Is Fear a Problem?

~ By Ajahn Amaro ~

In this Dhamma talk, Ajahn Amaro recalls the naming of Amaravati Monastery ('the deathless realm') by Luang Por Sumedho at the time of the fear of nuclear war in 1984, and compares it to the current fears of the Covid virus pandemic. He suggests it is skillful to consider the nature of fear and the way it impacts our hearts. How do we relate to that, he asks? How do we relate to others who are fearful? We can get very anxious about the protection protocols. Fear works by being unpleasant and guiding the one feeling it away from danger. Fear is supposed to be unpleasant. Fear is not defilement, but creates difficulty if we don’t understand the mechanisms of how the mind relates to fear. Ajahn provides some advice about how to understand and deal with fear and the accompanying feelings.

(‘Is Fear a Problem?’ is a Dhamma talk offered by Ajahn Amaro at Amaravati Monastery on 5 April 2020.
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Photograph: screenshot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery video channel