We found many other ways to use the thread. Now, abhaya sutra is not made to bind you. There are two kinds of sutras – both are being called ‘abhaya sutra.’ The terminology ‘abhaya sutra’ goes better with the Devi sutra, which is red in colour.
When you get the sutra for the pancha bhuta aradhana [process in Dhyanalinga], which is connected to the Dhyanalinga, it is more to enhance certain dimensions of who you are, fundamentally, to enhance the spiritual dimension. Then why is it being called abhaya sutra? You need to understand, bhaya means fear – the basis of fear is your physicality.
If you were not physical, would you have fear? Would you? No. It is the limitations of the physical which causes fear. If you were not at all physical, you wouldn’t be fearful of anything, isn’t it? So, in that context, it is abhaya. But essentially, it is the sutra of transcendence. But we did not want to use too many names. You’ll get confused, you know? So, this also leads to a state of nirbhaya, or fearlessness. We can call this nirbhaya sutra, that is abhaya sutra.
That [devi sutra] is more like a protection. This is to enhance the spiritual dimension of who you are, so that you become less physical. If you’re not so physical, there is not much fear in you. But the Devi sutra is more like a protection.
There are two ways to be free of thieves. If you’re always afraid a burglar may come into your house and steal, one way is to put a guard outside. Another way is not to have anything, and nobody will come. Even if you invite him he won’t come, he’ll go somewhere else. I see many, many hands which have both. That’s good.
So, how to dispose it? You can keep it for a minimum of 40 days. If you are not using soap, too much soap, it will last much longer. It you are using a lot of soap, at least for 40 days it will remain vibrant. So, you can take it off and put it somewhere where it will disintegrate easily.
Usually, the tradition is to dig a small hole near a plant, and put it, because it gets watered, and within 3 days it will be gone. If you don’t have a place to bury, you must burn it. You can burn it, take the ash and smear it on your body from your vishuddhi down. That’s a simple way of doing it.
