One of the greatest obstacles we face in our life journey is fear. The name of our fears is Legion: fear of death, fear of sickness, fear of lack, fear of being alone, fear of being rejected and ridiculed, fear of being offended. In many instances people are not conscious of their fears - or they are trying to justify them, presenting as "wisdom" and "common sense".

It is unreasonable to expect that we could be instantly delivered from all of our fears. They should be dealt with one by one. And I think we may start such inner work with fear of being ourselves.

We know that we're living in human society, and that our life depends on social relationships in so many ways. It is good and natural to play according to the rules and to fulfill our part in establishing and maintaining a social order. It is an excellent opportunity for us to release the flow of divine love. However, relationships between an individual and society cannot be viewed simplistically. So often society demands conformity, thoughtless embracing of public or group opinions. In some cases it is ready to punish persons who dare to think for themselves and to trust in themselves.

So, it is vital for us to have courage to be ourselves. There is nothing noble about conformism. It robs us of our originality, which is our gift to the world. Our loyalty to the truth of our being should be above our loyalty to people, no matter how we respect them.

Let us loyal to the truth, because we cannot go successfully against the truth. Everything which is not built of the foundation of truth, will not stand. It includes relationships with others.

For ages, religion used to preach conformity and submission in the name of God: "Follow the rules! Obey the elders! Submit to priests and ministers!" In all those cases we deal with an external authority. What religion failed to teach is that the source of true authority is within. "The kingdom of God is within you". In all ages, these words of Jesus remain true: "The Pharisees and the scholars have taken the keys of knowledge and have hidden them. They have not entered nor have they allowed those who want to enter to do so".

"Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world... No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature. Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution", wrote Ralph Emerson.

We need to have in mind that courage to be ourselves is different from rebellion. Rebellion proceeds from self-importance and a wounded ego. It lacks wisdom, love, and peace - essential ingredients of truly positive attitude. It lacks patience and insists on radical changes, not being mindful of their painful consequences. It is aggressive and intrusive.

Courage to be ourselves is born of greater awareness, not of personal pains and hurts. And it is the royal way to freedom for a courageous individual and for many others. When a courageous person meets with opposition, such one overcomes not because of great efforts, but because the universal order grants its unfailing support.

(to be continued)