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Our Protection in an Unprotected World 19 disappearing. They have not gone beyond this level. That is why fear is always at the back of their mind.
This meditation helps us gradually experience another approach, a space where fear does not exist. How is this possible? Because the consciousness starts experiencing the permanent behind all the impermanence. It starts seeing the merging of the wave in the emergence of another wave.
Someone may say, "The thing has disappeared.” The person who has meditated will answer, “You talk of disappearing. Do you not see something appearing? Why emphasize that which is lost? Why do you not see that which is gained?” That is why our first meditation was on the changeless behind the changes. The world you see is ever-moving. It moves and that is why it is new and fresh. But our ignorant mind wants to hold on to the things as they were and keep them. The mind has the habit of turning everything into an antique; it loves antiques!
When you have realized the difference between the permanent and the transient exactly, then you are ready to come to the second reflection-asharana, meaning unprotectedness. Beyond that is sharana, meaning protection. The initiate thinks, “I am always trying to seek some protection, some savior. My mind has been comfortable when somebody was leading me, taking care of me. Now I know that what I cannot do for myself nobody will do for me.” This reflection gives a new insight-not to be dependent.
Mental dependence is built from childhood. If the mother goes away, the baby cries. It is natural. But even in their sixties people are like babies crying when mother
