Fear

The Gurmat (Wisdom, Giaan, Upadesh or Way of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS…) cures mental ailments!

A case in point is ‘fear’ (ਡਰ, ਸਹਮ, ਭੈ, ਖੌਫ, etc.).

In addition to greed, fear is the second thing the crafty and illiterate Pujaaree-Vaad employs to enslave and shut people’s minds!

Fear in itself is suffering — a person suffers what he or she fears!

Root cause of fear

Before we ask the Gurmat Wisdom of bout the treatment or cure of ‘fear’, first, let’s ask the Gurbani about the root cause of ‘fear’.

According to the Divine Doctor in the Gurbani, the root cause of ‘fear’ is doubt (Bharam-‘ਭਰਮੁ’, ignorance).

In other words, if the mind is doubt-ridden, it will be fearful. This simply means that once the doubt (Bharam-‘ਭਰਮੁ’) is eradicated, ‘fear’ departs:

• ਹਮਰਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਭਉ ਭਾਗਾ ॥: With the departure of my doubt, (my) fear has fled away (sggs 655).
• ਅੰਤਰਿ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਭਉ ਭਾਗਾ ॥. (A person who remains attached to Gur-Charan or Wisdom) from within him doubt is dispelled and his fear flees. (sggs 1061).

In short, the fear is because of one’s own faults, defects, weakness, shortcomings etc.

Fear is a state of mind — ‘ਭਉ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ’

Fear salts and peppers the unfulfilled desires that create attachment and leads to anger, resentment, jealousy, depression, worry, inability to face critical moments in life, estrangement from Truth or one’s Mool (Source, Tru Nature or Jot Saroop…), etc.

• ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੰਮੈ ਭੈ ਮਰੈ ਭੀ ਭਉ ਮਨ ਮਹਿ ਹੋਇ ॥: (Man) is born in fear and dies in fear; fear always remains in (his) mind. (sggs 149).
• ਡਰਿ ਡਰਿ ਡਰਣਾ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਸੋਰੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: The mind is always in fear and tumult. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 151).
• ਸੋ ਡਰੈ ਜਿ ਪਾਪ ਕਮਾਵਦਾ ਧਰਮੀ ਵਿਗਸੇਤੁ ॥: That person fears who commits Paap (i.e., acts against Hukam – bad thinking and actions…), while the one who lives by Dharma rejoices (inner blooming). (sggs 84).

The Gurbani tells us that the doubt-ridden mind is full of all sorts of fears — the fear of the unknown or unexpected; the fear of desires, life, death, insult, loss, damage, injury, harm, old age, pain, accident, poverty, unfavorable or undesirable results or situations or circumstances, and so on.

According to the Gurbani, the biggest escape from fear is abidance in our True nature (Jot Saroop) and Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature) through Naam (Wisdom, Virtues, Truth…).

• ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਤਿਆ ਭਾਰੁ ਨ ਭਰਮੁ ਤਿਨਾਹ ॥: Those who are imbued with the love of the divine Naam are NOT burdened by doubt. (sggs 23).
• ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦਿ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਨਾਸੁ ॥: By the Grace of the Gur-Giaan or Wisdom, doubt is dispelled. (sggs 294).
• ਹੁਕਮੈ ਬੂਝੈ ਤ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਹੋਇ ਵਣਾਹੰਬੈ ॥੨॥: If a person realizes the Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature), then he becomes fearless. ||2|| (sggs 1104).

As the depth of love for one’s Mool increases, the intensity of fear decreases

• ਏਕ ਆਸ ਹਰਿ ਮਨਿ ਰਖਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਦੂਖੁ ਭਰਮੁ ਭਉ ਜਾਇ ॥੧॥: O Nanak! Enshrine only hope of (the One Prabh: Mool) in the Heart, (this way) pain, doubt and fear depart. ||1|| (sggs 281).

As emphasized in the Gurbani, the goal is to achieve the consciousness of fearlessness (‘ਨਿਰਭੈ ਪਦੁ’ — ਉਹ ਆਤਮਕ ਦਰਜਾ ਜਿੱਥੇ ਕੋਈ ਡਰ ਨੇੜੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਆ ਸਕਦਾ).

Absence of fear is absence of pretending.

Absence of pretending means nonattendance of false self or egotism (Haumai). In the nonattendance of false ego-sense (Haumai), there is no appearance of fear.

• ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਵਾਏ ॥: (The Gurmukh) rids (himself) of egotism-Maya-doubt (sggs 1059).
• ਇਹੁ ਮਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਮਾਰੀ ॥: The mind becomes pure when ego is killed (sggs 1049).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਨਾਵੈ ਨਾਲਿ ਵਿਰੋਧੁ ਹੈ ਦੁਇ ਨ ਵਸਹਿ ਇਕ ਠਾਇ ॥: False-ego-sense (Haumai) is opposed to the Naam (Giaan or Wisdom); the two cannot coexist (sggs 560).

In short, if fear is a state of mind, all we need to do is don’t allow fear enter mind. Hence, if fear is denied entry into our minds, then we cannot be overpowered by negativity expressed as stress, anxiety, depression, rage, addictions, promiscuity, troubled social relationships, burden of the past, worries about the future, etc.

Gain understanding instead of fearing

In nutshell, in order to overcome fears, annihilation of doubts (Bharam-ਭਰਮ) is must.

• ਜਿਨ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਜਿਨ ਹਰਿ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਧਿਆਇਆ ਜੀ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਭਉ ਸਭੁ ਗਵਾਸੀ ॥: Those who always remember the Fearless (Rabb, Creator…); all their fear is removed. (sggs 11).
• ਭੈ ਕਾਹੂ ਕਉ ਦੇਤ ਨਹਿ ਨਹਿ ਭੈ ਮਾਨਤ ਆਨ ॥ ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਨਿ ਰੇ ਮਨਾ ਗਿਆਨੀ ਤਾਹਿ ਬਖਾਨਿ ॥੧੬॥: Whosoever frightens none nor is afraid of (threats of) anyone; says Nanak, listen, O mind! Call that person a Giaanee (a Wise person, spiritually Enlightened). (sggs 1427).

The Gurbani is the Way of understanding.

And, understanding of the Gur-Shabad dispels both doubt and fear.

• ਨਿਰਭਉ ਜਪੈ ਸਗਲ ਭਉ ਮਿਟੈ ॥: Whosoever realizes the Fearless Creator all his fear vanishes (i.e. by emulating, understanding, ਜਾਂਣ ਕੇ, ਸਮਝ ਕੇ, ਪਛਾਂਣ ਕੇ, ਮੰਨ ਕੇ, ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨ ਕੇ, ਅੰਦਰ ਵਸਾ ਕੇ …). (sggs 293).
• ਸਿਮਰਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਭੈ ਪਾਰਿ ਉਤਰੀਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: Remember the Naam (Giaan or Wisdom) and be free from fear. (sggs 190).

Thus, the Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS assures us that both doubt and fear can be overcome by the Grace of the Guru‘s Wisdom:

• ਫੂਟੋ ਆਂਡਾ ਭਰਮ ਕਾ ਮਨਹਿ ਭਇਓ ਪਰਗਾਸੁ ॥ ਕਾਟੀ ਬੇਰੀ ਪਗਹ ਤੇ ਗੁਰਿ ਕੀਨੀ ਬੰਦਿ ਖਲਾਸੁ ॥੧॥ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੁ ਰਹਿਓ ॥ ਤਪਤ ਕੜਾਹਾ ਬੁਝਿ ਗਇਆ ਗੁਰਿ ਸੀਤਲ ਨਾਮੁ ਦੀਓ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥: (With the grace of Gur-Giaan or Wisdom) my mind is Enlightened and (as a result, now) the eggshell of doubt (Bharam, delusion) has been broken. The Breaking of the Eggshell was the Liberation of my Shackled (Mind). My Cycle of spiritual birth and death (Aavan Jaan) has Ended. The Flames (of Doubt, desires etc.) Are Extinguished with the Guru‘s spiritually cooling Naam (Giaan–Wisdom). ||1||Pause|| (sggs 1002).
• ਗੁਰ ਕੈ ਸਬਦਿ ਭਰਮ ਭਉ ਭਾਗੈ ॥: Through the Gur-Shabad, doubt and fear are dispelled. (sggs 1070).

In other words, only the storm of Wisdom or the explosion of Wisdom (‘ਗੋਲਾ ਗਿਆਨੁ’) can lift the doubt-ridden mind into its Mool , destroying the fortress of doubt (Bharam-ਭਰਮ), Maya, duality, deluded mind, ignorance, Haumai, Bikaars…

• ਦੇਖੌ ਭਾਈ ਗ੍ਹਾਨ ਕੀ ਆਈ ਆਂਧੀ ॥ ਸਭੈ ਉਡਾਨੀ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕੀ ਟਾਟੀ ਰਹੈ ਨ ਮਾਇਆ ਬਾਂਧੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਦੁਚਿਤੇ ਕੀ ਦੁਇ ਥੂਨਿ ਗਿਰਾਨੀ ਮੋਹ ਬਲੇਡਾ ਟੂਟਾ ॥ ਤਿਸਨਾ ਛਾਨਿ ਪਰੀ ਧਰ ਊਪਰਿ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਭਾਂਡਾ ਫੂਟਾ ॥੧॥: O brother, the storm of Spiritual Wisdom or Enlightenment has struck my mind. (This storm of Wisdom) has blown away my mind’s Bharam (doubts, confusion, superstition etc.) and bonds of Maya like the thatched walls of my hut. ||1||pause|| The pillar of my double-mindedness and the beam of my emotional bonds of the hut has come crashing down. The thatched roof of worldly desires (supported on the beam of attachment) has fallen to the ground and the pitcher of evil intellect has broken. ||1|| (sggs 331).

Fear departs Realizing Truth

Truth makes one fearless and gives strength and meaning to existence. Hence, the Gurbani says Truth (‘ਸਚੁ’-Sachu) is the ‘Khasam‘ of all (Master, Husband, ਮਾਲਕ…).

• ਇਹੁ ਸਚੁ ਸਭਨਾ ਕਾ ਖਸਮੁ ਹੈ ਜਿਸੁ ਬਖਸੇ ਸੋ ਜਨੁ ਪਾਵਹੇ ॥: This Truth is the Master of all; blessed ‘Janu’ (Gurmukh, Daas, Bhagat …) obtains it (sggs 922).
• ਮਨ ਰੇ ਸਚੁ ਮਿਲੈ ਭਉ ਜਾਇ ॥: O mind! Fear departs by realizing Truth (sggs 18).
• ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਗਇਆ ਤਿਨਿ ਸਾਚੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੬॥: (One) whose doubt is dispelled, knows the Truth. ||6|| (sggs 330).

The Gurbani asserts when doubt (Bharam-ਭਰਮ) and fear are overcome, Truth and Bliss (Anand) are realized.

• ਭਰਮੁ ਚੁਕਾਇਆ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ॥: Eternal Sukh (ਸੁਖ-Happiness, Peace, Joy…) is attained when doubts are dispelled. (sggs 114).
• ਗਇਆ ਭਰਮੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਪਰਮਾਨੰਦਾ ॥੩॥੨੦॥: (My) doubt has been eliminated, and Supreme Bliss has remained behind. ||3||20|| (sggs327).

Thus, the understanding of the Gurbani (ਸੂਝ-ਬੂਝ, Giaan, Bibek…) leads us to realize the state of fearlessness (‘ਨਿਰਭੈ ਪਦੁ’). In other words, one who knows Truth of his Mool gains fearlessness, Joy, Bliss, Peace ..:

• ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਤਿਹ ਭਜਨ ਤੇ ਨਿਰਭੈ ਪਦੁ ਪਾਵੈ ॥੨॥੧॥: ||1|| O Nanak! By uniting That (i.e., Mool), the state of fearlessness is attained. ||2||1|| (sggs 726).

Clearly, the battle (ਜੰਗ) is within the mind. When this battle with the mind is won, the outside battle stands won — ‘ਮਨਿ ਜੀਤੈ ਜਗੁ ਜੀਤੁ‘ , conquer the mind, conquer the world!

‘Pure Fear’ (‘ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਉ’)

Although the Wisdom of the SGGS makes us fearless, courageous, brave, etc, nevertheless, the SGGS asks us to keep the ‘Pure Fear’ (‘ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਉ’) of the One (Hukam: System-Rule-Law of Nature) in the mind. We all hear these verses during a wedding ceremony:

• ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਭਉ ਪਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਇਆ ਹਰਿ ਵੇਖੈ ਰਾਮੁ ਹਦੂਰੇ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਆਤਮ ਰਾਮੁ ਪਸਾਰਿਆ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਰਬ ਰਹਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰੇ ॥: In the Pure Fear of the Divine (Universal Energy, Hukam or System-Rule-Law of Nature…), live daily life of Vitues and behold the Divine Presence before you (ਅੰਗ-ਸੰਗ). (Then the soul-bride gets the conviction that) the Divine is the fully pervading and permeating everywhere. (sggs 774).

In other words, when our Heart is filled with the Pure Fear of the One (Hukam — reverence, love or respect of the System-Rule-Law of Nature, ਹੁਕਮ ਦਾ ਅਦਬ-ਸਤਕਾਰ-ਪ੍ਰੇਮ etc.) — detachment (‘ਬੈਰਾਗੁ’) Awakens within and all fears depart! The Gurbani confirms this as follows:

• ਡਡਾ ਡਰ ਉਪਜੇ ਡਰੁ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਤਾ ਡਰ ਮਹਿ ਡਰੁ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਈ ॥ ਜਉ ਡਰ ਡਰੈ ਤ ਫਿਰਿ ਡਰੁ ਲਾਗੈ ॥ ਨਿਡਰ ਹੂਆ ਡਰੁ ਉਰ ਹੋਇ ਭਾਗੈ ॥੧੯॥: DADDA (a letter of the Gurmukhi alphabet): When the Fear (of the One) wells up, (worldly) fears depart. (Worldly) fears are absorbed into that Fear. When (anyone) rejects the Fear (of the One), then (worldly) fears again cling to (him). (But, by keeping the Fear of the One in his mind, if he) becomes fearless, then fears (of his mind) run away. ||19|| (sggs 341).

Pure Fear of the One does not mean to be afraid of Rabb or Hukam (System-Rule-Law of Nature…).

It simply implies to be watchful of the adverse or negative impact of Bikaar (lust, anger, greed…); to be fearful of untruthful and unvirtuous lifestyle; to be fearful of low moral standards and bad actions; to be mindful of performing one’s duty responsibly, to be alert from deception and fraud; etc. In essence, it is the fear of immoral, false and unrighteous conduct.

In nutshell, ‘Pure Fear’ is to be careful, aware, heedful, vigilant, and cautious in life (ਸਾਵਧਾਨ). Thus, in deeper sense, it is meant to discourage ambivalence.

The Gurbani being the mirror of the mind, it addresses the human mind. The Wisdom of the Gurbani Awakens the mind to recognize its True Nature within (Jot Saroop).

• ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੈ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਗਏ ਖਿਨ ਭੀਤਰਿ ਅੰਧਕਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਗਟੇ ਚਾਨਾਣੁ ॥: (He who remembers Naam, all his) fear and doubt are destroyed in melancholy, the darkness (of ignorance) within him is removed and the light (of Wisdom within the mind) dawns. (sggs 825).

Manmukhs are fearful and Gurmukhs are fearless

Finally, the Gurbani also tells us who is fearful and who is fearless in life, Here and Now, NOT after death!

In short, according to the Gurbani, a Manmukh person is always full of fears, and the one who has become a Gurmukh is fearless in life!

Thus, a Manmukh is opposite of a Gurmukh.

In nutshell, a Gurmukh (Bhagat, Daas, Jan…) is a Wise person, brave person, good person, virtuous person, fearless, blissful (Anand), pious person, Joyful, always positive, etc. (ਵਿਦਵਾਨ, ਬਹਾਦੁਰ, ਭਲਾ, ਨੇਕ, ਗੁਣੀ, ਖੁਸ਼, ਹਮੇਸ਼ਾ ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਵਿਚ), and so on.

•  ਡਰਿ ਡਰਿ ਪਚੇ ਮਨਮੁਖ ਵੇਚਾਰੇ ॥: The wretched Manmukhs are ruined through fear and dread (sggs 677).  (sggs 677).
• ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਭੈ ਮੋਹ ਮਿਟਾਇਆ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇਹ ਪਰਮ ਸੁਖ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੪੦॥: By becoming the Gurmukh, who have effaced their doubt, fear and worldly attachment, O Nanak! they realize the supreme Sukh (Bliss…). (sggs 258).