Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupa
One of the most prominent experiences in this world is fear – of failure, poverty, defeat, disease, dishonor, death. Most of the industries of the world are profiting because of fear. The cosmetic industry is there because people are afraid of not looking nice. The clothing industry is there because people are afraid of not looking cool. We do not recognize that our common activities are based upon some kind of fear.
Yet one who takes shelter of God is without fear, because they know that they are eternal souls, that this body is just a temporary vehicle and that death is just a transformation. On a cold, snowy day, you are in a warm room, looking outside seeing the extremes. Yet you are in a safe position. Similarly, you are the soul, within the body, looking through your eyes, and are in a safe position. If we think we are this body we are outside in the cold. If we realize who we really are, we are inside just witnessing it all.
For those on the path of bhakti, the concept of fearlessness is much deeper and goes beyond the conception of that I am eternal. A bhakta, a devotee, is influenced by the power of love. Impersonal philosophy represents one who realizes the truth of fearlessness because of his or her own eternal existence. Yet on the path of bhakti, it is because of love. God is the reservoir of all love and if we take shelter of Him, He reveals Himself to us. So as we take more and more shelter of God we experience the infinite love of God and have complete confidence in the love of God.
This is shown in the story of Prahlad Maharaja, who felt such shelter from Krishna’s love. When we taste such prema, such love, we become transcendental to all the dualities of this world. Prahlad experienced Krishna’s love and in the intimacy of that love he transcended fear. It’s more intimate when you give yourself to the love of the Lord (bhakti) rather than think you are indestructible (impersonal) or that ‘I have enough money and strength’ (atheistic). God’s love is there for everyone but we realize it according to our humble approach to Him.
We have to seek the kingdom of God within by taking shelter of the Lord, of devotees and the holy name – and to the degree we learn to become humble, take shelter and serve without selfish motivations, we can experience God’s love and become fearless.
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