STRESS

APPEAREANCES
AND

REALITY

DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR
Since it is human to err, often our education and
acculturation are restricted to superficial and peripheral
aspects of life and are rendered somewhat deceptive.
When superficial and petty propaganda becomes
dominant it can suppress the inner voice and conscience
and create STRESS.

As a result of such education and acculturation; we are

attracted by the royalty and repelled by the poverty;
tempted by the riches and repelled by the ashes; excited
by the abundance and indulgence and depressed by the
paucity and abstinence! This happens because the
undercurrents beyond the appearances are often beyond
the “normal” or “physiological” human grasp and
comprehension! The depiction of saints is also usually
deceptive. Thus it is sympathogenic (one that generates
sympathy in our mind). The display of the life of the film
stars, the political leaders and other celebrities; on the
contrary; is deceptively euphoriogenic (one that leads to
euphoria and pleasant and grandiose excitement)!

However, our education and acculturation has several

merits also. Our education and acculturation; are often
influenced by the genius of the particular period
reaching the root of apparent phenomena; and hence our
values are not entirely and blatantly superficial, shallow,
and petty or mean.

Our yardsticks for idolization and idealization are

therefore NOT uniform or “monolithic” but
multifarious. They are NOT simple and straightforward.
They are subconsciously evolved and mysteriously
shaped! They are obscure and intriguing.

Hence; strange it may appear; but our idols do not

merely conform to our temptations and repulsions; based
on our superficial perception! Our idols and ideals are
determined by several factors such as our individual
constitutions, moods and even whims and fancies!

Thus our idols are violent (war heroes such as Chatrapati

Shivaji), nonviolent (Buddha, Gandhi, Mahavir, Jesus
Christ), economically rich (Bill Gates), economically poor
(Vinoba Bhave), physically strong (Mohammed Ali, Dara
Singh), physically weak (Srinivas Ramanujam, yogis
(Patanjali) and indulgent (kings) and those who fought
during Indian freedom struggle as British army men and
those, who fought against the British; and so on!
If we carefully study (and ought to study for overcoming
confusion and developing conceptual clarity) our value
system; then it would be clear that the differences
amongst the idols and ideals are only apparent ones!

Inspite of apparent variations; our idols and our ideals

had one thing in common! They were “larger than life”
i.e. larger routinely perceived concept of individual life.
They usually manifested the vision and actions (although
at times contradictorily); involving the well being of a
large section or whole society and/or they transcended
the usual human capacity, in their respective fields!
Somewhere in the depth our hearts it was appreciated
that the saints have been the source of enlightenment,
elegance, empowerment and emancipation; and the
glamour and glitter of the so called celebrities; are hollow
and pathetic (unless the celebrities are also saints)!

Our real “idol/ideal” is the “larger than life” TRUTH,

irrespective of the field of life we belong to; through
Total Stress Management; the core of which is
NAMASMARAN; and which involves blossoming of
perspective, policies, plans, programs and their
implementation at individual and global levels.
This is how we can overcome the STRESS of being split
in the values of apparent glamour and glitter and
superficiality and pettiness; compounded by laws and
regulations promoting the same; on the one hand; and
our conscience on the other! We may not believe or
disbelieve this; but verify and experience this!