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Fearlessness is a prominent aspect of the life of one who has attained samyaktva. Religion, culture and truthfulness cannot co-exist with fear.
Fear arises from an inability to understand, realize and have faith in the immense strength and indomitable nature of the soul. Fear is a weakness of the mind, which leads to doubt and drags the soul into the quicksand of mithyaatva (false beliefs}.
Fearlessness keeps the seeker on the straight and narrow path even when faced with the most adverse circumstances. The fearless seeker does not give up the path of Tirthankara's teachings and remain immersed in his own soul.
It needs to be mentioned that 'fearlessness' does not mean that the seeker will not be afraid of anything! It means that the seeker will not feel any fear that could adversely affect his samyaktva.
In a manner of speaking, all souls who have attained samyaktva, whether they are as cetics or laypersons, fear sinful conduct. But that is a good quality to have. The fearlessness that is implied here refers to being free from any apprehensiveness that could lead to a loss of samyaktva.
1. Aaloka bhaya (fears connected with this world}
Worldly fear is the first type of fear. The soul, which has attained samyaktva does not suffer from any kind of fear regarding his family, community, country, sect, caste, etc. Nor does he fear losing his wealth and property, or the loss of a loved one because he is deeply convinced of the transient nature of all such worldly relationships. He knows that his soul is the only thing in the universe that is truly his. Everything else, including his body, does not belong to him and can be taken away from him at any time. He has realized that only his soul is his own and that he cannot ever be separated from it. He does not fear losing any worldly object or loved one, since he knows that they are not his.
By thinking steadfastly on these lines, the seeker does not fear the occurrence of any loss. Thus, one who has samyaktva never fears mishaps or the occurrence of sorrowful/unpleasant situations.
2. Paraloka Bhaya (fears connected with the other world or arising from other being): One who has samyaktva never fears any living beings. He realises that he is only the soul and not the body and his soul is eternal. Nothing and no one can destroy it or harm it in any way. The soul is its own boss. It is its own doer. He is aware that whatever sorrow one has to face in worldly life is a result of one's own karmas. No one else is to be blamed for it. With this mindset, he remains fearless.
Fearing the circumstances of one's next birth is also known as paraloka bhaya. One who suffers from this sort of fear is constantly worried about what would happen to him in his next birth. He is afraid
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