If one cannot let go of the fear of pain to one's physical body
upon death or eliminate fear of ending up in the lower realms
after death, he/she is not ready to leave this illusionary realm of
duality permanently yet. :)
Rainbow Jigsaw of Life (spiritual free-thinker)
Indeed, when one is liberated from birth and death, one has
already overcome all fears. He will not feel the slightest fear
even if he fall off a building (and I mean it literally*).
This is the fourth
stage of enlightenment... the stage of the Arhant. Not many can
truthfully say they have reached such a state yet (including
me).
*The Dhammapada Verse
397
XXVI (14) The Story of Uggasena, the son of a Rich Man.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse
(397) of the Dhammapada, with reference to Uggasena, the son of a
Rich Man.
After marrying a dancer from a theatrical troupe, Uggasena was
trained by his father-in-law who was an acrobat, and became very
skillful in accrobatics. One day while he was demonstrating his
skill, the Buddha came on the scene. After hearing the Buddha's
teaching Uggasena attained Arahatship while he was still performing
his feats on top of a long bamboo pole. After that, he climbed down
from the pole and pleaded with the Buddha to accept him as a
bhikkhu and was accordingly admitted into the order.
One day, when other Bhikkhus asked him whether he did not have any
feeling of fear while climbing down from such a great height (i.e.
about 90 feet), he answered in the negative. The Bhikkhus took that
to mean that Uggasena was claiming to have attained Arahatship even
then. So, they went to the Buddha and said, "Vernerable Sir !
Uggasena claims himself to be an Arahat; he must be telling lies."
To them the Buddha replied. " Bhikkhus, one who has cut off all
fetters like my son Uggasena, has no fear."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows;
Verse 397 : Him I call a Brahmana, who has cut off all fetters and
is fearless, who is beyond attainment and is free from moral
defilement.
