Fourth Week of Advent Sunday: A Useful Mantra

In the Heart of Winter: A Meditator’s Guide to Advent

And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not…
—Luke 1:12, 13

One of the things that happen consistently in several of the Advent stories is that when the angel appears to bring good news—news of the coming of the Christ, the announcement of new life, joy, and peace—the first response is not joy or praise, but fear. In each story, this initial reaction to the divine inspiration is accompanied by the angel’s mantra: Fear not.

Fear is our usual, innate reaction to anything unknown that threatens life as we know it. The Advent story is about a new spiritual identity destined to overturn the rule of the ego, bringing about new life through a fundamental change in consciousness. This is unsettling to the ego to say the least. It is not unusual for devotees on the spiritual path to have this experience of fear or contraction in the light of the soul’s readiness to express more fully. Sometimes we experience fear when we know we have been called to step into a new way of living—perhaps speaking our truth when we have previously held back, or seeking a new line of work that is more in harmony with our life purpose, or being inspired to give more generously than we have before. Any of these behaviors can trigger ego’s alarm system which has been put in place as a protective mechanism. When we experience this, we can use our discernment to reveal what the fear is based on.

Sometimes this contraction of fear is experienced in meditation. Samadhi, or experiences of superconsciousness, require us to let go in order for our awareness to expand into our higher Self. When this expansion of consciousness occurs, it can be joyful and yet provoke an ego-based reaction. People say things like, “I was meditating and I felt so much joy arising, and then I got scarred and my meditation experience stopped.” Or, “my breath got so quiet it stopped. It was so peaceful but then I became afraid and my thoughts interrupted the meditation.” The fear comes from holding on to the body-mind as our primary identity, instead of knowing that we are actually returning to consciously rest in our true nature as spiritual beings.

Remembering our essential nature as unbounded supreme Consciousness, knowing that we are spiritual beings expressing through mind and body can help us step into these expansive experiences. Walking in faith, we can say to ourselves: fear not.  

Practice:

Notice thoughts and feelings that arise that are based in fear, particularly as they arise in relation to new, positive behaviors. Inquire into those thoughts and feelings. Discern what their origin is. Notice what changes as you shift your attention and awareness from identifying with body, mind, and ego and embrace your essential true nature.

Contemplate:

The Blessed Lord spoke: Whence has this timidity of yours come to you in time of danger?... Do not become a coward, Arjuna. This is not suitable to you. Abandoning base faintheartedness, Stand up, Arjuna!               
 –words of Krishna to Arjuna, Bhagavad Gita 2.2-3

Reflect:

When have I noticed fear arising? Does it coincide with expanding my potential?