Fearlessness is Brahama or becoming Braham is Fearlessness -- Upanishad

 

In today's society fear is embedded in everything, although sometimes it is hidden in a very subtle way. The entire structure is based on the foundation of fear. If we do not overcome fear, we will suffer and may even perish. Fear is due to ignorance.

We must learn the trite message of Lord Krishna and the Shreemad Bhagvad Gita. If we practice it with our full heart, mind and energy without any reservation, then we will become fearless or self-realized souls and achieve our real nature. All else--the body, mind, intellect, ego, etc.-- is superimposed or a borrowed instrument for our use. In order to achieve our inherent ultimate goal of peace, joy, deathlessness and Eternal life of Love, we must use these instruments with good judgment. If we are missing out on this, we are only deceiving ourselves no matter how smart, intelligent and wise or religious we may consider ourselves.

It is very appropriate to remind ourselves of saint Bhartrihari's advice and wisdom on fearlessness:

There is built-in fear in sexual and other enjoyments.

There is fear of downfall in taking pride in one's family name and fame.
There is fear of King's or Government's taking away our accumulated (stolen) wealth.
There is fear of infamy in seeking honor in the society.
There is fear of enemies in our pride of strength whether individual or national.
There is fear of loosing beauty due to approaching old-age.
There is fear of others outsmarting us by logic and arguments, if we think of ourselves as experts.

There is fear of downfall if we constantly think of our virtues and merits.

There is built-in fear of death of this body, processes and any other worldly objects.
Truly, there is built-in fear in everything on this earth for human beings.
Renunciation alone is fearlessness.

This forceful statement says much more than it appears to on the surface. In short, all our dependency on perishable objects, people, relatives, friends or enemies including our own body, mind, intellect, determination and ego are and will become a cause of fear. In order to achieve the  Eternal Fearless State, one needs to use these dependencies in a proper manner. Fearlessness leads us on the right path and towards humility.

Human life is strictly and only for attaining Eternal Truth, Eternal Love and Eternal Joy. All other achievements or accumulations can be had in the lower, animal lives. The only difference between animals or the vegetable kingdom and us is that we alone, as human beings, are capable of realizing that we are part and parcel of that Great Joy called God. In truth we are God, period.

May the readers take to heart this subtle and beautiful message of Saint Bhattrihari and change the course of their lives towards divinity, where lies all the eternal happiness.

--Swami Radhanadaji