The Yoga of the Threefold Faith

Krishna describes what each kind of faith worships. 'Sāttvikā devān yajante'—sattvic people worship deities (devān), the higher forces that represent purity, wisdom, and growth. 'Rājasāḥ yakṣa-rakṣāṁsi yajante'—rajasic people worship yakshas and rakshasas, beings associated with power, wealth, and material achievement. 'Tāmasā yajante pretān bhūta-gaṇāṁś ca'—tamasic people worship ghosts (pretān) and hosts of spirits (bhūta-gaṇān), dark forces associated with ignorance and destruction. This isn't just about religious worship—it's about what you focus on, what you value, what you aspire toward. Sattvic faith focuses on what elevates and purifies. Rajasic faith focuses on what brings power and achievement. Tamasic faith focuses on what's dark and destructive. Understanding this helps you recognize what your faith is focused on and work toward sattvic faith, which leads to genuine growth.