Some Passing Thoughts

 – It would be good to find a way to understand what is influencing our response to the general question of why people discriminate on subjects as race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. There seems to be an element of fear that subconsciously clouds  the mind.

To purify the mind from fear is of great importance, and this can be best done by analyzing what causes one fear. HIK

 Man by nature possesses a tremendous power hidden in his heart, the power which waits constantly to become manifest. This power is hidden by fear. The day when fear disappears, this latent power will manifest to view. HIK

Nature has given a tool to all living things on the planet, it is a tool for survival, for life to continue as long as it is possible to support it. This tool is a deep inherent fear, given to promote continuity of the species, in the context of each particular life, be it mineral, vegetable, animal, or human.

For the further evolution of life, humanity received another sophisticated tool, that of consciousness, whereby consciousness, at a certain stage of evolution, would be able to observe the subtle influence of fear, and its effect on human perception.

The best practice one can make is to speak with oneself, with one’s own fear; to dispute with it, and to root out the reasons on whose foundations it rests. What generally happens is that all things one fears, one fears even to think of them. But the solution of getting above fear lies in analyzing the cause of the fear and so making it non-existent. HIK

When a situation provokes fear, it can be experienced as a subtle, or not so subtle feeling, yet always uncomfortable, which we would rather not experience. This feeling is generally associated (for convenience) with an external source. We were fine until “this situation, this person or this event” made us feel this way. Therefore that source is at fault.

As our eyes can only see themselves in a reflection, our ego cannot see itself, it needs something to reflect it. In that reflection the ego discovers an aspect of itself. If that which reflects the ego makes it uncomfortable, not realizing that it is an extension of itself, the ego wants to eliminate what seems to be the exterior cause of the discomfort.

The “I am” identification of the soul, is created by the formation of an ego, first during infancy by relating to the body, later during youth, by including the self-discovering mind. In this way an imaginary separation is created between our inner world and the outer world and the greater the identification with the ego, the more fearful the things beyond the mind’s range become. We instinctively want to ignore what we do not know or understand and, as a last resort depending on how uncomfortable they make us feel, eliminate them. Our discomfort is such that we become aggressive or withdrawn.

Only when through self-observation the ego begins to understand, first the cause of fear and second the expanding function of overcoming that fear through understanding and experience, will there be peace, or at least depending on the degree of understanding, less apprehension.

We want to make things better for ourselves and for society, but how do we address the strand of fear with which the ego strongly identifies, which can be a deeply inherited fear from parents or family? And a powerfully influential reality for that person, or group, that if not addressed intelligently can create further shutdown of the psyche (for self-preservation), thereby provoking further alienation and fear, confirming the person’s sense of fear.

When I explore my thinking and feelings on the subject, it seems to be a question of not only providing information but also appropriate education, and the means to live a life with a minimum of insecurity. Insecurity breeds all kinds of fear and is the source of speculation concerning anything outside of the immediate periphery of one’s consciousness, the unknown. We are uncomfortable with the unknown, the mind’s instinctive reaction is that it must not remain unknown, it needs to be filled with something, anything, even if it is scary, which is less threatening than not knowing, be it about light or darkness. 

The Remover of Fear,  The Giver of Tranquility,  The Source of Faith

Mu’min – The One who grants security and freedom from fear.