Fear

When we look at the five aggregates as a representation of the self, we do not consider each of them separately as the self, but all of them together we consider to be ” I,” the self.

We take the aggregated self as something very real, as something very solid. Then we fear that this aggregated self, that I call my self, is something that we might lose, or that something bad might happen to it. That is why the fear comes. So the true source of fear is the clinging to the self, because the self is seen as something separate, something solid and independent. Then it is because of that independent self, that one fears losing, becoming sick, that bad things will happen, that this is the true source of all fears.

If you understand interdependence and dependently arising, if you really get introduced to that, really seize that, then there is less reason to feel the fear. To understand clearly the causes and effects, to really see how things are, is the important remedy for fear.

For instance; when I was a child I was very afraid when there were clouds in the sky with lightning and thunderstorms. But when I saw clearly how it was happening, many different things coming together, that it was summertime, that there were clouds coming, how all the things were happening, when I saw this, when I understood this, then I did not have to be afraid. But when all these things suddenly happen and you don’t know what is happening, then you have fear.