Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.2Famous
intermediate
सोऽबिभेत्। तस्मादेकाकी बिभेति। स हायमीक्षां चक्रे यन्मदन्यन्नास्ति कस्मान्नु बिभेमीति। तत एवास्य भयं वीयाय। कस्माद्ध्यभेष्यत्। द्वितीयाद्वै भयं भवति॥
so\'bibhet | tasmādekākī bibheti | sa hāyamīkṣāṃ cakre yanmadanyannāsti kasmānnu bibhemīti | tata evāsya bhayaṃ vīyāya | kasmāddhyabheṣyat | dvitīyādvai bhayaṃ bhavati ||
"He was afraid. Therefore one who is alone is afraid. But he thought: "Since there is nothing other than myself, of what am I afraid?" Then his fear departed. Of what indeed should he be afraid? Fear arises from a second."
What This Means:
Even the primal Self felt fear when alone. But realizing there was nothing other than itself, fear vanished. Fear comes only when there seems to be a "second" (other).
Going Deeper:
Dvitiya (second/other) is the root of fear. Non-duality is the end of fear. This is a key Advaitic insight.
How To Apply This:
Your fears arise from seeing something "other." Recognize all as your Self, and fear ends.
#fear#aloneness#second#non-duality