If you can’t recollect the teaching, then recollect the Saṅgha: ‘The Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples is practicing the way that’s good, direct, systematic, and proper. It consists of the four pairs, the eight individual persons. This is the Saṅgha of the Buddha’s disciples that is worthy of offerings dedicated to the gods, worthy of hospitality, worthy of a religious donation, worthy of greeting with cupped palms, and is the supreme field of merit for the world.’ Then your fear and terror will go away.

Why is that? Because the Realized One is free of greed, hate, and delusion. He is fearless, brave, bold, and stands his ground.” That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:

“In the wilderness, at a tree’s root, or an empty hut, O mendicants, recollect the Buddha, and no fear will come to you.

If you can’t recollect the Buddha—the eldest in the world, the captain of men—then recollect the teaching, emancipating, well taught.

If you can’t recollect the teaching—emancipating, well taught—then recollect the Saṅgha, the supreme field of merit.

Thus recollecting the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, mendicants, fear and terror and goosebumps will be no more.”

Linked Discourses 11.4 Chapter One With Vepacitti