Using Vēdānta to manage stress

Abstract

Mankind is equipped with the most powerful mind on this planet. With this mind we have reached very high levels of security and have also ensured a luxurious life for ourselves. Yet we are committing the biggest of crimes which will put all other beings on a higher pedestal. It is time we introspected on this and took some corrective and preventive measures to eliminate the root cause of these crimes: stress. Stress is caused mainly due to friction amongst beings, fear and anxiety, disappointments. In this paper a well-proven solution to this most compelling problem today has been discussed.

Bringing on the right knowledge of realities is the way to beat stressful thoughts. To do this successfully one has to seek refuge in God. By following spiritual practices such spiritual work, introspection, contemplation, meditation one can prevent stressful thoughts.

A disturbed mind is very dangerous as it propagates this disturbance as negative vibes and mental and physical violence. Therefore it is an important social responsibility to keep stress free minds. That speaks of the importance of this paper and follow-up sessions.

A disturbed mind is very dangerous as it propagates this disturbance as negative vibes and mental and physical violence. Therefore it is an important social responsibility to keep stress free minds. That speaks of the importance of this paper and follow-up sessions.

Introduction

Mankind is equipped with the most powerful mind on this planet. With this mind we have reached very high levels of security and have also ensured a luxurious life for ourselves. Yet we are committing the biggest of crimes which will put all other beings on a higher pedestal. It is time we introspected on this and took some corrective and preventive measures to eliminate the root cause of these crimes: stress. Stress is caused mainly due to friction amongst beings, fear and anxiety, disappointments. In this paper a well-proven solution to this most compelling problem today has been discussed.

True identity – svanişţa[1]

The first step in living peacefully is to have the correct universal identity. When we identify ourselves based on any region we have a chance of getting stressed by beings of the other region; when we identify ourselves as belonging to a particular gender then we have a chance of getting stressed by the other gender and so on.

When we identify ourselves as the transcendental self[2] that has no gender, no caste, creed, color, community etc. and that which is present in all that have a form and name, we identify with all beings, flora, fauna and whatever we see and know in the universe: all things with a name and form have a self which is like yourself. Then where is the necessity to see them different from us. With this thought of universal brotherhood, no one would try to hurt the other; each one would be able to empathize easily with others.

Each self has God as the inner-controller[3]. In fact, we are only attributes of God who is the only entity[4]. Even a blade of grass cannot move without being inspired by God. Being so, who else but God can we look at for understanding the reason of any of our sufferings or shortcomings. No one except God can give us happiness or sorrows – God does that by controlling our minds. Any action that is not to our liking is not caused by others around, but is inspired by God as a fruit of our karma. When this is internalized and none is blamed, everyone becomes agreeable – God too is agreeable as the sufferings caused by God are only on account of past doings and therefore God also is not to be blamed for any of our sufferings!!!  Thus being in the true identity of a subservient self is the ultimate solution to all our stress. This is verily spiritual intelligence – the most sought after intelligence today.

True goal – puruşārta nişţa[5]

In keeping with the True identity, the goal of life is also fixed. The purpose of life itself is to realize our true identity and remain in that identity forever. This is verily liberation. When we are bound by karma, we wrongly identify with the body and live with only bodily relationships and hence suffer the nature of the material world.

We have been bestowed this greatest gift: the human life. Here, we have been given the scriptures that explain the true nature of the world around, the guru who has experienced the true nature of the world and lives in that awareness most of the times to explain the scriptures and a glorious mind that has the capacity to understand all these and then make efforts to experience this knowledge and internalize it. If we do not work towards this goal of self realization, we will be missing a great opportunity given to us by God and earned by our many previous births of good conduct. We may never get this human life again. Isn’t it imperative for each one to strive for this goal in this life then?

When one has self realization as the goal, all sources of stress – the material world – are ignored; they become immaterial – to the seeker! Therefore it is very important to remain focused on the True goal.

True means – Upāya nişţa[6]

God being the inner-controller of all beings is the True independent cause of all work. It follows that whether it is gaining righteousness, wealth, fulfillment of desires or liberation, only God is the means. Even if it is the achievement of a very small feat like putting salt correctly for a dish, God alone is the means, as only from God proceed knowledge, memory and forgetfulness[7].

When it is realised that with the help of God anything and everything is possible, none should be disappointed as there is a way out: surrender to God. Therefore when this discipline – Upāya nişţa – is maintained, one is never stressed.

   Thoughts to bring on during stress caused by fear/ anxiety

Fear is caused due to uncertainty of the future. It could fear of a bully, fear of exams, fear of being reprimanded, etc. Anxiety is a chronic condition of fear.

It is well understood that all beings here all ensouled. Each self is under the direct control of God[8]. All flora and fauna that seem immobile and unintelligent are also ensouled, but by demi-gods – a self that has a lot of merits and hence has been awarded a place in the heavens. These demi-gods are also having God as the inner-controller[9]. When we have surrendered to that God, then do we need to fear the wrath of anyone including nature – cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis etc.?

Thoughts to bring on during stress caused by insult/chagrin/abuse…[10]

It is the body which is being abused not you the self. It is natural for the body to have blemishes as it has come about on account of karma. God is the inner-controller all including the abuser and so the abuser is not to be blamed. If there is truth in the abuse one must make efforts to correct oneself and be thankful to the abuser for pointing it out. The abuser has to suffer the consequences of the disturbances to the mind before spurting the abuse and also thus gains bad karma in the process. Therefore the abuser needs to be pitied. These thoughts should be with the abused as opposed to anger, revenge, sorrow etc.

Thoughts to bring on during stress caused by disappointments[11]

Nothing in this material world is permanent. All material gains are temporary and transient. They are on account of our past karma[12]. They cannot be altered much, just as one cannot increase the height of one’s body after twenty five years of age. All these material attributes like physical and mental attributes and the outcomes of these like power, money, fame etc. cannot be changed much.

Experiential knowledge – karma vāsana – is an attribute of the self and is carried from birth to birth. This knowledge of the self is expressed as its qualities. For example, when one is aware of all beings as the self, they would be kind to all as they would be towards themselves. Therefore universal compassion is an outcome of the knowledge of one’s true identity. It is imperative to develop good qualities because only these are permanent. Also, there is no sense in being disappointed or pleased with one’s or others’ material losses or gains as these are not carried forward.

Mind control by mind conditioning

The thoughts that combat stress – outlines in the above sections – have to be brought on at the right time viz. when the mind is stressed. This is the challenge of mind control. Most of the time, even great scholars would be having this spiritual knowledge that beats stress but would fail to pay attention to it at the right times .i.e. the times of stress. The story of the vidvan and the damsel narrated by Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, is an illustration of this fact.

Generally, mind is very strong but is fickle and very difficult to control. It is like the sail of the boat that is being tossed around mercilessly by the waves of a stormy sea[13]. ‘The means to control the mind are practice and dispassion[14]’, says Lord Krishna in the Gita. These acts about the mind are quite evident themselves.

The mind is conditioned i.e. is made to think in a particular fashion by following a certain pattern of thoughts for long periods of time[15] – typically twenty one days. This makes the thought pattern enter the sub-conscious mind, it is said. It is not easy to erase the pattern in the sub-conscious mind; in fact it gets strengthened with every repeat of the pattern.

Yet another means of mind control is surrender to God. Lord Krishna says in the Gita, ‘My māya is difficult to control. Only those who take refuge in Me transcend this māya’. Therefore in times of stress when the mind is disturbed and cannot be controlled to think the right thoughts, only surrender to God for this sake is the way out.

Recognizing and calming the Disturbed mind

The most important step in beating stress is recognition of the stressed state and then the next step is calming the disturbed mind.

Any disturbance to the mind multiplies like the ripples in water caused by a small disturbance. These disturbances give rise to increasingly negative thoughts which take the shape of a violent act in the end. It is only after a lot of negative thinking that a person acts violently. If the mind is calmed in the initial stages of disturbance violent actions may be avoided. Therefore the time for recognition of stress has to be minimized for beating the effects stress.

How to recognize a disturbed mind? Typically, a disturbed mind gets negative thoughts and feels destructive. A calm mind is compassionate, constructive and creative. One could detect the disturbance in the mind by themselves or take the help of others – good friends, counselors etc. – around.

On recognition of stress,

  1. The source of disturbance should be kept away; the disturbed one could move to an isolated spot with a trusted companion or counselor.
  2. Techniques like deep breathing, yogic exercises, music – prāņāyāma, mindfulness should be used for relaxing the mind.
  3. The disturbed mind should not be engaged in any other action as then the disturbance is propagated through negatives vibes or even mental and physical violence as a part of the action being persued. It is important for one to move to solitude or take the help of some trusted friend when disturbed. Silence is a great soothener for the mind.
  4. Upon calming down, efforts must be made to bring on the right knowledge of realties – as delineated above – to thwart the stress. Surrender to God is made at this point for the purpose of calming the mind.

Mind is the doorway to happiness

Joys and sorrows are only a result of the thoughts of the mind. For example, a challenging task may be looked upon as depressing one by a weak mind; whereas for a strong mind it is an opportunity to meet God.

It is well known that, ‘Mind is the cause of liberation or bondage[16]’.

Preventive measures for thwarting stress

The above section outlined the corrective measures to be taken up by a disturbed mind. Preventive measures to avoid getting disturbed are basically all the tools for gathering Spiritual Intelligence – these form a topic for a separate discussion.

Generally, spiritual discipline, spiritual discourses, spiritual reading and writing, worship of god, guru and godly, introspection, contemplation and meditation are some of the ways of maintaining a healthy mind which is ever equipped with right knowledge of realities and awareness of the truth.

Being stress free – a social responsibility

A disturbed mind is very harmful for oneself and for the society too. One disturbed mind can create many more in no time through negative vibes and violent acts and words. All crimes – small and big, start with a disturbance in the mind. Therefore it is imperative for each one to keep their mind stress-free for maximum times.

Trusted friends and companions should play a major role in helping to calm the mind, as a disturbed mind is a destructive mind.

Conclusion

A healthy mind is the need of the hour. Disturbance in the mind is propagated very fast. Therefore it is the responsibility of each one to keep a check on one’s thoughts and reduce the damage to society.

Bringing on the right knowledge of realities calms a stressed mind. Inability to do so should necessarily result in surrender to almighty for the same cause.

Preventive measures should be used to keep the mind stress-free and healthy.

These techniques have been found very useful by several people who took the course on gaining Spiritual Intelligence from the author at spiritualintelligenceprogram@gmail.com.

  1. Bibliography
Serial No Title of book referred Author Year of Publication Publishers
1 Ātma Siddhi  in Sidhdhi Traya Ācārya Yamunācārya,

Commentary by Uttamur veeraraghvachariar

1972 Ubhaya Vēdantha Grantha Mala trust
2 Principal Upanişhads, Vol -1, Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya, 2003 Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya
3 Selections from the Upanişhads, Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya, 2002 Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya,
3 Principal Upanişhads Vol II

(Chandogya Upanishad)

Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya 2003 Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya
4 Principal Upanişhads Vol  III

(Bruhadaranyaka Upanishad)

Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya 2004 Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya
5 Gīta bhāşya of Bhagavad Ramanuja,

Kannada translation

Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya 2008 Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya
6 Philosophy of Sādhana in Visistadvaita, Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya 1997

2006

Dr.N.S.AnanthaRangācārya

 

 

  • [1] The Philosophy of Sadhana in Visistadvaita, chapter – Prapatti, Dr.N.S.Anantharangachar

[2] Atma siddhi 3, Yamunacharya

[3] Bruhadaranyakopanishad 3-7-22

[4] Sri Bhasya, Laghu Sidhdhanta

[5] The Philosophy of Sadhana in Visistadvaita, chapter – Prapatti, Dr.N.S.Anantharangachar

[6] The Philosophy of Sadhana in Visistadvaita, chapter – Prapatti, Dr.N.S.Anantharangachar

[7] Bg 18-61

[8] Bruhadaranyakopanishad 3-7-22

[9] Bruhadaranyaka 3-7-1

[10] The Philosophy of Sadhana in Visistadvaita, chapter – Prapatti, Dr.N.S.Anantharangachar

[11] katōpanishad 4-2, 2-11, 2-2

[12] Cha 5-10-7

[13] Bg 2-67

[14] Bg 6-35

[15] Building your limitless mind, Geoff blades

[16] Amrita Bindu Upanishad 2, Bg 6-5