Transforming Fear: The Spiritual Perspective
By Baba Shuddhaanandaa Brahmachari
Embrace Your Fearless Nature
It is natural to be fearful. However, it is more natural to conquer fear. In truth, by nature, we are fearless. But in the modern rush, rush of life our mind has forgotten its intrinsic fearless essence.
Fear is born in this cloud of unconsciousness; fear is a monster created in our undisciplined minds. Fear is like the weeds in our backyard, which grow without any care. If our mind is not nourished by Divine, positive thoughts it becomes the ground on which the weeds of fear grow rampant.
Though our soul’s natural tendency is to expand, fear causes it to shrink and contract. Fear is a profound, negative emotion that creates a very deep impression on the subconscious layer of our mind, making it difficult to erase its impact. Fear haunts us like a ghost, robbing us of the positive charm of life.
Trust in the Divine
At its root, fear comes from not trusting in the Universal forces that are infinitely powerful and protective of those who surrender with love. So, one has to recondition the mind to embrace the Divine. Nurture the mind. Empower the mind. Enlighten the mind to get rid of these weeds and ghosts of the past and of the mind.
An empowered, enlightened mind is a state of Yoga in the truest sense. It yokes us, uniting us with the One, with that which is beyond fear, beyond anxieties, beyond all troubles and tribulations, beyond all fear and negativity. Cultivating our positive, empowered, enlightened mind is the basic, essential spiritual practice without which all other practices fall short.
When we dwell in trust, willingness, and appreciation of the Universal forces, when we recondition the mind to embrace the Divine, gradually we come to realize that if what we are working toward, if what we are hoping for, doesn’t happen, then God is working toward some greater beneficence through whatever does happen. We realize there is nothing to fear.
But how do you learn to trust the Divine? One first practice is to contemplate on how any experiences of fear have ultimately contributed to your turning more to the life of your spirit? What still burdens you today? If those burdens were lifted, what would you have gained from having them? How has your life been a movement from the lower to the higher, from fear to faith and trust in the Divine?
Then any time you find yourself overwhelmed with fear from within or without, simply step back into your heart. In your mind’s eye, see yourself surrounded by a circle of Divine light. Know that light will lead you to true understanding. Embrace any inspirations that come to you as you re-enter normal consciousness and make them part of your daily practice.
