This document discusses the concepts of self and true self. It argues that the individual self is limited by physical and mental constraints, while the true self transcends these limitations of space, time and subjective experience. When one begins the regular practice of chanting divine names (Namasmarn), the veils of the individual self are lifted and the eternal, blissful true self is revealed. Transcending the individual self and merging with the true self allows one to take on a universal perspective and contribute to the rectification of cosmic order through one's thoughts, policies and actions.

1. STRESS
AND
TRUE SELF
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. The study of stress leads to many questions.
One of them is; “What is ‘self’; and what is ‘true self’?”
The physical pain and pleasure, the instinctual deprivation
and fulfillment, the emotional sadness and happiness, the
intellectual confusion and clarity; and the subsequent
behavior; constitute individual life and we identify our
‘self’ as one who experiences all these and/or one who is
responsible for all these.
This ‘self’ is wrapped in; all the physiological limitations
mentioned above. It is restricted in the subjective capacity
to work, know and experience; by virtue of language and
digits and hence space and time.
The objective reality is beyond mathematical and linguistic
comprehension. It is beyond space and time. Actually it ‘is’
beyond the concepts expressed in; ‘is’, ‘being’, ‘was’, ‘is
not’, ‘not being’ and ‘was not’. Those who have realized
this; basically admit that it is indescribable! But still it is
described as beyond the space, time and relative reality of
life and death. Hence; it is described as eternal and true
bliss! This is ‘true self’ and realized if when if and when
one transcends the subjectivity.
As and when; one begins the practice of NAMASMARAN;
the veils of ‘self’ get rarefied and the ‘true self’ (which “is”

3. already there) gets unraveled. As a byproduct; the
cognition, affect and conation; rise above the subjective
limitations. They become universal. An individual
experiences the core aspirations of the entire universe and
is inevitably associated with rectification of cosmic
homeostasis.
The tangible aspects of such rectification are the universal
(holistic) perspective, policies, plans, programs and
implementation!
This transition of individual self to merger with true self is
also inevitable and contingent in the true self and can be
“quick or slow” in accordance with the degree of
ignorance, apathy, indolence and fossilization of the
individual self.
Having said this much it has to be appreciated that even as
Veda has declared that the true self is beyond description,
by the words “Neti, neti” i.e. “indescribable”, but every
seer has affirmed that it is realizable, through the practice
of NAMASMARAN and SWADHARMA i.e. participation
in SUPERLIVING.