Fear Is Natural – In Gita Verse 2.40 In this endeavour there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.
In the Bhagavad Gita Verse 2.40, we find guidance of immense depth and significance. In our spiritual endeavours, we are assured that no effort goes to waste and even a small step in the right direction can protect us from grave fear. This echoes in our lives when we must act from a place of wisdom. Facing fear is an intrinsic part of moving into the unknown. Yet, as Lord Krishna points out, this journey into uncharted territory is not a journey of loss but an advancement.
Embracing courage does more than merely shield us; it propels us forward, ensuring that the myriad forms of dangerous fears do not ensnare us. When the shadow of fear looms, it is not a signal to retreat but an indication to challenge it. For in every moment of fear confronted is the potential to grow, expand, and inch closer to a profound realisation – the enlightenment that lies beyond the ego’s grasp, which only functions through fear.
Consider fear as a natural sensation, one that is built into us for survival. Fear protects and preserves life, guiding us away from harm, a testament to its necessity. Without it, we would not know to avoid the dangers that could consume us. It is a form of intelligence, a gift to the observant and the wise. However, like all things, fear can also become a hindrance when it crosses into abnormality, becoming pathological and impeding our natural flow of life.
This pathological fear is fertile ground for manipulation. Priests and politicians have long known how to exploit this aspect of human nature, creating an art form of instilling deep-seated fears of eternal torment and societal collapse. They colour these fears with vivid and detailed accounts, using them to tightly grip the human psyche and exert control.
But Krishna calls to us, urging us to recognise when fear has overstepped its bounds, becoming unnatural and pathological. It is then that we are most vulnerable to deception and when we risk losing sight of our potential, our opportunity to fulfil the grandiose assignments given to us by the universe. Such assignments are rare gifts, and we must be conscious and prepared to receive them.
And so, we must act. In the face of fear, we proceed with a deliberate courage that speaks of our understanding that our actions align with a greater advancement – a cosmic dance with destiny. By turning against our pathological fears, we do not just survive; we thrive, we evolve. We move closer to shedding the ego and its fears, ushering in the light of enlightenment.
Let this be a guiding principle: anything that causes fear is precisely what needs to be faced and understood. Through this understanding, we transcend fear and step into a realm of greater consciousness and peace. The act of facing fear is itself an act of enlightenment.
Krishna encourages us to walk our path with courage and conscious awareness, recognising that we are essential threads in the grand tapestry of consciousness that is ever-expanding towards its highest state of being. We are invited to dance with valour in the face of fear, to meet it with the fullness of our presence. In doing so, we discover that fear cannot withstand the resolute power of our innermost radiance – it must surrender to the luminosity of a soul that knows its divine nature.
Tags: Fear Is Natural
