Yoga-Kshemam

Sw. Chinmayananda has very beautifully explained the meaning of the common usage ‘Yoga-Kshema’ in our scriptures.  In today’s world, all our energies are dissipated in two main directions – Procuring (Yoga, योग) and maintaining (Kshemam, क्षेमम).  We seem to spend all our effort, energy and time on procuring material pleasures or benefits and worrying about maintaining them our entire life.  Because of this, we do not seem to have the time  to engage in spiritual or welfare work (seva).

However, Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita in Ch, 9  emphatically says that for those true seekers who are dedicated in spiritual pursuits and attaining the Self (HIM),  HE (Lord) will take care of the ‘Yoga-Kshema’ work of HIS devotees.

ananyaschintayanta mam ye janah paryupasate tesham nityabhiyuktanam yogakshemam vahamyaham

Hari Om.

Lord Krishna’s message in BG Chapter 9

In chapter 9 of Bhagavad Gita,  Lord Krishna explains to Dhananjaya (Arjuna) His real nature and relationship with visible projections in the world.  The Self expressing through the total vasanas is the creator,  who creates the universe.  He is the substratum of all activities in and out of us.   Just as the projector in a movie hall project whatever is in the film (vasanas,  just as the light from the projector reflects the content in the film and is same in all movie halls,  the Supreme Self in us is not impacted or attached to our actions initiated by our vasanas.  The  white screen of the movie hall is the substratum on which the entire story of the  movie is projected, but the screen does not carry the marks of tears, blood or happiness.

Lord Krishna says He, as the Ever Pure Infinite,  is  just the witness of all that is happening around, but is unattached to it.  If we all perform our activities unattached and dedicated to that Lord,   it will help us in purging our vasanas and realize the Self within us, thereby not getting impacted from the  day to  day activities that we do,  just as the projector or screen in a movie hall.