Meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein discusses working with fear in practice, releasing tension, opening up to Buddha nature, fear of emotional pain, insecurity, fear of being judged, and using lovingkindness as an antidote for fear.
Working with fear is essential for self-discovery and understanding the mind's patterns.
Openness to insecurities allows for a deeper exploration of the self and fosters genuine self-acceptance.
Deep dives
Understanding Fear in Meditation Practice
Fear, like other emotions, arises based on conditions. Identifying the deeply conditioned fears of pain, insecurity, and attachment is crucial. Fear arises from not wanting to feel pain or experiencing insecurity, leading to resistance and grasping. Fear plays a significant role in conditioning the mind, fueling attachment and resistance. Working with fear is vital for self-discovery and understanding the mind's patterns.
The Practice of Opening Up and Embracing Vulnerability
The path of meditation involves opening up to different aspects of experience, including the body, emotions, thoughts, senses, and silence. By settling back and opening up to one's true nature without clinging or reaching, a sense of balance and stability is achieved. Recognizing and releasing deeply conditioned fears, such as fear of pain, insecurity, and emotional discomfort, is essential for genuine self-discovery and growth.
Confronting the Fear of Insecurity and Judgement
Fear of insecurity often stems from a reluctance to face certain emotions or vulnerabilities. This fear leads to self-judgment and the creation of a rigid self-image to seek safety. Being open to insecurities and vulnerabilities allows for a deeper exploration of the self and a more authentic experience. Working through the fear of being judged or insecure helps in overcoming limitations and fostering genuine self-acceptance.
Balancing Fear and Action in Meditation
In meditation practice, encountering fear presents an opportunity for growth. Learning to sustain curiosity and awareness when fear arises, observing physical sensations, images, thoughts, and mental tones associated with fear is key. Applying discriminating wisdom to decide when to act despite fear and when to retreat skillfully contributes to inner balance and growth. Cultivating loving-kindness and investigating the nature of mind-made fears help in facing and working through fear effectively.
Joseph Goldstein discusses how working with fear is absolutely essential in our practice of understanding, opening, and accepting.
This 1983 dharma talk was originally published on Dharmaseed.
This week on Insight Hour, Joseph Goldstein teaches us about:
Releasing tension through awareness
The body as an energy system
Opening up to the Buddha nature
Working with fear and emotional pain
Resistance and unwillingness to be uncomfortable
Becoming open to pain and discomfort
Insecurity and the fear of being judged
How the fear of feeling certain emotions keeps us bound to negative habits
How openness allows our hearts to be touched
Death and fear of the unknown
Being okay with being afraid
Having space for fear without demands
Lovingkindness as the antidote for fear
“What we’re doing in our practice is learning how to work with those experiences which often cause trouble, which often cause resistance, which we’re afraid of.”– Joseph Goldstein