Fear Not
To desire fearlessness is one thing; but to really live it is quite another. The latter can only be achieved by raising our consciousness to a place where fear is impossible.
Includes an exercise to banish fear.
What a blessing to have an omniscient guru guiding me to a new, freer level of consciousness, where fears and worries simply vanished. It was like being bombarded by what appear to be deadly rockets, only to have them scatter like dandelion blossoms. At last I understood the folly of letting fear control me; since nothing could harm the real me, my soul, I had absolutely nothing to fear!
Having verified Krishna’s words for myself, I can hardly remember what it was like to live in fear, as if any minute my orderly, peaceful world could crash down around me. It is simply gone, replaced by the general conviction that all is well. And to think I had once been afraid of going here!
Abide in Fearlessness
One of the great benefits of regular yoga practice is the ability to neutralize negativity by focusing primarily upon God. The more I abide in fearlessness, the less likely am I to attract scary things. Even when something unpleasant does happen, I can endure it, secure in the knowledge that God and guru will see me through it. God’s grace really does shield us from harm; there is no room for fear.
Without the example of Yogananda, his disciples and other courageous masters, I might never have made this journey. Now that I’m teaching yoga and meditation myself, it is my privilege to pass these insights on to others.
Not long ago, my female meditation students got the opportunity to pass their own test. Just after sunset, I led them on a walking meditation through the most peaceful location in the vicinity: a Quaker cemetery. They tried to follow my instructions to stay present, but they were also staying, I noticed, very vigilant for possible danger. So when two people in dark clothing approached us from another direction, they all froze in fear, sure a mugging was imminent.
I smiled and greeted them warmly while my frightened students stayed alert for trouble. Their fears quickly dissipated, however, when the couple returned my friendly greeting and sauntered away. It was a beautiful example of how our minds turn ordinary events into “fearfests,” and how yoga can forever lift us out of that useless, paralyzing mindset.
Thinking back on the younger me cowering in delusion’s shadows, I can only chuckle knowingly, happy to have been freed from that self-made dungeon that was never locked in the first place.
EXERCISE TO RELEASE FEAR:
A reminder that ‘fear has no power over me; mine is the power to send it packing”. Use this any time you feel fear descending on you.
“RAG DOLL” Visualization
Sitting safe and relaxed, close your eyes and visualize your fear in all its monstrous horror. Go ahead and indulge in whatever is scaring you. Feel your body contract and tighten as the fear-monster takes on a humongous form in your mind, threatening to devour you. Now watch as you deliberately shrink the monster into a more manageable size. Shrivel it down to the size of a small doll that can fit easily into your hand. Continue shrinking it until there is nothing left of your fear-monster but the robe it was wearing. Take that garment in each hand and RIP IT TO SHREDS! When you open your eyes, the fear should be gone, for you have reclaimed your power over it. Smile! You are free!
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