Tapas
‘Tapasya is a process of self purification by which you evolve to your highest potential.…’
TAPAS is an effort to awaken knowledge and a rebirth from materialistic to a spiritualistic attitude. It is not an imposed law but a kind of inner self restraint arising from understanding life and one’s own virtues. In order to calm down the inclinations towards sensory and worldly pleasures, the Tapas practice involves solitude, meditation, special insights and all practices that lead to a state of MOKSHA.
Tapas is based on the root Tap (तप्) meaning “to heat, to give out warmth, to shine, to burn”. The term evolves to mean “burn away past karma” and liberate oneself. The term Tapas means “warmth, heat, fire” of knowledge essential to shed ignorance and purify one’s ‘Buddhi’. The spiritual texts states that realization of self requires a search for truth and Tapas (meditation).
‘Truth, can this Self grasp, by Tapas, by Right Knowledge, and by a perpetually chaste life.’
The initial stages of Tapas is focussed on “a means for perfection of the body and the organs through the lessening of impurities” and a foundation for a seekers pursuit of perfection. Yama, niyama, asana and pranayama from Yogic tradition comes under tapas. The goal of tapas is to help focus the aspirant on meditation, observation of reality, reflection and spiritual rebirth. Through devotion with intense self-discipline, one yields special inner powers.
Tapas predominantly is associated with the spiritual practice of body mortification, penance, and austerities, in order to burn away past karma and stop producing new karma, thereby reaching siddha (liberating oneself). But this concept has been grossly misunderstood. TAPAS is not suffering nor is it pain. It is about being steadfast while experiencing the pains arising from withdrawal of addictions of material life. Tapas implies a control on desires, and indulgences in meaningless sensory pleasures, and is a form a self purification.
Tapas are classified as internal and external
Bahya Tapas (external austerities): fasting, abstinences, restraint while seeking alms, renunciation of pleasures, freedom from reacting on pains of physical nature, detachment from the worldly matters.
Abhyantara Tapas (internal austerities): penance, respect to elders, service to others, study, meditation, abandonment of falsehood.
The 3-types of Tapasya
There are three types of tapasya: tapasya of the body, tapasya of the speech, and tapasya of the mind. Tapasya includes control over one’s physical body, speech, thoughts and mind. It helps an individual meditate properly, control the ego, and create a disciplined mind that will not accept the desires of the body.
Pranayama and meditation, practice of vegetarianism are helpful in the practice of tapasya as they ignore distractions and involve focusing entirely the inner SELF. An attitude of pure non-violence toward all living beings is cultivated which eliminates anger and destructive impulses so that one avoids the foolishness of hurting others.
Tapasya of the body
Reverence for the evolved souls, teachers and the wise; purity, straightforwardness, brahmacharya and non-violence: these are called tapasya of the body.
Tapasya of speech
Speech which causes no distress or vexation, truthful, pleasant, beneficial, instruction in the knowledge of the Self: these are called tapasya of speech.
Tapasya of mind
Tranquility of mind, empathy, silence, self-control and purity of the mental state: these are called tapasya of the mind.
Tapas is the concentration with our own SELF; It culminates in Maunam or silence of the senses and absence of mental chatter. In such positive silence, intuition manifests and dominates, imparting a knowing that is beyond mere talk. It frees the practitioner from inner conflicts and pain & distress and imparts of profound sense of peace and joy.
