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The reason FEAR is the path is because ego is the most devious and intelligent adversary because it IS "You". Anytime you have to face fear, YOU will do ALL you can to prepare and avoid it.

Sometimes this can be intelligent. E.g. if you climb a mountain, you are afraid to die so you prepare a bit. Buy the right tools, learn how to climb a mountain, practice on a smaller mountain, etc..

However often it's a cope. It's like going into Fight Club with a knife and pepper spray. You've missed the point of confronting your fear. You've cheated on the "test".

When a Fear is confronted but you have sufficient preparation where it is no longer a Fear because you can whip out your Gun then it's not actually confronting fear. It's self-delusion.

This is especially true for successful people who repeat behaviors that USED to be a confrontation of fear for them but no longer are because of increased proficiency. They've mistaken the specific action for the confrontation of fear.

Actual Fear involves an element of letting go and trusting the universe. There's an element of masochist desire for self-annihilation. "I REFUSE to be as I am and will become who I WILL BE at ANY cost."

A symbolic facing of fear is like standing on a boat and harpooning sharks. You end up with trophies that make you look brave to the ignorant but you didn't actually face any real fear. (and subconsciously you KNOW this)

If society overly emphasizes the masculine it's because society ONLY understands the fear of death. It calls little boys pansies and cowards to drive them to face their Fear. It doesn't understand that death of the body is NOT the only thing to fear.