Living without fear
Living without fear
I went for a wonderful lecture at the Sivananda Center, titled Living without Fear. It was taught by Gauri Devi.
Changes cause fear. It is what we do, not what we say. Action has magic. The world is our challenge. Mediation leads to contentment and that spreads happiness and honesty.
Fear is a negativity that we need to counter with its opposite which is courage.
We need to use our breath in every situation, it helps to calm the nerves.
When we mediate we exercise concentration. This enables us to thin out thoughts, leading to one thought. The goal is to have less and less wandering thoughts.
Yoga is the place where there are no thoughts. It is a chance to let go of the ego. The ego is the identification of who we are. We need to go beyond the limitations of our life and reach the stage of Brahman or complete bliss.
When we are fearful we need to go back to the affirmation that we are more than the limiting experience of fear. And instead see the emotion as a natural flow of life, and cultivate courage.
Fear is illusionary, it is created by preconceived expectations. To challenge this emotion we need to understand its origin and causes.
Some of the causes are
1. Ignorance- when we separate from what we truly are, we feel isolated and a sense of separation. Happiness is the ability to reconnect with our own true nature.
2. Attachment- can come in many forms, some of which are attachment to the physical body and to identify with material objects. This leads to a fear that when our body ages and our money reduces, we are lesser human beings.
Methods to reduce fear
1. Breath
2. Practise Pradyapradana- This concept is based on positive thinking, where we recognize the mental quality of feeling fearful. But we do not identify with it, instead replace it with the quality of detachment. So we ignore the feelings associated with fear and move away from it as a thought wave. We practise awareness, recognition, ignoring and then replacing it by a positive quality like courage.
Mind is composed of Vritis and Samskaras. Vritis are thought waves and Samskaras are when Vritis became an action, or a habit. We have to realize we are not bound by either Vritis or Samskaras, its important to experience life and not deny ourselves experiences.
How to detach from the world?
This can be done by unconditional love. Love for the sake of loving.
3. Feelings of inferiority arise when one has a lack of self reliance or self confidence. As people we are always judging others as better or worst than us. But this range of judgement is all illusionary.
The only way to rid fear is self realization. When we realize that every challenge is an opportunity to grow divine. Difficulties on the path are opportunities to realize what all remains to be learnt. Challenges are disintegration of our perceived realities. Once we live through it, we are forced to shift ourselves and recognize our spiritual dimensions, which is truly our essence.
Types of Fear
Phobias this is a heightened imaginary fear between now and the future. This is an irrational fear that is often not based on a frightening situation. It is derived from the Greek word for fear. It causes nervousness, stupid reactions, lack of right thinking and is a waste of energy. To reduce phobias we can develop a strong will power, and mediate on Atman.
Inferiority is the flip side of superiority
Arrogance is the flip of timidity.
All four emotions are based on a high sense of ego.
Questions to ask ourselves
how am I evolving as a person?
How will I bring up my child sensitively.
1. Encourage courage as a reality for your child. Try not to instill fears in children. Be fearless yourself and set an example for your child to follow.
2. Read stories like the Mahabharat where the characters have qualities like courage, truthfulness and purity.
3. Instill trust in them, so that they recognize the wholeness of the world.
4. Minds of children are elastic and malleable, read the Gita to them.
5. The destiny of children is in the hands of intelligent mothers.
Methods to eradicate fear
1. As you think so you became. Pradyapradana Bhavana use this technique to transform the power of thoughts.
2. Feel the presence of God. Feel the all pervading presence, cultivate awareness, solitude, internal experiences and devotion to God irradiates all fears.
I went for a wonderful lecture at the Sivananda Center, titled Living without Fear. It was taught by Gauri Devi.
Changes cause fear. It is what we do, not what we say. Action has magic. The world is our challenge. Mediation leads to contentment and that spreads happiness and honesty.
Fear is a negativity that we need to counter with its opposite which is courage.
We need to use our breath in every situation, it helps to calm the nerves.
When we mediate we exercise concentration. This enables us to thin out thoughts, leading to one thought. The goal is to have less and less wandering thoughts.
Yoga is the place where there are no thoughts. It is a chance to let go of the ego. The ego is the identification of who we are. We need to go beyond the limitations of our life and reach the stage of Brahman or complete bliss.
When we are fearful we need to go back to the affirmation that we are more than the limiting experience of fear. And instead see the emotion as a natural flow of life, and cultivate courage.
Fear is illusionary, it is created by preconceived expectations. To challenge this emotion we need to understand its origin and causes.
Some of the causes are
1. Ignorance- when we separate from what we truly are, we feel isolated and a sense of separation. Happiness is the ability to reconnect with our own true nature.
2. Attachment- can come in many forms, some of which are attachment to the physical body and to identify with material objects. This leads to a fear that when our body ages and our money reduces, we are lesser human beings.
Methods to reduce fear
1. Breath
2. Practise Pradyapradana- This concept is based on positive thinking, where we recognize the mental quality of feeling fearful. But we do not identify with it, instead replace it with the quality of detachment. So we ignore the feelings associated with fear and move away from it as a thought wave. We practise awareness, recognition, ignoring and then replacing it by a positive quality like courage.
Mind is composed of Vritis and Samskaras. Vritis are thought waves and Samskaras are when Vritis became an action, or a habit. We have to realize we are not bound by either Vritis or Samskaras, its important to experience life and not deny ourselves experiences.
How to detach from the world?
This can be done by unconditional love. Love for the sake of loving.
3. Feelings of inferiority arise when one has a lack of self reliance or self confidence. As people we are always judging others as better or worst than us. But this range of judgement is all illusionary.
The only way to rid fear is self realization. When we realize that every challenge is an opportunity to grow divine. Difficulties on the path are opportunities to realize what all remains to be learnt. Challenges are disintegration of our perceived realities. Once we live through it, we are forced to shift ourselves and recognize our spiritual dimensions, which is truly our essence.
Types of Fear
Phobias this is a heightened imaginary fear between now and the future. This is an irrational fear that is often not based on a frightening situation. It is derived from the Greek word for fear. It causes nervousness, stupid reactions, lack of right thinking and is a waste of energy. To reduce phobias we can develop a strong will power, and mediate on Atman.
Inferiority is the flip side of superiority
Arrogance is the flip of timidity.
All four emotions are based on a high sense of ego.
Questions to ask ourselves
how am I evolving as a person?
How will I bring up my child sensitively.
1. Encourage courage as a reality for your child. Try not to instill fears in children. Be fearless yourself and set an example for your child to follow.
2. Read stories like the Mahabharat where the characters have qualities like courage, truthfulness and purity.
3. Instill trust in them, so that they recognize the wholeness of the world.
4. Minds of children are elastic and malleable, read the Gita to them.
5. The destiny of children is in the hands of intelligent mothers.
Methods to eradicate fear
1. As you think so you became. Pradyapradana Bhavana use this technique to transform the power of thoughts.
2. Feel the presence of God. Feel the all pervading presence, cultivate awareness, solitude, internal experiences and devotion to God irradiates all fears.
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