Stress Academy Presents:

Web Series – The Story of Stress

Part 1 – Understanding Stress

Episode 18 – Causes of Stress – Part A

Hello Friends, we have discussed the origin of stress, a novel definition of stress and phases of stress so far in this video series. Most of the time when we talk about stress, our focus is on external causes. For example, if we are stressed about investments in the stock market, then we may attribute our stress and anxiety to that . If we focus only on the extrinsic instrumental causes, we are missing out on the opportunity to find and eliminate the main intrinsic causes of stress. 

Based on our discussion from prior videos, we can summarize three main intrinsic pillars causing stress in this diagram:

1. Wrong Knowledge (Mithya Gyan)
2. Wrong Beliefs (Mithya Darshan)
3. Passions – Intentional or Unintentional (Mithya Charitra and Asanyam)

Let’s first describe the characteristics of wrong knowledge. Wrong knowledge (Mithya Gyan)  comprises any of the following characteristics: (1) Ignorance (Anadhyavasay) (2) Doubts (Sanshay) and (3) Nonfactual and one-sided knowledge (Viparyay). As we discussed in video 12, our wrong knowledge about our own consciousness is the primary cause of underlying stress. In the presence of such wrong knowledge about our consciousness and intrinsic causes of stress, we form attachments and aversions about situations we experience. We will refer to this type of primary wrong knowledge as Wrong Knowledge of one’s Own Existence (Mithya Gyan). In addition, Wrong Knowledge of Worldly Matters (Neeti Vishayak Agyan) about our social and situational interactions can also cause stressful experiences. For example, not being knowledgeable about specific laws of the region or ethical ways of doing business can land us in ethical issues or legal troubles. Likewise, lack of understanding about diet and nutrition can generate serious health issues. In conclusion, not having sufficient knowledge about the role we are expected to play in our day to day life can cause stress. 

Now, let’s discuss the second pillar of stress, which is our “wrong beliefs”. Wrong knowledge inevitably leads to wrong beliefs. Wrong beliefs are very dangerous because they can render even correct knowledge useless for us. For example, even if we have  correct nutritional knowledge about certain foods, we will not be able to leverage it to our benefit if we don’t trust that information. 

As discussed in video 12, our wrong beliefs related to our consciousness are the primary root cause of stress. These wrong beliefs regarding consciousness, it’s various manifestations and its interaction with matter will be depicted in future videos as wrong beliefs regarding 7 fundamentals (7 Tattvas) regarding nature of things. 

Let us briefly discuss how stress emanates from four types of wrong beliefs about the first two fundamentals: consciousness (Jiv) and non-living substances (Ajiv). These 4 types of wrong beliefs are:

1. Oneness (Ekatva)
2. My-ness (Mamatva)
3. Doership (Kartutva)
4. Indulgence (Bhoktrutva)

The physical body is our worldly identity; however, believing ourselves as this entity defined by our physical body only and not believing in our everlasting existence as consciousness leads us to knowingly or unknowingly form attachments and aversions towards everything that affects our body. When we believe something is beneficial or pleasurable to our body, we form attachment to it. While forming the attachment, we also inevitably form aversion towards the opposite of what we like. These passions arising from our attachments and aversions cause stress. This type of wrong belief about our own true identity is known as the wrong belief of Oneness (Ekatva). 

In addition to identifying ourselves as this body, we also believe that we are the true owner of things we temporarily possess during our lifetime such as a house, clothes, jewellery, cars, electronics, wealth and relationships etc. If you think carefully, there is no guarantee that we will continue to own them in the same shape or form for the rest of our lifetime and even if we do, there is nothing we can carry with us when our body dies. So while we can be the temporary “situational owners” of those things, we cannot be the real owner of anything external to our consciousness. Stress is generally directly proportional to the things we believe we own. So, believing and acting as if we are the true owner of our possessions is known as the wrong belief of My-ness (Mamatva) which leads to stress. Let’s say you were at a car showroom to buy a new car and you witnessed an accident of a parked car that you were intending to buy, in the parking area of this showroom. You will not be as stressed as you are not the showroom owner. But if this accident occurred after you had made the purchase, would you feel stressed? If yes, why? If you observe carefully, you acquired the belief of my-ness after purchasing the car thus forming an attachment towards it which led you to be stressful. We can’t own something forever in the same shape or form despite being a situational owner. So if we do not develop this belief of my-ness, we will not be stressed when our physical body or things we own change its shape or form. Therefore, we must identify and remove the wrong belief of my-ness for material objects as well as our physical body even though we may be the situational owner of things at that time.

Besides my-ness, we also falsely start believing ourselves to be “doer” or “incharge” of external actions even if we are just the “facilitator”. Suppose when we earn profits from our business or investments, our actions are only one of the factors of success in that particular instance. So, it is important to recognize that we are the doer and in-charge of only our own actions; and more precisely of our own knowledge and passions. We are not the doer of events external to our consciousness. Not being aware of our wrong knowledge leads us to form a false belief that profits were earned due to “my effort” and take the credit for the outcome. This belief leads to a sense of pride. At the same time, we are also aware that the same efforts may bring exactly the opposite outcome under different circumstances. This may lead to a sense of failure and frustration due to the same false belief about the outcomes. This type of belief about “doership” of events external to our consciousness is known as the wrong belief of Doership (Kartutva). For example, when you go out for a job interview, your efforts and performance during the interview is the only thing you can control. You don’t have any control over the selection process and thus can’t guarantee the end outcome. So, your efforts are only a facilitating factor (Nimitta) in getting a job and you are not in-charge or the doer (Karta) of the selection process. Not understanding this difference could lead you to knowingly or unknowingly believe yourself as a doer of this job selection. Having this belief would lead to a lot of frustration in case of non-selection despite your best efforts. Understanding the belief of doership allows us to separate our own efforts from the outcome of the selection process in order to eliminate and prevent stress.

Due to ignorance about our intrinsic ability of consciousness, we also believe that our pleasures or displeasures come from things external to our consciousness such as material objects. Due to this belief, we seek happiness from material objects and blame circumstances in case of unpleasant experiences. As discussed in video 3, all states and transformations of the matter and consciousness remain within the substance itself and cannot transfer from one substance to another. Therefore, pleasures or displeasures don’t come from material objects; but rather they come from within our consciousness based on our likes or dislikes. This type of belief that enjoyment or suffering comes from material objects is a wrong belief of Indulgence (Bhoktrutva). With this wrong belief, we are bound to equate our “physical discomforts” with “unhappiness” and “physical pleasures” with “happiness”. Recall the times when you experienced some physical discomfort, did you have a way to remain happy and peaceful during that time? Understanding the wrong belief of indulgence is very important to remain calm and peaceful even in difficult times.

Acharya Kundkund described these four types of wrong beliefs about oneness, my-ness, doership and indulgence in his most popular treatise “Samaysar” during the 1st century C.E. and Acharya Nemichandra Siddhanta Chakravarti described the characteristics of wrong knowledge in his famous treatise Bruhad Dravya Sangrah during 10th century C.E based on Tirthankar Mahavir’s teachings. 

Having briefly discussed wrong beliefs, in the next video, we will talk about the third pillar that causes stress, “our passions.” 

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