Question:

The response of the mind to ‘Perceptions are not conscious by themselves’ went from fear to denial to acceptance. The mind recognized that it has been thirsting to merge with the Infinite. Then why fear?

Answer:

This happens in stages as you mentioned:

Stage 1] Fear:

The world of people, situations, things is all that the body-mind personality has. When this personality steps onto the path of Advaita, it starts seeing the truth that its belief of the ‘reality of this world’ is baseless. The mind shakes when ‘physical objects, situations and people’ start being recognized as ‘mere dead perceptions’. Fear is inevitable at that moment because the main concept on which your entire life was based is standing on the epicenter of an earthquake.

Denial is a part of this fear. But if the courageous one continues on the path, he starts seeing the higher truth in his own direct experiential recognition.

Stage 2] Peace:

When the true recognition of ‘perceptions and thoughts’ being nothing other than ‘awareness itself’ arises, then a soft Peace ensues. Wait for the fear to transcend to the flavor of peace that comes only from direct recognition.

Reason for the Fear:

It is a myth that when one goes deeper into spirituality, one abandons the home, family, wealth, etc. This myth births stories. These stories when entertained continuously induce fear. The fear is self-induced. Please recognize this.

Reason for the Peace:

With the proper wisdom of Advaita, one recognizes that ‘Everything is Awareness/Consciousness, including me. I cannot gain something that I did not already have’. This realization begets soft Peace born of the recognition of what already is. The eyes were closed shutting out the ever-shining Sun. All that was required was to open the eyes. This seeing brings a sense of relief by stalling the relentless marathon of the mind.

To summarize: 

When the mind is scared, it is a sign that you are on the right track. A thief is always afraid of the Police. This is a big milestone on the spiritual path. This is the junction that one must cross over courageously and accept that the physical body, the mind, and the world, all three fall in the category of ‘not consciousness’. That which is ‘not consciousness’ is always the ‘witnessed object’ of consciousness. It is pointless to give undue importance to that which is ‘Not Consciousness’.

Nisargadatta Maharaj says that the creation/body/mind are a tiny  speck for him. He has recognized that the body/mind function automatically and he chooses not to interfere with them. He rests as the consciousness in the consciousness. That consciousness is his world.

Enjoy the delicious journey!

#AtmaNirvriti #AtmanandaKrishnaMenon #AdvaitaVedanta #Non-Duality