Expert: Justin Choo - 1/24/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello Justin:

I have read that fear is ill-will towards the future and that compassion is the anti-dote for ill-will.  How can I use compassion to overcome fear?   

Simon

ANSWER: Hi Simon,

Thank you for asking me.

"I have read that fear is ill-will towards the future.."
The above statement is new to me. Personally, I don't think so.

"and that compassion is the anti-dote for ill-will."
I agree with this statement.  But I don't see a relation between fear and compassion; because ill-will is not the link between fear and compassion.

"Fear" can be real or just psychological.  For example, in times of war, fear is very real.  

Psychological fear is the most difficult phobia to eradicate because its source is in the mind. It is very easy to give advice, but most difficult to follow through. The most popular answer is to face fear itself. Another approach is to tell yourself what is the worst that will befall you.

For the Christians, prayers will help. For Buddhist reciting certain "mantra" or "discourse" will also help. You see, it's all in the mind. So long as the mind can believe the power of prayer or mantra, the mind will be assured and at peace. Inthis respect "faith and belief" play an important part in this psychological problem.

My personal opinion is to read some good "motivation" or "self-improvement" books. They have very powerful advice and suggestions that you can follow. These books help in improving one's self-esteem and self-confidence.

Hope this helps.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Justin:

Thank you for your reply.  I got this statement from a Buddhist web site and I was curious about it so that is why I asked you for clarification.  So my next question is: if fear is not due to ill-will towards the future or for that matter ill-will towards anything, and is not a result of delusion or greed, and it is a real valid fear, which of the 3 roots of suffering would it fall under? It has to fall under one of them because fear is definitely a form of suffering.


Please don't think I am trying to make this a difficult question.  I really want to understand.

Simon

ANSWER: Hi Simon,

Welcome back.

"Fear" is a form of suffering, you're right.  To relate fear within the context of the 3 roots of evil, we need to discuss the causes of fear.  

Take greed, fear can arise in two ways.  The fear of losing that, which one already had.  The other extreme is the fear of not being able to enmass the most possible.

The second root is hatred.  The fear of being hurt by the people one hates.

The third is delusion.  Ignorance of the true nature of existence.  This is the greatest curse to mankind.  Out of this ignorance, humans cling to the ego, the importance of this self.  The fear of losing whatever one has.  Fear caused by wrong beliefs, by superstitions.  

Hope this helps.

Please come back if you need further clarifications.  I am here to answer all your questions.

Take care.

Justin Choo.

[I like to invite you to visit my blog:]
http://lifeislikethat999.blogspot.com/

[And these sites by Rev. Dhammika:]
http://sdhammika.blogspot.com/
http://www.buddhismatoz.com/

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Justin:

I noticed that you relate ill-will, greed and delusion to the 3 roots of evil, while I am relating them to the 3 roots of suffering.  I can see how they can be inter related, but is it possible that fear can be a root of suffering without being a root of evil?

Below is a quote I got from a Buddhist website explaining what ill-will is:

Ill-will is a synonym for aversion.  It comprises hatred, anger, resentment, and repulsion of every shade, whether directed towards other people, towards oneself, towards objects or towards situations.

Would it be correct to say that fear is both aversion and repulsion towards a situation?  If this is correct I am still asking myself how can compassion be used to overcome ill-will?  Perhaps the correct anti-dote to fear is wisdom, and I would say that wisdom always contains a degree of compassion.  

Simon


Answer
Hi Simon,

We don't have to be too worried to interprete concepts in such detail and trying to fit them nicely like a jigsaw puzzle.  Please remember that we are just trying to interprete the Buddha's teachings.  Being a very liberal "religion", followers/teachers are given freedom to interprete its teachings the best they could.  This freedom of thoughts is the hallmark of Buddhism.  Since there will be varying approaches towards any subject, it is up to us to use our common sense and human intelligence to analyze them; accept them if agreeable, otherwise just reject them, or at worst, agree to disagree.  Then we will not have any problem.

It is the same here with my comments.  Please apply the principle of freedom of thoughts and expression.  I shall state my views, and if anyone not agreeable with my comments then it is ok.  

Coming back to your comments.  I thought the 3 roots of evil are similar to the 3 roots of suffering.  What are the 3 roots of suffering then?   

The interpretation of illwill by that website is agreeable with me.

"Would it be correct to say that fear is both aversion and repulsion towards a situation?"
As I said before, fear takes different versions.  Fear of losing something that we cherished.  Fear of getting that which we do not like, that is, aversion, repulsion.  

"Perhaps the correct anti-dote to fear is wisdom, and I would say that wisdom always contains a degree of compassion."
The first of the Noble Eightfold Path is Right View.  With right view, the person will have wisdom.  Wisdom means the ability to see the truths of this existence.  Once this is achieved, all questions are answered.  The person will have the wisdom to understand the world's "mysteries".  The Buddha's teachings are just that.  To guide us to work towards gaining wisdom, thereby rid of the 3 roots of evil, and gain liberation.

Wisdom contains all the ingredients of peace and contentment.

Hope this helps.

Justin Choo

(Simon, please click the "ask a question" box to start a new "thread" should you like to continue this conversation.  This "thread" is becoming too long.)