author: unknown
title: fear
once there was a young
warrior. her teacher told her that she
had to do battle with fear. she didn't want to do that. it
seemed too aggressive; it was scary; it seemed unfriendly.
but the teacher said that she had to do it and gave her instructions
for the battle.
the day arrived. the
student warrior stood on one side, fear on the other. the
warrior was feeling very small, and fear was looking big and
wrathful. they both had their weapons.
the young warrior roused
herself and went toward fear, prostrated three times, and
asked,
'may I have the permission to go into battle with you?'
fear said, 'thank you for showing me so much respect that
you ask permission.'
then the young warrior said, 'how can I defeat you?'
fear replied, 'my weapons are that I talk fast, and I get
very close to your face. then you get completely unnerved
and you do whatever I say. if you don't do what I tell you,
I have no power. you can listen to me. you can even be convinced
by me. but if you don't do what I say, I have no power.'
in that way, the student
warrior learned how to defeat fear.
walk
on without fear
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