24/08/2025
The Essence of Faith: Beyond Yogakshema
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji says, "Two things really keep you from growing into greater perfection:
1. Wanting to have what you don’t have.
2. Trying to maintain what you already have.
This is called Yogakshema. These two aspects—Yoga and Kshema—are the main causes of anxiety, worry, tension, and fear in life.
Faith is knowing that you will get what you truly want, that you will be given what you need, and that whatever you already have will grow and continue to stay with you. That is real faith.
Krishna promises in the Gita: Ananyas chintayanto maam—“Those who do not worry about anything else, who put their mind totally on Me, who are united with Me every day, I take care of their Yoga and their Kshema.”
Kshema means welfare—maintaining what one has, and helping one rise higher in life. Yoga is bringing forth what is rightfully deserved. Krishna says, “It is My responsibility. I will take care.”
You will not suffer—but you must drop that anxiety. This is the essence of faith"
