Further Observations On The Subject Of Fear

Types of Fear

When we are frightened we really need to ask ourselves what are we actually frightened of, are we afraid of becoming sick because at the moment we have no choice in that situation and that fear is not constructive.

Maybe we are afraid of death because we are definitely going to die at some point and that fear is not a constructive fear, it could lead to inappropriate responses such as denial or a sense of futility or meaningless to our life.

We may have a fear of being trapped or placed into a commitment situation, that we can't back out but that is our own mind trapping us.

So in other words, we can't control whether things will go the way we want them to but we can learn to control our own minds, our responses and our own conduct. Therefore, we can be certain that exercising such control we can find a genuine liberation from all fear.

To paraphrase Buddha

All fears and all sufferings arise from the mind, it is impossible to control all external events, but if I simply control my mind what need is there to control other things?

All our fears are borne of an uncontrolled mind, and examples of this can be found in -

Attachments – the fear or anxiety arising from being separated from something or someone that we feel we need for security and happiness.

Anger / hatred – these fears bear a direct relation to the feeling we have of being threatened by others and this is why we get angry and we try to push the other person(s) away.

All the fear and suffering we experience during our life comes from not seeing the real nature of our world and our experience. Our belief that things exist “out there”, independent of our mind, is the source of all our fear. When we see directly that everything is projected like the objects in a dream, all our fears and problems will disappear.

Things falsely appear to exist and we are completely taken in by their appearance. When an unpleasant object such as an enemy appears to our mind, we take this appearance at face value as a real, externally existent enemy, and so we react with fear or hostility; and when an attractive object such as a beautiful man or woman appears to our mind we are equally taken in and respond with desirous attachment.

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Take a look at your whole life for a moment and ask yourself how complete or how whole is my life. If you continue to create richness for yourself, nothing can ever take away your sense of completeness. Think on this and consider how little you would have to fear.

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One of the major obstacles that we experience as we look at ways to combat fear is holding onto past memories and situations. We really do need to let these things go and allow our new thinking to replace these outmoded and no longer useful situations. Again to quote from a teaching article-

A university professor came to inquire about Zen. The Zen master served tea. He poured the professor's cup full, and then kept on pouring. The professor watched the overflow until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's over-full! No more will go in!" "Like this cup," said the master, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

In other words we should be prepared to let go of the old and outmoded things, our resistances, in order to make way for the new and potentially exciting things that are trying to become part of our lives. We should relax and see the whole world anew because saying no to these opportunities puts us firmly into the situation of being a victim.

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Before I close this blog post I would like to make you aware of one of life's paradoxes – it relates to fear so is not “off topic”

The more enriched our lives become, the more fear and pain we are going to encounter......but now the difference is that we are able to see it for what it is safe in the knowledge that we can handle it.

I hope that you have enjoyed this post and that you will continue to look out for more posting over the coming weeks and months.

Have a FANTASTIC day

and remember

Don't Predict the Future - CREATE IT!

DAve