Special Topics
Understanding Fear: What Are You Afraid of?
Hey, what are you afraid of? What makes you fear? Fear of the dark, fear of ghosts, fear of pain, fear of blood, fear of ugliness, fear of illness, fear of disasters, fear of loss… As human beings, we are born with countless fears. Some people are fearless, yet afraid of being laughed at; Some people are usually talkative, yet become spineless on stage; We fear poverty and strive to accumulate wealth; We fear aging and try to freeze or reverse ...
Cultivating the Four Powers to Transcend the Five Fears
There is an intriguing narrative preserved in the Saṃyukta Āgama. One evening, the Buddha led Śakra (Indra), the king of devas, in outdoor walking meditation. They walked for hours on end, testing the patience of the Buddha’s attendant, Venerable Nākapāla. Because the Buddha had not yet retired for the night, the attendant could not go to sleep either. In an attempt to nudge the Buddha into resting, Nākapāla devised a plan to startle him. Wrapping himself in a shaggy w...
A Terrifying Event That Could Cause the Disappearance of the True Dharma
Does "fear" always bring harm? Not necessarily. Often, it is precisely the driving force that guides us to uphold the right path and strive tirelessly. In the “Sutra on the Five Terrors of the World”, the Buddha spoke of five other terrors that are even more alarming than "living in hardship, infamy, death, evil paths, and the power and prestige of the masses." In the future, if a monastic practitioner does not engage in practice, does not uphold the prece...
Story Section: What Is Truly Worthy of Fear
Vipers are not as frightening as the four great vipers within the body. Even when the Sea God manifested as a yaksha, the people on the ship remained unafraid. The Buddha taught the monks how to overcome their fear of ghosts. These Buddhist stories invite us to reflect on what is truly worthy of fear. ■ Editorial Office 《大師密碼M：百變不驚的小黑炭》鍾淑婷繪 A Monk Afraid of Ghosts There is a story about fear in the Dhammapada: One day, the Buddha was expounding the Dharma at ...
[Practice Section] Practices for Letting Go of Fear
What do you do when fear strikes? The Buddha has taught the practice of recollecting the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha; scriptures also recommend chanting the sacred names of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, cultivating loving-kindness, and practicing meditation; the Thai meditation master Ajahn Chah would go to cemeteries to confront fear directly—for once the fear of death is transcended, there is nothing left to fear. ■ Editorial Office Practice 1: Recollection of the Bud...