‘Face challenges in life without fear’

Sunday is Medin Poya Day

We should prepare ourselves for challenges in life. Accept everything calmly and do not be disturbed by anything that happens. Those willing to accept challenges would tread the path I preach. Those who run away from the challenges would not understand the path. The second step of accepting challenges is not to be frightened. Compared to the way you faced danger a few years ago, the way you do it now is a step forward.

Earlier we went to bed in fear of what would happen in the morning. Now it’s different. We sleep and wake up peacefully. Face everything happily. What has happened to your fear? It has disappeared. How do we eliminate the fear? You need to answer all the questions asked from you. Otherwise, you will not progress when traversing the path, which is built on the answers you give to the simple questions.

There was a time when we expected only good and beautiful things. But nothing happened as expected. There were also incidents which were not beautiful, and they made us weep. Now, we say we are ready to accept anything happily. What has happen to your mind? It has developed and become stronger. The Dhamma which causes that strength is the noble path or the path to Nirvana. Accept all the challenges calmly in life.

After you decided to accept the challenges, how would the mind react? The mind would spontaneously say ‘do not accept’. But, as you know Dhamma, the same mind would allow you to accept it saying ‘now you know how to remain calm’. Fear lasts within you as long as your ego exists. Fear exists as long as you feel you need protection and comforts.

More the expectations, the more the fear. Living without any expectations is freedom. Similar to an infant. What we need to do is prepare ourselves to live sans fear. Irrespective of you being scared or not, you will die one day.

Even though you fear falling sick, you will get sick one day. See how stupid it is to be afraid. Isn’t it better not to be scared than to be scared? So, it doesn’t matter even if you die because you have lived without any fear. This is important when you tread on the path of Nirvana.

Living without expectations and desires lead to fearlessness. Your mind is clear and clean. You know how to live without fear. You know how to face challenges. You have conducted mindfulness in two ways. Now, enjoy your life to the fullest. When you were small you ate sugar on the sly. Did you feel the taste? But when you ate it leisurely, how tasty the sugar was. People cannot enjoy life because of fear. People are afraid to enjoy the beauty of something as they fear. They are full of fear inside. When someone do not fear, he can enjoy the beauty of life.

A rich man was relaxing near a river after his meals. He was so attracted by the scenery and was enjoying nature. A beggar was passing by and the rich man said, “look at the sun setting, clouds and the coconut trees, a man rowing a boat, sunshine reflecting on the water, how beautiful it is”. The beggar replied, “I can’t see anything as I am hungry.” What was the problem there? Was it a problem with nature or in the mind. You do not enjoy life because you harbor fear. You don’t see the beauty of nature because you are frightened. Let go the fright and enjoy life. When you start doing this you will feel the taste much better than earlier.

Ven. Siri Samanthabadra Thera