Comic by Muchukunda das
What are you afraid of?
I’m afraid of about 50 things… I Know that because I have an inventory that allows me to see that as a fact. Actually it’s a fact because I wrote it down and declared it. Like declaring avocados is what makes you a carrier of avocados from one country to another. Like all emotions they live in language! Thats a topic for another issue…
Fear is the enemy for those seeking freedom of self expression, freedom from pain or permenant freedom from repeated birth and death (Samsara)
Prabhupad writes in Bhagavad Gita
“One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear, even in the midst of the greatest calamity”
Krsna said to Arjuna just before he went into combat
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
The thing I noticed after reading this newly was that I am afraid of the oppisite things to Arjuna. He is afraid of killing respectable persons. I am afraid of dying. He is afraid of the negative consequences of war. I am afraid of phisical pain. He is afraid of disrespecting others. I am fraid of being disrespected. He is afraid of karma (sin). I am afraid of cold showers.
The problem I have isn't wanting to do the right thing as was the case for Arjuna. It's wanting to do all the other things. So how does this verse apply to people like me?
Rewording the verse might help to see it… And actually getting the impact of living without this knowledge.
Abandon - drop
all varieties of religion - all the things you think or have heard about whats right
and just surrender unto Me. - Just follow the highest instructions which is My instructions.
I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. - This will free you from negative consequences.
Do not fear. - You can totally trust me [I’m God, I know what I’m talking about…]
Heres a 5 step formula to experiment with this like a tool.
List 5 things you do which cause harm to self or others (for example eating flesh or neglecting a loved one)
Connect with the emotion of fear and sit with it. Allow yourself to be with the impact of your unwholesome actions or habits. Only move to the next step when you feel present to the impact of those actions or inactions
Plan to acknowledge those behaviours in words with the persons you've harmed and vow to do the oppisite. Declaration is the key to transformation.
Consider that by surrendering (entrusting your wellbeing) to the God of your understanding you will be restored to innocence and freedom from the impact you got present to in step 2.
Make a structure for fulfilling on a plan for living karma free. This is a sustainable version of the previous steps. How can you live the principle of surrender on an ongoing basis?
One way you can maintain a surrendered lifestyle is by daily reading the Bhagavad Gita. Email me for a free copy. Just pay for postage😄
Already got a Gita? Read the Srimad Bhagavatam!
The Bhagavatam is an ancient Sanskrit encyclopedia of spiritual topics in story form. Special offer for a set of Bhagavatam (usually valued at $500) with this code manobhi_1_kenobi DM him now!