Don’t Be Afraid! - Abandon Anxiety through Confidence in the Buddha | Ajahn Dhammasiha

The Buddha has given us the following amazing promise:

"In the Dhamma well proclaimed by me thus, which is clear, open, evident, and free of patchwork, those who have sufficient faith in me, sufficient affection for me, are all going to be reborn in heaven."

(The Buddha, Majjima Nikāya/Middle Length Discourses, #22 'Alagaddāpama Sutta'/'The Simile of the Snake)

Even if we can not attain full Nibbāna yet, and do not yet have the insight of a stream-enterer either, just by having a sufficient amount of confidence, faith and affection to the Buddha, we're already assured a heavenly rebirth as a deva!

This extraordinary promise of the Buddha is something we can bring to mind whenever fear or anxiety threaten to overwhelm our mind. The ultimate fear is usually the fear of death. But if we understand that death is not the end, but simply the transition to a new rebirth; and if we are confident that we have sufficient faith and affection for the Buddha to be reborn in devaloka, then death can no longer terrify us. When the fear of death can't overwhelm our mind any more, then all anxiety will be dramatically diminished.

When we're no longer controlled by fear and anxiety, we are able to clearly discern what's beneficial for ourselves and others. Fear can no longer be used to manipulate us to do harmful things to ourselves and others. Free from fear and filled with faith and conficence, the mind is bright and joyful. With a bright and joyful mind, our immune systems work at peak performance. With our immune systems strong, we will have less symptoms and better recovery if we catch any virus, or any other form of sickness.

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