What Is Fear?

**Note: If the mind is not really peaceful now, it might not be a perfect moment to listen to this podcast, be aware of the emotions or reactions that can block one from listenING ATTENTIVELY. This talk is a meditation practice. What one needs to do is listen attentively, without getting stuck in words, examine the mind in silence, no agree or disagree, just look at the mind as it is. Doing so is already a meditation practice. You are welcome to donate to help bring clarity to more people.

Transcript

What is fear?

There are some biological fears,

Physical fears.

When the mind senses the danger,

The mind can take actions upon that.

Like when one is walking in the forest,

Perceiving the danger of a hungry beast.

That kind of danger can make the mind take action immediately to protect the life.

This is the function of the neurons for the self-protection,

To make life survive.

Here,

We are not talking about that kind of fear.

It's normal,

Well,

Whether we should call it fear is another thing.

But mentally,

Psychologically,

Why do we feel fear?

Why fear has overflowed into the psychological world?

Which is very different from the physical fear,

Though we are connected in one or another.

Psychologically,

One fears something,

Something in the head,

Something that doesn't exist in front of one.

But one still fears it.

In many life movements,

Nothing really happens in front of us,

But the mind fears.

I say if something is timeless in front of one,

It's an illusion,

Isn't it?

But why does this fear exist?

What is the root of this fear,

Of this incessant fear?

Isn't it because of thoughts?

Thoughts breed fear,

As long as thoughts are running in the head,

The mind reacts to them.

Fear is the reaction to this thoughts.

Can you observe this in yourself?

When the thoughts are running in the mind,

And the mind is trapped by thoughts,

The mind is isolated by the thoughts,

By the reactions to the thoughts,

By the fear.

So nothing happens around one,

But what is taking place inside the mind completely catches one,

Traps one.

As long as one lives in thoughts,

Thoughts inevitably breed fear.

Therefore,

One is inevitably living in fear.

Such life can't be free.

Even though the Western civilization boasts of all kinds of individual freedom,

But as long as one is broadened by thoughts,

By the fear,

One can't be free.