Start Date: July 5, 2025
End Date: August 9, 2025
Venue: Online
Modern life is full of problems, desires, expectations, deadlines and frustrations. When we are overwhelmed by all these, we suffer from stress. To combat stress, the remedies that are usually offered include: Medication, Exercise, Visualization, Meditation, Breathing techniques, Muscle relaxation, Laughing Clubs, Healthy eating/lifestyle, Vacations, Communing with Nature etc. But in spite of so many “remedies”, stress refuses to go away. Because these “remedies” do not address the fundamental problem that causes stress. Stress happens in the mind and merely changing our peripheral and outward activities cannot make a difference to the root causes of stress.
Arjuna was in a state of extreme stress on the eve of the Kurukshetra war. What did Krishna advise? Did he give him “stress reduction tips?” Did he ask Arjuna to relax his muscles? Practice deep breathing? What led to the stress of Arjuna was a mental, emotional and existential crisis. It was not the time for deep breathing and muscle relaxation. Arjuna’s stress was due to his defective way of thinking, his defective mental response; in short, his unevolved consciousness was inadequate to deal with the challenge. Outward manipulations cannot eliminate stress. They may provide temporary relief. To deal with stress effectively, we have to bring about a fundamental change in our way of thinking. What we require is a Spiritual Approach. And that is exactly what Krishna taught Arjuna.
Join us on this 6-week journey as we examine the root causes of stress, explore what a spiritual approach to stress management may look like, put under scanner the major stress points in life and build a road map to incorporate spirituality in a practical, workable manner in our everyday lives. For our guides we would have the timeless wisdom of Adi Sankara, the Bhagavad Gita and Sri Aurobindo. Through this course we shall explore and work towards an in-depth approach that brings a change in our consciousness to attack stress at its roots.
COURSE TITLE
A Spiritual Approach to Stress Management
Duration: 6 weeks
Start Date: July 5, 2025
End Date: Aug 9, 2025
Online Meeting: Every Saturday, 9:00-10:30 AM
(Zoom link will be shared with the registered participants a week before the start of the class).
COURSE TOPICS
- The Root Causes of Stress and why the usual methods of managing stress remain ineffective.
- A Spiritual Approach to Stress Management. Why it’s different.
- The way to Inner Freedom.
- Major Stress Points in Life:
- Money
- Work
- Family and Relationships
- Insecurity
- Developing a Spiritual Life
- Daily Practices for a Spiritual Life
FACILITATOR:
Narendra Murty
Professionally, Narendra Murty retired as a Divisional Manager from the Life Insurance industry. However, the deep driving passion of his life has been the study of various religions and philosophies – both Eastern and Western – to which he has devoted 35 years of his life.He is an award-winning author of 6 books namely, Eating His Money – The Antics of a Metaphysical Clown, An Odyssey of the Mind, The Religion of Wonder, An Oak Tree in the Garden – Exploring the World of Zen, Sermons of the Dead and A Grain of Sand – Decoding Images, Rituals and Mythology. All his books are about man’s seeking for a higher meaning in life. He has been a devotee and a sincere student of Sri Aurobindo’s works for the last 20 years and is currently writing a book on Savitri for the general lay readers. Presently he is devoted full time to his writing and also working as a Research Associate with BhāratShakti. He also writes regularly for Renaissance, the online journal of BhāratShakti and for BhāratShakti blogs.
COURSE STRUCTURE
- Weekly session: Presentation by the facilitator, followed by interactions
- Short readings to be completed during the week