Fear and Anger

Anxiety disorders are on the rise, with many people experiencing generalized anxiety about life and worrying to the point of inaction. At the root of this inaction lies fear and insecurity, including fear of the unknown, fear of death or suffering, fear of gain or loss, and fear of failure. Worrying does not help the situation; instead, it decreases a person's productivity. The anxiety itself is a cause for concern, and stress levels are increasing for everyone.

Let us examine these feelings of fear, depression, and anxiety from the perspectives of evolution and Vedantic philosophy. Fear and anger are emotions that trouble all human beings from the time they are born. They are supposed to be a sort of throwback to our primeval instincts and the basis of the "fight or flee" response.

The only way primitive man could save himself from danger was either to fight the enemy or run as fast as possible from it. Anger was essential if he wanted to fight, as the emotion would pump adrenaline into his bloodstream and enable even a weak man to fight a strong opponent. Nature has also provided us with another method of protecting ourselves from danger. If we cannot fight, we can run as fast as possible and save ourselves. To aid us in this, nature has given us "fear," which pumps adrenaline into our bloodstream, giving us wings on our feet so that even an ordinary man can run like an Olympic sprinter.

These two reactions were essential for us to survive in an age when we had no weapons. However, in modern times, these reactions can lead us into trouble. Losing our temper will not convince anyone of anything; instead, the more angry we become, the more people will react, and the situation will spiral out of control.

Despite all of our modern technologies, it is clear that many people live in fear, even if it is not immediately apparent. The fear of death is something that haunts everyone until their final days, but people often try to hide this fear by convincing themselves that they are strong and capable of protecting themselves.

Another thing to consider is that our anger often arises when we do not receive the response we expect from others. For example, parents may fear that their children will leave them and they will lose control over them. This fear can lead to anger and attempts to prevent their children from leaving. This cycle of shouting and rebellion can quickly deteriorate the relationship between parents and children.

When children leave home and begin to live on their own, they may find that life is not as easy as they once believed. Fear can creep into their minds as they struggle to find a job and navigate the expectations of their bosses and colleagues. These situations can lead to feelings of fear and anger, which can continue to increase over time. Insecurity is often at the root of most fears. Children may feel secure with their parents until a certain age, but that security does not last forever. Girls may be promised security if they marry, but this is often a shaky promise, as they may be expecting security from an equally insecure man.

We are all frail in many ways - physically, emotionally, and spiritually - but our egos often convince us otherwise. Our experiences prove that we cannot depend on a personality that does not even know what the immediate future holds, let alone the distant future. We may be hit by a car, slip on a banana peel, or even faint without warning. We are riddled with insecurity, yet we pretend to be in complete control.

Let us turn to Vedanta to better understand fear and anxiety. By analyzing our fears, we can see that they often stem from a basic sense of insecurity and ignorance. We fear what we do not know. In the dark, we may mistake a rope for a snake and become terrified. However, once we are shown the truth with a torch, our fear disappears, and we may even laugh at ourselves. Vedanta teaches us that ignorance of ourselves is the root cause of fear, anxiety, and stress.

From the Upanishadic perspective, fear and insecurity are caused by a lack of self-trust, which, in turn, is caused by a lack of understanding of one's true Self as the Atman. When we see ourselves as a small particle (such as an atom or an anu in Sanskrit) in the universe with no influence, no connections to anyone or anything, and not a part of the universe's creation or continuation, we do not value our existence, purpose of life, or karma. If we do not understand how we are connected to the wider world and remain ignorant of how the world functions due to these connections, we end up isolating ourselves. We see ourselves as inconsequential, leading to a belief that "we do not matter, our thoughts and feelings do not matter, and no one cares for us."

When we read last week's article "The Nature of God" in Hinduism, we realize that this world is a creation of Brahman and that Brahman exists everywhere, in ourselves and others as the Atman. We begin to believe that we have a purpose not only in our own lives but also in the cosmos as a whole. We see ourselves as agents of that Supreme Being, fulfilling a purpose for the greater good.

Although there are differences among us, what unites us is that our Self or Atman is the same in all of us and relates us to the Universal Self or Brahman.

Last week's blog post showed us that the force or power we call "God" exists everywhere at all times beyond the limitations of space, time, and causality. The only cure for our insecurity is to have recourse to that power, which is always available at all times and places, with no limitations. Unfortunately, we do not always make use of it. We are like a person who has a torch in their bag but forgets about it when the lights go out.

The only way to overcome our fears is to approach the source of all life that lies within us. When we get into the habit of tapping into that infinite source of power, our fears disappear automatically. It is the duty of a guru to help us understand that the source of all power lies within us and to teach us certain methods to use this source. These methods are known as "yoga" in the Sanatana Dharma. The word "yoga" comes from the word "yuj," which means to unite. The embodied soul, which we call "the jivatma," always feels a sense of insecurity that we cover up with a show of bravado. It can never be entirely secure until it joins "the Paramatma," of which it is a part. When we begin practicing yoga of any sort, we slowly start to feel more secure since we feel closer to the divine power within us. Only when that union is perfect can we enjoy perfect security and finally be free from fear, which has plagued us since birth.

Faith in a Supreme Being that is always ready to help us and constantly protects us, even without our knowledge, is the only security a human being can possess.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that even a little bit of this knowledge will save us from great fear.

"Swalpamapysya dharmasya trayato mahato bhayat" is a Sanskrit phrase from the Bhagavad Gita that means even a little practice of dharma can save one from great fear.

Let us try to understand the nature of this Supreme Being and approach It with faith and love, for this is the path to freedom from fear and complete protection and security.

Hari Aum Tat Sat.