user10316: Everyone in this little community is awesome, and the people contributing have helped me in the path tremendously. Thank you.
My question is this, how can a person remain calm and courageous during sessions? When meditating, I've been reaching very intense states that become hard to handle. I've been getting the sensation that I am melting into this state of pure love. I get scared because it's just so unbelievably intense, and feel that the fear that arises is a hindrance. Have any of you experienced this? If so, what did you change that allowed you to handle it?

user2282: Because the "I" still interferes with those meditative states. Do not hold on to self-identity and your meditation would go much smoother:

Bhikkhus, how do you conceive it: is form permanent or impermanent?" — "Impermanent, venerable Sir." — "Now is what is impermanent painful or pleasant?" — "Painful, venerable Sir." — "Now is what is impermanent, what is painful since subject to change, fit to be regarded thus: 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self'"? — "No, venerable sir."
"Is feeling permanent or impermanent?...
"Is perception permanent or impermanent?...
"Are determinations permanent or impermanent?...
"Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?" — "Impermanent, venerable sir." — "Now is what is impermanent pleasant or painful?" — "Painful, venerable sir." — "Now is what is impermanent, what is painful since subject to change, fit to be regarded thus: 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self'"? — "No, venerable sir."
"So, bhikkhus any kind of form whatever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in oneself or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must with right understanding how it is, be regarded thus: 'This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.'
"Any kind of feeling whatever...
"Any kind of perception whatever...
"Any kind of determination whatever...
"Any kind of consciousness whatever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in oneself or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near must, with right understanding how it is, be regarded thus: 'This is not mine, this is not I, this is not my self.' ~~ SN 22.59 ~~


user8157: The fear is instinctual (due to the ego fading/dissolving/melting somewhat). This instinctual fear can only be endured with composure & with the full acknowledgment it will pass. After the mind has experienced the impermanence of the fear a few times and is fully confident the fear will pass, the fear will no longer be a hindrance because it will be easily passed through.  
If the mind thinks about/rationalizes the fear too much, the concentration will be lost. You have answered your own question, since the only real method is composure & courage. 
From the Pali suttas: 

What if I, in whatever state I'm in when fear & terror come to me, were to subdue that fear & terror in that very state?' So when fear &
  terror came to me while I was walking back & forth, I would not stand
  or sit or lie down. I would keep walking back & forth until I had
  subdued that fear & terror. When fear & terror came to me while I was
  standing, I would not walk or sit or lie down. I would keep standing
  until I had subdued that fear & terror. When fear & terror came to me
  while I was sitting, I would not lie down or stand up or walk. I would
  keep sitting until I had subdued that fear & terror. When fear &
  terror came to me while I was lying down, I would not sit up or stand
  or walk. I would keep lying down until I had subdued that fear &
  terror.
Bhaya-bherava Sutta: Fear & Terror


10316: <p>Everyone in this little community is awesome, and the people contributing have helped me in the path tremendously. Thank you.</p>

<p>My question is this, how can a person remain calm and courageous during sessions? When meditating, I've been reaching very intense states that become hard to handle. I've been getting the sensation that I am melting into this state of pure love. I get scared because it's just so unbelievably intense, and feel that the fear that arises is a hindrance. Have any of you experienced this? If so, what did you change that allowed you to handle it?</p>
 2282: <p>Because the &quot;I&quot; still interferes with those meditative states. Do not hold on to self-identity and your meditation would go much smoother:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Bhikkhus, how do you conceive it: is form permanent or impermanent?&quot; — &quot;Impermanent, venerable Sir.&quot; — &quot;Now is what is impermanent painful or pleasant?&quot; — &quot;Painful, venerable Sir.&quot; — &quot;Now is what is impermanent, what is painful since subject to change, fit to be regarded thus: 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self'&quot;? — &quot;No, venerable sir.&quot;</p>
<p>&quot;Is feeling permanent or impermanent?...</p>
<p>&quot;Is perception permanent or impermanent?...</p>
<p>&quot;Are determinations permanent or impermanent?...</p>
<p>&quot;Is consciousness permanent or impermanent?&quot; — &quot;Impermanent, venerable sir.&quot; — &quot;Now is what is impermanent pleasant or painful?&quot; — &quot;Painful, venerable sir.&quot; — &quot;Now is what is impermanent, what is painful since subject to change, fit to be regarded thus: 'This is mine, this is I, this is my self'&quot;? — &quot;No, venerable sir.&quot;</p>
<p>&quot;So, bhikkhus any kind of form whatever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in oneself or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near, must with right understanding how it is, be regarded thus: 'This is not mine, this is not I, this is not myself.'</p>
<p>&quot;Any kind of feeling whatever...</p>
<p>&quot;Any kind of perception whatever...</p>
<p>&quot;Any kind of determination whatever...</p>
<p>&quot;Any kind of consciousness whatever, whether past, future or presently arisen, whether gross or subtle, whether in oneself or external, whether inferior or superior, whether far or near must, with right understanding how it is, be regarded thus: 'This is not mine, this is not I, this is not my self.' ~~ <a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn22/sn22.059.nymo.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">SN 22.59</a> ~~</p>
</blockquote>
 8157: <p>The fear is instinctual (due to the ego fading/dissolving/melting somewhat). This instinctual fear can only be endured with composure &amp; with the full acknowledgment it will pass. After the mind has experienced the impermanence of the fear a few times and is fully confident the fear will pass, the fear will no longer be a hindrance because it will be easily passed through.  </p>

<p>If the mind thinks about/rationalizes the fear too much, the concentration will be lost. You have answered your own question, since the only real method is composure &amp; courage. </p>

<p>From the Pali suttas: </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><em>What if I, in whatever state I'm in when fear &amp; terror come to me, were to subdue that fear &amp; terror in that very state?' So when fear &amp;
  terror came to me while I was walking back &amp; forth, I would not stand
  or sit or lie down. I would keep walking back &amp; forth until I had
  subdued that fear &amp; terror. When fear &amp; terror came to me while I was
  standing, I would not walk or sit or lie down. I would keep standing
  until I had subdued that fear &amp; terror. When fear &amp; terror came to me
  while I was sitting, I would not lie down or stand up or walk. I would
  keep sitting until I had subdued that fear &amp; terror. When fear &amp;
  terror came to me while I was lying down, I would not sit up or stand
  or walk. I would keep lying down until I had subdued that fear &amp;
  terror.</em></p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.004.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Bhaya-bherava Sutta: Fear &amp; Terror</em></a></p>
</blockquote>
