Dhamma Talks - Fear :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

“Fear” is one thing that all beings have as a basic instinct. Some fear death most, some fear sickness, some fear old age, and some fear life after death such as hell. Is there anything more than those to be afraid of?

On one occasion, the Buddha said to his disciples, “Behold monks, all beings have some kind of fear such as fear of death, sickness, old age, life after death etc.” when the Buddha finished his speech, one monk asked him, “Lord Buddha, is there anything more than those to be afraid of?” The Buddha answered, “Yes, there is, monks. Avijja, ignorance, darkens this very world. In the darkness of ignorance, there is no light of the sun and the moon.” Then he was asked for more explanation and he explained as follows;

1. Not knowing this body as the base of all attachment, which causes suffering; seeing suffering as happiness is the most fearful.
2. Not knowing the suffering sprung from the attachment to this body is the cause of suffering; seeing this body as a base of happiness, and so attaching to it.
3. Not knowing there is liberation from suffering; understanding that there is no way to be free from suffering and believing that one must suffer again and again, never escaping from suffering.
4. Not knowing the truth of things, or the cessation of suffering; being deluded into thinking that this way via (drink, drugs, materialism etc.) is the cause of real happiness.

The Buddha emphasized that ignorance of what was suffering, or happiness, and what was a path leading to the cessation of suffering, was the biggest problem of mankind. Why is ignorance the biggest problem of mankind? It is because ignorance, without any light of wisdom, can drag mankind down to deep suffering, which means that wrong doing will be done again and again. The fruit of wrong doing is enormous suffering.

Ignorance is compared to a trap in human life. There are many traps in this very world, but the fatal trap is ignorance. Because of ignorance, not knowing the truths of life, we are most likely to fall under suffering at any time.

Have you ever asked yourself who you are? And have you ever got the true answer from yourself? Most people answer, to the question ‘who are you?’; “I” am a human being. Because of egotism, they become attached to that ‘I’ and then start to think, “This is my body, my hand, my man, my property etc.” From that thought, they start to think that something of mine will remain the same, like this; never get old, sick and dead (live forever). Then suffering springs from that attachment. It is just ignorance which turns us to see suffering as happiness. On the contrary, the right understanding is of non-self; we are just mind and matter, which consist of four elements and five aggregates that work together according to their nature.

Mankind has never given the correct answer to its questions. People like to distract themselves by illusions. It can be said that they fear the truths, such as that life is impermanent, suffering and non-self. They feel that they cannot accept these truths and pretend that they are something permanent, happy and having an ego or self. Then comes attachment, which blinds mankind. The proper solution is to train ourselves to see things as they really are; it sounds easy, but if we have never put this easy thing into action, it becomes difficult. Attachment turns us into a man of wrong view, seeing wrong view as right view, seeing suffering as happiness, seeing unwholesomeness as wholesomeness, seeing non-self as self, believing in neither action nor its result, etc. These things cause us endless suffering. The endless suffering is the biggest fruit of attachment.

To train ourselves to see things as they really are, is one way to eradicate the root of fear which is called ‘ignorance’ and its branch which is called “Attachment.” When we come to know the truths, all dark sides will disappear. We will find the light of life which is more brilliant than the sun’s light and the moon’s light. This kind of light is called ‘wisdom’ which is the best weapon for mankind. When we are wise, we can do things better, and we are not touched by any kind of suffering or problem. The Buddha said, “Monks, only wisdom can cut off the root of all suffering and it is worthwhile developing wisdom.” Wisdom is the best tool, everyone holds in his hands, and just developing it through the right practice will bring it up to use. That is our duty.