Fear and the Path to Liberation: A Spiritual Journey Beyond the Mind

By Paul Wagner (Krishna Kalesh)

In our journey through life, fear seems to find us wherever we go. It manifests as a fleeting moment of panic or as a constant undercurrent, subtly shaping our decisions, thoughts, and desires. But fear is not just an emotion – it’s a doorway, a sacred invitation to examine our attachments, our identity, and ultimately, our relationship with the divine.

To explore fear is to explore the very nature of our existence. In the teachings of Advaita Vedanta, the non-dual wisdom of the Upanishads, we are reminded that fear arises from the illusion of separateness. As long as we see ourselves as distinct from the world, from others, or from the divine, fear will remain. But what if we can move beyond this illusion? What if we can realize the truth that we are not separate, but one with all that is?

Fear as a Construct of the Mind

Adi Shankaracharya, one of the greatest proponents of Advaita Vedanta, reminds us: “Brahman is the only truth, the world is illusion, and the individual self is none other than Brahman.” When we understand this, we realize that fear, like all emotions, is a product of maya – the veil of illusion that clouds our perception of reality. Fear exists only because we identify with the limited, transient aspects of ourselves: our bodies, our minds, our roles. But these are not who we truly are.

In the Pali Canon, the Buddha speaks of fear in the same context of ignorance and attachment. He teaches that fear arises when we cling to what is impermanent. “All conditioned phenomena are impermanent,” the Buddha reminds us in the Dhammapada. When we grasp onto what is fleeting – be it relationships, material possessions, or even our own ideas of self – we inevitably invite fear into our hearts.

Both Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism point to the same ultimate truth: fear is not real. It is a construct of the mind, born out of our misunderstanding of reality. When we identify with the eternal Self, the Atman – which is one with Brahman – we transcend fear. Similarly, when we follow the Buddha’s path and see through the illusion of permanence, we liberate ourselves from the grasp of fear.

Near-Death Experiences: The Edge of Fear and Liberation

Near-death experiences provide a unique lens through which we can explore fear. When faced with the possibility of death, we are stripped of our illusions. What matters in those moments is not our possessions, our social status, or even our accomplishments. What emerges is the raw experience of being – of consciousness itself.

Amma, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, often speaks about the nature of fear in the context of death. She says, “We should see death as a wake-up call to live more fully, more lovingly. It is only when we confront death that we can truly understand the preciousness of life.” Near-death experiences, then, are not just encounters with fear – they are opportunities for profound spiritual awakening. They show us that fear is rooted in our attachment to the body and the ego, but when we release these attachments, we discover the boundless freedom of the Self.

Mother Meera, another great spiritual teacher, echoes this sentiment. She teaches that fear of death and fear of loss stem from our forgetfulness of the divine. “You are always connected to God,” she says, “No matter what happens, that connection can never be broken.” This is the essence of Advaita – there is no separation between the individual and the divine. When we truly realize this, fear dissolves, and we enter a state of divine flow, where everything is seen as an expression of the One.

Embracing Fear: A Practice of Liberation

So, how do we live with fear in a way that leads us to liberation? Both Advaita Vedanta and the teachings of the Buddha offer practical guidance.

In Advaita, the practice is one of jnana yoga – the path of knowledge. We ask ourselves the fundamental question: “Who am I?” This question, posed by Ramana Maharshi and other great sages, is a gateway to understanding the illusory nature of fear. When we realize that we are not the body, not the mind, not our thoughts or emotions, we transcend fear. We come to see that the essence of who we are is pure consciousness – eternal, unchanging, and beyond the reach of fear.

The Buddha offers a similar teaching in the Anattalakkhana Sutta, where he explains that none of the five aggregates – form, sensation, perception, mental formations, and consciousness – are truly “self.” Fear, he teaches, comes from our identification with these impermanent aggregates. But when we see through their impermanence, we realize that there is no self to be harmed, no self to fear for. This insight leads to the deep peace of nirvana – a state of complete freedom from fear and suffering.

The Sedona Method: A Modern Practice of Letting Go

In the modern world, we often seek practical ways to engage with these ancient teachings. One of the simplest and most effective tools I’ve found is The Sedona Method, a practice that invites us to let go of our emotional attachments, including fear. When we encounter fear, instead of resisting or suppressing it, we allow it to be present. We welcome it with compassion and curiosity, and then we ask, “Can I let this go?” The answer is often yes, because fear is only as real as we allow it to be.

By releasing fear in this way, we create space for the true Self to emerge – the expansive, limitless Self that is beyond all fear. This practice aligns beautifully with both the teachings of Advaita Vedanta and the Buddha’s instructions on non-attachment. When we let go of fear, we are not just releasing an emotion; we are releasing the false sense of self that fear is attached to.

Fear and the Infinite Goodness Within

As we move beyond fear, we enter into a state of greater expansion. We begin to experience the infinite love and goodness that reside within us, the essence of our true nature. Adi Shankaracharya said, “You are the limitless ocean of consciousness in which all experiences appear and disappear. Realize this, and be free.” When we touch this truth, we realize that fear cannot hold us back from goodness, because goodness is not something we do – it is something we are.

Fear often tells us that we are not enough, that we must do more, be more, achieve more. But this is just another illusion. The true path to goodness is not through action alone, but through being. When we rest in the awareness of our divine nature, we naturally radiate love and light to others. We don’t have to force it, because it flows effortlessly from the depths of our being.

Amma once said, “Love is our true essence. It is the purest expression of the soul, and it is fear that blocks us from experiencing this love fully.” When we release fear, we open ourselves to the fullness of love that is already within us. This love, this innate goodness, touches the lives of others not through effort, but through presence. It reminds them of their own divine nature, their own capacity for love and light.

Conclusion: Beyond Fear, Into Liberation

Fear is a powerful force, but it is not the enemy. It is a guide – a teacher that points us toward the parts of ourselves that need healing, that are calling for expansion. When we embrace fear with compassion and wisdom, we allow it to lead us to deeper truths about who we are. We see that fear is a creation of the mind, rooted in the illusion of separation. But beyond that illusion lies the boundless truth of our oneness with the divine.

In the end, fear is not here to limit us. It is here to invite us into a greater experience of life, to push us beyond the boundaries of the ego and into the infinite expanse of consciousness. As we journey through fear, we find that it was never an obstacle, but a doorway – an invitation to remember our true nature and live in the freedom of that truth.

Let fear come, let it teach you, and when you’re ready, let it go. What remains is the vast, unshakable peace of the Self, the eternal presence of love, and the infinite possibility of the divine.