Our this article’s topic is Swami Vivekananda‘s quotes and comments on fear.
There is a Bengali phrase “অন্ন, বস্ত্র, বরাভয়” (Bengali pronunciation: onno, bostro, borabhoy, translation: food, clothes and assurance/courage). When someone worships a god or goddess, (s)/he expects the worshipped god or goddess would provide h(er/im) অন্ন, বস্ত্র, বরাভয়, i.e. food, clothes and assurance/courage. Now, one can easily understand the importance of food and clothes in life, but how is “assurance” important? Actually we are always afraid, as Swami Vivekananda told— “In this world we work through fear of others, we talk through fear, we think through fear, alas!. . .”[Source] We are afraid — that is a fact.Not everyone can utter— “And fear? I am the Fear of fear, the Terror of terror, I am the fearless secondless One, I am the Rule of destiny, the Wiper-out of fact.”[Source]
Swami Vivekananda’s quotes on fear
Swami Vivekananda told—
- All this fear that pursues us comes from believing in matter.[Source]
- All this is our work, our fear — fear, the beginning of misery, of disease, etc. By being nervous and fearful we injure others, by being so fearful to hurt we hurt more. By trying so much to avoid evil we fall into its jaws.[Source]
- All weakness, all bondage is imagination. Speak one word to it, it must vanish. Do not weaken! There is no other way out…. Stand up and be strong! No fear. No superstition. Face the truth as it is! If death comes — that is the worst of our miseries — let it come! We are determined to die game. That is all the religion I know. I have not attained to it, but I am struggling to do it. I may not, but you may. Go on![Source]
- Always say, “I have no fear.” Tell this to everybody –“Have no fear”. Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness, fear is wrong life. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in this world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear. This fear alone has kept the sun, air and death in their respective places and functions, allowing none to escape from their bounds.[Source]
- Do not be afraid. Great things are going to be done, my child. Take heart.[Source]
- Fear never leaves those who earn their livelihoods by unethical means or who cause harm to others. Therefore, at this time when we face the great fear of death, desist from all such behaviour.[Source]
- Generally speaking, human religion begins with fear. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” But later comes the higher idea. “Perfect love casteth out fear.” Traces of fear will remain with us until we get knowledge, know what God is. Christ, being man, had to see impurity and denounced it; but God, infinitely higher, does not see iniquity and cannot be angry. Denunciation is never the highest. David’s hands were smeared with blood; he could not build the temple. (Bible, Samuel, Chap. XVII — end.)[Source]
- If you read the Vedas, you will find this word always repeated — fearlessness — fear nothing. Fear is a sign of weakness. A man must go about his duties without taking notice of the sneers and the ridicule of the world.[Source]
- In this world we work through fear of others, we talk through fear, we think through fear, alas! we are born in a land of enemies. Who is there who has been able to get rid of this feeling of fear, as if everyone is a spy set specially to watch him? And woe unto the man who pushes himself forward! Will it ever be a land of friends? Who knows?[Source]
- “In wealth is the fear of poverty, in knowledge the fear of ignorance, in beauty the fear of age, in fame the fear of backbiters, in success the fear of jealousy, even in body is the fear of death. Everything in this earth is fraught with fear. He alone is fearless who has given up everything” (Vairâgya-Shatakam, 31).[Source]
- Inside is the tremendous fear, the tremendous motive, all the time.[Source]
- It is fear alone that is death. You have to go beyond all fear. So from this day be fearless.[Source]
- . . . It is true that fear is the sure cause of degradation and sin. It is fear that brings misery, fear that brings death, fear that breeds evil. And what causes fear? Ignorance of our own nature. Each of us is heir-apparent to the Emperor of emperors; are of the substance of God Himself. Nay, according to the Advaita, we are God Himself though we have forgotten our own nature in thinking of ourselves as little men.[Source]
- No God to be afraid of. He is the one being of whom we shall never be afraid, because He is our own Self. There is only one being of whom you cannot possibly be afraid; He is that.[Source]
- Only to selfishness comes fear. He who has nothing to desire for himself, whom does he fear, and what can frighten him? What fear has death for him? What fear has evil for him?[Source]
- Please do not panic due to unfounded fear.[Source]
- The fear of reputation is stronger than the fear of death.[Source]
- The first thing to be got rid of by him who would be a Jnani is fear. Fear is one of our worst enemies.[Source]
- The moment you fear, you are nobody. It is fear that is the great cause of misery in the world. It is fear that is the greatest of all superstitions. It is fear that is the cause of our woes, and it is fearlessness that brings heaven even in a moment.[Source]
- The greatest sin is fear.[Source]
- Then the other great source of misery is fear. Why does one man injure another? Because he fears he will not have enough enjoyment. One man fears that, perhaps, he will not have enough money, and that fear causes him to injure others and rob them. How can there be fear if there is only one existence? If a thunderbolt falls on my head, it was I who was the thunderbolt, because I am the only existence. If a plague comes, it is I; if a tiger comes, it is I. If death comes, it is I. I am both death and life. We see that fear comes with the idea that there are two in the universe. We have always heard it preached, “Love one another”. What for? That doctrine was preached, but the explanation is here. Why should I love every one? Because they and I are one. Why should I love my brother? Because he and I are one. There is this oneness; this solidarity of the whole universe. From the lowest worm that crawls under our feet to the highest beings that ever lived — all have various bodies, but are the one Soul. Through all mouths, you eat; through all hands, you work; through all eyes, you see. You enjoy health in millions of bodies, you are suffering from disease in millions of bodies. When this idea comes, and we realise it, see it, feel it, then will misery cease, and fear with it. How can I die? There is nothing beyond me. Fear ceases, and then alone comes perfect happiness and perfect love. That universal sympathy, universal love, universal bliss, that never changes, raises man above everything. It has no reactions and no misery can touch it; but this little eating and drinking of the world always brings a reaction. The whole cause of it is this dualism, the idea that I am separate from the universe, separate from God. But as soon as we have realised that “I am He, I am the Self of the universe, I am eternally blessed, eternally free” — then will come real love, fear will vanish, and all misery cease.[Source]
- There is no reason for anxiety, be fearless.[Source]
- This I have seen in life — he who is over-cautious about himself falls into dangers at every step; he who is afraid of losing honour and respect, gets only disgrace; he who is always afraid of loss always loses. . . .[Source]
- Those who are protected by the Lord must be above fear.[Source]
- What fear! Whom to fear! Steel your hearts and set yourselves to work![Source]
- What fear is there? Always discriminate — your body, your house, these Jivas and the world are all absolutely unreal like a dream. Always think that this body is only an inert instrument. And the self – contained Purusha within is your real nature.[Source]
- We have a place for struggle in the Vedanta, but not for fear. All fears will vanish when you begin to assert your own nature.[Source]
- Where one sees another, one hears another so long as there are two, there must be fear, and fear is the mother of all [misery]. Where none sees another, where it is all One, there is none to be miserable, none to be unhappy. [There is only] the One without a second. Therefore be not afraid. Awake, arise, and stop not till the goal is reached![Source]
- Whom to fear?[Source]
- You need not be afraid of anything.[Source]
Swami Vivekananda’s quotes on Abhih
Main article: Swami Vivekananda’s quotes on Abhih
- Abhih, Abhih. We have to become Abhih, fearless, and our task will be done.[Source]
- Ay, it is the only literature in the world where you find the word “Abhih”, “fearless”, used again and again; in no other scripture in the world is this adjective applied either to God or to man. Abhih, fearless![Source]
You may also read the following motivational article—
See also
- Swami Vivekananda’s quotes and comments on Strength
- Swami Vivekananda’s quotes when you are frustrated or depressed
