Every morning the newspapers are full of stories on anthrax. There are reports coming in from every corner of the world, so much so that fear sets in as soon as we see the postman slipping an envelope into the mailbox.

The question seems more relevant when we find that in actuality many of these cases are false alarms. Why do we enjoy creating false alarms? Why is the mind so ready to believe anthrax has come knocking at our doors? Why do we so enjoy reading about such cases and dismiss with little interest the crucial line that it was a false alarm? Why do we enjoy writing about it? Why do we enjoy talking about it endlessly on the phone or with our neighbors?  Not all the above acts are conscious acts. Many of them we do automatically.

If you think about it, perhaps it is actually because we feel secure with a little fear in our hearts. When we have something to worry about, we no longer feel lonely. We cling to fear for companionship. Particularly in today’s world when even in a company many of us feel alone, fear is the only thing we clutch at. Fear is a constant companion and an ever faithful one. Some deep fears are so personal that we become possessive about them and do not let them go. Fear gives us identity. It makes us feel special. How often do we think that we are most susceptible to any danger? We explain away, rationalize other people’s fears. Our own we nourish with the love for the self.

There is a difference between being alert and aware and fear

Fear talks to us. It tells us the world is bad. By negation, one understands oneself as good. So it is comforting. Fear tells us not to venture beyond a point. By implication, one feels persecuted by life. One feels sorry for oneself and sits back reveling in self-pity. Fear gives us excuses by telling us something is dangerous or evil. Fear gives us an alibi when inefficient. One actually thinks fear is protecting. But fear is masking the true self from the world and the world from one.  The need is to conquer fear.

Says Acharya Mahapragya that it is not rare to meet a man who is completely honest, very brave, very well read, or very generous. But, indeed, it is rare to meet a man who is totally devoid of fear. Discarding fear is important.

This does not mean throwing caution to the winds. There is a difference between being alert and aware and fear. A recent incident illustrates this. The Jain Vishva Bharati University in the town of Ladnun in Rajasthan is large, sprawling and full of activities such as meditation, Preksha Dhyan (meditation), yoga and so on. Walking to and fro in the complex are nuns and monks. The only noisy visitors are peacocks and peahens and some camels who wear bells around their neck or feet.

A visiting research scholar found the place very soothing and peaceful. But something made him uncomfortable. ‘‘When there is so much spirituality and value-based activities, why do houses or buildings have a lock hanging outside them? Is there not a contradiction?’’ he asked.

Fear does not mean being foolhardy.

There is actually no contradiction. One is an attitude. Another is a social expression. It is possible that in time this attitude may influence or change social expression, but that takes time. Till then it is necessary to be alert and aware. Fear does not mean being foolhardy. Fearlessness means being aware and having knowledge. We fear that of which we know least or do not know at all. Half-baked knowledge is the breeding ground of fear. When we have adequate knowledge, we have less fear.

It is not so difficult to be rid of fear. Face it. What will happen? Nothing. Only fear will perish. Among the Jain monks there is a practice of fearlessness or 'abhay' that puts them through many seemingly frightening situations to build their courage. In one such a monk is required to spend the entire night in the open, away from dwellings and in as remote a place as possible, alone and in meditation.

To us, the first step could be to build faith in oneself. When you have faith in yourself, many fears will vanish. Sometimes and to some, religion helps build faith. Like the Dalai Lama says, it is not necessary to follow a religion, but if you do, then do so sincerely so that you understand the world better thereby. Understanding does not mean following all the ritual practices and austerities. They have their place. But to build faith, to repose faith, to be able to surrender oneself is the first step towards a better understanding and towards fearlessness.