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FEAR IN VARIOUS FORMS

Fear is a negative quality or modification in the mind. It is the result or product of
ignorance. It manifests when one identifies himself with the body and forgets the immortal
Atman, his own real Satchidananda Svarupa. It is the old companion of Aasakti (attachment) or
Moha or delusion. Fear, worry and anger deplete all energy of man and bring exhaustion and
early death.
No one is absolutely free from some sort of fear. It is only the Jnani or a full-blown Yogi
and a Bhakta who is absolutely free from fear. How can fear affect that sage who sees his own
Self everywhere? If one can conquer fear, half of his Sadhana is over.
Fear assumes various forms. The Gurkha soldier is not afraid of knife or bullet but he is
afraid of scorpions. A hunter is not afraid of tigers in the forest but is afraid of the surgeon’s
knife. The man of the frontier is not afraid of knife; he can even allow the surgeon to open his
intestines, without chloroform, but he is terribly afraid of snakes. Some are afraid of ghosts. The
vast majority of persons are afraid of public criticism. Some are afraid of diseases. The most
healthy and strong man has got some imaginary fear of some obscure disease.

The king is afraid of his enemy. The Pandit is afraid of his opponent. A beautiful lady is
afraid of old age. A lawyer is afraid of the judge and his clients. The wife is afraid of her
husband. The student is afraid of the teacher. The Police Inspector is afraid of the
Superintendent. The frog is afraid of the snake. The cobra is afraid of the mongoose.
There are various degrees in fear. They are simple fright, timidity, shyness, alarm, terror
and terrible fear. When there is terrible fear, the whole body perspires, urine and faecal matter
are ejected involuntarily. The mind becomes like a log of wood. Sometimes shock and
immediate collapse take place and the man dies of sudden heart failure. The face becomes pale
and the eyes express a peculiar ghastly, listless look.
Parents and teachers should infuse the spirit of courage in their sons and students from
the very boyhood. They should ask them to read stories in the ‘Mahabharata’ which deal with
the chivalrous acts of Bhishma and other persons. Boys have got pliable and elastic minds. They
can be manipulated well at this period of life. The Samskaras can be indelibly impressed at this
age. Brahmacharya gives tremendous strength and infuses courage.
If you think of the opposite of fear, viz., courage, the negative (fear) will slowly vanish.
You will have to develop courage slowly. Have the word-image “OM COURAGE” before the
mind. Repeat this Mantra or formula very often. A word is the centre of an idea. An idea is the
centre of a mental image. A mental image is the centre of a mental habit. A mental habit is the
centre of a trait in man. Have a clear-cut image in the mind of the quality of courage, and this
quality will develop. The subconscious mind will do everything for you. The ‘will’ also will
come to your aid. Desire to be courageous, and the ‘will’ will immediately follow desire.
Give up attachment or this perishable body. Do not identify yourself with this body. This
body is like the shell of a coconut. It is like a pillowcase. Constantly think of the Indweller, the
immortal Atman. Do Atma Chintana always. Identify yourself with the Atman. Fear will
vanish. This is the most powerful method. Move about in the thick forests or dense jungles at
nights and wander about in the streets of your place without light and without guide. The Bhakta
gets rid of fear and Deha-Adhyasa through total self-surrender