Let the best in man be liberated from fear. It is only then that the best of man, the most vital parts of him, the glory of the individual, can be involved in a true interaction with the best of the cosmos. A dialogue with the cosmic order.
For a moment, consider this. Shouldn’t it be the other way round? Shouldn’t listening to a genius performance of music actually tell me, just for a while, that there is no need for fear and insecurity at all? That there exists a beautiful harmony and music here, in this very world, in which subjective fear has no place. Shouldn’t intelligence provide me enough clarity and show in clear terms that even a shadow of fear needn’t exist? Shouldn’t true merit and capability actually assert their stuff and say, that fear need not rule us? They don’t have to show their worth to defeat external oppression, but shouldn’t they assert it just enough to quieten internal insecurity? Shouldn’t clean goodness simply vaporize my stupid insecurities? Shouldn’t money, resources, and prosperity, actually reject the tentacles of fear? Aren’t we using prosperity and improved economy to further fuel our fears, guard against all threats, provide for and indulge our insecurities?
Almost all decisions at the top, whether a routine one or a path breaking one, across the world without exception, emanates from some form of fear or the other. Go and meet the smallest family, or watch closely the President of the United States of America, the most powerful man on earth. The only theme is Fear. Fear at the individual level, fear at the level of the party, fear at the level of nation.
Do you want something to move very fast? Do you feel people aren’t acting either swiftly or adequately? Use the media and put someone’s reputation or career to the sword. The greater the insecurity within, the faster man will act.
Isn’t that strange? Actually, one seeks power and prosperity, only as a solution to internal fear and insecurity. It was intended to heal the fear within, not aggravate the malady.
Progeny is another way of making fear permanent. Most of us produce children not because of the bundle of joy that they could be, but to allay our internal isolation and fear. Not only are our children future ‘insurance’, but the present gratification that we experience as parents is also because the ‘me’ has multiplied. Look at how unicellular and multi cellular beings behave. Multiplication of the ‘me’ is the surest way to increase one’s strength. This is why one feels stronger once a son is born!
Mentoring and nurturing the young can also proceed out of fear. The more the number of people you have on your side, the more fortified one feels and consequently, the threat experienced, is lesser. So, the idea is, if you have empowered and mentored someone for long, and brought him/her up, then, the likelihood of this individual turning against you, or leaving you is remote. At least, this seems to be the plan.
How about the greatest of causes? How about nation building? How about idealism? One is sure, at least there, fear will not be able to raise its hood. Is that what you think? Think again! Most of us cling to values, principles, ideals, some social cause, just out of fear. This is why the words ‘Satyam’ and ‘Dharma’ evoke such a weak response. Because, such lofty ideals are mere values that we cling to, out of fear. Therefore, they have become weak! Morality is considerably weakened, when we simply practice it, very diligently, out of frustrating hope, that it will work some day! Such morals and ethics can not emanate a perpetual fragrance, because they have been loaded heavily. What is the load? All these values will have to first assure nagging insecurity, which never ceases to nag, that there is nothing to fear; only then will they be allowed to function.
How about love? Is at least love untouched by fear? Every one who falls in love, either with a person, an art, or a cause, merely trusts that inner river of beauty, the gush that takes them to their love. But, is this gush free of fear? Doesn’t it degenerate into seeking assurances? Doesn’t it become conditional? Doesn’t it weaken into a mere sensation or gratification with time? Why? Because, fear catches up and, mercilessly chops the roar of an extraordinary river into the whimper of a dying stream.
Please understand. I am not tearing down every good activity of this world. I am simply saying that goodness doesn’t seem to be driving it; rather, insecurity seems to be driving the whole thing. How I wish that goodness, love, ideals, prosperity, all these actually drove humanity, rather than only fear!
Fear makes us run into psychological space. It makes us fortify it. Else, we stay here and make a mess of this world.
This universe, the way it functions today, is just too monotonous. Wherever you turn, it is essentially driven by fear. How sad!
It is, therefore, imperative and binding on every one of us, to completely liberate ourselves from fear. Let our talents, intelligence, capability, our sense of culture and language, our goodness and values, our true character, let them all stand up and rise to their true stature. They have nothing to prove to anyone. They must simply stand up and make their presence felt. They don’t have to fight to exist, or prove their requirement. There is nothing to compete for. Let the best in man be liberated from fear. It is only then that the best of man, the most vital parts of him, the glory of the individual, can be involved in a true interaction with the best of the cosmos. A dialogue with the cosmic order.