Miscellaneous - Religion   

Overcome anxiety

CHENNAI : Stress has become a way of life in this fast-paced age. Both the young and the elderly have some reason or the other to feel stressed out in day-to-day life. Within reasonable limits one should be able to lead a tension-free life. It is imperative then to manage stress before it takes its toll by going to its root cause. It should be seen that stress is not in the situation but in the way a person handles it.

The stressful situations that an individual faces are of two types: that which can be solved by him and those that are beyond his control. While the first type requires judicious handling of the situation, in the case of difficulties beyond his power he has to learn to cope without worrying constantly. This does not mean that one should not worry at all. Constructive anxiety is necessary to achieve anything because if one does not worry where it is necessary it would amount to irresponsibility. It is the destructive kind of anxiety that is bad, which one must learn to conquer.

In his discourse, Sri B. Sundar Kumar said the Mahabharata offered insight into how to overcome anxiety through Yudhishthira's predicament when the Pandavas went on exile. Several sages accompanied them even though Yudhishthira entreated them to remain behind. When he told them that he would not be able to entertain them for 12 long years in the forest they refused to return to Hastinapura and said they would share his troubles. It was then that Sage Saunaka, who was the very epitome of knowledge, devotion and righteous action, told him that a thousand reasons for worry would affect an ignorant person and that a wise man would not be affected.

Saunaka then dilated at length on how desires were the root cause of worry and that pursuit of wealth to fulfil desires was counterproductive, and hence he should engage in penance. The Pandava elder, who was the very personification of Dharma, replied that he was not after wealth for the sake of satiating sensory pleasures but because he was duty bound as a householder to provide food for those who depended on him (his guests who were masters of the Vedas). As this situation was beyond Yudhishthira's control, his priest Dhaumya asked him to worship the Sun as this deity was the lord of food and riches.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

CARTOONSCAPE
The Hindu Crossword 8713
Solution to Puzzle 8712
Overcome anxiety
dated September 21, 1956: Planning in India
dated September 21, 1956: PSP not for alliance
dated September 21, 1956: Ban on smoking
Weather

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu