Ancient cultures profess that the two primary fears are fears of death and loneliness.
Yet, viewed from the loftiest perspective, death is an illusion. As is loneliness. As is fear. But viewed from the perspective of the personality (hereinafter loosely defined as “ego”), death and loneliness can be frightening to the point of debilitation.
Fear
“There is nothing to fear but fear itself” (Winston Churchill). Was Churchill saying that fear doesn’t really exist – unless we let it exist (i.e., focus upon it)? Did Churchill realize that ancient cultures believe(d) that fear is merely an illusion … described as nothing more than lack of Light?
Fear is an emotion. Emotions are defined as the body’s response to (the mind’s) thought. The ancient Taoists believe(d) that emotions manifest in physiologic/biochemical/bioenergetic terms in the internal organs. For example, ever notice that alcoholics oftentimes seem angry? Not coincidentally, anger and alcohol are both processed in the liver. Ever notice that someone who has experienced exceptional grief (loss of a loved one) may sooner or later contract bronchitis or pneumonia? Sadness and sorrow are processed in the lungs. Paradoxically, bronchitis and pneumonia are viewed as release of sadness and sorrow and, thus, are healing processes. Similarly, worry manifests in the spleen, pancreas and stomach – thus the “worried stomach” (gut twisted in a knot) feeling. And fear is processed in the kidneys.
Fear is a response by the body, in the kidneys, to specific initial thoughts that one senses they may be hurt, sooner or later, by an external stimulus (such as an approaching herd of elephants or anvil falling from a nearby window ledge).
Fear is designed to evoke a fight-or-flight response by the body when the mind senses danger. Unfortunately, fearful responses frequently are more hurtful than helpful – as constant fear may damage the kidneys and may eventually, over a sustained time period, warp one’s perspective such that they become generally fearful of circumstances.
Specifically, fear of loneliness psychologically may manifest from initial thoughts such as those sensed in a teenager such as: “If I am not popular, surrounded by people I sense as valuable, I am not loved and therefore am, and will be, eternally value-less.” From a biological perspective, fear of loneliness stems from a core fear that unless paired in a potentially reproductive couple, one will not help to continue the species – by creating offspring – and thereby is value-less. Whatever the cause of fear of loneliness … it can be debilitating.
Yet, from an Eastern perspective, when viewed from the perspective of the soul – rather than from the perspective of the personality (a/k/a ego), fear is merely an illusion. Why? As the soul is omniscient, as connected to highest wisdom and, hence, understands that all experience ultimately helps the soul, on its journey, to learn and grow. So, there is nothing to fear – as all experiences are helpful (i.e., “all conditions are favorable” – quoting a guru who prefers to remain anonymous).
In conclusion, from the perspective of personality, fear is very real … and must be dealt with (i.e., released) through healthy avenues. From the perspective of the soul, fear is but an illusion – which, presumably, can be bypassed if one remains focused in the soul (rather than personality/ego) – easier said than done!
Note that the following conversation treats fear as though real, whether true or not ….
Fear of Death
Fear of death is substantiated by universal resistance to death throughout nature. Animals, humans, insects take evasive action when faced with the possibility of death. Why? From a biological perspective, to continue the species (either to perpetuate their capacity to reproduce or simply to protect their ability to survive).
Yet, not-so-rare yet exceptional cases occur wherein animals and humans will risk or succumb to death to save the life of another. For example, animals may sacrifice themselves to save their offspring; soldiers on occasion take a bullet, hand grenade or RPG to save another; and passersby, in the moment, at times elect to sacrifice their life to save that of another (perhaps by jumping into a river to rescue a drowning victim, or by running into a burning building to rescue whomever may be trapped inside). The presumption is that the sacrificer, in the moment(s) preceding their death, consciously senses that it is in the interest of highest good to attempt to rescue the other person regardless of risk of self-harm. Could it be that the sacrificer, at a subconscious level, somehow innately understands that such a conclusive act of ultimate compassion, generosity and selflessness will propel their karmic transcendence and that such subconscious understanding influences their conscious willingness to risk death to save another? In the words of my most profound teacher (The Guru Who Prefers to Remain Anonymous) … “Who knows?”
How may we transcend the fear of death? By being absolutely mindful – i.e., focused upon the present moment. Why? Because the soul recognizes that death is an illusion. The soul knows that we are on Earth to learn. Nothing more. Nothing less. The soul knows that death of our core self, the soul, does not occur. Why? As the soul journeys from lifetime to lifetime, gaining wisdom until it has learned enough to discontinue the need to engage the karmic wheel (i.e., attains enlightenment). Yet the personality fears death – as the personality cannot see beyond the veil … its limited vision perceives death of the body as an ultimate ending … rather than a bridge to the next lifetime. So, when focused in the personality, we fear death. When focused in the soul (i.e., when absolutely focused in the present moment), not only do we not fear death, we do not sense the very concept of death, as it does not exist.
Fear of Loneliness
Similar to the concept of death, when viewed from the perspective of the soul, loneliness does not exist. Why not? The soul recognizes that loneliness is merely a disconnection from our true self. In theory, we are never alone. As everything is connected energetically. Everything.
As a trite example, air molecules connect everything on Earth. To a molecule traveling through the area you are sitting in, the molecule sees mostly nothing – as atoms are comprised mostly of empty space, with a relatively tiny occasional nucleus and surrounding ring of electrons. The traveling molecule views you, the chair you sit on, the walls surrounding you, trees, bushes, cars, buildings, bridges, people, etc. as nothing more than empty space with occasional nuclei and electron orbitals. Similarly, the soul recognizes that everything is essentially the same. And that everything is energetically connected.
So, since we are connected to everything, we are never alone. Yet try to tell that to someone who just lost a loved one ….
At the level of personality, we attach to people, events and objects. The personality loves to exist in a condition of homeostasis – i.e., a non-changing environment. The personality dislikes change. Why? As the personality fears change. Why? First, as personality experiences fear as real. And, secondly, the personality specifically fears change as personality fears … uncertainty. In fact, personality detests uncertainty. It naturally resists letting go of anything that it perceives to have value (people, objects or events) – whether of true value or not in the long-run.
For example, ever find it difficult to leave a relationship – even though you knew it had reached a stage wherein you knew it wasn’t good for you to remain in the relationship? We’ve all been there …. Why did you stay as long as you did? Were you afraid to let go? Afraid that you were making a mistake by letting the relationship go? Not because you felt it was the best relationship for you but, rather, because you were afraid that a more palatable (from the perspective of personality) relationship would not be forthcoming? Were you afraid of being alone or afraid that you would never meet anyone with whom you could share a loving relationship which includes an indescribable mix of mutual chemistry, laughter, compassion, empathy and understanding?
Or, if you were not afraid to be alone and not afraid that you would never meet an appropriate mate, were you simply afraid of change? In other words, did you put off leaving a relationship merely as you preferred status quo to uncertainty?
If you experienced any of the aforementioned fears, it was due to your personality’s failure to have faith (that we are always given precisely what we need, in any given moment, so we can learn and master life’s lessons so as to gain self-awareness – the very reason we exist). How can we gain such absolute faith so as to preclude worry or fear? By focusing all our attention in the present moment. Again, easier said than done … yet do-able.
How can we bypass loneliness? By being absolutely present. How can we realize that we are never really alone? By being absolutely present. Why are we never alone? Two reasons – first, again, we are connected everything (energetically). Second, your soul is aware that it is eternally connected to everything – all souls, etc. But the personality (ego) does not sense this core connection – rather it senses merely superficial connection. By focusing in the soul (i.e. present moment), we maintain an awareness of connection to others and, most importantly, ourselves.
Paradoxically, we feel alone only when we lose a sense of connection to ourselves. We feel alone when we are not connected to our higher creative purpose. We feel alone when we are not connected to our higher service to others. How can we maintain a sense of higher purpose and service – so as not to feel alone? Yes, you guessed right – by maintaining absolute focus in the present moment.
Present Moment Focus (Conscious Activity)
How do we most easily achieve a state of being in which we have absolute faith such that we know that everything is exactly as it should be, that we will always be optimally taken care of, and that we are never alone? By taking conscious action … by engaging in conscious activity.
What is conscious activity? Simply stated, conscious activity is expression or reception through at least one of the five senses, while feeling real-time emotion. Such as running while feeling grief, receiving massage (kinesthetic reception) while feeling fear, playing loud guitar while feeling angry, staring at a beautiful sunset (visual reception) while feeling anxiety. The feelings eventually dissipate, in part due to accelerated emotional release via the five senses (again, while engaged in expression or reception via the senses while feeling real-time emotion).
For example, ever notice when feeling (real-time) emotion – such as fear, sadness, anger or worry – that you always feel better after a workout, playing a musical instrument or painting/sculpting? Why? Because bodily activity – through the five senses – stimulates the internal organs and subconscious energetic template to let go of no-longer-helpful buried emotion. And which concurrently connects us to natural order (infinite wisdom). See Voice of the Soul: A Call to Action for a detailed explanation.
In short, such conscious activity catapults us into present moment focus. The only barometer of present moment focus is that we lose track of time … we literally lose ourselves in the moment. All that exists is the moment. This is pure mindfulness – a/k/a present moment focus. In this state of consciousness we transcend the illusion of death. Why? As when in the present moment, we experience our soul – our aspect that is connected to Truth (yes, with a capital “T”). We transcend the illusions of fear, fear of death, and fear of loneliness when focused in the present moment.
Present Moment Focus (Life Purpose)
A wonderful byproduct of present moment focus is that one’s life purpose is innately revealed when absolutely mindful in the moment. Your unique life purpose is your primary natural creativity – as we all are born either an artist, musician or dancer/athlete. Whether or not you are aware of it, you are an artist, musician or dancer/athlete.
While engaged in your primary life purpose (while feeling real-time emotion), you are present. When engaged in your life purpose’s creativity, you connect deeply to yourself (and natural order and infinite wisdom). It’s a positive cycle … engaging your primary creativity (life purpose) attracts highest positivity.
As an example, I am a musician. When I create music I feel better. And it seems that when invested in creativity that positive things are drawn to me, and occur.
Present Moment Focus (Life Service)
Another byproduct of present moment focus is that your life service is innately revealed. Your life service is simply the avenue(s) through which you may help others.
Note that life purpose and life service may merge into a singular activity.
Aloneness versus Loneliness
We are never truly alone. We are connected energetically to everything. Yet the personality may feel lonely when no one is near. We do not feel lonely when focused in the present moment – via conscious activity – as we connect fully to ourselves. When connected fully to our core self (a/k/a soul) – we can sense connection to, and oneness with, everything.
Conclusion
The personality may feel alone – yet, in truth, we are never alone. The soul – ever-connected to the present moment – knows this to be truth. So, connect to the present moment. Connect to the core self (soul). Connect to yourself through conscious activity. Transcend the personality’s feeling of loneliness. And experience innate yet profound revelation of your life purpose, life service and, generally, positivity.
Andrew
NEXT: Sacred Geometry
