Significance of Fear
Synonyms: Terror, Apprehension, Dread, Anxiety, Worry, Panic, Horror, Trepidation
In Dutch: Angst; In Finnish: Pelko; In Spanish: Miedo; In German: Furcht; In Swedish: 搁盲诲蝉濒补; In Malay: Takut; In French: Peur
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Fear'
In Buddhism, fear is viewed as a complex emotional response that can hinder a monk's actions, influence moral judgment, and disrupt meditation. Understanding and managing fear can lead to greater confidence, discipline, and ultimately liberation from suffering.
From: Patipada (path of practice)
(1) This is one of the most important kilesas, and one who is timid may use the method of taking the tigers as his teacher, to help him in his training and discipline, by making the effort to get rid of it.[1] (2) This is a motivator used by some to discipline the heart, which is also used as a way to prompt overcoming and grasping victory, to be the master with honor and dignity.[2]
From: Dhammapada (Illustrated)
(1) An emotional response to perceived threats; the text discusses misconceptions around fear鈥攆earing what should not be feared and not fearing what should be.[3]
From: Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka
(1) An emotional response that can lead a monk to act inappropriately; such an influence must be managed.[4]
From: Cetasikas
(1) An emotional response linked to dosa that involves disliking the object experienced and can lead to suffering.[5]
From: Maha Buddhavamsa鈥擳he Great Chronicle of Buddhas
(1) An emotional response that can lead practitioners to lose focus, constituting part of Mara's Sixth Army.[6]
From: Vinaya Pitaka (4): Parivara
(1) A feeling of anxiety regarding potential danger or harm, influencing one鈥檚 moral judgement and actions.[7]
From: Milindapanha (questions of King Milinda)
(1) A negative emotion that is removed from a meditator, allowing them to experience greater confidence.[8]
From: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
(1) An emotional response experienced during meditation in various settings, which the Buddha addresses by suggesting recollections.[9]
Hindu concept of 'Fear'
Fear in Hinduism encompasses various emotional responses to perceived threats, influencing interactions and behaviors. It can lead to divine intervention and is acknowledged in spiritual teachings, illustrating its complexity across divine figures and human experiences.
From: Chaitanya Bhagavata
(1) An emotion that causes Vishvambhara to leave, indicating a sense of apprehension or anxiety.[10] (2) An emotion acknowledged in the teachings, emphasizing that individuals should not fear the process of surrendering to the Supreme Lord.[11] (3) The emotion that motivated Shri Mishra to surrender his son, indicating desperation or deep concern.[12] (4) The emotion elicited in the individuals that prompted the Lord's intervention.[13] (5) A powerful emotion that causes the Lord's parents to stop trying to restrain Him.[14]
From: Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu
(1) The emotion that Radha experiences upon seeing Shankhacuda's advances towards her.[15] (2) An emotional state that influences certain characters, like Kamsa, in their relationship with the divine.[16] (3) An emotional response that prompts the subject to attempt to flee.[17] (4) An emotional response to a perceived threat, which can trigger a range of reactions in individuals.[18] (5) The emotional response experienced by the wrestler upon seeing Krishna in the arena.[19]
From: Garga Samhita (English)
(1) The emotion being questioned within the context of the dialogue, particularly the fear that the demigods supposedly exhibit.[20] (2) an emotional response to a perceived threat or danger[21] (3) The emotion that prevented the vaishyas from communicating with the Lord.[22] (4) A feeling of anxiety or apprehension; in the text, it refers to the fear experienced even by the demigod Brahma.[23] (5) An emotional response to perceived danger or threat.[24]
From: Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation
(1) The concerns of the speaker regarding their spiritual safety and the potential for slippage back into worldly cares.[25]
From: Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri)
(1) The emotion felt by the people over Prince Asumanjas's dangerous behavior.[26] (2) The anxieties that trouble the queen, prompting concern from the king.[27]
From: Ramayana of Valmiki (Griffith)
(1) Fear is mentioned in the context of counsel and the actions of Ravan, who claims he will not act out of it, as the text describes.[28] (2) Fear is an emotion that Sita experienced when she saw Rama and noticed his changed appearance.[29]
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) A condition described in the context of the Trigartas, who are overwhelmed by the oppressions of the Matsyas.[30]
From: Hayanaratna: The Jewel of Annual Astrology
(1) This represents an emotional response to perceived danger, threat, or harm. It is associated with negative experiences and outcomes.[31] (2) This word is linked to the sixth house, which covers the emotional and psychological states, and is used to describe a feeling of distress and apprehension caused by the awareness of danger.[32] (3) Fear is an emotion of anxiety or apprehension, and its presence is linked to the influence of Saturn as the ruler of the year, as indicated in the provided text.[33]
From: Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja鈥檚 Rajamartanda)
(1) Describes another tactic employed by celestial beings to challenge Yogis, manifested as terrifying forms during meditation.[34]
Jain concept of 'Fear'
In Jainism, Fear is viewed as a quasi-passion arising from anxiety or perceived threats, highlighting its nature as an emotional response that can be managed through spiritual understanding and practices aimed at reducing attachment and aversion.
From: Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary)
(1) A quasi-passion triggered by anxiety or perceived threats.[35]
The concept of Fear in local and regional sources
The keyphrase "Fear" encapsulates the emotional struggles faced by characters, highlighting apprehension, anxiety, and the drive to flee, while ultimately suggesting its transcendence through realization of one's limitless nature.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) Fear is a constant state of being and is caused by being a slave of nature and the constant worry about the body.[36] (2) This term is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat, and is also something that everything in life is fraught with.[37] (3) Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, and the whole secret of existence is to have no fear.[38] (4) Fear is something that must die when you realize that you are the Infinite.[39]
From: Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints
(1) Fear describes Eknath's emotional state as he approaches the fakir, indicating his apprehension.[40]
From: Triveni Journal
(1) The emotion that pervades the speaker's thoughts as they grapple with confusion and uncertainty about their desires.[41]
From: Sanskrit Words In Southeast Asian Languages
(1) Fear indicates a feeling of anxiety, which is absent in the description of Abhayagata, according to the text, suggesting a state of confidence.[42]
From: Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England
(1) Those that survived could not be recalled from spiritual death by the death of their friends, or this of death.[43]
From: Village Folk-tales of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), vol. 1-3
(1) An emotional response that drives various characters to act in ways that result in fleeing from the man in the story.[44] (2) The emotion experienced by both Sigiris Sinno and the other giant during their encounter.[45]
The concept of Fear in scientific sources
Fear is an intense emotional and physical response to perceived danger, influencing mental health, student experiences in online learning, and even measured in specific contexts like dental anxiety, highlighting its significant impact across cultures.
From: The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
(1) This is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat, and cross-cultural research on six basic emotions, namely, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, surprise and happiness, showed a difference in the cognitive and affective perception of emotion between American Canadians and Chinese Koreans.[46] (2) Fear is an intense physical response to immediate danger, an alarm response to present or imminent danger, and it is also a mediator between mental health problems and student perception during online distance learning.[47] (3) Fear is a factor that is measured, and the IDAF-4C module consists of only one factor that measures this particular emotion in the context of dental anxiety.[48]