Swami Sivananda Vani

[Guest guest]

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).