Today’s FBA Dharmabyte, “Why Are We So Afraid?,” is an excerpt from the talk “Dying to Live” by Vidyamala. Here she talks about being present with fear in the face of impermanence.

In the full talk, Vidyamala gives a strong account of working with suffering and sorrow in life, and of transforming experience into one characterized by contentment and a sense of meaning. From her own practice of living with chronic pain comes a sane and unsentimental perspective that affords us all a measure of genuine optimism as we meet the trials of the world: bereavements and losses of all kinds can be met with a kindness and awareness that gently ease the burden, allowing something of peace to enter our lives again.