Fear

Sri Sri:

One definite thing in life is that everyone is going to die. No one can escape this reality. The only difference is that some people may die a little sooner and some a little later. The doctor dies as well as the patient. The King dies as well as the servant. This is a place where everyone dies.

No one knows how or when they are going to die. If you look at the situation in third world countries, people live in extremely unstable conditions. They are never sure how close death is. There may be a flood, or famine, or even an epidemic. Monsoons may destroy their homes and the entire family can be uprooted, but still, these people are able to smile and enjoy the life that they have.

The quality of our life is very important. The intensity with which we live from moment to moment is essential. Sickness has nothing to do with death. It is the fear associated with having a disease which
disturbs and weakens one's whole system. A clear mind free of fear can have a healing effect on the body. So, how do we get over this fear?

First, there is observation: observe the fear. When fear comes, what happens? A sensation arises in the chest region of the body. Observe this sensation and go deep into it. You see, every emotion in the mind creates a corresponding sensation in the body. When you observe sensations, emotions are transformed as sensations in the body and then they disappear. The sensations are released and the mind becomes clear.

If this is too difficult and is not possible to do without some help, then secondly you have the sense of belonging. You belong to God, to the universe, to some power. God is taking care of me, my master is taking care of me, the divine is taking care of me. This sense of belonging is an easier and simpler way to deal with fear.

If this sense of belonging is not possible, then see the impermanence of everything. Everything is changing around you. You cannot hold onto anything. Things come and things go. Emotions change, behaviors change,
everything changes. The world is changing all around you. See the impermanence in everything. You will gain a strength from this understanding and the fear will also disappear.