Hi ynot, references are:
-‘What are the four causes of evil from which he refrains?
Evil action springs from attachment, it springs from ill-will, it
springs from folly, it springs from fear. If the Ariyan disciple
does not act out of attachment, ill-will, folly or fear, he will not
do evil from any one of the four causes.’ DN31§5, translation Walshe
-“Bhikkhus, there are these two kinds of assemblies. What two?
The dregs of an assembly and the cream of an assembly. And what is the dregs of an assembly? The assembly in which the bhikkhus enter upon a wrong course on account of desire, hatred, delusion, or fear is called the dregs of ann assembly. “And what is the cream of an assembly? The assembly in which the bhikkhus do not enter upon a wrong course on account of desire, hatred, delusion, or fear is called the cream of an assembly. “These, bhikkhus,are the two kinds of assemblies. Of these two kinds of assemblies, the cream of an assembly is foremost” AN2.46, translation Bodhi
-“Bhikkhus, there are these four ways of taking a wrong course. What four? One takes a wrong course because of desire, because of hatred, because of delusion, or because of fear. These are the four ways of taking a wrong course.” If through desire, hate, fear, or delusion one transgresses against the Dhamma, one’s fame diminishes like the moon in the dark fortnight.
AN4.17, translation Bodhi
-See also AN4.19 + 4.20
-“Bhikkhus, one possessing five qualities should not be appointed an assigner of meals.What five? He enters upon a wrong course because of desire; he enters upon a wrong course because of hatred; he enters upon a wrong course because of delusion; he enters upon a wrong course because of fear; he
does not knoW which [meal] has been assigned and which has not been assigned. One possessing these five qualities should not be appointed an assigner of meals. a fragment of AN5.272, translation Bodhi.
I personally feel fear is not getting very much attention but plays a key role in my life. Some say fear is an aspect of dosa. But i have not found sutta references for this yet. Fear is mentioned apart from dosa.
I think fear is often a motive of not doing the right thing. Not telling something which needs to be told. Not making contact with somebody while that would be appropriate. Not making that important step while you feel inside one needs to make that step. That kind of things.
I will post a seperate post on removing fear from sutta perspective. Otherwise this is becoming to long.
kind regards,
Siebe