This document discusses stress that arises from restrictive identities and the importance of developing beyond primitive identities. It argues that we are born with an identity of our body, and then develop identities with our family, culture, nation, and world. However, leaders sometimes misuse primitive identities for selfish gains, trapping people and promoting intolerance. True growth is developing proportionate care for all identities while prioritizing humanity overall. Restricting identities can create inner conflicts, so we must understand our shared identities and blossom together with the universe.

1. STRESS
AND
ASMITA
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. These days; one of the major causes of STRESS; is the
unabashed and unabated indiscriminate arson and
violence; that is being perpetrated; by the restrictive,
vicious and mean elements (who have nothing to do with
anybody else; excepting their own petty gains); through
the misuse of primitive and restrictive identity.
When we are born our first identity; of which we are not
even aware of; is that of our body! We do everything
unknowingly to survive!
Subsequently, we begin to identify ourselves; with our
mother, father, family members, friends, nursery, school,
college, village, language, culture, traditions and so on!
Gradually we start growing further and get awareness of
nationality and the world in which we live.
It is important to note that one identity is not
contraposed to another, and we live with these identities
in harmony. Just as we care for our body, so do we care
for our parents, family, friends, school, college, spouse,
children, society, village, region, nation and world; with
an almost automatically developed sense of proportion.

3. However, the life is not always simple and smooth!
As we begin to grow and mature; and internalize the
concept of universal unity; we begin to develop a value
system; that involves; prioritization our activities and
choices; in view of the importance attached to our
identities. So, we begin to sacrifice; what could be called
the gains of one identity; for the sake of other identity!
This is how the process of “gradation of identities” and
“not denying them”; begins!
Thus we can sacrifice our body needs; for our family,
where the family identity is given preference over my
bodily identity. Similarly; we can sacrifice the interests of
family members; if they go against the interest of our
country. Our national identity is given preference over
our family identity.
Not only this, we begin to rise above our identities related
to our traditions, culture, customs, rituals, religious
practices, if they go against the interests of the mankind!
Here our identity associated with the mankind is given
preference over the identity associated with traditions,
customs, rituals, religious practices etc.

4. It is important to realize that this is a process of
unfolding of and manifesting of our true self; where we
do not become the “enemy”; of our identities associated
with our body, family, institutions, village, region,
culture, customs, religious practices, traditions, and
nation!
The leaders misusing the primitive and restrictive
identities may attract us; because; restrictive concepts
justify and pamper our own sectarian thinking, mean
selfishness, petty ego, and disgruntlement and
dissatisfaction due to our own drawbacks! Not only that
we may get enamored by some kind of chauvinism; but;
we may also get trapped in fanatic and terrorist
ideologies, which promote “being throttled” into
primitive and restrictive identities! This is usually;
because of our own; often subconscious agreement with
them; due to our stunted inner growth and mental
dwarfism; making us perverted, arrogant, jealous, and
violent and so on!
Let us understand that; the “asmita” is; any primitive
and restrictive (not unnatural or abnormal) identity;
either oppressed and humiliated; or hyped and glorified

5. disproportionately; and thus converted into an
oversensitive and sentimental issue.
We must understand that if our blossoming is
punctuated; then our inner growth is stunted. In as much
it is unnatural to deny our physical and subsequent
identities; it is antinatural; to stop growing and get
saddled in; one or more of the “primitive identities”.
Such stunting leads to STRESS, contradictions and
disastrous effects.
We must understand that restricting our identity creates
a conflict in our mind when it comes to judging humane
and inhuman acts.
If a person committing some inhuman acts; is our family
member; and a person serving mankind selflessly
happens to be unrelated to us; then whom should we
identify ourselves with? Whom should we consider as
“ours”? Whom should we accept, love and respect? This
holds true for other identities such as our caste, nation,
and religion and so on; as well!
There is no denial whatsoever that we have all our
identities; but we are not merely identified by our body,

6. family, caste, village, religion etc; but all these; together
with our spirit of individual and global blossoming!
We must understand that seekers of truth involved in the
blossoming of mankind; whether belong to any of our
primitive and restrictive identities or not; are our soul
mates! It is said that one of the simplest ways of realizing
this; is and blossoming with the universe; is practice of
NAMASMARAN. It is up to us; however, whether to
keep blossoming together with the universe, or to get
trapped in the restrictive identities and throttle our soul!
We should not merely believe, disbelieve, imagine,
conjecture, or theorize casually; about what is written
here; and develop presumptions, prejudices, liking,
acceptance, disliking, rejection; and go into uncertainty,
dilemma, indecision, wavering, and vacillations! In stead;
we should; though provisionally; accept and actually
study and practice TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT
and NAMASMARAN; and verify.