Dr. Shriniwas Kashalikar argues for a balanced approach to fulfilling diverse human needs and desires, emphasizing that arbitrary suppression or indiscriminate pursuit of desires does not lead to holistic personal or global development. He advocates for the adoption of comprehensive policies that satisfy these needs while promoting a deeper understanding of spiritual duties in education and professional practices. The text critiques current spiritual practices for often focusing on superficial benefits, which contribute to widespread societal issues such as stress and helplessness.

1. NEEDS
AND
DESIRES
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. In general; many ascetics advocate arbitrary
suppression of desires; while the individualists uphold
fulfillment of all desires right from childhood!
The bureaucratic, political, ideological and especially
the prevalent spiritual leaders; should concede these
needs of the newborn babies, infants, toddlers,
children, youths and the elderly, which are variable;
and make provisions for their fulfillment. They should
not arbitrarily and coercively deny the fulfillment,
which contributes to the blossoming of people.
But incessant and indiscriminate pursuit of fulfillment
of desires per se; can not assure holistic renaissance
i.e. individual and global blossoming! 70 billion people
and innumerable animals and plants; have different
instinctual, emotional, intellectual, psychomotor and
creative needs. The irresponsible and indiscriminate
gratification of these; has lead to universal stress at all
levels.
What is required is; adoption of holistic perspective,
policies, plans and programs, which aim to optimally

3. fulfill all these needs, while simultaneously promoting
the evolution of holistic perspective, policies, plans
and programs; in the individuals.
This is holistic renaissance, superliving or total stress
management, which in nutshell; is the tangible
culmination of all the efforts to seek the truth.
It is with this understanding and conviction; that we
must strive to incorporate NAMASMARAN, which
orients us to our sublime duty (SWADHARMA) at
different stages and in every walk of life; in all the
educational courses and professional practices.
In absence of this understanding and efforts; the so
called “spiritual practices” perpetuate pursuits of
petty and selfish material gains; such as subsidy,
profits, success in examination, promotion etc; or
trivial spiritual gains such as so called trance, bliss,
ecstasy, moksha, mukti, nirvana etc. Consequently; in
spite of honestly and rigorously following various
spiritual practices, including NAMASMARAN, we
continue to feel incomplete, restless, frustrated,

4. depressed, weak and helpless in personal life and face
maladies such as terrorism, extremism, crimes,
corruption, fundamentalism; in social life.
It is exactly due to this; that nations like India and her
inhabitants, who boast on their spiritual heritage;
have vast majority of people living helplessly in
abysmal conditions.