FREEDOM FROM FEAR IS KEY TO
PROGRESS INDIAN folklore tells of a pious king who worshipped, for many days, among other
gods, eight goddesses (Lakshmis), each a repository of a particular virtue and blessing, necessary for human
progress. When the time came for them to leave, the eight Lakshmis (Ashtalakshmi) met him and on noting his devotion and fervour, offered that any one, of his choice would stay back with him.
Without any hesitation, the king chose Dhairya Lakshmi ( the goddess of courage) explaining that when this Lakshmi was still left behind with a person, all other virtues and blessing would visit him continually.
Courage indeed is the prerequisite for accomplishment in any field of human endeavour. Perhaps recognizing this, the immortal poem of Tagore, which sums up all the vital human virtues, begins with the lines, “Where the mind is without fear “ The great book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, observes on emergence into
freedom and excellence, “Jonathan Seagull discovered that boredom and fear and anger are the reasons that gull’s life is so short and with these gone from his thought, he lived a long fine life indeed.”
This common term fear, used in the two works, as above, also finds place in two stanzas of Bhagawad Gita. While the first (II 56) states that the person with constant wisdom is one who is free of attachment, fear and anger, the second (V, 28) declares that one who casts away desire, fear and anger is the actually liberated.
This aspect in human nature fear which figures in all the above references, is indeed the main hindrance to all progress. But, what is the way out? While most of us are troubled by lack of courage or confidence, in varying degress, progress can always be made by recognizing the nature of fear within, as and when this manifests through feelings of insecurity, anxiety, self-centeredness, self-obsession, loneliness and lack of self esteem. This awareness and identification through self honesty and an abiding desire to emerge into freedom could prove to be the beginning of the solution and self-purification.
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”