Fear is a sign of insecurity felt in the face of any impending or perceived adverse situation. Fear may be of physical, emotional or financial insecurity or for retribution for having done some thing improper or illegal. Fear may be of other people including the law, elders and bosses or it may be of God.

In almost all cases fear arises from not complying with the laws of the land or in the spiritual field for unethical deeds. Some people also fear not observing certain superstitions or rituals.

We understand the mundane situations but generally question the teachings by religions that warn against Divine retribution for committing transgressions. Some say this fear is created only to accept the existence of God. Others ask:

“Why does religion try to instill fear of punishment when God is merciful”?

Those who ask this question do not seem to realize that God does not belong only to them but to all, like parents to their children.If one child does harm to another the parent chastises it. This applies to the whole mankind as children of God.

Religions mention five types of evil namely lust, anger, greed, attachment and vanity called Kaam Krodh, Lobh, Moh and Ahankaar respectively in Gurbani, the Guru’s word. If we have a look at these it would be clear that a person who has these harms others. Lust, except in relation to and with the consent of the spouse, and anger generally result in physical or emotional injuries. Greed generally results in appropriating what belongs to others. Attachment results in casting evil eye on others’ wealth or physical body. Vanity is poison for interpersonal relations.

It is therefore logical to expect that God the father would chastise its children for any transgressions that affect others. Faiths other than of the Sikh also have fear of superstitions and rituals. They are basically designed by the priestly classes and are not relevant to a discerning spiritual mind.

Fear of both the laws of nature or of the land is essential and really means obedience in order to obviate being hauled up. So the principle is “Fear so that you are not afraid” i.e. obey the rules. Those who do not, are ever worried. The fourth Guru says:

ਸੋ ਡਰੈ ਜਿ ਪਾਪ ਕਮਾਵਦਾ ਧਰਮੀ ਵਿਗਸੇਤੁ ॥ ਤੂੰ ਸਚਾ ਆਪਿ ਨਿਆਉ ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਡਰੀਐ ਕੇਤੁ ॥੪੮੪

Afraid is one who violates rules; one who obeys is happy;

You are truthful and Your decisions just O Lord, so why should we be afraid? (M: 4, p 84).

Violations of law are committed by people thinking that no one is watching them. But the fear still haunts:

ਡਰਿ ਡਰਿ ਮਰਤੇ ਜਬ ਜਾਨੀਐ ਦੂਰਿ ॥ ਡਰੁ ਚੂਕਾ ਦੇਖਿਆ ਭਰਪੂਰਿ ॥ ੫੧੮੬

Those who perceive the Creator to be away somewhere and do evil, keep suffering in pain;

Those who perceive It to be present every where do no wrong and have no fear (M: 5, p 186).

Those who have the habit of ignoring the laws suffer from fear a lot:

ਜਿਨਾ ਭਉ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਨਾਹਿ ਭਉ ਮੁਚੁ ਭਉ ਨਿਭਵਿਆਹ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਏਹੁ ਪਟੰਤਰਾ ਤਿਤੁ ਦੀਬਾਣਿ ਗਇਆਹ ॥੧॥੨੭੮੮

Those who obey the laws have no fear; those who disobey suffer much in fear;

This mystery is revealed by our conscience-Spirit, the Creator within (M: 2, p 788).

The way to overcome fear is to accept the laws and obey them such as if they are beneficial to us. There are people who do not devote themselves to their work thinking they are clever. But get hauled up sooner than later. Persons in service should identify themselves with the objectives of their organization and work sincerely. There will then be no fear. We read in Asa Di Vaar:

ਏਹ ਕਿਨੇਹੀ ਚਾਕਰੀ ਜਿਤੁ ਭਉ ਖਸਮ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੇਵਕੁ ਕਾਢੀਐ ਜਿ ਸੇਤੀ ਖਸਮ ਸਮਾਇ ॥੨॥ ੨੪੭੫

What sort of service it is if fear of the boss persists?

A good employee is one who merges his/her objectives with those of the employer (M: 2, p 475).

The third Guru says eagerness to live by the rules removes susceptibility to evil:

ਇਹੁ ਤਨੁ ਸਭੋ ਰਤੁ ਹੈ ਰਤੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਤੰਨੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਜੋ ਸਹ ਰਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਤਿਤੁ ਤਨਿ ਲੋਭੁ ਰਤੁ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਭੈ ਪਇਐ ਤਨੁ ਖੀਣੁ ਹੋਇ ਲੋਭੁ ਰਤੁ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਜਿਉ ਬੈਸੰਤਰਿ ਧਾਤੁ ਸੁਧੁ ਹੋਇ ਤਿਉ ਹਰਿ ਕਾ ਭਉ ਦੁਰਮਤਿ ਮੈਲੁ ਗਵਾਇ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਤੇ ਜਨ ਸੋਹਣੇ ਜਿ ਰਤੇ ਹਰਿ ਰੰਗੁ ਲਾਇ ॥੫੨॥੩੧੩੮੦

The human body has blood in it; a body cannot exist without blood;

But those imbued with the love of the Master do not have greed in their blood;

Being in compliance they develop humility and are rid of greed;

The way a metal is purified by fire similarly obedience to the Master removes evil;

Those imbued with obedience of Divine Spirit are glorified (M: 3, p 1380).

A child obeys the parents naturally even without thinking that it is doing so. This leads to its happiness. Similarly humans should obey the laws without any qualification:

ਪਾਇਓ ਬਾਲ ਬੁਧਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਰੇ ॥ ਹਰਖ ਸੋਗ ਹਾਨਿ ਮਿਰਤੁ ਦੂਖ ਸੁਖ ਚਿਤਿ ਸਮਸਰਿ ਗੁਰ ਮਿਲੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥੫੨੧੪

One obtains happiness acting with the innocence of a child;

One learns this from the Guru;

Then joy, sorrow, loss, death, pain and comfort all seem alike. Pause. (M: 5, p 214).

The literal meaning of ਭੈ (Bhai) is fear that indicates being afraid or frightened but it also means obedience to the law or commands. That should become one’s nature as is the case with all inanimate things in nature since they do not think they are smart. A sample:

ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਪਵਣੁ ਵਹੈ ਸਦਵਾਉ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਚਲਹਿ ਲਖ ਦਰੀਆਉ ॥

ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਕਢੈ ਵੇਗਾਰਿ ॥ ਭੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਧਰਤੀ ਦਬੀ ਭਾਰਿ ॥ ੧੪੬੪

It is the nature of wind to blow; of the rivers to flow;

Fire does its job where applied; the earth bears the weight of all (M: 1, p 464).

Unqualified obedience to the parents by a child leads to love. Similarly obedience establishes bond be it between a human and God or an employee and the employer. Guru Nanak says:

ਨਾਨਕ ਜਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹ ਮਨਿ ਭਉ ਤਿਨ੍ਹ੍ਹਾ ਮਨਿ ਭਾਉ ॥੨॥ ੧੪੬੫

Those who have obedience in their minds develop love (M: 1, p 465).

But those who realize this are rare:

ਭੈਬਿਚਿਭਾਉਭਾਇਕੋਊਬੂਝਹਿਹਰਿਰਸੁਪਾਵੈਭਾਈ॥

ਜੇਤੇਘਟਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤੁਸਭਹੀਮਹਿਭਾਵੈਤਿਸਹਿਪੀਆਈ॥੨॥ਕ੧੧੨੩

A few experience obedience developing into love; they receive the nectar of Divine virtues;

This nectar is present in all but only those who get the Creator’s grace drink (Kabir, p 1123).

The third Guru says:

ਭੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਹੋਵਈ ਨਾਮਿ ਨ ਲਗੈ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਐ ਭਉ ਊਪਜੈ ਭੈ ਭਾਇ ਰੰਗੁ ਸਵਾਰਿ ॥

ਤਨੁ ਮਨੁ ਰਤਾ ਰੰਗ ਸਿਉ ਹਉਮੈ ਤ੍ਰਿਸਨਾ ਮਾਰਿ ॥

ਮਨੁ ਤਨੁ ਨਿਰਮਲੁ ਅਤਿ ਸੋਹਣਾ ਭੇਟਿਆ ਕ੍ਰਿਸਨਮੁਰਾਰਿ ॥

ਭਉ ਭਾਉ ਸਭੁ ਤਿਸ ਦਾ ਸੋ ਸਚੁ ਵਰਤੈ ਸੰਸਾਰਿ ॥੯॥ ੩੭੮੮

Devotion is not possible without obedience and love for Divine virtues;

Company of the Guru instills obedience and the mind is imbued with love;

This love manifests when ego and craving go;

The body and mind blossom when one has vision of the Divine within;

Obey and love the One who is all pervasive (M: 3, p 788).

The expression ਭੈ ਭਾਇ (Bhai Bhaaaey) used in the second line of the above verse is used many times in Gurbani.This is recommended instead of rituals and the make up the bride wears to attract her husband. So the term Bhai Bhaaey Seegaar is used, like:

ਭੈ ਭਾਇ ਸੀਗਾਰੁ ਬਣਾਏ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਪਰਸਾਦੀ ਮਹਲੁ ਘਰੁ ਪਾਏ ॥

ਅਨਦਿਨੁ ਸਦਾ ਰਵੈ ਦਿਨੁ ਰਾਤੀ ਮਜੀਠੈ ਰੰਗੁ ਬਣਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੪॥੩੧੧੨

The bride soul that wears the make up of obedience and love;

Gets to the Master’s abode with the Guru’s grace;

Finds the spouse ever present with her and enjoys in love permanently (M: 3, p 112).

Guru Nanak says that one should have such obedience that it forms part of nature. Such a person then has no fear:

ਡਰਿ ਘਰੁ ਘਰਿ ਡਰੁ ਡਰਿ ਡਰੁ ਜਾਇ ॥

ਸੋ ਡਰੁ ਕੇਹਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਡਰਿ ਡਰੁ ਪਾਇ ॥ ੧੧੫੧

Once the mind becomes obedient, obedience becomes its nature and all fears go;

What fear it is if one is still afraid? (M: 1, p 151).

That means we should fear the highest authority so that fear of all others does not arise. Guru Arjun says:

ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸਿਮਰਿ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਚਰਨ ਕਮਲ ਰਖੁ ਮਨ ਮਾਹੀ ॥

ਤਾ ਕੀ ਸਰਨਿ ਪਰਿਓ ਨਾਨਕ ਦਾਸੁ ਜਾ ਤੇ ਊਪਰਿ ਕੋ ਨਾਹੀ ॥੨॥੧੨॥੯੮॥ ੫੮੨੪

Remembrance of the Creator brings solace so ever keep Its lotus feet in mind;

This servant has therefore sought refuge in the One above whom there is none (M: 5, p 824).

Finally, Guru Nanak emphasizes the value of fear:

ਭਉ ਮੁਚੁ ਭਾਰਾ ਵਡਾ ਤੋਲੁ ॥ ਮਨ ਮਤਿ ਹਉਲੀ ਬੋਲੇ ਬੋਲੁ ॥

ਸਿਰਿ ਧਰਿ ਚਲੀਐ ਸਹੀਐ ਭਾਰੁ ॥ ਨਦਰੀ ਕਰਮੀ ਗੁਰ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥੧॥

ਭੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਕੋਇ ਨ ਲੰਘਸਿ ਪਾਰਿ ॥ ਭੈ ਭਉ ਰਾਖਿਆ ਭਾਇ ਸਵਾਰਿ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਭੈ ਤਨਿ ਅਗਨਿ ਭਖੈ ਭੈ ਨਾਲਿ ॥ ਭੈ ਭਉ ਘੜੀਐ ਸਬਦਿ ਸਵਾਰਿ ॥

ਭੈ ਬਿਨੁ ਘਾੜਤ ਕਚੁ ਨਿਕਚ ॥ ਅੰਧਾ ਸਚਾ ਅੰਧੀ ਸਟ ॥੨॥

ਬੁਧੀ ਬਾਜੀ ਉਪਜੈ ਚਾਉ ॥ ਸਹਸ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਪਵੈ ਨ ਤਾਉ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਮਨਮੁਖਿ ਬੋਲਣੁ ਵਾਉ ॥ ਅੰਧਾ ਅਖਰੁ ਵਾਉ ਦੁਆਉ ॥੩॥੧॥੧ ੧੫੧

Fear has great value and weight; human intellect and talk are lower;

Living in the fear of the Creator comes with Guru’s teaching and Divine grace;

No one can cross the world ocean without obedience;

Only those who have obedience and love in their minds succeed. Pause.

Obedience creates the longing for the Master;

This happens when fear changes to love with the Guru’s teachings;

Without obedience the efforts do not fructify;

One only keeps groping in ignorance;

Those who go by their mind alone are motivated to only play games;

A thousand wisdoms do not help;

A self oriented person’s words carry no meaning; being in ignorance his/her talk is frivolous (M: 1, p 151).

No one wants to be in a state of fear. The Guru has shown the way. Let us follow it.