Overcoming fear and failure: The Golden Rule of Paramahansa Yogananda and its Practice

Being free of fear is the first virtue

Paramahansa Yogananda remains an enduring guide to those who pursue the path of self-realization. His book, The Golden Rule of Success, is not just a philosophy of success, but a lighthouse that lights the path to inner peace and happiness. In particular, in Chapter 3, "Eliminating Failure," Yogananda deeply delves into the common challenge of "fear," which is humanity, and specifically suggests how to overcome it. This article explores Yogananda's words in depth and analyzes in detail the roots of fear, its negative effects, and practical ways to overcome them.

Recognition of fear as a poison of mind

Yogananda views fear not as mere emotions, but as a "spiritual poison." This suggests that fear is a powerful negative force that erodes the human mind and hampers its growth and happiness. In the unlikely event that fear can have the effect of calming vigilance, but that is the exception, and in most cases fear is the greatest barrier to self-realization.

The most frightening aspect of fear is its self-proliferating nature. Yogananda says that fear creates "a malignant magnetic force that draws the object of fear towards the magnets like the magnets attract iron powder." This increases the chances that what you are afraid of will become reality. This is similar to "self-fulfillment prophecy" in psychology, meaning that fear distorts thoughts and actions, resulting in situations that have been feared.

The negative effects of fear and serious damage to the body

Yogananda analyzes the negative effects of fear from multiple angles.

1. The amplification and fear of suffering increases physical and mental pain. The pain in parts of the body and the anguish that the mind poses are multiplied many times like an amplifier. This is related to a phenomenon known as a stress response, where fear activates the sympathetic nervous system and makes pain sensitive.
   
2. Destructive effects and fears on the heart, nervous system, and brain put a strain on the cardiovascular system, such as speeding up the heartbeat and increasing blood pressure. It can also strain the nervous system and reduce brain function. Long-term fears can cause chronic stress and can lead to impaired physical and mental health.
   
3. Inhibiting and fear of ability destroys abilities essential to success, such as positivity, courage, judgment, common sense, and willpower. When we are caught in fear, we lose our will to try new things and we don't have the courage to face difficult situations. It also makes it difficult to make calm decisions and increases the chances of making incorrect choices.
   
4. Polluting and fear of the subconscious can pollute the subconscious and ruin the ambitious effort of the conscious. The subconscious is the area of ​​unconscious control over our thoughts, emotions and actions. When fear is rooted in the subconscious, even if you consciously strive, unconscious resistance can prevent you from achieving your goals.
   
5. The blockage and fear of intuition puts a veil on intuition, sealing the omnipotent power and the power of an invincible soul. Intuition is the source of insight and creativity that cannot be reached by logical thinking alone. If fear blocks intuition, it can make it difficult to discover new possibilities and miss out on opportunities for self-development.

Practical approaches to eradicating and overcoming fear

Yogananda emphasizes that overcoming fear is not easy, but not impossible. He presents specific ways to eradicate fear:

1. A total mobilization of willpower and judgment - If something is about to hurt you, don't sit still. Mobilize all your willpower and judgment, calmly do something, hurry up, do something anyway. Will is the driving force behind action. When you feel fear, it is important to calmly analyze the situation, create a concrete action plan, and implement it. By taking action, you can overcome your sense of helplessness and increase your self-efficacy.
   
2. Distraction, change of consciousness, if you are troubled by fear of unhealth and failure and can't push it, change your mood by reading interesting books that will enthral you, or even enthusiasm for innocent entertainment. If you do so, your mind will forget that it is plagued by fear. By diverting consciousness from fear, you can escape the rule of fear, even temporarily. This is similar to the idea of ​​mindfulness meditation, and by focusing on the present moment, you can expect to be able to relieve your past trauma and anxiety about the future.
   
3. If you can incorporate psychological strategies, root cutting and new energy, you can pick up a shovel of various psychological strategies and strip away the roots of failure and unhealthy from the soil of your life. Identify the cause of your fear and develop concrete strategies to address it. For example, if you are afraid of failure, you can increase your self-esteem by analyzing past experiences of failure and remembering successful experiences. You can also build confidence by dividing your goals and building up small successes.
   
4. Eradicate fear by inspiring courage and moving and courage to inner peace, and by moving consciousness to perfect inner peace. Through practices such as meditation and yoga, we can overcome fears by finding inner peace and connecting with the self. It is also important to develop the courage to face difficult situations. Courage comes from acting while feeling fear.
   
5. Dating with healthy, prosperous people who have no positive relationships, the influence of the environment, or the fear of illness or failure. The environment around us has a major impact on our thoughts and emotions. By interacting with people who think positively, you can gain hope, courage and the power to overcome fear.

Fear and karma, influence from the past and responsibility for the future

Yogananda also mentions the relationship between fear and karma. He believes that past experiences are engraved in the subconscious and affect the future as karma. Success and failure are carried to the afterlife in the form of seeds of certain inclinations. These past seeds' propensities are usually hidden within a single life, but when elements that are convenient for germination begin to appear. In other words, past trauma and failure experiences may be the cause of current fears.

Yogananda also states that genetic diseases may also be linked to past life karma. The pre-incarnal soul, with tuberculosis prone to from a past life, is drawn to a family affected by tuberculosis. This suggests that the experience necessary for soul growth is attracting a particular environment, not just genetic factors.

However, Yogananda emphasizes that rather than being trapped in past karma, she can change the future through her actions in the present. No matter how healthy and thriving they may be, unless no one destroys all the seeds of their past lives, their future cannot be guaranteed. Even if you have experienced it once, don't be afraid of an accident or illness. Rather, fear the fear itself. This is because fear can lead to repeated accidents and illnesses. Not fear can deviate from the paths that come from them, or at least neutralize their energy. In other words, overcoming fears and having positive thoughts can transform future karma into better things.

Being free of fear and importance as the primary virtue

Yogananda places fearlessness as the "first virtue." This means that overcoming fear is the first step in self-realization. A state of fear is full of courage to face difficult situations, a sense of adventure to challenge an unknown world, and a state of self-confidence to believe in one's own potential.

To be fearless, it is important to deepen your self-awareness and understand the root causes of your fear. It is also effective to develop the ability to find inner peace and control emotions through practices such as meditation and yoga. Furthermore, by consciously practicing positive thinking and increasing self-esteem, you can overcome your fears.

Summary: Overcoming fear and walking the path to true success

Paramahansa Yogananda emphasized the importance of overcoming fear and presented concrete ways to do so. Fear is not just emotions, it is a powerful negative force that erodes our minds and bodies and hinders our self-realization. However, conscious effort and practice can help you overcome your fears and lead a life full of inner peace and happiness. By practicing the teachings of Yogananda, we can take a path to true success without fear.

Shokey Hayashi

Exorcist/Radionics Technique Researcher

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Born in Aomori Prefecture in 1965, he has been suffering from troubles, illnesses and injuries caused by spiritual phenomena since childhood. However, one day, when he was 20 years old, he attended an event, had a mysterious experience at the venue, and was hit by lightning energy from the heavens, as if piercing the spinal cord from his brain, and his psychic abilities blossomed. He then began studying psychology and psychiatry, and now he has combined psychiatry and consciousness engineering. Established "Radionics exorcism" using our own radionics techniques. "It's possible to treat your fortune" beyond exorcism, memorial service, and healing.