Surrender & Become Fearless
In the midst of this global disturbance the only way to get a grip on the fear is to chant the holy names, meditate on Krishna’s form, serve the devotees and hear or read comforting words from the scriptures. Some of these verses give me comfort and I am sharing these here. These are taken from the Bhagavad_Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and My favorite Bhajan Bhajahu Re Maan.
bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re
durlabha mānava-janama sat-sańge
taroho e bhava-sindhu reO mind just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly existence through the association of saintly persons.
Our mind can take us to the past and future very well, but it can hardly stay in the present moment. The present moment is all we have. Generally fear comes when we think of the future. If we can practice staying in the present moment then we can overcome this fear. In this very moment what can we do? We can think of our sweet Lord. Feel His presence in our being. Feel His protection and feel He is forever maintaining us. Know for sure that the holy names are covering us as a protective armor. All the while doing things that are favorable for our spiritual life and rejecting things that are unfavorable for our spiritual life. Moment to moment surrender is required. When we do so we feel peaceful and happy.
When we feel connected with this material body we become fearful. Everything here in this material creation is temporary and illusory. We take it as being true and belonging to us therefore we suffer from the pangs of fear of losing it. Our body too is made up of this same matter, forgetting this we are trying to find everlasting happiness through this body which is impossible.When we don’t, we get gripped by fear. Fear of change, disruption, and ultimately death looms behind us, not allowing us to remain peaceful. However hard we may try to distract ourselves or forestall the inevitable with artificial technological facades, the jaws of time continue to devour us until we are face-to-face with inevitable death, suffering from the most heightened state of fear. Source
When we understand we are a spirit soul living in this material body we feel fearless.
The fifth-century Indian philosopher, poet, and grammarian Bhartrihari explains that there are nine types of fear:
bhoge roga-bhayam kule chyutibhayam vitte nripalad bhayam
mane dainya-bhayam bale ripubhayam rupe jaraya bhayam
shastre vadi-bhayam gune khalabhayam kaye kritantad bhayam
sarvam vastu bhayanvitam bhuvi nrinam vairagyam evabhayamIn enjoyment there is fear of disease;
In a family there is fear of disgrace;
In wealth there is fear of hostile rulers;
In honor there is fear of humiliation;
In knowledge there is fear of opponents;
In beauty there is fear of old age;
In power there is fear of backbiters;
In virtue there is fear of jealousy;
In body there is fear of death;
All the things of this world pertaining to man are attended by fear;
Renunciation alone stands for fearlessness.
(Vairagya-shatakam 31)
A few verses below speak about fear.
BG Chapters 1 - 6
One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear, even in the midst of the greatest calamity.
BG Chapters 7 - 12
Those who are free from the illusory energy, those who are confident that they are not the material body, that they are spiritual parts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and who are therefore engaged in the transcendental service of the Supreme Godhead, have nothing to fear.
SB Canto 1
We have already come to know that the influence of the age of Kali is meant for godless so-called civilized man; those who are under the protection of the Lord have nothing to fear from this horrible age.
Men are afraid of Yamarāja because it is he only who awards punishment to the miscreants of the material world, but those who are devotees of the Lord have nothing to fear from him.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit considered that less intelligent men might find the personality of Kali to be very powerful, but that those who are self-controlled would have nothing to fear.
SB Canto 2
A man in the renounced order of life must be purified by the process; thus he will feel the presence of the Lord everywhere and will have nothing to fear (such as being without any company).
The Lord has no competitor, and He has nothing to fear from any other being, nor can anyone be equal to Him.
SB Canto 3
Everyone is afraid of the activities of time, but a devotee who knows that the time factor is another representation or manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead has nothing to fear from the influence of time.
BG Chapters 1 - 6
One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.
Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me—and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.
Suspending the inward and outward breaths within the nostrils, and thus controlling the mind, senses and intelligence, the transcendentalist aiming at liberation becomes free from desire, fear and anger.
BG Chapters 7 - 12
If we want to get free from anxiety, then the best course is to understand Kṛṣṇa and be situated always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. In that way we will be free from all fear.
What are the graces of the Lord? It is stated here that the graces of the Lord are abhaya, free from fearfulness.
To take charge of someone, therefore, either as father, mother, spiritual master, relative or husband, one must accept the responsibility to give his ward freedom from the fearful situation of material existence.
I shall also describe this sublime knowledge, which is the door to spiritual life, to My mother, so that she also can attain perfection and self-realization, ending all reactions to fruitive activities. Thus she also will be freed from all material fear.
SB 3.33.11, Translation and Purport:
My dear mother, those who are actually transcendentalists certainly follow My instructions, as I have given them to you. You may rest assured that if you traverse this path of self-realization perfectly, surely you shall be freed from fearful material contamination and shall ultimately reach Me. Mother, persons who are not conversant with this method of devotional service certainly cannot get out of the cycle of birth and death.
SB 4.24.53, Translation and Purport:
My dear Lord, those who desire to purify their existence must always engage in meditation upon Your lotus feet, as described above. Those who are serious about executing their occupational duties and who want freedom from fear must take to this process of bhakti-yoga.
The path followed by pure devotees, who are well behaved and fully endowed with the best qualifications, is certainly the most auspicious path in this material world. It is free from fear, and it is authorized by the śāstras.
Those who follow the path of the ācāryas are suśīlāḥ and sādhavaḥ, but furthermore their path is akuto-bhaya, which means free from fear.
One should adhere to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa very tightly and serve Him under the direction of the spiritual master. Thus in all conditions one will be akuto-bhaya, free from fear.
Somehow or other, by Your grace, I am now in a peaceful condition because I have taken shelter of Your lotus feet, which are always free from all lamentation, fear and death.
Take Shelter of the Lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna!!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare , Hare Rama Hare Rama,Rama Rama Hare Hare