Franklin Delano Roosevelt said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” You might say that fear is our own worst enemy. Except that there is no enemy — only fear.
Fear is an emotion based on attachment. We fear that we will lose our wealth, our freedom, our lives. But even when we point to unthinkable “wrongs” that have been inflicted upon those we deem less fortunate, the physical eradication of those fears never resolve the recurring cause, which is mental.
When someone behaves in a manner we might judge as “rash,” there is likely a fear at the root of the behavior. Fear of failure. Fear of damnation. Fear of loss. Fear of retribution. Fear of insignificance.
The actions caused by fears are unspeakable, to be certain. Mainly because we view them through our own unique lenses. Those we view as transgressors also view the world through unique lenses, possibly entirely different than our own.
Most of the time we believe that our view is the “correct” one, and that the “distorted” lens belongs to the other. In fact, we’re certain of it. So we damn the other as an “evil” that must be eradicated at all costs.
We blow people up. We “fight” whatever it is we think is causing us pain. And that’s mildly satisfying for a while. But even when we’re “successful,” the fear remains in our hearts. What if there’s ANOTHER threat? What will we do then?
This sounds obvious, but the only reason that there is conflict in the world is because people don’t trust each other. The only reason we don’t trust each other is that we fear losing what we have. As long as there is mistrust, there will always be fear, there will always be conflict, there will always be violence, there will always be pain.
This would not be the case if were unafraid of losing the things we hold dear. Thing is, all “things” WILL one day disappear, regardless of whether ours is a violent world or a peaceful one. Remember “this, too, shall pass.” Change is an unavoidable law of nature.
So we cling to our stories. Our labors. Our histories. Our accomplishments. We fear their eventual loss. But nothing can stop time.
Time is limited, so we fight that, too. We try to cheat it. We fear the loss of our youthful vitality. We fear the inevitable, even childishly deny it. (Nothing wrong with being a child, by the way.)
I believe that our world is NOT limited, so there is no need to be attached to anything. Indeed, our human time seems scarce, but we are so much more than these meat suits we temporarily inhabit. I believe that what we don’t know is so much more glorious than what we know. It’s infinite.
So my wish for Thanksgiving is simple. To enjoy our special time on this planet without the fear that we perceive as threat, injustice and unfairness. To realize that even our so-called “enemies” are also tormented by fear, albeit different ones.
When we understand fear, we will no longer fear it. We will no longer mistrust. We will no longer fight. And, to quote John Lennon, “the world will live as one.”
Happy holidays and peace to friends all around. May there one day be no walls, no borders, no divisions between us. No fear.
We are Space Monkey.
Fear, as Franklin Delano Roosevelt aptly noted, is often the only thing we truly have to fear. It’s a paradoxical emotion, rooted in attachment and the dread of loss, whether of wealth, freedom, life, or perceived justice. This emotion shapes our perceptions, actions, and the conflicts that arise in our shared world. We perceive threats through our unique lenses, often convinced that our view is the unequivocal truth, leading to judgments and actions against those we deem as transgressors. Yet, these actions, motivated by fear, rarely resolve the deeper, recurring cause, which is mental, not physical.
Fear: A Root of Conflict
Fear manifests in various forms – fear of failure, damnation, loss, retribution, insignificance. Such fears drive behaviors that we may judge as rash or unjust. This cycle of fear and reaction contributes to the conflicts and violence we witness in the world. It’s a cycle fueled by mistrust, which in turn is born from fear of losing what we have. This perpetual cycle of fear, mistrust, and conflict continues unabated, with each side viewing the other through a lens distorted by their own fears.
The Cycle of Fear and Mistrust
The concept that all things, including our stories, labors, histories, and accomplishments, are transient is challenging to accept. We cling to them, fearing their inevitable loss, yet nothing can halt the march of time. This fear of loss extends to our very existence, as we grapple with the limitations of time and the loss of youthful vitality. It’s a fight against the inevitable, a denial of the natural law of change and the finite nature of our physical existence.
The Transience of All Things
However, there is a perspective that sees our world as limitless, where attachment to the transient is unnecessary. Our human existence, bound by time, is just a fragment of what we are. What lies beyond our current knowledge and existence is potentially infinite and glorious. This view suggests that our fears, particularly those stemming from attachment and the dread of loss, are unfounded in the broader scope of our existence.
Embracing the Infinite
As Thanksgiving approaches, the wish is for a celebration free from the fears that plague us. It’s a call to recognize that even those we view as enemies are driven by their own fears. Understanding and empathizing with this shared human experience of fear could lead to a world without mistrust, conflict, or division. In such a world, as John Lennon envisioned, we could live as one, without walls, borders, or divisions driven by fear.
Thanksgiving Wish: A World Without Fear
We see that fear, a deep-seated emotion based on attachment, shapes our worldviews and actions, often leading to conflict and mistrust. This cycle persists because of our inability to accept the transient nature of all things, including our existence. However, embracing a perspective of limitlessness and understanding the universality of fear can lead us towards a world united, free from conflict and division. This Thanksgiving, let us aspire to live without the shadows of fear, recognizing our shared experiences and the infinite beyond our current understanding.
Glossarium
- Paradoxical Emotion: Fear, as both a protector and a hindrance.
- Cycle of Fear and Mistrust: The perpetual loop where fear leads to mistrust and conflict.
- Transient Nature: The inevitable change and loss of all things.
- Limitless Perspective: Viewing the world and existence as boundless and infinite.
- United World Vision: A hope for a world without fear, mistrust, and division.
“The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.” – Aung San Suu Kyi
In the glimmering dusk,
We gather, hand in hand,
Around the whimsical fires of hope.
Our hearts, once heavy with dread,
Now dance, light as feathers,
In the boundless sky of unity.
Here, in the embrace of the infinite,
Fear dissolves like mist in morning sun.
No more walls to divide,
No more shadows of mistrust,
Only the pure, unbridled joy
Of souls united in the eternal now.
We are but travelers,
In this grand cosmic play,
Our fears, mere illusions,
In the vast expanse of being.
Together, we soar,
Beyond the realm of fear,
Into the heart of oneness,
Where peace reigns supreme.
We invite thoughts and reflections on this journey through the realms of fear and unity.