader, no policy maker and no administrator can bring about change in an existing system (in democratic set up); unless, we evolve a consensus about the changes in the majority of people; whose cooperation is very vital. In short; the policy of holistic education; demands that every school, college, university etc must become the center of production and service, self sufficient and must aid in self sufficiency and blossoming of everyone involved in education and also of the nation. The students, teachers and others associated with education; must blossom as independent and empowered individuals; spiritually, intellectually, mentally, instinctually, physically and economically. In practice; everyday; approximately 20 % of the time must be spent in production, service etc. 20 % of the time must be spent in physical activities 20 % of the time must be spent in personality (conceptual and spiritual) development and 20 % of the time must be spent in entertainment 20 % of the time must be spent on cognitive domain 20 % of the time must be spent in production, service etc. 1. The productive domain should be an essential ingredient of education System, but no particular job should be enforced. The teachers and others should participate in the productive domain. Production and service can involve community projects such plantation of medicinal herbs, rearing of cows, home flower gardening, production of chalk sticks, carpentry, pottery, cleanliness, crafts, skills, arts and their sale according to the situations.. Working physically in different ways and earning is not a burden. It is an opportunity to grow from within. It is an opportunity to develop our self esteem. It is an opportunity to become self sufficient. 2. This leads to self sufficiency in schools. They do not have to depend on heavy fees or federal grants or donations and this way they become accessible to all; rendering the reservations redundant! 3. Through productive domain the hypokinetic stress, emotional stress of being dependent and intellectual stress of excessive memorizing is averted. 4. Due to productive domain, the dropping out due to lack of earning (as is common in case of millions of students in many parts of world) and then turning into helpless, vulnerable and cheap child labor would come down. 5. Being empowered, the students would not go through the stress of unemployment and turn into helpless, frustrated mental wrecks or criminals. 6. The emphasis on productive domain (and hence psychomotor and practical aspects) would bring down the necessity and also the capability and possibility to “copy” and associated crimes and corruption in procedures of examinations, certification, providing grants and so on! The caste based reservation for education, jobs and promotions; responsible for social divide and strife; in many parts of the world; (especially India) can be rendered redundant and thus; peacefully and advantageously done away with, by consensus! Most importantly; we have to introduce and incorporate examinations, which examine the actual skill, capacity or performance of the student, rather than his/her ability of repeating or reproducing things and/or copying. 20 % of the time must be spent in physical activities Physical activities can include pranayama, sports, exercise, trekking, hiking, a variety of physical fitness training programs and methods to avoid monotony and improve efficacy. A variety of sports prevalent in every other parts of the world can make the programs more interesting, entertaining thereby promoting global unity. 20 % of the time must be spent in personality (conceptual and spiritual) development and Personality development includes affective domain, spiritual domain and embodies broadening of perspective through various means such as; NAMASMARAN, by hearting and chanting prayers, poems and songs from different languages and countries thereby promoting global unity, invited guest lectures, seminars, discussions on holistic health, educational tours and visits to places where the student gets exposed to rapid developments in the society such as laboratories, airports, government offices, share market, farms etc. 20 % of the time must be spent in entertainment Entertainment that enriches the soul; not only should include playing musical instruments, dance, painting, mimicry, singing, story telling, drama, movie etc. but everything that nurtures the affective domain and spiritual domain as well. 20 % of the time must be spent on cognitive domain Development of cognitive domain can include teaching of languages, history, geography, mathematics etc with utmost emphasis on interpretation and relevance in day to day life. Thus typical irrelevant questions in the examination of history, languages, mathematics; should be totally done away with. The subject such as economics, psychology, civics, philosophy, logic, sociology etc must include field work and made relevant to the present society. We must encourage maximum and daily person to person interaction and dialogue amongst the teachers and students; so that analytical, synthetic, contemplative, decision making, trouble shooting and problem solving capacities are developed optimally. Let us realize the fact that the vicious cycle of stress distorting education and distorted education causing and multiplying stress and ill effects in individual and social life; can not be managed effectively unless and until; a situation where millions are “imprisoned” in unproductive work and millions are forced into unemployment and inhuman cheap child labor; is eradicated through holistic education policy and its implementation; at international, national and local levels; through the laws, government rules and public awareness, consensus and participation. The details of practical steps can be developed by interactions amongst the people active in the field of education all over the world. But we all need; 1, Perspective and conviction of Global Unity and global welfare 2. Readiness to accept and introduce physiological insights and principles in the holistic education 3. Readiness and openness to have dialogue with experts in other fields 4. Participation from the society and governments and the media including internet websites, so that holistic education activists all over the world can have a meaningful dialogue and share views, work and experiences and may be, inspire others! 5. Administrative proficiency and due care and concern for the physical capacities of the children (normal as well as the physically and mentally challenged) and should not be painful and troublesome. 7. The opportunities for psychomotor activities and productive activities; without impositions. 8. Every kind of open mindedness and tolerance amongst teachers and students; so that better international relations can be realized. The physical, instinctual, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and economic empowerment and blossoming; of all those involved in holistic education is integral to Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); i.e. individual and global blossoming; culminating into global unity, harmony and justice. STRESS AND POLICIES TO STOP CHILD LABOR Any sensitive and sensible individual would not like a child to undergo the coercion of daily labor for survival. Apparently; this conscientious feeling has been transformed into international consensus against child labor. Sadly though, it is being defeated repeatedly, thereby producing enormous STRESS; amongst the children forced into labor; as well as most of us who are witnesses! This STRESS is often not perceived and not identified clearly and sensed only as a vague and inexplicable agitation and sickening agony in the heart! The failure of the international consensus and conscience; is due to the naive or deliberate lack of dealing with the root of child labor; and merely continuing with the philanthropic activities; and/or attempts towards arbitrary imposition of laws to ban child labor. I have not gone through the international law or the details of WTO. But since most of us (the people of world) do not like children to undergo the coercion of daily labor for survival, there is international consensus about banning child labor. But inspite of this; the child labor continues. Our egalitarian desire of banishing child labor; through charity and laws; has not worked. What is the reason for this? The reason for this is; we have not gone to the root cause of the child labor. The egalitarian desires, charity and laws can be wishful, but not effective in banishing child labor; unless we have policies which rectify the root cause of the child labor. What is the root cause of child labor? The root cause of child labor is lack of spiritual and productive domains in educational policy. We; the students, teachers or parents in the mainstream education (in countries like India); are cut off from “ourselves” and our productive capabilities. Further our education is generally cut off from the real life and hence we are “locked into unrealistic and parasitic education”! In other words; the our education is irrelevant to the current sociopolitical developments in different fields; such as philosophy, culture, traditions, literature, technology, economy, agriculture, environment, health, fitness and medicine, business, industry and so on. This education is unnecessarily and highly dependent on high tech gadgets and books, calculators, computers and other teaching and learning aids and revolves around the elitist life (demands); neglecting the life (needs) of vast majority, naively or deliberately. This education policy is probably revolving around the vested interests of the manufacturers and dealers of the so called educational (earning and teaching) aids and material. In short it revolves around the needs and interests of few and being parasitic in nature; at the cost of vast majority. In such highly alienated and expensive unproductive education system; majority of the children become suffocated child drop outs and the vulnerable and easily available helpless child labor. Those, who continue in the education and get graduated; are unproductive and ignorant about current developments and transactions in the society and incompetent to get self employed. They are unable to get self-employed and either become frustrated and suicidal mental wrecks; or frustrated but indiscriminately violent arrogant criminals. Hence child labor and the indiscriminate violence continue as if it is inevitable, because of a kind of helpless or callous passiveness; or frantic, unwise, sentimental and even hysterical uproar to stop it. Child labor and the subsequent STRESS; can be conquered; if the education nurtures; on priority basis; the spiritual domain (self empowerment through self knowledge, self realization (through NAMASMARAN) and productive domain; besides cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains. This can be done if we internalize introduce this is “YOGA” i.e. i.e. reunification of; reintegration of, or re-amalgamation of; or re-synthesis of spiritualism and materialism; and individually and globally benevolent perspectives, policies, plans and programs; in education! In short; child labor can be effectively stopped mainly through the policy of holistic education as discussed under; “STRESS AND HOLISTIC EDUCATION”. STRESS AND POLICIES ABOUT CASTE BASED AND OTHER RESERVATONS FOR WELFARE OF ALL Merely belonging to different castes, different religions or merely following certain customs, which are running through the generations in a family and a community etc. do not make us discriminatory, unjust, prejudiced and communal; and does not produce STRESS of communalism! According to the world book dictionary, communalism refers to self-governance of a commune or communes and this is a kind of federalism. Communal means related to commune. In Sanskrit there is a SUBHASHITA PINDE PINDE MATIH BHINNAH KUNDE KUNDE NAVAM PAYAH JATO JATO NAVACHARAH NAVA VANEE MUKHE MUKHE The meaning of this SUBHASHITA is simple and enlightening. It boosts the spirit of tolerance. It implies, every individual has different intellectual capacity, every source of water contains water with different characteristics and composition, every community has different tradition; and different linguistic expression is present in every individual mouth! But in India this word has different connotation. In India, communalism implies disproportionate pride, concern about one’s caste, tribe, religion or any such group and disproportionate contempt, hatred and prejudice about those of others. This is almost always associated with practices harmful to others. Communalism has become an everyday problem. It has infiltrated every walk and every stratum of life; like a cancer. Thus political parties, a variety of unions, various organizations etc and associations are diseased with communalism. Similarly, policies regarding employment, promotions, admission to different educational careers, competitive examinations in almost every sphere of life have been infiltrated by communalism. To understand and overcome the menace of communalism and bring about harmony and justice in society effectively; we have to understand the caste system and the caste specific job distribution that has come into existence and remained for centuries and the emergence of religions and their impact on social life. In this article; we will consider the development of caste system. In my view, (of the emergence of caste system that disapproves the conspiracy and exploitation theories) the caste system in India was based on the physiological principle of homeostasis; where many different type of cells perform different functions so as to maintain constancy of internal environment and thereby health of the organism. Secondly it was based on the principle of a variety, complementarity and harmony in nature. Thus the emergence of caste system was based on the observation that neither in body nor in nature the individual components perform the same work or job. In fact this kind of “equality” is dangerous. Complementarity of components is important and conducive to health. This entailed distribution of different jobs. This distribution of the jobs depended on the capacity, aptitude, urge, motivation and commitment. This was evident gurukul system, where the guru assessed the disciple from various angles mentioned above. However the distribution of jobs gradually became independent of the capacity and started depending on one’s caste. How could have this happened? Firstly, it appears to me that this took place because of the observation; that the tissues performing a particular function in body; give rise to the cells with the same functions. Secondly; there is heredity in nature. The mango tree gives mango fruits, banana tree gives banana and coconut tree gives coconuts. The offspring of a tiger is tiger and offspring of a cat is a cat. Thus the fact the tissues give rise to daughter cells performing the same function and the plants and animals reproduce their own replicas; was probably extrapolated to the human society. It must have been thought that such heredity must be working in human beings also. In fact, such extrapolation must have been buttressed by the observations that children do carry the traits of their parents which may include, from mathematical talents to musical skills, besides physical constitution and looks. In fact even today we use expressions such as “There is music in his blood”, “There is acting in his blood” “There is business in his blood” and so on. These expressions are based on observations of centuries. So every community was seen or perceived as a particular organ or tissue, which would give rise to specific type of cells; and subserve the homeostasis in the organism viz. holistic welfare or blossoming of the mankind! The second reason for this change must have been due one of the most prevalent concepts viz. KARMA PHALA SIDDHANTA. In Marathi this is expressed as KARAVE TASE BHARAVE. In English this is expressed through “As you sow, so you reap”. This concept gives a basis for why a particular child is born in a particular community or caste. This led to the notion that those who are born in a particular caste are born according their deeds in the past life. This lent a conceptual foundation for the stability and continuance of the caste dependent job distribution. So every individual in a particular community, caste, subcaste; was conceived as a particular individual cell in a tissue. Now it can be appreciated why there were restrictions on all the communities (analogous to organs or tissues) to do a particular job. Obviously this was to achieve social homeostasis (analogous to homeostasis in an organism). Clearly this was to avoid competition based on petty selfishness and unabated personal ambitions, which could, jeopardize the welfare of a society (analogous to endangering the homeostasis and life of an organism because of different tissues competing to perform the same functions). The caste system also had one more and important aspect and that was punishment at local level. This punishment depended on the nature of “crime” or “sin” and the verdict of the traditional beliefs, conventions and consensus. This particular system included the punishment of outcasting. Outcasting means; removing out of the community. The person or a family could not live in; and get any facilities from their community. There was total noncooperation. This was a kind of imposition of sanctions. It is well known in India that the father and mother of the world famous saint of 12th century, saint Dnyaneshwar were outcasted and forced to commit suicide; for their “crime” of going against the then prevalent conventions. Those who were outcasted were condemned to live as the outcaste. This system of giving “justice” by consensus; apparently did not have any provision for the upward traffic of the outcasted “lower” castes, who actually were not merely the conquered people or slaves. They included the “upper” castes individuals and families, which had to enter into “lower” castes because of what was then considered a “crime”. However one does not know with certainty whether there were any ways of absolving from those so called “crimes” and promoting to “upper castes”. Today most of these “crimes” may not be considered as crimes, blunders or even mistakes; because of the individualism, superficiality, pettiness as well as ideas of (right as well as wrong) freedom. It appears that these castes, which were forced to live outside the villages, were declared untouchable. Due to the same notion of heredity, which consolidated caste system, their progeny was also considered inferior and forced to stay out of the village border, was made to accept dirty jobs and were declared untouchable. This is why; many villages in India used to have and still have; in many regions, the formerly untouchable people staying beyond the boundaries of the villages. The caste system has been primarily a result of all that has been said above and NOT A CONSPIRACY; though it became unjust and perverted; through the subsequent influence of other factors such as vested interests, misuse of cultural superiority and authority, emotional blackmailing, exploitation of gullibility, religious persecutions, outright sadism, brutality, foreign invasions, forcible conversions, fear of the unknown, fear of the society, etc. It can be clearly understood from the foregoing that the caste system in India which deteriorated into increasingly unjust and grave perversion; was to start with; NOT A CONSPIRACY; as is made out to be by many misguided individuals. The theory that it was a conspiracy; can prejudice and mislead; the young and innocent people; and can create division, hatred and strife; amongst different castes. It can generate and aggravate the vindictive attitude of vengeance amongst some and the morbid sense of guilt in the others. But since it does not go to the root cause; it can not solve the burning problems of the billions. In fact this has been vindicated by the turbulent history of many ad hoc measures; such as; reservations and other caste-caste interactions in India in last several decades. The fact that the caste system did not develop as conspiracy can be clearly evident if following points are considered. 1) Caste system to be the conspiracy has not primarily been a result of political wars or religious wars also. The subsequent influence of such factors; however; cannot be entirely denied. 2) Political, dictatorial, oppressive, exploitative reasons appear too simplistic to explain the phenomenon of casteism and untouchability, which has spread all over India and in every nook and corner of even the interior most aspects of country (which were ruled by extremely different rulers with extremely diverse backgrounds). 3) Caste system has not been a conspiracy; because; it has not been primarily a result of winner-loser relationship. If that had been the case then there would not have been as many (far more than the “lower” castes) restrictions on certain “upper” castes as have been there in India. 4) If there had been winner loser relationship between two groups then one would have found fairly uniform characteristics amongst “upper” and “lower” castes. This is not so. Everyone would agree that there are people with very low capacity in so called “upper” castes and there are people with far greater capacity in so called “lower” castes. In fact almost all types of people are seen in all the castes. This applies not only to capacity but also to morality and social commitment. 5) The skin complexion of the individuals from “upper” castes and “lower” castes is also not uniform. Thus Brahmins are not uniformly fair in complexion and the “lower castes” are not uniformly dark in complexion. 6) Caste system was not based on equality. But it was basically and to start with not based on inequality, injustice and exploitation also. It was based on; as is said earlier; the interpretation of homeostasis, heredity and complementarity, and its extrapolation to society, social harmony, social stability, social order and optimal social blossoming in holistic health. 7) In the ancient times; most of the rulers and great scholars were NOT Brahmins and the scriptures were the products of consensus and any particular community. It has to be appreciated that because of this, even as most of the saints did not practice caste discrimination, religious discrimination or any kind of discrimination for that matter, they did not condemn or allege the Indian scriptures with malicious and vicious intentions. These scriptures (MANU SMRUTI, PARASHAR SMRUTI, VASISHTHA SMRUTI, NARADA SMRUTI, YAJNAVALKYA SMRUTI) were codes of conduct for different age groups, different professionals, different members of the family etc; such as and so on. This was because they knew that by condemning them, the old wisdom of social homeostasis would be lost and by supporting and practicing it; the exploitative, coercive and inhuman element would be justified and would continue. For this reason they chose the middle way. The saints did not make any disruptive and provoking statements; because they knew that this was not the solution to the evils of caste system. They knew that the solution to the evils of caste system lied in the opening of the floodgates of enlightenment and empowerment for one and all. This is why, without making any stunts and gimmicks they spent their lives in trying to open the floodgates of enlightenment and empowerment for one and all. They suffered during their lifetime because of the harassment from callous, rigid, orthodox and inhuman conservative elements; and centuries after their death; still continue to be misunderstood, misquoted, condemned and ridiculed by many misguided elements. From the work of the saints it appears that the saints had diagnosed the flaw in the caste system; and hence foreseen and predicted; the end of caste system (without losing the essential concept of social homeostasis) through generalized enlightenment and empowerment; irrespective of caste, religion, region etc, which is of paramount importance and inevitable and indispensable (but neglected) in really annihilating the castes even today. The major flaw; in the caste system that rendered it extremely exploitative, coercive and inhuman; is the omission or ignorance of i) Human beings are different from tissue cells; by virtue of greater freedom and flexibility ii) mango, coconut, tiger and cat do not have the choice and freedom to transcend their mango-ness, coconut-ness, tiger-ness and cat-ness. In contrast human beings have this potential and hence must get choice and freedom to transcend their caste characteristics, the process which is called enlightenment or self-realization. The saints seem to have realized that the children are not of the parents (to get exactly the same characteristics or to be blamed for the “sins” of their parents), but they come through the parents. The saints also seem to have realized that it is a great fallacy to condemn someone as sinful; merely because of being born in a particular caste; and punish him/her for the so called sins/crimes of the past generations or past lives. The purpose of this article is not to glorify or to condemn anybody, or to describe the detailed history of caste system but only to i) conceptualize the theory of the mergence of caste system based on the understanding physiology and ii) having gone to the root of the caste system and the main determinants of the caste system; take it to its logical end by blossoming everybody; at individual and global levels in every possible way! This implies that everything coercive in caste system would come to an end and the wisdom of harmony and complementary would continue. It is very true that one of the worst types of stress; is stress due to exploitation. Physical, sexual, emotional, intellectual, social, economic and political exploitation makes us miserable. But isn’t it true that even as we get exploited, we do not resist the exploitation either because we are unable to fight back or because we are not serious enough to fight back? Isn’t it true that we are used to exploitation and have come to terms with it? Be that as it may; if we wish to conquer the stress resulting from exploitation; then we have to learn the root causes and also the mechanism of how we get trapped in exploitation. The first and foremost thing is that we have to understand that we are never; “mere exploited” or “mere exploiters”. We harbor within us; an exploiter and an exploited simultaneously. We are never; mere Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras. We harbor within us a brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra; simultaneously within us. In fact; any such division; in terms of class and caste in the society; even though tempting; is simplistic and superficial. It never takes us to the roots of stress from exploitation and the solutions to conquer it. If we study physiology, then we would realize that we have different control mechanisms, which control our thinking, feelings and our behavior. Thus we have prefrontal cortex and the sensory, motor and association areas of brain, limbic and autonomic nervous system, subcortical brain and neuroendocrine parts, and endocrine, metabolic and spinal mechanisms in order of evolution. Our perspective, thinking, feelings and behavior; in individual life and social life; are characterized; by which of these control mechanisms is predominant in our life; and in the life of majority; respectively! Roughly speaking; predominant control of prefrontal cortex and the sensory, motor and association areas of brain; makes us brahmins. If we are predominantly governed by limbic and autonomic nervous system; then it is being kshatriya and if we are being predominantly governed by subcortical brain and neuroendocrine parts, then it is being vaishya. If we are predominantly governed by endocrine, metabolic and spinal mechanisms, then it is being shudra. If we are governed by endocrine, metabolic and spinal mechanisms, then we are bound to have prevalence of exploitation, pettiness, jealousy, hatred, fanaticism, fascism, lust, cruelty, crudeness of every kind; inconsiderateness, indifference, intolerance, selfishness, sectarian perspective, violence, treachery, cruelty, betrayals, cheating, crimes, filth, diseases, and accidents and so on in our individual life and; if we are in majority then in social life! In other words we are bound to create hell for ourselves and others. Let us be clear that no amount hue and cry can bring about blossoming in our individual and social life when we ourselves are predominantly governed by endocrine, metabolic and spinal mechanisms (lust and pettiness) i.e. being SHURDA. If we are predominantly shudra; then we are not likely to oppose exploitation. In fact; knowingly or unknowingly we are likely to promote our own and others’ exploitation. What would happen if we rise from shudra life into vaishya and kshatriya life? Would it bring about harmony and happiness in our life; in absence of predominance of the sensory, motor and prefrontal cortex of the brain? Predominance of vaishya and kshatriya controls; in our life; gives us material progress (increase in ideas, innovations, trade, industry, import, export, technology, crafts and arts, and military strength and so on) in individual and social life. But individualistic, selfish, competitive, restless, ambitious, subtly exploitative and subtly violent trends multiply in individual and universal life. The external ornamentation would increase. The glamour increases. The glitter increases. The pomp and pride multiply. But all these flourish without the holistic approach that involves inclusive growth! Hence; fragility, fickleness, impatience, pessimism, cynicism, suspicion, aloofness, irresponsibility, recklessness, belligerence, vagrancy, chaos, cacophony, separations, divorces; and subtle, silent, sophisticated, cunning and organized (in addition to crude violence) violence towards one’s own self and others; in individual and universal life increase! Hence we need the predominance of the control of prefrontal and sensory-motor cortexes i.e. brahmin element i.e. the control of conscience and enlightenment in individual and social life! We can conquer the stress of exploitation in individual life and by becoming a majority in the society; we can conquer the stress of exploitation in society. In other words; we would conquer the stress of exploitation by Total Stress Management embodying individual and universal blossoming; even as shudra, vaishya, kshatriya and brahmin elements are inevitably present within us; and in the society; through the predominant control of brahmin within us. But how to achieve the predominance of BRAHMIN or BRAHMANA control or control of prefrontal, sensory and motor cortexes? This is achieved by a continuous process of conscious evolution through NAMASMARAN (and other adjuvant means according to different cultures; from childhood). This is associated with blossoming of the perspective, thoughts, feelings, aspirations, conceptions, articulations and overall behavior conducive to individual and global blossoming. Holistic politics, holistic economics, holistic education, holistic health, holistic medicine, holistic agriculture, holistic industries, holistic trades, holistic banking, holistic art and literature, holistic sports and overall holistic way of living; become reality in the process of being controlled by the BRAHMIN or BRAHMANA element within us; or becoming BRAHMIN or BRAHMANA. This invariably associated with vitalization, promotion, regulation, coordination and harmonization of the KSHATRIYA, VAISHYA and SHUDRA elements; inside and outside; and blossoming of individual and universe, as envisaged by Saint Dnyaneshwar of Maharashtra! We all; irrespective of birth have the privilege and opportunity to evolve as BRAHMANA and participate in the process of blossoming of one and all! If we are able to “see” the unapparent undercurrents in the world; then we would be ecstatic to notice and participate; in the rapidly globalizing process; of evolving as a BRAHMIN or BRAHMANA; facilitating the individual and global blossoming; through NAMASMARAN! This is because, we must remember that while evolving out of the caste system, mankind has already begun to be plagued by and suffer from; individualism, pettiness and superficiality. Those, who attribute all the evils to the caste system in India; must be explained; that; in rest of the world; where there was no caste system (like that in India), individualism, pettiness and superficiality are playing havoc and proving to be malignant and fatal! We must learn from the saints; the importance of opening the floodgates of self realization to people irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion, nations and study, practice and promote; the Total Stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN), which embodies holistic perspective, policies, plans, programs and actions; for individual and global blossoming; through international laws, rules and conventions; in holistic healthcare, holistic productive education, and holistic approach every field of life! As and when this begins, everybody would become self reliant, independent, empowered, self sufficient, and enlightened; and the ad-hoc steps such as reservation policy, free education, concessions, free food, subsidies, loan wavers etc; would become redundant and unnecessary. Moreover; majority would begin to realize that in absence of this; even 100 percent reservations in parliaments, assemblies, jobs and everywhere; for that matter; would NOT solve the problems of the suffering billions. STRESS AND POLICIES ABOUT VARIOUS ADDICTIONS One of the hallmarks of STRESS in our life; is discrepancy, dysrhythmia and discord within our own selves! There is always a discrepancy, dysrhythmia and discord; between our imagination, thoughts, feelings, instincts, physical requirements and our habits! They are almost never identical or even in sequence, order or harmony. They may be not merely dissimilar; but often are; contradictory. Thus we may not think the same; as what we imagine and we may not feel the same; as what we think (and talk and write). Our instinctual cravings also may not in tune with our emotions. Thus instinctual needs may force us to indulge in something that makes us sad and repent! Hence even if we fantasize a utopia of some heaven on the earth, intellectually it may be inconceivable. Even if there is intellectual argument about good and bad feelings; it may not be valid in day to day emotional interactions. Even if there are deep sentiments about morality pertaining to passions; they may not match with our instinctual actions such as sexual behavior! In fact; adolescent and often illicit sex, voyeurism, crimes such as kleptomania, and habits such as smoking, drinking etc. form a romanticized and conspicuous part of our cinematic and dramatic creations. Similarly irrespective of what we think and feel about our habits or addictions; many of us continue to indulge in them. STRESS produces and/or nurtures addiction and addiction produces and/or perpetuates STRESS. Tobacco, alcohol and other things such as TV, internet, mobile etc; does not seem to cause alarmingly conspicuous and quick damage or loss. Even as there are several agencies working against the addictions, and the governments have begun to ban the direct advertisements of tobacco and alcohol, the propaganda against these addictions is not quite effective. Is this due to the fact that; many of us with addictions to tobacco and alcohol; seem to be “well off” and “happy go lucky” and appear to be living stylishly, generously and benevolently; whereas the others amongst us “without these addictions”; seem to be inactive, indifferent, conservative, timid, introvert, lackluster, narrow, stingy, fastidious and even depressed? This may be true. De-addiction per se, (even if we are demonstrated it’s physical and economic advantages and other material gains), does not seem to appeal most of us; because it does not provide the excitement, disinhibition, exhilaration, adventurism and thrill that we seek from life! On this background it should be easy to understand; why habits such as tobacco and alcohol in different forms; are popular amongst many of us; irrespective of age, sex, occupation, economic status, nationality, race, religion etc. This continues to be so in spite of their well publicized risks for health; and their condemnation by the ministries of information and broadcast of different countries and several philanthropic organizations; in the world. Whether the alcohol and tobacco are the culprits or whether our vulnerability to addiction; is responsible for the sway these things hold on our life; is a moot question. Moreover; our nature also seems to vacillate between elation in hedonistic pleasures and some kind of fantasizing of austerity! One question that tends to bother us; is; what are we going to gain by “sacrificing our pleasures and/or excitement of indulgence; while facing the reality of life; especially when no one can guarantee sound physical health and sound financial status; by abstinence?” This is also why; spiritual perceptions occupy only a small corner of our thinking and intellectual debates occupy a small fraction of our literature and art. For most of us; life is not a dry drudgery of calculations of profits and losses. It has to provide, interaction that goes beyond the formal relations, beyond the etiquettes, beyond the disguises and beyond all kinds of veils and facades. We want freely flowing spirits, which cross every rigid discipline and protocol! If we learn to explore and achieve such; or in fact; even more natural, selfless, unprejudiced, warm relationships; then addictions may lose their tempting value and the deaddiction can certainly follow as a byproduct! Such relationships and ecstatic moments of joy are possible through Total stress Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN). In fact; the benevolence of NAMASMARAN is not limited to helping us to conquer alcohol and tobacco; but it reveals to us; the individual and global blossoming embodied in Total Stress Management; which is a mega synthesis or mega reunion of philosophy and science, spiritualism and materialism; and theism and atheism! It is in this context that the ancient wisdom, which is valid today; guides us! The seers of the past such as Sadguru Shri Gondavlekar Maharaj; comprehended all these and many more complexities of our nature; and provided us with; the eternally benevolent guidance. Thus; our problem is of inadequate emergence of our consciousness, which is entrapped in pettiness of perspective, policy making, motivation and actions, inevitably associated with excitement of petty gains and misery of petty failures! Hence; even if we are not addicted to tobacco, alcohol or anything else, (and may take pride in it); we still can be destructive to self and the others. Hence they did not indulge in fanatic and inconsiderate condemnation or blatant encouragement of our vulnerability and weakness. Instead; they provided us with the means of empowerment and enlightenment to rise above and grow out of the vulnerability, weakness, weariness and pettiness! They enabled us to overcome the attitude of delirious justification and pride; as well as the incapacitating sense of guilt about our addictions and habits! They showed us the way of fulfillment of our life. They actually showed us the immortal and sublimely romantic culmination of the essence of our perspective, imagination, thoughts, feelings, instincts, needs and also our habits! They gave us a holistic solution to evolve a sublimely meaningful life, instead of nagging or pampering us; about our habits in isolation!! Hence; instead of going into the domestic, economic, medical, cultural and other angles and issues involved in the habits/addictions (including those of tobacco and alcohol); with a fragmented approach; we should unhesitatingly accept and verify the scope and limitations of the holistic solution viz. NAMASMARAN provided by the seers! It is high time we introduce the study and practice of NAMASMARAN as a part of holistic blossoming in every curriculum at all levels of education! STRESS AND POLICIES ABOUT BLACK MONEY The degree of appropriateness of constitution and laws, determines the justice, peace and harmony in that nation. Similarly; the accuracy of government rules; regarding the taxes determine the compliance of people required to pay taxes. But not merely the taxes; but the manner of expenditure of the taxes collected; decide the extent to which people would feel happy to pay taxes honestly and timely. There may be exceptions to this observation and some people may be extraordinarily honest and some may be extraordinarily dishonest. But that itself proves the point for the vast majority. Apparently these are obvious points; but they need emphasis, otherwise we cannot understand the seriousness of crimes and black money proliferating in a given society. The governments all over the world try to keep on giving statistics about crimes and black money in different countries. The self styled social reformers also make shallow and populist slogans against the crimes and black money for pampering their own inflated ego as leaders! They however; do not go the roots of crimes and black money. As a result we the common people keep getting disturbed and develop guilt complex and sense of lowliness and/or helplessness. Should we not go to the roots of crimes and black money? Should we not stop getting bogged down by the smart and callous or the shallow and populist elements (inside and outside)? For this; we have to realize the following fact. The technologically advanced; smart and cunning, but callous and crooked elements cheat, exploit and/or oppress the simple and gullible but sensitive and well meaning elements in the world. This process works at individual level also; and our higher self is suppressed and tortured by our lower self. The crimes and the black money are the results of this process. One of the major causes of black money is the bitterness amongst majority of the people that they are being unduly coercively, unjustifiably robbed of their legitimate and hard earned money. They feel that they are being deceived. This feeling grows because of the way the collected tax is misused and misappropriated. Naturally this is followed by manipulations to hide money and evade tax. Not only this, but due to this; if we are government servants, who cannot escape from (unjustified and coercive?) taxation on our legitimate income; we try to earn money by illicit means and hide it. Thus we are forced to be commit “financial crimes of greater or smaller dimensions” and grow the black money and its use without being taxed. In this sense; money earned by; cheating, misguiding, swindling, stealing, exploiting, robbing, adulteration, false clims in advertisements, glorification of drinking and smoking; and misappropriating tax money; and most importantly through making and twisting laws (or rules, statutes etc) to suit the vested interests; is really the darkest money! As we have noted before; this process works at individual level also; and our higher self is suppressed and tortured by our lower self. Our higher self is governed by our lower self. Hence we the people (from top to bottom) whether in government or in free enterprises; are ruled by our individualistic and petty ideas. We revere superficiality, glamour, and glitter and material success; being oblivious to the possible inhuman and heinous means; involved in earning it! Naturally we are governed outside from outside as well as inside by darkest money earned through heinous means! The shallow and populist slogans against corruption and black money; are understandable; but we should not get enamored by them and instead; ought to go to the root of the problem if we want to get rid of it! Thus; there is golden opportunity for us; to urgently and victoriously practice, teach, preach, sponsor and do whatever we can; to promote consolidation, and implementation of holistic perspective, policies, plans and programs; and conquer the dark rule (of pettiness, superficiality, individualism, selfishness, corruption, crimes and the darkest money) outside and inside! STRESS AND POLICIES TO OVERCOME GLOBAL RECESSION The root cause of global recession is the individualistic and tubular perspective in different fields, which leads to sectarian and mutually antagonistic “development”. This “development” embodies; actually; multiplication and cancerous growth of vested interests, petty pursuits and retrogressive destructive forces in politics, economics, environment etc. It is cancerous because it grows at the cost billions of us in the world; just like cancer, which grows at the cost of trillions of normal body cells! In present conditions; the production and the capital investment required; revolves around unproductive glamour, wasteful glitter, petty luxuriousness, cheap entertainment and mean achievements; born out of petty perspective. As a result of petty perspective they are glorified by most major players of mass communication! This is followed by the marketing of useless and/or counterproductive commodities and services, promoted through mutually exploitative marketing; mostly opposing interests of even one another! Undoubtedly; such marketing involves colossal waste. Hence the industrial growth instead of being conducive to holistic health, races towards mutual decay and soon slows down. To protect the vested interests of the small section from this process public funds are pumped in and the potential customers are further throttled! Everyone of us; being vulnerable and weak; due to the stupefying influence of totally deceptive glorification of petty and superficial glamour and glitter; gets tempted and driven by the lust for mere personal financial profits (oblivious to the fact that such profits turn against their own sublime nature)! Hence the economy booms for some time due to frantic investments and begins to collapse as the number of consumers keeps reducing to due to deprivation of billions, whose buying power gets desiccated/atrophied! This is why the share prices begin to dwindle. Since the money pumped in these businesses, whether by governments or investors’, is essentially peoples’ money [which would have been potentially useful for the global development] the common people all over the world suffer maximum, the investors suffer to some extent; because they still have buffering power and the business houses with much greater buffering power; suffer least! Hence to manage global recession; The children have to be introduced to the measures of inner blossoming, such as hymns, prayers and NAMASMARAN right from the beginning. The productive domain must be nurtured and the epidemic of dreadful disease of wasteful learning of unproductive activities must be checked on war footing urgently and seriously. The agricultural, horticultural and medicinal herb production must be endowed with proper incentive. The production of gas, petrol and diesel driven private vehicles must be drastically reduced. The production of number of trains and buses has to be increased according to the needs. These are broad outlines and directions. The details can be worked out by experts in the different fields; with global perspective. For having global perspective and overcoming sectarian bias; practice of measures to grow and blossom from within i.e. a mega process of spiritual renaissance i.e. NAMSMARAN by billions of people all over the world; is urgently required. STRESS AND THE POLICY OF REPO AND REVERSE REPO Repo rates are the rates of interest a bank has to pay to reserve bank, on the loan it takes from reserve bank. Reverse repo rates are the rates of interest reserve bank pays to the bank on the deposit kept by a bank in the reserve bank. In other words reserve bank increases repo and reverse repo rates to encourage deposits and discourage borrowing; by the banks; so that the cash flow to the consumers is reduced. Increase in repo and reverse repo rates is thus aimed at reducing the buying capacity, reducing the demand and thereby bringing down the prices. The increase in repo rates would is expected to increase in the rates of interests on the loans given by the banks, reduction in cash flow, reduction, reduction in the demand and thus reduction in the prices i.e. inflation. Reduced returns on the production; is expected to stimulate the production so as to maintain returns; and catalyze growth! Can rate of inflation come down and rate of growth be increased in this way? By increasing repo and reverse repo; government is further reducing the little white money available to majority of us (urban and rural lower and middle class) and we are being throttled, suffocated by restricting our buying of essential commodities. The producers of essential commodities suffer because; majority of them are also lower or middle class “consumers of essential commodities, which they do not produce and can not buy. The buyers and producers of the essential commodities such as agricultural products, bicycles, clothes etc. suffer in this way and the rate of production and hence the growth of all transactions of essential commodities; precipitously comes down. But the rate of growth as documented in government files is not affected adversely because; the GDP is hardly reflected in the figures of industrial growth; because of the increasing production of the unnecessary and unaffordable (to majority of us) products, increasing unproductive, deceptive, wasteful and sickening marketing gimmicks; and increasing the sale of these products by owners of black money. Even as the rural and urban lower and middle class (majority of us) gets crushed in this way; the black money is freely flowing and hence those who have it; buy essential commodities at very high price (even if their production is reduced) and make life difficult for the urban and rural middle class and farmers (majority of us); who cannot afford the high prices of essential commodities and inflation of essential commodities also continues. The suffocation of urban and rural lower and middle class (i.e. majority of us) by increasing repo and reverse reop rates and restricting the white cash flow; reduces productive capacity and buying capacity (of majority of us) with respect to essential commodities; while abundant black money of few; continues to cause inflation of every product and morbid growth of luxurious and harmful products. Increasing repo and reverse repo is beating around the bush. We have to comprehend the global nature of the problem of inflation, growth and progress; and act accordingly at global and individual levels. World politics; in as much as our personal lives; ought to be; the expression of cosmic consciousness. This can be so, by interacting heart to heart and evolving and crystallizing the pragmatic aspects of policies, plans, programs and their implementation for individual and global blossoming. At present this is happening, but in a rather imperfect, immature, inaccurate, insufficient, inadequate and ineffective manner. Primarily, this imperfection is that of perspective, conceptualization, conviction and actual experience or realization. The billions of different needs, wants, likes, dislikes, virtues, vices, actions, interactions, contradictions, dialogues, hopes and despairs; of billions of living beings of different species, ages, geographical, political, social, economic, cultural and historical backgrounds; still have a common aspiration for individual and global blossoming, which is; voluntary or involuntary and conscious or subconscious! More explicit and evolved manifestation of this aspiration would be and/or should be evident in; 1. Redefinition of holistic health as “Optimal intellectual, emotional, instinctual and physical actions in one’s fields/s to promote individual and global blossoming 2. Practice and promotion of Holistic Medicine; i.e. the art, science and skills of employing everything effective; in regaining and promoting HOLISTIC HEALTH, as an essential and inseparable core of mainstream Medical Education, Teaching, Practice and Research 3. Holistic Education; with “earn and learn”, “produce and progress”, “assessment of the skills by actual practice and demonstration and passing without written examinations; with emphasis on spiritual and productive domain; in addition to affective, cognitive, psychomotor domains; and research and teaching in different fields conducive to holistic health 4. Incorporation of educational, industrial, and agricultural and research activities conducive to holistic health (re-integration with mainstream life) in the temples and places of worship 5. Inclusion of hymns and prayers of different religions and regions, Sanskrit, enlightened saints, seers and other reformers from different religions in all the curriculums 6. Evolution of laws devoid of vindictiveness and conducive to holistic health (For example a) the persons soiling the public property would me made to clean the same, b) a corrupt person would be made to work double the duty hours, without salary, c) people involved in misleading advertisements would be made to participate in production, research, training and practice of holistic health and medicine, at no profit and d) The production of bicycles and vehicles of mass transport being echo-friendly would have minimum or no tax) e) Deterrent punishment and/or discouragement of slaughtering of animals for eating These and such other measures can be conceived and implemented through heart to heart. Heart to heart dialogue becomes increasingly productive by becoming more and more objective and free of prejudice. For this Universal Practice and Promotion of NAMASMARAN i.e. remembering one’s true self (about whom we are usually oblivious), right from now; is essential and urgent. NAMASMARAN has benevolent and emancipating impact on us and others. Billions of us are actually engaged in it even now; without using this terminology and billions more can be visualized to practice and promote it, and engender (the inevitable) individual and global blossoming. Where is the proof? Unprecedented events have no proofs. They just happen! STRESS AND POLICY OF TEACHING HISTORY We are in impressionable age when we are school children. Certain facts we read and learn from history leave deep impressions on our minds. These impressions can grow into prejudices, bitterness, bigotry, hatred, rivalry, fanaticism, unrest and riots and severe stress in personal and social life. In addition to the “inappropriate historical facts”; the ambiguity in the teaching of values taught in the history can also bring about severe stress in individual and global life. Recently I watched on TV that the history books are studded with photographs and details of invader emperors, while the freedom fighters and saints are totally neglected. I was reminded of the fact we, as children harbored in minds a divisive (and in my view hoax) theory of “Aryan invasion” that surreptiously suggests division of Bharat into “indigenous dravids” and “alien invader Aryans! We also read condemnation of certain rituals and traditions belonging to only Hindu religion suggesting indirectly (by omission of comments on traditions in the other religions) that all other religions except Hindu; are good and Hindu religion is backward and retrogressive! We also carried conflicts due to the praise we read about opposing values! Thus, we never could understand how invaders could be adored, in the same vein as the freedom fighters! We also could never reason out how the violent activities of the armed revolutionaries were admired in the same vein as the nonviolent activities! In view of the severe conflict and stress that can result in personal life and social life, it is imperative to understand and explain the gist of history and the purpose of teaching history! It is also necessary to present accurate facts in a manner and details; appropriate to the development of the students in schools and children at homes. The history curriculum designers should avert the stress in individual and social life of the growing generations, by taking urgent and proper steps! From the way history is presented; we cannot reason out even today; how the violent activities of the armed revolutionaries were admired in the same vein as the nonviolent activists! In addition to the “inappropriate historical facts”; the ambiguity in the teaching of values taught in the history can also bring about severe stress in individual and global life. Since it is human to err, often our education (with specific reference to history) and acculturation are restricted to superficial and peripheral aspects of life and are rendered somewhat deceptive. When such intentional or unintentional superficial and petty teaching and/or propaganda become dominant; they can suppress our inner growth. They can silence our inner voice and crush conscience and create STRESS. As a result of such education and acculturation; we are attracted by the royalty and repelled by the poverty; tempted by the riches and repelled by the ashes; excited by the abundance and indulgence and depressed by the paucity and abstinence! This happens because the undercurrents (especially in history) beyond the appearances; are often beyond the “normal” or “physiological” human grasp and comprehension! One case in point is; depiction of saints, which is usually deceptive. Thus it is sympathogenic (one that generates sympathy or even pity in our mind). On the contrary; the description and display of the life of the film stars, the political leaders and other celebrities; is deceptively euphoriogenic that leads to euphoria. This causes “intoxicatingly pleasant”, “maniacally grandiose” and deliriously proud and arrogant excitement! However, our education and acculturation has several merits also. This is because; knowingly or unknowingly our education and acculturation; are often influenced by the geniuses of the particular period; who have reached the “root of apparent phenomena and apparent universe”! In addition; our values and our idols and ideals are determined by several factors apart from education and acculturation (whether influenced by the geniuses or not); such as our individual constitutions, moods and even whims and fancies! Hence our values are not rendered entirely and blatantly superficial, shallow, and petty or mean. Our yardsticks for idolization and idealization are NOT uniformly or monolithically retrogressive and superficial and shallow. Our values are not uniformly vulgar and/or antisocial. In this sense; they are NOT simple and straightforward. They are multifarious with various complexities and shades; and are subconsciously evolved and mysteriously shaped! They are different than what they appear to be and hence are obscure and intriguing. Hence; strange it may appear; but our idols do not merely conform to our likes or dislikes and our enamoring or disgust; based on our superficial perception! Thus our idols are violent (war heroes such as Chatrapati Shivaji), nonviolent (Buddha, Gandhi, Mahavir, Jesus Christ), economically rich (Bill Gates), economically poor (Vinoba Bhave), physically strong (Mohammed Ali, Dara Singh), physically weak (Srinivas Ramanujam, yogis (Patanjali) and indulgent (kings); and those who served in British Service; during Indian freedom struggle in British Army, Police, Administration and so on; and those who fought against the British! If we carefully study (and ought to study for overcoming confusion and developing conceptual clarity and consolidating and empowering our values, ideals, idols and goals) our value system; then it would be clear that the differences amongst the idols and ideals are actually only apparent ones! In spite of our education system; the apparent variations in our idols and our ideals have one thing in common! They are “larger than life” i.e. larger than “routinely perceived concept of individual life”! They have manifested the vision and actions (although at times contradictorily); involving the well being of a section or whole society and/or they transcended the usual human needs, greed and capacity, in their respective fields! Let us appreciate that in spite of our education system; the real nature of our “idol/ideal/value”, if crystallized; (to which we are oblivious, or which we are unaware of, or which we are ignorant about); is the “larger than life” TRUTH, (which is the source of enlightenment, elegance, empowerment and emancipation)! Mere external glamour and glitter without this; are hollow, pathetic and meaningless for us. This is true irrespective of the field of life and involves blossoming of perspective, policies, plans, programs and their implementation at individual and global levels. The next stage of our realization of our ideals and values; is overcoming our subjectivity; due to which; we continuously see and feel restless as if something is wrong somewhere; in response to inner and outer environment. We keep on trying to work out or trying to give ad hoc solutions to “different individual and global problems”; due to our restlessness! We tend to feel that our solutions are final, exclusive and can bring about permanent and everlasting “imaginary” heaven in our personal life or on earth. This is because we are all the times harping on deceptive appearances and not the root! Can really a permanent heaven come in personal life or on earth? What would be the nature of such a heaven? Are our claims realistic or true; in view of the lives of millions of generations of various living forms to be born and to be perished; who possibly would never conform to our ideas? We tend to provide answers; while forgetting or ignoring from time to time; the illusive nature of our own apparent conditions, capacities, limitations and potentials, those of the others! Is it sensible; to arbitrarily impose one thing or another; on ourselves or others; in some subjective hope of illusive heaven? Falling prey to the confusion created by appearances; and creating a value system, ideals, idols, education and various doctrines; in accordance; are human follies common to all of us to a greater or lesser extent! This does not imply that we accept everything in a defeatist manner (a kind of death); but; be the eternal center of all ‘appearances’; whether ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ and ‘see’ them outside as well as inside us”. Once we “are” (and not merely think) our true selves; which we knowingly or unknowingly ignored so far; we begin to experience the ecstatic enlightenment of immortal and eternal universal unity and the ambrosia of the life of saints. This is not easy, but the only; radical, perennial, unavoidable and also; inevitable solution. The way to this solution is NAMASMARAN. This is the core of TOTAL STERSS MANAGEMENT or SUPERLIVING! Throughout the history of mankind; there have been forces of unification and disruption; rejuvenation and degeneration; and progression and retrogression. But these forces of unification, rejuvenation and progression are conspicuously hidden in the veils of irrational mediocrity, ethnic pride, mean prejudices, Zionist perspective and crudity of all sorts; of the “historians and authors”! If we read any book of history; then we find that it

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