Abhaya (Fearlessness)

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A disciple once asked Swami Vivekananda, “What do you meditate upon?" He replied, “I meditate on the heart of the lion!" No wonder that he was so fearless and left behind a blazing trail of extraordinary feats. An amazing incident is told of his bravery – it is said that once Swami Vivekananda was walking in a park along with some of his western disciples when an enraged bull charged straight at them. Vivekananda calmly stood between the charging bull and the lady disciple. He was keenly watching the bull coming towards them, when a curious thing happened. The bull stopped in its tracks suddenly, stared at the Swami for a while and then turned back and walked away! The stunned disciple asked, “Swamiji, what was running your mind when the bull was charging at us? You seemed to be completely unperturbed?" The Swami replied that he was calculating the speed of the bull and how far he would be thrown off by the impact of the collision!

If there is one quality which the yogis and sadhus of India have been known for since the ages, it is abhaya. Having understood and experienced the imperishable nature of the Self, they had conquered even the fear of Death.

A similar legend is told of an Indian yogi whom Alexander met durin
g his expedition in India:

“Once Alexander sent one of his messengers, Onesikritos (a student of Diogenes) to summon a great forest-dwelling sage called Dandini (known as Dandamis in Greek) to come to Alexander"s camp and engage in some philosophical discourse with him. The sage, absorbed in blissful contemplation, gave no answer. Onesikritos warned the yogi that Alexander did not take kindly to not being obeyed, and that he would have the sage put to death if he did not comply with his request. To which Dandini calmly remarked that the tyrant may well cut off his head, but could never disturb the peace of his soul… something that Alexander had apparently never found in all his wanderings and conquests.

Alexander on receiving the message was seized by the greatest desire to meet such a fearless sage, and came to him willingly. The great yogi taught him that the body belongs to man, but that man does not belong to the body, so even beheading does not bring any suffering to one established in soul consciousness." (Source: Yoga — A Journey from Confusion to Fusion co-authored by Swami Sarveshwarananda, Shreyas Publications)

The fearlessness of the wise man who has seen what lies beyond death is absolute; nothing can shake him or subdue him again. But, what about lesser mortals like us who have not yet been blessed by the vision of the undying Atman? The Gita has practical lessons for all of us too.