Fear Vs Faith

If we observe ourselves for some time, we will soon realize where the center of our life lies. How do we react when we fall ill or there is some pain in any part of the body? We simply want to get it cured fast. We take painkillers and if need be consult the doctor and if the doctor prescribes certain tests, we get those tests done and if required. What is our state of mind, while we are consulting the doctor and getting the tests done? Most of us will be in a state of anxiety and fear. Where does this fear come from? If we observe, we will know for sure that this fear is a result of our identification and fixation with the body. The body is our primary center of life. We want this body to remain healthy and strong. 

Other than the body, do we have any other center of our lives? What about the family? Whenever any of the family members falls sick or faces any problem, how do we feel? Obviously, we do not feel good. What is there that makes us feel bad? It is our attachment to our relatives that makes us feel bad. As we want our bodies to remain healthy, we also want our relatives to remain healthy.

 Since childhood, we are generally told that money is of great importance in life. With money, we can buy food, homes, comforts and luxuries. We can also get the illness treated by consulting the best of the doctors. We also get respect in the society and among the relatives. That is why for many of us, money becomes the center of our lives. We become happy when we get money and become sad when we lose the same. Some of us set the center of life around power. Power can get what money may not get, in many cases. It makes one feel special. Some try to gather power by becoming more and more knowledgeable.

 Be it health or relations or money or power or knowledge, whatever is the center of our lives, does that make our life secure and fulfilling? I feel that is the most relevant question. Even if we have six packs and the most flexible body with no diseases, the best of relations, a good amount of money, power, and knowledge, does life become fulfilling? Are we able to drop all fears with these possessions? Ideally, that should be so. However, in my experience, I have seen quite the opposite.

 The most healthy people remain most concerned and tensed about their health. The people with a lot of relations always have the fear of losing them. The people with a lot of money are always concerned about their investments. The people with power are the ones who are always anxious about losing their powerful positions. People with knowledge are generally suffering from Fear of Missing Out (FOMA).

 If we observe, we will soon realize that fault does not lie in all these possessions. They have their own place. A healthy body is required to function efficiently in this body. Money also has a functional utility and so have relatives, power, and knowledge. The problem lies with misuse and overuse. All these things are functional tools to explore this life. Axe, shovels, etc. are the tools of the farmers to carry out farming. They are necessary for farming but not the center of a farmer's occupation. The center of their occupation is the production of crops to feed the people. Surgical equipment is the tool of the doctors but not the center of their profession. The center of their lives is the treatment of patients. 

Similarly, the center of our lives is exploration of the life. The body, relations, organizations, communities, knowledge, money, and positions are all just tools to achieve that objective. If we make these tools the center of our life, it becomes full of fear and anxiety. On the other hand, the moment we re-center our life on the breath, the reality, the divinity, most of the fears slowly disappear giving us the freedom to freely use these tools for the most meaningful exploration of life.