What is Tapas?
Working on your body, your thoughts, your emotions what is this if not tapas?
The word 'tapas' has become so loaded with different meaning nowadays! We have forgotten the original meaning of the word 'tapas'.
Tapas is derived from the Sanskrit word 'tapasya'. The root word 'tap' means 'heat,' whether from fire, weather, penance, pain and suffering. So tapas refers to spiritual concepts and practices that develop heat or inner energy. It also means deep meditation, and the effort used to achieve self-realization through diet, meditation, spiritual practices, self-discipline, simple and austere living, and bramacharya (celibacy in thought, word and action).
Tapas is the 'inner fire' that motivates you to live your life from simple things such as brushing your teeth, to doing yoga, and to making changes in your life. It also means to cleanse. It is the heat that is generated as our internal purification happens.
Some of the earliest references to tapas have been found in many ancient Hindu scriptures. In the Hindu texts tapas is described as the process that leads to spiritual birth. Tapas is described as one of the elements on the spiritual path and essential to self-realization in ancient scriptures.
Tapas does not only mean going up into the mountains and undertaking all kinds of spiritual practices, and performing all kinds of rituals. Tapas does not mean going without food or clothes, or living in a dark cave, or torturing the body unnecessarily in any way. When you deprive your body in any way, there is always the danger of focusing more on the deprivation than on the meditation.
If I make you go without food for even twenty-four hours, you may stop eating food, but you will start meditating on food instead! You will be able to think of nothing but food.
Real fasting does not mean meditating about the food that you haven't eaten; it means forgetting about food altogether. But not many people can see this difference. That is why the path of tapas is not for everyone.
Of course, these are all different routes, just different ways of handling the body. Some meditators take the path of disciplining the body through austerities. But it is not necessary that everyone should follow that path.
A small story:
A yogi spent many years in the mountains perfecting the rites of austerity. He mastered complicated rituals and mantras, studied holy books and spent countless hours in contemplation. After fifteen years, when he felt his tapas to be complete, he came down into the plains to educate other people on the importance of spirituality in their lives.
As soon as he arrived in a town, the news spread about the arrival of the holy man, and he was invited to a spiritual gathering. One of
the other invitees was a modern young Master who didn't believe in the traditional rites of tapas.
As the yogi entered, the man turned in his direction and spoke some harsh words.
The yogi was amazed to find that a wave of anger was rising inside him, on hearing the man's words. After all these years, after all these efforts! A few words from a stranger, and anger was raising its ugly head again.
Without replying, the yogi turned and walked out of the hall silently. When someone ran to apologize and ask him to return, the yogi replied, 'I see that my tapas is not yet perfect! I am still a beginner. I must leave now, to start my work. I will return when I am truly ready.'
The toughest tapas is working on oneself, understanding and transforming oneself.
There is no greater tapas than cleansing your body, thoughts and emotions. And you can do this tapas right now, right where you are. Tapas leads to a healthy body and a healthy mind. Ultimately, tapasis all about preparing the ground; creating the right foundation for meditation.
In this book you will understand the many different facets of tapas, how it can help you to discover who you are, and how tapas leads you to enlightenment and completion.