Overcoming FEAR, the procedure
In enjoyment, there is fear of disease; in social position, there is fear of falling off; in
wealth, there is the fear of (hostile) kings; in honour, there is the fear of humiliation; in power,
there is the fear of foes; in beauty, there is the fear of old age; in scriptural erudition, there is the
fear of opponents; in virtue, there is the fear of traducers; in body, there is the fear of death;
everything in this world pertaining to men is attended with fear; renunciation alone leads to
fearlessness.
~ BHARTRIHARI (Vairagya-Shatakam)
The idea of some external superior power over one’s self is the
chief cause of fear.
Raga (attachment) is the long-standing associate of fear. Wherever there is Raga, there is
fear. Fear and Raga co-exist.
If there is no Raga, there is no fear. The first link in the chain of Raga is his attachment to his body. All kinds, of Raga start from this Raga to the physical body.
Sit for a while. Reflect well. Introspect. All imaginary fears will take to their heels.
They will dwindle into an airy nothing. Mind deceives you through imaginary fears. Learn to
discriminate, cogitate, reflect and meditate. Cultivate courage. Be a silent witness of the mind’s
menagerie. The mind will lurk like a thief. You will feel now that you were duped all these
years by this mischievous mind and that fear is a non-entity, a big zero.
One who is afraid of walking in darkness should try to get rid of this defect by taking a light in the beginning and walking in the night, and slowly trying to walk without light also. Fear will vanish in course of time. Fear is a negative force. It cannot stand before the positive virtue,
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...
~ Sri Swami Sivananda
