1) Stress originates from ignorance of our true self and leads to a petty identity and perspective, reflected in fragmented thinking and language. 2) Societies with traditional total stress management refer to elements like cows and rivers with love and respect, while others view them more practically. 3) Holistic perspectives inherent in total stress management are characterized by seeing all forms as divine and by words with subtle meanings reflecting attitudes of liberation and well-being.

1. STRESS
CULTURE
AND
LANGUAGE
DR.
SHRINIWAS
KASHALIKAR

2. Stress begins with conception and is conscious, subconscious and
unconscious. But the prevalent manifestations of stress; in individual
and global life; originate from our ignorance of ‘true self’.
This gives rise to ‘petty identity of self’ and petty perspective of
universe! As a result; thinking is founded on wrong assumptions,
prejudices and premises. Such thinking is not holistic. It is sectarian,
fragmented and full of conflicts, stress and ill effects in individual and
global life.
Since one of the functions of intellect; in association with feelings and
passions; is language; the language of a person and a social group
reflects the conflicts and stress in that individual; and social group.
We can find many examples of the “linguistic symptoms”; of stress in
the languages of individuals, groups and cultures.
Thus cow is referred to as Gomata; i.e. mother cow; expressing love,
care, respect, appreciation; in societies where the Total Stress
Management (the core of which is NAMASMARAN); is traditionally
practiced. Others; look down (knowingly or unknowingly) upon cow;
as an eatable product and call it; beef!
The rivers are revered as mothers, who feed their babies, in societies
where the Total stress Management; is traditionally in vogue for
millennia. The rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and

3. Narmada are referred to as Maiyya (beloved mother). Others; treat the
rivers; as mere sources of water, with some physical characteristics,
area and at the most; scenic beauty.
The societies, where the Total Stress Management is ingrained in
customs; call the plants; such as Tulasi (holy basil i.e. ocimum
sanctum); ‘Goddess Tulasi’ and worship them. Where as the societies
lacking this perspective; treat them as mere living elements; lower
down the scale of evolution; with some medicinal or other properties.
The earth is called Bhoodevi (Goddess earth) and Bhoomata (mother
earth) in such cultures with holistic perspective inherent to Total
Stress Management. Earth is treated as a physical nonliving
phenomenon and simply called earth; by those who are oblivious to
such concepts.
We can quote many examples.
By Total Stress Management, the perspective becomes holistic and is
characterized (apart from many other things); by holistic perspective
and language. Hence the myriads of forms in the universe are treated
and gratefully revered as deities or incarnations of the ultimate and
absolute truth, the true self of an individual. That is how there are
prayers for earth, sun, rain, ocean, wind and water apart from other
elements.
We find words with subtle, deep and profound meanings such as
NAMASMARAN, SWADHARMA, dhyana, guru, guru-tatva,

4. shraddha, prayashchitta; and karma, krama, raja, bhakti, jnana, laya
hatha and other varieties of yoga and the aphorisms such as
ATMANO MOKSHARTHAM JAGAT HITAYA CHA (for one’s
liberation along with simultaneous emancipation of the universe).
This richness and profundity of attitude and language show the
holistic health of the society and the culture.
In absence of Total Stress Management (the core of which is
NAMASMARAN); the stress remains mismanaged and causes
suffering (sin)! It gets reflected; apart from other aspects of behavior;
in the language.
In Sanskrit it said:
PAPENAIVA NRUNAM VAANI BHAVET KATUKA BHASHINI
DAINYA MATSARYA PARAMA SHUBHA ASHUBHA VIVARJITA
This means;
Language; of a person, who has sin (pettiness, jealousy and meekness)
in his heart i.e. who lacks holistic perspective of individual and global
blossoming; is sharp, biting, burning, scalding, and unconcerned and
unbothered about anyone’s true welfare!