Surrounded by a world full of violence, cruelty, and malice,
it's no wonder many people today seem to prefer a safer, computer-based "reality"
.... isolating themselves with a virtual wall to protect themselves.
But, is this the way to reach one's full potential for happiness?

When one thinks about it, the primary operating element in this trend is the emotion FEAR.

This single aspect is responsible for the majority of day to day human response, in almost direct proportion to the lack of subconscious sexual motive...

(of course, subconscious sexual motive is conditioned response to INTERNAL hormonal action, while fear is conditioned response to a non systemic EXTERNAL source. understanding this difference is important!)

Fear of loss, fear of rejection, fear of harm, but all of these boil down to a fear of loss.

Fear of loss of life, self-esteem, security, sanity, possessions, liberty.

Fear is simply nature's self-defense mechanism, it serves to preserve an animal's life in animals where the ability to reason does not exist.

However, fear must be abandoned if one seeks to live his life to the fullest. It blinds one from Essential Truth. It holds one back. It disables the ability to continue towards clarity of mind and purpose, for fear of loss of that which one has "already built up".

Some would say that fear is 'constructive', if it stops one from jumping off a 30 story building, and such.

But, although one might consider it constructive in a person incapable of reason, it is simply a substantial distraction from reality for those who wish to LIVE. Might not reason serve best?

Would not reason dictate prudence in a more 'positive' < in the context of 'what is best' > manner?

Wouldn't reason convince one not to jump without adequate safety precautions and good cause?

If both were present, does not fear serve as an unconstructive distraction; possibly causing one to DISREGARD good cause?

Reason is to be preferred over fear; refined to take the 'place' of fear; and will serve well in that capacity.

Placing oneself in danger for no good cause is unreasonable; fear has no place in the decision.

One must be free to do what is best, regardless of fear. |

Fear can and must be abandoned in favor of reason.

But, some may ask, "HOW?"

Certainly, for people who have lived with fear all their lives, it may seem that fear is inescapable, a permanent part of their psyche.

But, it is not inescapable. You need not live in fear.

One of the best books on this subject is by Chogyam Trongpa, called "Shambhala, The Path of the Warrior".

The word in the title 'warrior' does not refer to violent action, but rather the concept of "beyond fear".

Two steps are required to get beyond fear.

1: learn to recognize fear as the motivation for many of your daily actions. Most of this fear operates at the sub-conscious level; it will take some time and effort to recognize and eliminate it...

Follow this pattern: first, identify an action motivated by fear. This may be a habit like peeking out the window, or walking too fast when in public. It may be the avoidance of another person's glance while waiting for a traffic light, or hiding a special person's picture when your parents visit.

Probably, throughout the day, you will find dozens of actions that have no purpose in reason, and that are simply motivated by fear. If you don't find them, LOOK HARDER. Open yourself to YOU.

Once identified, write the actions down someplace secure and private. This is a MUST! It must be secure, so you will feel secure and free to be completely honest. This is reasonable. Take whatever precautions are necessary for this purpose. Avoid making yourself subject to the 'victim' archetype. (Well, this'll have to do, if he finds it I will be SO MAD!)

Once this is done, it's time for contemplative meditation. (see post: )
Take one item, and follow your reasoning backwards. Identify the specific fear.

Trace that fear through meditation to its original source. Mentally try to recreate the source, and imagine yourself dealing with it sucessfully using reason. It's NOT important whether you superficially doubt the reality of what you've generated; you are reprogramming a response that has nothing to DO with reality. Repeat the exercise at several sittings, then, on to the next one.

This creative visualization, with time and much practice, can turn a paper tiger into a PERSON.

This is very effective for eliminating fears relating to a past experience; rehearsing the situation mentally with a happier outcome, where one has total control of the situation, will often alleviate what would otherwise become a haunting psychosis.

Dreams can be made to conform to this pattern as well.

Take a troubling dream, and script it out the way you wish it to end. Meditate on it before you go to bed. Understanding WHY the dream bothers you is the key to diffusing it.

If it is a lucid dream, try to remember, take the initiative, be aggressive, attack. Like the Tibetan tulpas, demons of the mind ALWAYS retreat when confronted. That is their nature, THEY EXIST TO BE CONQUERED. Once affronted, their raison d'etre vanishes, and so do they.

A lama once told me something I'll never forget:
(during meditation) "..... If you should meet the Buddha, slay him!"

2: The second step is also accomplished through contemplative meditation. It is to reinforce the true meaning and nothing-ness of fear.

Ask yourself: "what have I to fear?".

Loss of self-esteem? One must understand that what one knows about oneself is what is important. Self-esteem should never be built upon what others think about you. You are on the path to self understanding - They are NOT. Who are they to tell you who YOU are? Striving toward what is best, one is much better off, and much happier. Change what YOU need and want to change- based on what YOU need and want.

Perhaps you answered "loss of life".

If a good cause exists, one that contributes to 'what is best', then should you be concerned?
If it is unavoidable, why die a thousand times in your mind for a one time event?

Epictetus wrote: " I must die, but must I die groaning? I must be imprisoned. But must I whine as well? I must suffer exile. Can one then hinder me from going with a smile, and good courage, and at peace? "Tell me the secret"; I refuse to tell, for this is in my power. "But, I will chain you"; what say you, fellow? Chain me? My leg, you will chain- yes, but my will- NO, not even Zeus can conquer that. "I will imprison you"; My bit of body, you mean. "I will behead you"; Why? When did I ever tell you that I was the only man in the world that could not be beheaded? "

Is this courage? Or, is it a basic understanding of what reality REALLY is?

How long will you live?

You are dying at this moment. And, you will die, perhaps today, perhaps in the next century.

But you will die.

So, what have you to lose that you have not already lost?

Maybe you are concerned with a 'horrible death'; but this is a meaningless phrase.

If what is meant is 'painful death', then, this is more fear. Fear of loss of comfort.

If one is in pain, this is a sensation that exists within one's body and mind. It is a part of him.

Acceptance of pain is acceptance of a part of one's self.

The Zen philosophers spend much effort on this concept of acceptance. You might say:

"Death IS, Life IS, Pain IS,.. (etc.)

If it cannot be willed away, or relieved, it must be ACCEPTED."

Acceptance puts the self at peace, even when sensory reactions are exploding about our consciousness.

There are those who teach that all sensation - pain included - should not be relieved, as it serves constructive purposes. However, we will consider the idea of 'beyond pain'.

Many times over daily, we must remind ourselves: "What you FEEL is NOT reality"

It isnt about feelings, emotions, doubt, etc.

What is REAL, what is YOU, is not the product of nerve endings, memories, or environment.

Feeling is not the same thing as BEING; it obscures true understanding.

Pain, after all, is simply a sensation, processed by the mind as a result of nerve stimulus; and anything processed by the mind can be transmuted or passed over.

As we learn to meditate, regulate our breathing and heart rate, so too can we learn to control fear and pain.

Of course, it would seem to be easier to take a pain pill. But is this what is BEST? It boils down to this: either a person exerts control over the brain, and thus the mind, or the brain exerts control over the mind, thus the person.

Meditation (SATI) eventually reveals every sensation for what it is, transitory.

Should we, then, allow that which is transitory and without realness to rule our lives?



Questions? Please ask .