Raghuramji’s talk on “ Indian perspective of Stress – Ancient wisdom” in the recently held Seminar
A short summary
The talk begins with wondering that stress is a very recent term that has gained its importance in the recent decades due to our lifestyle. How this recent phenomenon could have been addressed in our ancient texts? Bhagavad Gita was taken as an example text to understand if the text offers any solution related to stress.
In the very first chapter of Bhagavad Gita, let us examine the state in which Arjuna was, when he refuses to fight. Arjuna says, “Krishna, my body is shivering, limbs are shivering, mind is reeling. I am unable to hold the Gandiva” .
All these symptoms that Arjuna describes relate to todays anxiety neurosis, a psychological condition that needs to be treated. All that SriKrishna says in Bhagavad Gita can be related as a counselling given to Arjuna to overcome this psychological condition . At the end of Gita, Arjuna says that his mind is clear and asks Srikrishna as to what he should do . Krishna says to Arjun “ Do what you want to “ . Hence Arjuna begins to fight. The whole of Gita changes the state of mind in which Arjuna was.
This can certainly be cited as a direct example of stress management .
Upanishads tell us that “ Being in bliss is our true nature “. The question comes then , why are we not realising this nature within us? We have come far from our nature due to disturbances at various levels.
In our body level, annamaya kosha , its very nature is to be relaxed. But due to our fast paced lifestyle ,our muscles, organs etc are always in tension and nearly always stimulated. This creates a layer masking our true nature.
At the breath level, Pranamaya kosha, its very nature is slowness. But due to our lifestyle, our breath is always faster and this speed again creates a layer , masking the bliss, our true nature. We do not have the space to connect to our inner nature.
At the mind , thoughts level, the thoughts are at the speed of lightning or even faster. However nature of manomaya is the calmness , like a river with ripples , turbulence on top , but very calm deep inside.
The raja Yoga path of Asana, pranayama, dharana and Dhyana help us connect to our being at each of the above mentioned koshas. Our focus shifts from the doing to the being. Yoga is indeed a journey from the doing to the being.
In this stressful life, we are rather human doings and Yoga aids us to become human beings.
-Balambika