Fear
Of the Essential influences mentioned in the Basican Guide, fear is not one. Why is this? It is neither a foundational, primary experience of reality, nor is it necessary. It is secondary and optional.
It has been noted by human intellect (and with a wink of good humor) that nature prevents all events from occurring simultaneously by way of the faculty of time. In this understanding, all time is not now. Even if our memories and speculations are occurring in the present moment, that only means our personal experience of time is all in the now.
New babies do not have any sense of time. While infants pass through time, as do we all, they lack the mental capacity to hold speculation about the future in the mind. Their experience of life is all current moment. If they are happy, they are happy. If they cry, it is not because they have any concern for what will happen or are reflecting upon what has; they only have the immediate awareness that something is not currently right: they are uncomfortable because they are hungry, need a diaper change, are holding a burp, are cold, feel alone, or have some other source of pain or distress. Therefore, they have no fear. Fear is what occurs when we look to the future with a sense or belief that either good experience will lessen or cease or that bad experience might occur, continue, or worsen. Without a sense of at least the very near future, a moment simply is what it is, with whatever joy or pain it may contain, in and of itself. Therefore, fear is not the opposite of love; it is the opposite of hope, both being responses to our speculations and desires.
If it is wise to learn from the past and to plan for the future in order to ensure living well and fully in each present moment, the possibility of fear arising cannot be avoided. We cannot hide from it behind a determination to live only in the now. Therefore, it must be faced and dealt with. How is this done? By cultivating courage, inner peace, faith, hope, and the foundational and primary power of the Essential Influence of Love.
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