Today, I want to dive into a fascinating aspect of our lives – fear. You see, fear isn’t always the enemy we make it out to be. In fact, according to the wisdom found in the Vedic texts, a little bit of fear, when applied properly, can be a powerful motivator on our journey toward spiritual growth and self-realization.
I recently had a conversation with someone, who shared how he uses challenging situations and the energy they bring to motivate himself. It got me thinking about fear and its role in our lives. In one of the books on bhakti-yoga, a branch of Vedic wisdom, I came across a profound verse from the Srimad-Bhagavatam that sheds light on this topic. The verse goes like this: “[bhayam dvitiya abhinivesita syat],” and it has a lot to teach us.
Let’s break it down together. The word “[syat]” means something arises, and what is it that arises? “[bhayam]” – fear. And then there’s the word “[abhinivesita],” which means to be fully absorbed in what? “[dvitiya]” – that which seems to be separate from the whole. This verse suggests that when we become fully absorbed in the idea of the bodily concept of life, believing that we are nothing more than our physical bodies, fear naturally arises.
However, when we adopt a different perspective we can see things differently. We realize that this life is temporary, and this realization can instill a healthy fear – a fear of missing out on the opportunity we have right now to grow and evolve spiritually. This type of fear serves as a motivating factor to help us make the most of our lives.
It’s important to note that not all fear is bad. It’s the overwhelming and inordinate sense of fear that can numb us to existence or make us seek distractions to forget about it. The psychologist Ernest Becker, in his book on the fear of death, suggests that much of our distractions and procrastinations as humans are ways to avoid confronting the inconvenient truth of our mortality.
But what happens when we face our fears head-on? There’s a sense of relief, isn’t there? When we acknowledge our existential situation and confront it, we find a new perspective. We realize that death is not the end of everything; we continue to exist even after this body perishes. This realization can be liberating.
In fact, there’s a saying I love: “Face your fears and watch them disappear.” When we confront our fears and address them, they lose their power over us. We begin to see them for what they are – temporary challenges on our path to spiritual growth and self-realization.
The wisdom literature of the Vedic tradition encourages us to embrace this perspective. It reminds us that death is not the end but a transition. We always exist, even beyond the confines of our physical bodies. With this knowledge, we can focus on making our current lifetime a successful and spiritually fulfilling one.
In conclusion, fear doesn’t have to be the enemy. When applied properly, fear can be a great motivator on our spiritual journey. It can push us to confront our existential situation, make the most of our present moment, and ultimately lead us to self-realization. So, my friends, let’s not shy away from fear; let’s face it head-on and watch it disappear as we embrace the wisdom of the Vedas. After all, it’s not the end of the world – it’s the beginning of a new chapter in our eternal journey. Namaste!
As always, thank you for joining me on this exploration of Vedic wisdom and its practical applications in our lives. May you find the courage to face your fears and use them as stepping stones on your path to inner peace and spiritual fulfillment.
Please drop me a note with your realizations or if you have any questions/comments using Ask Vaish form. I would really like to hear from you.
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