A man in his fifties was fired after 20 years with the same company. His next mortgage payment is due in three weeks. He spends his first night sleepless, going over his finances in his mind.Such anxiety holds the essence of practicality and urgency. Chapter 9, Verse 22 of the Bhagavad Gita shows a way to deal with fear. Krishna says that he himself takes care of the needs of those who are devoted to him. The Sanskrit word for this is yoga-kshema, which means securing what is lacking and preserving what one already has.
Faith Comes Hand in Hand with Action
Believing in higher powers does not mean that one should forget to pay his bills. The individual still has to update his CV and contact former colleagues.Faith does not do these tasks for him; it steadies his hand while he does them.
Yoga-Kshema Covers Both Fears
Fears can be divided into two categories. The first one is the fear of not getting what one wants. The second one is the fear of losing what one has.Krishna’s promise covers both.
Ananya Stands for Undivided Attention
The verse makes reference to ananya devotion, which stands for being fully focused on one object.In daily life, this can be as simple as starting the day with a short prayer.
The Importance of Naming the Fear First
One needs to put down the fear on paper, then pray in whatever way he finds suitable. This often helps with sleep.
Arjuna Had Krishna’s Help
The greatest source of support for Arjuna on the battlefield was in front of him, as Krishna was holding the reins of his chariot.
