Aloha,

As promised, we will explore how various religions and spiritual traditions approach fear. This week, we will explore Buddhism and fear.

All of Buddha’s teachings help us overcome the illusion that physical reality is the only reality. Buddhism teaches us to align ourselves with our spirit and, from that perspective, there is nothing to fear because we are immortal, eternal, and infinite.

Buddhism is all about finding the middle way and living in balance and harmony. I love this scene from the movie “Little Buddha.”

Another thing I find helpful about the Buddhist approach to fear is the concept there is healthy fear and unhealthy fear. In my teachings, I talk about love-based fear and fear-based fear. Love-based fear is what reminds us not to walk in front of a speeding car. Fear-based fear stops us from loving someone because we are afraid of being hurt.

When we allow ourselves to love fear in all of its forms, we move closer to our true nature. Buddhism roughly refers to angels as Bodhisattvas, the awakened ones or as devas. Not all Buddhists believe in angels just as not all Christians do.

Buddha taught that attachment was at the root of all suffering, and often it is our attachment to limiting beliefs that cause the most fear in our life. Buddha offered an eight-fold path to move beyond suffering.

1. Right understanding
2. Right thought
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right concentration
8. Mindfulness

Surround yourself with the love of the angels, allow yourself to feel their love, and fear will become a thing of the past.

With love and aloha,
Susan

Angels are everywhere, we only have to be willing to allow in their love.