Fearlessness

“Because of the ignorance of the mind experiencing a sense of difference (Bheda-Buddhi) in Self, even great devas are disturbed by fear. Therefore, it is wise to remain without fear in the supreme state of non-duality, having attained the reality, one’s own Self, through negation of the non-Self.”

~ Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Guru Vachaka Kovai (Verse 1078)

Commentary by Sadhu Om:

“The nature of Jīva is to think that fear will be removed only when there is some other person with him. But this idea is foolish. How can there be cause for fear in the state of Self, where no other thing exists? Only in a state where there exists something other than oneself is it possible for one either to have desire for that thing or to have fear of it. Therefore, true fearlessness can be attained only in the non-dual state of Self, where no other thing exists.

To illustrate how fearlessness can be attained only when one attains the state of Self, Sri Bhagavan used to narrate the following story: After Lord Vishnu had killed Hiranya, Hiranya’s son Prahlada was happily ruling the kingdom. But after some time, a fear arose in Prahlada. “Because Lord Vishnu is kind to me, I am living safely. But if one day He becomes angry with me, He will kill me just as He killed my father,” thought Prahlada. Being a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, Prahlada had no one else to turn to, so he prayed to Him. The Lord immediately appeared before Prahlada, who then explained his fear and prayed for the state of fearlessness. “Yes,” said Lord Vishnu, “You are correct. By seeing me like this in name and form, you cannot be free from fear. You must see me within yourself. Only when you thus realize me to be not different from yourself, will you attain the state of fearlessness”. Then the Lord taught him the path of Self-enquiry. When Prahlada followed the Lord’s instructions and realized Self, he attained the state of fearlessness. This story thus illustrates that even God cannot serve as permanent refuge from fear so long as one retains the sense of difference [Bhedabuddhi]. Only by attaining the non-dual Self can one become truly and permanently free from fear.”

• Sri Muruganar (2013). Guru Vachaka Kovai (The Garland of Guru's Sayings) Translation and Commentary by Sri Sadhu Om and Michael James. Tiruvannamalai: ArunachalaRamana Book Trust