Recorded at the Vedanta Society of Western Washington on January 12, 2014.
In this talk, Swami Bhaskarananda explores the relationship between strength and fearlessness by asking what fear is, what causes it, and whether it can be overcome. Beginning with familiar examples—such as the biblical story of David and Goliath—he notes that fear often appears linked to weakness, yet the matter is more complex: even the physically weak may be unafraid, while the strong may still carry anxiety. He defines fear as a mental apprehension rooted in the anticipation of losing something we do not want to lose—health, possessions, status, or life itself. From the Vedantic standpoint, such fear persists as long as one identifies with the “body-mind complex,” and the deepest remedy comes through spiritual disciplines that reveal one’s true nature beyond this limited identification.
Swami Bhaskarananda outlines several classical paths for diminishing fear: Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga through profound meditation and insight into one’s identity beyond the body and mind; Karma Yoga through non-attachment, since attachment breeds worry and insecurity; and Bhakti Yoga through reliance on God, which can mature into the perception of the Divine presence everywhere. He illustrates this ripened devotion with stories of saints and devotees who saw God in all beings and circumstances, thereby dissolving the sense of threat. For those not yet established in such spiritual vision, he also points to practical supports—rational assessment, cultivating uplifting emotions, and replacing negative anticipations with positive thinking—as ways to reduce fear and develop steadiness in daily life.
