Question : I have a question about overcoming fear. Although the fear that I’m experiencing is purely on the material platform, I still would like to hear from you how I can get over it from a Krishna conscious perspective.
In a few days I will be defending my Masters thesis. Theoretically, I clearly understand that results are up to Krsna but I do not know why I’m disturbed by this fear. The situation is such that I’m not even able to concentrate properly on my prescribed rounds.
How do I fix myself in the proper consciousness?
Answer by Romapada Swami :
Fear is the most prominent of material instincts — everybody in the material world is always fearful and anxious. The root cause of this fear is due to *absorption in the material energy* and forgetting our inseparable relationship with Krishna. There is a beautiful verse in the Srimad Bhagavatam which addresses this: bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syad … (SB 11.2.37)
“Fear arises when a living entity misidentifies himself as the material body because of absorption in the external, illusory energy of the Lord. When the living entity thus turns away from the Supreme Lord, he also forgets his own constitutional position as a servant of the Lord. This bewildering, fearful condition is effected by the potency for illusion, called maya. Therefore, an intelligent person should engage unflinchingly in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord, under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master, whom he should accept as his worshipable deity and as his very life and soul.”
“Dvitiya” means ‘the second’, or something separate from Krishna; ‘abhinivesa’ means absorption. When the mind is absorbed in temporary things without seeing their relationship with Krishna, ‘as if’ it exists apart from Krishna, fear arises.
The most effective remedy to overcome fear is to fix the mind once again upon Krishna — and this is effected only by devotion. It is important to have a clear spiritual conception (minimally, a theoretical understanding as you put it), but now with that understanding as the basis, take your focus to Krishna’s fearless lotus feet. Recollect, contemplate and meditate deeply on the messages of Bhagavad-Gita and Bhagavatam, on how dearly Krishna considers His surrendered devotees and how He protects them and provides them with all spiritual opulences. Similarly, meditate upon the consciousness of great devotees — how they take shelter of Krishna for the successful execution of their duties in service to Him, how they exhibit utter fearlessness in the most trying situations, and how the Lord reciprocated with their surrender.
You can read relevant sections from the Bhagavatam of the prayers by different devotees. You can sing some of the songs of the Vaishnava acharyas, particularly prayers to Lord Narasimhadeva, the Protector of our tender creeper of devotion, and songs from Saranagati by Bhaktivinoda Thakur. (You can find them in the Vaishnava Song book.) Try to enter into the spirit of these verses, prayers and songs. And if possible, try to take shelter of chanting the Holy Names feelingly.
Indeed, a symptom or an aspect of surrender is to have this firm confidence that “Krishna will definitely protect me” (avashya rakshibe krishna) and consciously surrender our efforts and their results to Krishna’s pleasure. Transfer your absorption from the immediate success or failure to consider Krishna’s pleasure, and how you can turn this challenging situation into an opportunity to deepen your dependence upon and strengthen your loving relationship with Guru and Krishna.
Fearlessness is the symptom of transcendental platform, and it can be attained not by any artificial means. Only by receiving Krishna’s grace can one become fearless. It is described how Devahuti was “granted fearlessness” by her exalted husband Kardama Muni. (SB 3.23.7)
Devahuti was not personally very advanced in yoga, austerity or ecstatic meditation on Krishna, but because she simply served Kardama Muni without any personal consideration, she was offered freedom from fear and lamentation as ‘gifts’. Similarly, Narada in his previous life as son of maidservant, simply by his attachment to the sages, was blessed with spiritual realization — so much so that the five year old boy was unaffected by the calamity of the loss of his only caretaker, his mother. Prahlada was similarly fearless because of his deep faith and attachment to his spiritual master, Narada Muni. If you can deeply feel the loving presence of your Spiritual Preceptor by your side, and focus on that relationship and their pleasure as the only thing that matters most to you above all other considerations, then you can palpably experience freedom from all material fear and anxiety.
(Some suggested sections you might like to study and absorb your mind:
Bhagavad-gita 9.22
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.14
Arjuna’s prayer Srimad Bhagavatam 1.7.18
Maharaja Pariksit’s fearlessness Srimad Bhagavatam 1.18.2
Brahma’s prayers for Creative Energy Srimad Bhagavatam 3.9.22-25
Krishna protects the Pandavas timely from Durvasa Muni Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.11 etc.)
