FEAR

Looking through history, the most prominent fact standing out in the clear light of retrospect is that man, in many of his activities, has been ruled by fear. Both religion and state have controlled people by fear. Fear of punishment - whether it be in cell or gallows, or in the vividly imagined fiery hells of damnation - was the ruler. As mankind evolves toward its potential, we will no longer be ruled by fear. Mystical students learn that the only thing to fear is fear itself. Impersonal (Divine) love is the best and mostfulfilling way of life.

When we speak of love, we are not referring to the self-centered kind of love which is really only desire. We are not speaking of that emotion which is centered on the personality and those that the personality loves. We are speaking of that all-encompassing love that cannot be possessed. This all- encompassing love holds mankind within itself and directs the constructive activities of mankind. Imagine, if all the children of the Cosmic, every segment of the Divine, were to live completely by love, everyone would refrain from harming others, not because of fear of punishment, but because of respect for the rights of all humanity. We would then be loving our neighbors as ourselves. Let us take an inventory and see how, in everyday life, we measure up to the balance of love-fear.

Let's start our inventory with the dawning of the new day. When we awaken and face a new day, are we full of fears? Are we afraid we might have to try something new, or have to learn something new? Possibly we are afraid of failing in something we must do. Or we might be afraid of criticism - afraid that others will look down on us. But there is another way of meeting the new day. Why not meet the dawn happy for theopportunity and challenge? Do we know that with the force of impersonal love we will have the right action, right motive, right speech, right thought throughout the day?

Many of us drive cars during the day. When driving, do we obey the traffic laws and rules of courtesy? If so why? Is it out of fear of punishment? Are we afraid of being caught by the police, and having to pay a fine or suffer imprisonment? Most traffic laws exist to protect our safety and that of others. One outstanding example is the speed laws. It is well known that annually thousands of people die or are injured by driving too fast. And people who speed are constantly in fear of being caught by policemen. However if everyone drove under the influence of love, caring for the safety or people in other cars, caring for the children beside them, there would be far less speeding. The fear factor would be removed and the speed laws would become guidelines that would be followed by everyone to protect themselves from harm and to protect others. Fines and other punishments would no longer be necessary.

There is another form of fear that causes people to break laws, harm others and take their property. Battery and assault are often committed by persons fearing that they have been wronged and they seek revenge (retaliation) for the real or imagined wrong. Fear of being without material possessions can lead to theft. When we learn the true meaning of love, seeking revenge and coveting our neighbor's possessions will have little meaning in life.

Often, someone is slandered in our presence. Gossip and outright lies are told about another person. When this happens in our presence do we agree with the lies? Do we fear being alone in the defense of that person who is the subject of gossip? Do we fear to show the truth because others in the group would not like us? Remember, failure to speak the truth in the face of lies does more than harm the subject of the gossip - it harms all present, and yourself especially. We know that we acted not out or love but out of fear.

We have faced several fears of everyday life. We haven't looked at all of them, but we have examined fear enough to realize what it does to our lives. Let us abolish fear and all of its destructive manifestations. Let us use love in all its divine purpose to rule our lives. It is only when we live by love and not in fear, that we can be truly free.

  • Answer the following questions:

1- (a) How has man been controlled by fear?

(b) What neutralizes fear?

(c) Describe Divine Love.

2- (a) Compare opportunity and fear.

(b) How will impersonal love help throughout the day?

(c) Explain the comparison made with driving.

3- (a) What causes people to break laws?

(b) How can we face up to fear of approval on the subject of gossip?

4- For each of the following words give one word or short phrase which has the same meaning as it has in the passage.

  1. prominent v. opportunity
  2. fulfilling vi. protect

iii. segment                  vii. abolish

  1. dawning viii. manifestations

5- How does the writer compare fear with love?

  • Choose the correct answer:

1- He has become a ______ person after leaving that gang of mischievous boys.

  1. best
  2. as good as
  3. better
  4. good

2- The man was attacked with a ______ object.

  1. sharpest
  2. sharp
  3. sharper
  4. as sharp as

3- You are very ______, risking your life to save that little girl from being hit by the car.

  1. brave
  2. as brave as
  3. braver
  4. bravest

4- Raise your arm ______ you can and do the wave !

  1. highest
  2. as high as
  3. higher
  4. high

5- We were hoping to find a ______ place to hold Sanchez's birthday party than this one.

  1. more cheerful
  2. as cheerful as
  3. most cheerful
  4. cheerful

6- I wish more people were ______ you, Mr. Walter.

  1. more generous
  2. most generous
  3. as generous as
  4. generous

7- "I wish for a ______ world to live in than this one," said the first contestant in the beauty pageant.

  1. more peaceful
  2. as peaceful as
  3. most peaceful
  4. peaceful

8- That ballerina is very tall but she was ______ the other petite ballerinas.

  1. most graceful
  2. more graceful
  3. graceful
  4. as graceful as

9- Let's watch ______ show than this one. It's getting kind of boring.

  1. as exciting as
  2. a most exciting
  3. an exciting
  4. a more exciting

10- I met the ______ man at the party. There is no one else like him in this whole world.

  1. wonderful
  2. most wonderful
  3. as wonderful as
  4. more wonderful

 

  • Use each of the following words or phrases in a sentence of your own:

come into existence – in addition – a desired end – consequence – a different order.

  • Fill in the spaces with words chosen from the following list:

instinctive – repulsive – enjoyable – creative – living – gradually – voluntary.

1- Talking to you about our old experiences is ………

2- The cost of living in Egypt is increasing ………….

3- Animals have ……………………… dread of fire.

4- The project was carried out by ………….. workers.

5- I hate him because he behaves in a …….. manner.

6- He makes his ……… by teaching.

7- Artists and scientists make useful and …… work.

ترجم إلي الإنجليزية:

القلق حالة نفسية تتصف بالخوف والتوتر ، وكثرة التوقعات ، وينجم القلق عن الخوف من المستقبل ، أو توقع لشيء ما ، أو عن صراع في داخل النفس بين النوازع والقيود التي تحول دون تلك النوازع.  ومن أشكال القلق قلق الأم على ابنها إن تأخر عن موعد وصوله ، وقلق الإنسان على وظيفته وعمله ، أو قلق المرء على صحته حين يمرض ، وقلق الطالب على نتائج امتحاناته ، أو قلق التاجر على تجارته .. وهناك أشكال كثيرة من القلق لا مجال لحصرها . ويصاب الإنسان القلق بأعراض مختلفة ، منها الإحساس بالانقباض ، وعدم الارتياح والشعور بعدم الطمأنينة، والتفكير الملح والأرق ، كما قد يشكو القلق من الخفقان وإحساس بتشنج في المعدة أو برودة في الأطراف.