Hold on to the Enlightened One

Sri Lakshmana Swamy

Q: I feel fear in your presence. Why?

LS: Fear exists in the mind. So long as the mind exists there will be duality. So long as there is duality there will be fear.

Q: How to get rid of fear?

LS: Mentally hold on to the name and form of an enlightened one. If your concentration is good, the fear will subside.

Q: What is the root of fear?

LS: The root?

Q: The cause, what causes fear to arise?

LS: The mind.

Q: What is the mind?

LS: The ego.

Q: What is the ego?

LS: The I-thought.

Q: What is the I-thought?

LS: The primal thought which arises from the Heart before all other thoughts arise is the I-thought. It identifies itself with the body and makes you think you are a separate person with a mind and a body. When the I-thought goes back to its source, the Heart, and dies, then all fear dies along with it.

Q: How to make the I-thought go back to its source?

LS: By the quest who am I?

Q: I don't understand. What is this quest?

LS: Ask yourself 'Who am I?' Dive within and look for this 'I' that is giving you all this trouble. If you do this earnestly enough you will experience the bliss of the Self.

The quest is the earnest search for the source of the I-thought. 

Q: I still don't understand. How is one to go about doing all this?

LS: If you don't understand or find it difficult, it will be enough if you hold on to the name and form of an enlightened one. Or just try to be without thoughts. If you can manage either of these then the grace of the Self will help you towards the goal.