Why is there such a great emphasis on protecting life forms from fear?

Questioner: So why is there such a great emphasis on protecting life forms from fear?

Dadashri: Many who understand non-violence have emphasized the need to protect life- forms from fear. The main thing is to protect life-forms from fear. What does this mean? An example of this would be to be careful not to disturb any birds if they were sitting here, by walking very quietly. Another example would be to remove your shoes and tiptoe past a sleeping dog. How can you be considered humane if you instill fear in others? One should not even startle stray dogs. Understand that you have failed to protect a dog from fear if it is stirred from its sleep as you are walking by. Protecting living things from fear means that no living entity fears your presence. Have you ever seen anyone with such a quality? Protecting life from fear is the highest charity of all.

When I was twenty-two years old, I used to be very cautious so as not to startle any sleeping dogs. I am constantly protecting all life from fear and if a person learns to do the same, he would attain liberation. Generally people are inclined to instill fear in others and threaten them. Everybody has learnt how to donate fear. No one has learnt how to donate protection from fear.