Picture: Arjuna in veneration of Krishna as his Godhead
Tapas is an ancient Sanskrit word (tapah) that is translated as austerity (from Latin austerus: severe) that is often thought of as extreme forms of discipline that can extend all the way to self-inflicted torture. However, as Krishna points out in the Bhagavad Gita:
Veneration of the Devas, the twice-born, the gurus, and the wise, straightforwardness, continence, and non-violence are the penance or austerity of the body.
Meditative communion with one’s own true Self, and uttering words that cause no agitation and that are truthful, pleasant, and beneficial, are called the austerity of speech.
A calm and contented mental clarity, kindliness, silence, self-control, and purity of character constitute the austerity of the mind.
This threefold penance, sattvic in its nature, is practiced by persevering men [and women] possessing great devotion who desire no fruit of actions (God Talks with Arjuna—The Bhagavad Gita; Ch. 17, verses 14-7).
I remember watching a film in a High School class in which some yogis were shown on the banks of the Ganges. Some had kept their arms lifted above their heads for so long they atrophied in place, and others stared at the sun for so long they were blind. To my mind it made no sense to do such things. I was not raised Catholic but I read of aspirants and saints in that tradition where there were similar kinds of self-inflicted tortures on the body in the name of God; this too made little sense.
There has been a long history in all religions for disciplining the body—from fasting and keeping silence all the way to the extreme torture. In India this discipline is referred to as tapasia. While healthy discipline such a fasting and keeping silence can be an aid to the aspirant in rising above this world, the real renunciant goes beyond body disciplines and masters the vacillations of the mind. One may retire to a cave, eschew all but the most basic food, and to all outward appearances be detached, yet the mind continues to crave for things of the world and remains in bondage. On the other hand, one may be surrounded by the things of the world, with responsibilities and varied interests, yet be inwardly detached—such a King Janaka or Rajasi Janakananda (James J. Lynn).
How to attain a high level of detachment even while living a busy life? One method is to focus on depriving the body in an effort to escape it; however, inwardly the mind can remain focused on what it doesn’t want—this feeds the beast rather than becoming free of it’s clutches. In the Gita, Krishna takes a positive approach. Tapas is defined as what to focus the mind on, not what it wants to get rid of; a successful approach that is over five thousand years old.
Krishna lists those things to focus on for the body, speech and thought in order to free itself from ignorance. For the body he says to keep your mind on God and His attributes (devas). Devas are either highly evolved beings or as aspects of His Supreme Being, and are to be worshipped. Others to be respected are your guru and guru-lineage, the twice-born (those who are truly spiritually reborn), and those who display wisdom—all are worthy of your utmost veneration.
In activity you are simple and straightforward, you are free from lower passions driving your life, and you seek to do that which is only beneficial for yourself and others (non-violence). By working these ways in the field of action of your life you are practicing penance or austerity of the body.
Practice austerity of speech by saying only that which is true and beneficial. And for your mind keep calm, clear thoughts that are kind and pure; established in equanimity. Great devotion to God in body, speech and mind creates this sattvic (pure, calm) state, which is the basis for Self-realization. Tapas is learning to focus the mind on these positives and giving no power to less worthy thoughts or activities—this is self-mastery.
Through keeping your mind on God and your inner attunement to Him you may well be prompted to fast, take silence, and not indulge in certain activities in order to purify your body, speech and mind. However, simply trying to get rid of the what bothers you is not enough. There were those who would fast when I did. A few disregarded the rules for breaking a fast and would ravenously eat as soon as they were finishing the fast. I had to ask one to stop fasting, for she would do her body harm by eating large bowls of icecream when coming off the fast. Many times doing something extreme will have a rebound effect and bring on more difficulties rather than freedom.
Be determined to be master of yourself, and as a result experience freedom, bliss and a universal vision. You need not torture your body in order to do this, even as the Buddha taught the Middle Way—avoiding extremes. You will find that focusing on starving the body or trying to make the mind empty without the uptake of blissful joy and spiritual freedom will not free you.
Meditating upon the great I AM, chanting His name, surrendering to His will and immersing yourself in the bliss of God will purge you of every limitation and liberate you in full spiritual realization so that you will never be entrapped in ignorance again—this is the endgame in the practice of positive tapas. Keep your mind lovingly focused on God and surrendered to His will, it is the most positive, easiest and the most direct way to immerse yourself in God-experience.