How To Face Our Fears: Run Towards Them!

In this excellent post ‘the source of fear’, Om Swami quotes several experiences by Pema Chödrön regarding fear. In particular, Pema’s teacher Trungpa Rinpoche when faced with a nasty, ferocious and barking dog “turned and ran as fast as he could—straight at the dog. The dog was so surprised that he put his tail between his legs and ran away.”

What a better image of how to deal with fear? If we run away from the dog, fear will increase and we will get attacked. If we run towards our fear it will evaporate.

Of course it takes a considerable amount of self-control and courage to run towards a frightening thing, but that’s what we need to learnt to master.

“A degree of courage, certain resolve, a sort of commitment is needed to face our fears. Until we face them, we won’t understand them. And unless we understand our fears, how can we possibly ever rise above them? At any rate, developing an attitude of loving-kindness, abiding in mindfulness are absolutely critical to dissipate our ignorance and eliminate our fears. This prepares us in facing our weaknesses.“. How beautiful!