Mental tension is primarily caused by negative thinking about future consequences of intolerable or unbearable circumstances and conditions that already exist or that are expected in the future. There are mainly three kinds of tension: tension due to natural calamities, man-made tension and self-created tension.

        First and foremost, let us consider mental tension resulting from natural calamities. No matter how much man tries to conquer Nature, he has time and again proved to be a powerless and insignificant creature in a pitiable condition in the face of Nature´s fury such as volcanic eruptions, heavy floods due to torrential rains, huge tidal waves like tsunami and conflagrations that turn large forests into ashes! You will be able to cite umpteen such examples. Persons who encounter such natural calamities are often completely shattered. Some of them even fall a victim to mental disorders.

        On such occasions, charitable institutions engaged in social service come forward to provide food, clothing and other necessities to the victims. Some people visit the sites affected by natural calamities to offer financial assistance and to show their concern and sympathy. While such assistance is undoubtedly very essential for rehabilitation of these victims, how far is it really useful in restoring their mental poise? You would be right if you ask whether it would not be foolish and harsh to offer such victims platitudes by telling them to refrain from becoming tense. Then what is to be done? The mental strength to face such natural calamities has to be developed well before hand. Such a mental outlook has to be inculcated in advance with or without outside guidance. From a mental standpoint, ´Prevention is better than cure.´ It is always preferable to have an appropriate state of mind before such natural calamities befall us. You may retort that this is the second dose of empty advice! But let me tell you that families that have imbibed Adhyatma-Vidnyan (Spiritual Science) have also encountered and faced dreadful circumstances. Despite heavy loss of personal belongings and/or lives of near and dear ones, they remained tension-free because of the outlook bestowed by Adhyatma-Vidnyan. They remained as serene and calm as before. On the other hand, they even helped others.