Defeating Fear

(written August 28, 2019)

People are in constant fear and anxiety because they do not know their future. For example, a student might be in fear because they do not know the result of their exams, a person who works might be in fear that their job might be taken away from the etc. Fear is because of uncertainty and because of the association of the modes of material nature. As it is said in 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 one is in the modes of material nature they do not know what will happen to them because they are under illusion. The simple fix for fear is to become a devotee of the Lord. Srila Prabhupad explains this in the purport of BG 10.4-5. “If we want to get free from anxiety, then the best course is to understand Kṛṣṇa and be situated always in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” Why is this? Well, Krishna promises those who are devoted to Him a bright future. In SB 10.14.8, Lord Brahma says in his prayers to Krishna that “My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim.” Liberation has become the rightful claim of the pure devotees, hence they know their future. This is why the pure devotees are fearless. They understand that they are eternally spiritual parts of Krishna and therefore serve Him. Prabhupada further explains in his purport of BG 10.4-5 that only a pure devotee can be fearless. He says, “This fear is a condition of persons who are not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Abhayam, fearlessness, is possible only for one in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.” So, the only way to defeat fear is to become a pure devotee of the Lord.