On page 16 you met fear where it lives in the body. Here it returns as something deeper.

Look again at the seven selves of the last pages. Under pride is the fear of being nothing. Under anger, the fear of being hurt or ignored. Under lust, the fear of emptiness. Under envy, the fear of being less. Under gluttony, the fear of boredom and loneliness. Under greed, the fear of not having enough. Under laziness, the fear of the effort, or of failing at it.

The books teach that fear is the root of many problems. Out of fear, people lie. Out of fear, they cling to money, to people and to opinions. Much of what looks like a strong self is a frightened one, holding on.

One fear every self shares is the fear of ending. A self wants to go on. That is why the selves start to argue as soon as you begin this work. This is too hard. This is not for you. You are fine as you are. These are not your thoughts. They are the selves, afraid of being seen.

Knowing this changes how you meet them. A frightened thing is not met with a fist. It is met with steady attention, the way you would calm a frightened animal. Fear that is seen calmly usually loosens. Fear that is fought grips harder.