Conquering the Fear of Death – The Process of Becoming Fearless
Fear is the defining emotion of material existence. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam describes the conditioned souls as sadā samudvigna-dhiyām—always agitated in their minds. The ultimate source of this anxiety is the fear of death and the loss of one's identity. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the very first step in spiritual life is becoming fearless (abhayam). This does not mean becoming reckless or artificially brave; it means attaining the scientific understanding that the self is eternal and cannot be destroyed.
Cause of Fear
Why are we afraid? Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that fear is the result of material involvement. As long as one is absorbed in the thought "I am this material body," one is subject to the trepidation of old age, disease, and death. This bodily identification is the root of all cowardice. A person who thinks they will cease to exist when the body dies lives in perpetual anxiety.
- In Bhagavad-gita it is said that in order to make spiritual progress, one must become fearless. Abhayam sattva-samsuddhih (BG 16.1). Fearfulness is the result of material involvement.
- As long as one is absorbed in the thought that he is this material body, he is fearful, and as soon as one is freed from this material conception, he becomes brahma-bhuta (SB 4.30.20), or self-realized, and immediately becomes fearless.
Solution: Bhakti-Yoga
Mere theoretical knowledge is often insufficient to conquer deep-seated fear. The practical method is bhakti-yoga. Śrīla Prabhupāda asserts that unless one becomes fearless and joyful through devotional service, they cannot truly understand God. Specifically, taking shelter of the Lord in His form as Nṛsiṁhadeva (the half-man, half-lion incarnation) is recommended for protection. By remembering the Lord and chanting His holy names, the devotee realizes that Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate protector, and the fear of the material world vanishes.
- The devotee's hope of becoming fearless is to chant the holy name of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Yato yato yami tato nrsimhah: wherever we go, we must always think of Lord Nrsimhadeva. Thus there will be no fear for the devotee of the Lord.
- By practicing bhagavad-bhakti-yoga, one becomes fearless and joyful. Unless one becomes fearless and joyful, he cannot understand the science of God.
- In this material world, everyone is in fearful consciousness (sada samudvigna-dhiyam), and the only means to make everyone fearless is Krsna consciousness. When Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared, all the devotees became fearless.
Facing Death
For a materialist, death is the end of everything. For a devotee, death is the door to eternal life. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that an advanced devotee has no fear of death because they know they are going back home, back to Godhead. In fact, advanced age helps a devotee become fearless because it signals that the time of liberation is approaching. This shift in perspective—viewing death as a promotion rather than a termination—is the hallmark of spiritual advancement.
- A devotee knows that after death he is going back home, back to Godhead; therefore he has no fear of death. Thus instead of depressing a devotee, advanced age helps him become fearless and thus happy.
- If one can chant and hear Hare Krsna and always remember Lord Krsna, then he is sure to become fearless of death, which may come at any moment.
Fearless Preacher
This quality is essential for those who spread the message of God. A preacher or sannyāsī often faces opposition, criticism, or physical danger. To be effective, they must be fearless, depending solely on Kṛṣṇa's mercy. This fearlessness is not irresponsibility; it is the confidence that comes from duty. Just as Vasudeva became fearless when he understood his son was the Supreme Lord, a preacher becomes fearless when they understand the potency of the message they carry.
- This taking of sannyasa should not be a whimsical proposition, and should not be an excuse for becoming irresponsible, no responsibility of grhastha, brahmacari, etc. Sannyasis also have great responsibility to become fearless preachers.
- The test of advanced spiritual consciousness is that one becomes fearless. He envies no one, and he is always engaged in the Lord’s service.
Conclusion
Fearlessness is not a product of mental gymnastics; it is a byproduct of purity. When the heart is cleansed of the desire for material enjoyment and the false identification with the body, fear naturally evaporates. As the Bhagavad-gītā confirms, abhayam sattva-saṁśuddhiḥ—fearlessness comes from the purification of one's existence. By taking shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord, the devotee crosses the ocean of material existence as easily as one steps over the water in a calf's hoofprint, leaving all anxiety behind.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Becoming Fearless. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.
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