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  • We began talking about fear yesterday, and I think it's good to note

  • that the word "fear" doesn't always have to have a negative connotation.

  • The way it's used in Tibetan ... remember yesterday I was saying

  • it's the word "jigpa". It can often have a positive connotation.

  • For example, when we talk about the possibility of being

  • born in the lower realms, and that being a reason for taking refuge,

  • then they use the word "jigpa", which you could translate as

  • the fear of being born in the lower realms.

  • Of course, we associate the word fear with being panicked, with being freaked out,

  • and so then if we hear "being afraid of being born in the lower realms"

  • we go back to being six years old in Sunday school and

  • being threatened with going to hell if we steal an M&M.

  • That's not the meaning in Buddhism, okay?

  • And I bring this up because so often we take

  • Christian words or Christian concepts and bring them onto Buddhism

  • when Buddhism is speaking about something similar, but not exactly the same.

  • This is one of those cases. Because in Buddhism, when you are aware

  • of the danger of being born in the lower realms, that makes you much more cautious

  • about your behavior, much more mindful, much more attentive.

  • And it results in the mind becoming more focused and tranquil.

  • Because it wants to do something virtuous, okay?

  • So, whereas the word "fear", if it's taken to mean "panic",

  • like "Ahhhhhh, I'm going to be born as a cat!" and

  • "I'm freaked out about that and I don't want that to happen

  • so I'm going to squeeze and pressure myself to practice the Dharma".

  • And that doesn't work and that's not what the Buddha is trying to get us to do.

  • So, we have to be very clear about that.

  • Let's use another example:

  • if you are merging on the freeway, do you have a sense of

  • the danger that is there if you aren't paying attention?

  • I hope so! Otherwise, I don't want to ride in the car with you!

  • If you have no awareness that merging onto the freeway has some danger,

  • excuse me, I'm not going to ride with you.

  • So, that kind of awareness of danger is something good, isn't it?

  • Now ... if we use the English meaning of the word "fear",

  • are you afraid of merging on the freeway? No.

  • Some people may be ... when you are sixteen and you have your parent's car ...

  • Well, then either you are afraid or you don't see any danger at all.

  • The two extremes.

  • But most people, as mature adults, you wouldn't be freaked out

  • with fear merging onto the highway, but

  • you would be aware that there is some danger.

  • In the same way, the word "fear" in Buddhism,

  • if it's translated literally, maybe should be translated as

  • "awareness of danger", instead of as "fear".

  • So, it doesn't bring the English connotation.

  • But, that is the meaning that

  • we are aware of the potential to experience suffering.

  • And being aware of that potential

  • then we want to avoid the causes,

  • creating the causes for it

  • and we want to purify any causes we've already created.

  • And that kind of awareness of danger, or if you want to call it "fear" you can,

  • is something useful and beneficial.

  • But it's completely different than

  • the freaked out, panicky, uncomfortable fear.

  • Which is of absolutely no benefit on the path.

  • So, I say this that we maybe can open our mind

  • a little bit about what fear means in different contexts,

  • If we choose to use that word.

  • Or about possible other translations of it

  • like "awareness of danger".

  • And then we'll continue on tomorrow with some of the freaked out ways of fear.

We began talking about fear yesterday, and I think it's good to note

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12-19-08 恐懼:恐懼的智慧 - BBCorner (12-19-08 Fear: The Wisdom of Fear - BBCorner)

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    Hhart Budha 發佈於 2021 年 01 月 14 日
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