The document discusses the concept of nishkama karma or action without attachment to results from the Bhagavad Gita. It explains that while every action is associated with an expected result, becoming obsessed with a particular outcome can distract from the task. However, it is difficult to completely dissociate an action from thoughts about its result. True nishkama karma involves performing selfless actions where the procedure becomes the result, without claiming credit or feeling disturbed by failures. The highest form of such action is described as namasmaran, or remembering one's true self, which involves blossoming of wisdom through holistic perspectives and programs.

1. YOGA
KARMA
STRESS &
NAMASMARAN
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. One of the enigmas of Geeta (Gita) philosophy is
NISHKAMA KARMA, which means action without
expectation of a particular result. This is interpreted
differently and as per one’s convenience; but due to this
there is wide spread confusion and of course; STRESS!
How can you perhaps do anything without expectation of a
result, when you see that everything is associated with
result?
Excepting perhaps involuntary actions and activities during
sleep, every action and its planning are associated with
expectation and anticipation or projection of its result.
It is understandable that if you focus on; or get obsessed by
a particular result or start day dreaming about it; then it can
distract you from the procedural skills and concentration.
Hence one can do away with the obsession.
But how can you completely forget or get rid of the thought
or idea of the result and its nature?

3. It is also true that you should not get involved in the result,
because it can disappoint you if you don’t get the expected
result.
This is also fair and pragmatic. It can protect you from
imminent reactive depression or psychiatric maniacal
elation.
But still, how can you totally dissociate your vision about the
result; from the action, which is its cause?
While thinking about these questions; suddenly I realized
that even as most actions are associated with results, all the
actions and their results i.e. cause and effect relationship; do
not follow the same logic. This is especially true of subtle
actions; for example, the thinking, feelings and motivations
of mine and billions of other people; are not describable in
terms of their physicochemical details. Hence the nature of
their role; or their influence, their effects, and their
interrelationship/s can not be defined!
It is true that actions are roughly; and in general; associated
with successes and failures. But the human civilization is
evolution of actions (including the thoughts and feelings and
the vision). As they evolve further; they become subtler and

4. cosmic. Their nature and results; can not be qualified or
quantified by routine gauging and assessment. Further,
neither the actions nor the results remain personal or
subjective and hence their “Ownership” or “Credit” ceases
completely! So we no longer remain attached to it. This is
NISHKAMA KARMA!
Geeta (Gita) inspires us for evolution of our actions; from
crudity, tight attachment to or insistence on cause and effect
relationships, arbitrariness and subjectivity; to; subtlety
where subjectivity becomes objective and the procedure
becomes the results. In other words; totally selfless action; is
uniformly enlightened in its conceptualization, beginning,
and end! This is what makes it free of any reactivity to
results!
From yet another angle; when our subjectivity dissolves into
objectivity, the cosmic wisdom flows through us; and hence
we do not do as individuals. Hence neither do we claim
patent right, or credit for the action and their success; nor do
we get disturbed or hurt by the failures. One such absolutely
evolved action is NAMASMARAN!

5. NAMASMARAN, which is remembering one’s true self;
(the core of TOTAL STRESS MANAGEMENT) is a an
incoming NISHKAMA KARMA; global activity i.e.
inseparably inbuilt with the blossoming of one and all;
through holistic perspective, policies, planning, laws, rules,
conventions; and programs and their execution at all levels.
One can ponder over these explanations and decide about the
option of NAMASMARAN!
DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR