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Ancient
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Tapas: Meaning & practice by Sri Sri Swami Sivananda
Written
by Sri Sri SWAMI SIVANANDA
That which purifies the impure mind is tapas. That which
regenerates the lower animal nature and generates divine
nature is tapas. That which cleanses the mind and
destroys lust, anger, greed etc., is tapas. That which
destroys tamas (dullness) and rajas (impurity) and
increases satva (purity) is tapas. That which steadies
the mind and fixes it on the eternal is tapas. That
which arrests the outgoing tendencies, destroys vasana
(habits), egoism, raga-dvesa (likes and dislikes) and
generates dispassion, discrimination and meditation is
tapas.
This is the third limb of niyama (discipline) in raja
yoga. It is one of the three items of kriya (dynamic)
yoga. Tapas means austerity or practice of penance. The
man of tapas is brilliant like a blazing fire. Tapas
means restraint of the senses and meditation. Also tapas
leads to control of mind. Standing on one leg, raising
one hand up for a long time is also tapas, but this is
tamasic (dull) tapas of an ignorant man. Pancagni tapas
is sitting in the midst of four fires in the hot sun,
having the hot sun as the fifth fire. Vairagis practise
this very often. Desire moves the senses; desire can be
controlled only if the senses are curbed. Tapas
annihilates desires. Annihilate tapas abhimana (pride of
austerity). The unintelligent tapasvin (ascetic) is
always irritable, hot-tempered and proud. Practise
intelligent tapas.
Mental tapas is more powerful than physical tapas. He
who bears heat and cold does physical tapas. He
increases his power of endurance, but he may not be able
to bear insult. He will be easily upset by a harsh or
unkind word. He may take revenge and do tit-for-tat. He
has no control over the mind. He has disciplined only
the physical body.
To keep a balanced mind in all conditions of life, to
bear insult, injury and persecutions, to be ever serene,
contented and peaceful, to be cheerful in adverse
conditions, to have fortitude in meeting danger, to have
presence of mind and forbearance, are all forms of
mental tapas.
"The men who perform severe austerities, unenjoined by
the scriptures, wedded to vanity and egoism, impelled by
the force of their desire and passion, unintelligent,
tormenting the aggregated elements forming the body and
Me also, seated in the inner body, know these to be
demoniacal in their resolves". (Gita. Chapter XVII).
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