FACING THE FEAR COMPLEX -- GETTING READY.

Swajan:  Mota, How can we come out of this fear complex?

Pujya Shree Mota:  We have many complexes in our lives. These complexes are hindrances in the development of our lives. For most part we are not aware of this fact. One of these complexes is the complex of fear. This complex of fear retards our progress and at times pushes us backward. It tends to make our minds unstable and makes us unease at times. So how do we face and get rid of the fear. Fear is not only a kind of disease, it is worse than that. We must be aware of the fear in us. Not only we should be aware of that but also the fact that it retards our progress and reduces our courage in new endeavors. There should be acknowledgment of all aspects of losses and negativity arising out of this fear. Fear should sting us. It should be apparent that this fear is of such a bad quality that it makes us tangled up at places and retards our progress. At times it pushes us backwards. Fear complex is such a thing that prevents us from getting a real grasp of the situation. At times it highlights exactly opposite thing. For an example, I used to go to crematorium to sleep at night. In the beginning I would think that there is an evil spirit standing in the dark due to the fear in me. I would confront it by going near and checking it with the flash light. Once it was apparent that it was just a piece of wood, my fear would dissipate. In this way, I would confirm that there is no human being or any evil spirit. Fear complex within us retards our progress and prevents us from finding the truth. When this stings us in a real sense, we become ready to face this fear and try our best to get rid of it.

You should never lose the sense of discretion when facing the fear. Face it in such a way that there is least harm done to you. Reward and harm are the two sides of the coin of the same prakruti. They are not separable, even though it may not be apparent at that time. Presence of equanimity lets us see both side of the coin.

                                                                                         -- continue next blog --

Pujya Shree Mota
Satsang with Pujya Shree Mota
Excerpts from Anvay and Samanvay (અન્વય-સમન્વય)
Edition 1; pages 14 - 17.

DIVERT THE EMOTIONAL ENERGY INWARD

We cannot produce enough thrust in our works till our consciousness is concentrated and focused in the works. Just as we pour our hearts in our works, there should be focused awareness of the purpose behind the works in our consciousness. We should train ourselves to divert this force and thrust of the works deep within us with a clear understanding and purpose. It should not be used for outer implementation of the works. For an example, when we meet our friends we are bursting with the emotion of happiness and use all these emotional energy in our interactions. But it should not be that way. This does not mean that we should not be happy to see them or behave with them coldly. We should direct this emotional energy inwards and have it echo externally also.
     
              The quality of mercy is twice blessed.
              It blest him that gives and him that takes.

Just as we learned above saying in our earlier education, our emotions should become double blessings for us. We need to direct the emotional energy produced from our works inwards and echo it outwards as a representative of our works. If we fail to do so, we will not be able to complete our works in the right way.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan pagathi
Edition 6; pages 211 - 212.

EXTERNAL SADHANA

I consider this behavior as a practical and useful way of external sadhana if practiced with clear understanding. Just as inner sadhana is evidenced based, outer sadhana is also practical and evidenced based. Whenever there is any kind of suggestion from anybody, you should divide them into essential and non essential suggestions. If there is no obvious harm in following the suggestion (i.e there is no hindrance in your over all goal of sadhana) then just accept and do it right away. In general there is an expression of mind's insistence, attachments, affections etc, in these seemingly minor items when the decision to carry out the suggestion or not is made. If you want to get rid of these attachments, affections and insistences you should be ready whole heartedly to carry out suggestions and instructions of others. But at the same time you must have the awareness of the purpose, understanding and intention in carrying out the works. The result really depends upon this awareness while performing the tasks. If you perform the works as per these writings you will be successful.

Pujya Shree Mota
Jivan mandaan
Edition 3; pages 70 - 71.

EQUANIMITY EVEN IN INSPIRATION.

We must see the depth and strength of any thought that arise in our mind. It is true that when putting that thought in practice, there should be sincerity, honesty, love and devotion. At the same time we should not be guided by the thought. It is true that we should follow a certain thought that keeps us goading constantly, does not leave us even if we are busy with something else and disturbs us all the time. At the same time we should understand the basis of the thought and reasons behind the goading. There is a kind of "absorption in thought" even in inspiration. But the genuine inspiration does not have any kind of choice, one way or the other. It is a kind of guiding force. Some times this guiding force can be misguiding force too! Since sadhak is always trying to surrender to Bhagwan, he is saved from this debacle. His conviction that no misunderstanding, tendencies or any thing else is  going to change his path keeps him worry free. Even then he keeps the eyes of his heart open.

These eyes are equanimity and sense of discretion. By developing the equanimity we need to awaken our spark of divine within us and make it govern our lives.

Pujya Shree Mota

Jivan pagathi

Edition 6; page 204 - 205.


My two cents -- The discussion here is about inspirational thought (પ્રેરણા).