BEWARE OF ‘MEDITATION’Dr. Shriniwas Kashalikar

“Lie down in the open on your terrace. Focus your mind on the blue and clear sky. Gradually the sky would enter in you. You would have transcended mind.”

“Sit in lotus position. Let the atmosphere in your room be free of insects, free of dust, free of noise and free of other distractions. You may light an incense stick. You can have a photo or painting of your Guru or a deity who elevates your mood or inspires you. Then begin by breathing slowly and observe your breathing.”

“Sit in a lotus posture. Breathe slowly. Focus your mind on a spot at your navel”

“Observe a round spot on a plane background of the wall. Sit quietly. Let the thoughts flow.”

The instructions vary according to the different traditions! What is this all about? The readers would have easily gathered that these are the instructions for different‘meditation’ techniques. Everyone is selling and buying so called ‘meditation’ in the

petty and vain hope of stress management! Hence; Beware of “Meditation!”

What is the difference between “meditation” and TSM? Why are “mediation” or relaxation techniques in great demand than TSM?

1] TSM (Total Stress Management) constitutes understanding the concept of STRESS, going to its root causes and then treating them in a holistic manner, as completely as possible! This requires active intellectual efforts by the participants.

Active intellectual participation makes it moredifficult and less popular as compared to relaxation programs in some form of meditation,pranayama, devotion, some arbitrary tips in the management books etc. where temporary emotional solace comes easily.

2] TSM constitutes efforts towards simultaneous welfare of one and all and not merely individual welfare. This requires broadening of perspective. We can call this paradigm shift. This also makes

it more difficult and less popular because everyone is already preoccupied and hard pressed with personal problems of one kind or the other. Coming out of one’s own “individual andpetty universe” is a burden for most of us, because we fail to understand how welfare of others would contribute to our welfare!

3] Most of us are not aware of the concept of STRESS. The STRESS is equated with tension, anxiety, worry, sleeplessness, irritability, depression, frustration etc.

Actually this is only a small and conscious part of STRESS. STRESS is universal. Every living being has STRESS. STRESS is actually conscious and also unconscious. Unconscious STRESS forms a major part and is not perceived! This leaves most of us to falsely believe that wedo not have STRESS!

4]TSM teaches that perspective, policies, planning, execution of sound intellectual solutions to personal and social problems can not be substituted by un-intellectual emotional games such as so

called meditation and so called devotion and so called charity. It teaches thatreal meditation, real devotion and real charity are impossible in absence of intellectualefforts to rectify social homeostasis! Most of us feel that it is impossible to solve social problems and hence fail to do our own bit in this direction.

Most of us have yet to appreciate that; giving parties, donations, gifts and doing charity in other forms though not objectionable, can at best satisfy our ego. Even though,

there is nothing wrong in such emotional gratification, it can not help you to manage stress effectively! Acquiring and spreading wisdom; so as to solve individual and social problems; is unique in satisfying your conscience, i.e. your true self, but it is not easy!

5] The concept of TSM is relatively new. The people from media, politics, religion and other fields are not aware of TSM. It is also true that due to the frenzy of material success; they do not feel the thirst of their innate self [soul] and

hence may not care to learn about TSM. It is strange but true that people in scarcity [due to frustration] and people in abundance [due to delirious obliviousness] are not able to quickly grasp TSM and practice it.

6] TSM aims at harmony between perspective, intelligence, emotions, instincts and body; and aims at best efforts of global welfare through laws, rules, conventions and so on.

7] TSM firmly upholds individual freedom to achieve

total well being and suggests us to acquire and practice such freedom!

8] The conceptualization of TSM was indeed a slow process. It was quite some time before sufficient conviction was developed in the accuracy and appropriateness of TSM. This was because TSM was not a part of already existing tradition. It did not receive practical support from any atheist [non-believers] or theist [God-believers] tradition. The

conviction had to result from one’s own understanding and experiences.

9] The process of developing conviction was delayed partly because of demoralizationresulting from non acceptance by the traditions and also their opponents!

10] Relative delay in acceptance and publication of books due to various other reasons! The delay in the work was sometimes [though erroneously] interpreted as God’s wish!

11] Sometimes there was apprehension [whether justified or otherwise] of the possibilityof being misunderstood and sabotaged.

12] Sometimes there was dominance of asceticism and to some extent frustration that led to inaction or non-assertion. Sometimes this led to escapism of one sort or the other.

13] There was many times a feeling of uncertainty of life leading to sense of urgency of TSM and SUPERLIVING mission.

This urgency was subjective and obviously not shared in action; by most individuals and hence the delay in the work was further enhanced.

14] Dictatorial attitude and nurturing of vested interests was scrupulously avoided. It is known that most of the times the work gets going faster because of fear or because ofvested interest. Since both of these lacked, mission superliving and TSM was further delayed.

15] Lack of apparent glamour and glitter of superficiality and

pettiness. The excitement associated with glamour and glitter is missing in mission superliving and TSM for an immature individual. Hence it did not pick the fancy of even talented individuals.

16] Some of the books on TSM are comparatively less lucid and little more tedious. This is so because the emphasis is given on accuracy rather than literary qualities.

17] Everything has its own time. When the social psyche gets ready for digesting certain concepts (oneness of

spiritualism and materialism); they spread like wild fire and become vogue of the day.

18] It is also possible that there are still some inaccuracies and or deficiencies left in TSM, which is why it is not as popular as one would have liked it to be.

19] The personal deficiencies of the propounder may also account for inadequate spread and influence of the TSM.

20] Inertia of the sympathizers resulting from various reasons on the one hand and lack of

finesse and irritability of those involved; due to urgency and impatience on the other; probably made the progress tardy and checkered.

21] Most importantly, the NAMASMARAN i.e. being connected with God has somewhere been deficient!

Let us all try to study, refine and enrich, practice (making use of all possible modalities; and most importantly NAMASMARAN) and share TSM (Total Stress Management), superliving, holistic health; SUPERJOYOUSLY; as a SUPER-

TRANSACTION, in a non-mercenary, non-commercial and non-charity manner!

Dr. Shriniwas Kashalikar