Tapasah - Austerities YS II - 43

Yoga Sutra II- 43- KAYEDRIYA SIDDHIR ASUDDHI KSAYAT TAPASAH - By austerity, impurities of body and senses are destroyed and occult powers are gained.

Tapasya (tápasya) in Sanskrit means "heat". In Vedic religion and Hinduism, it is used figuratively, denoting spiritual suffering, mortification or austerity, and also the spiritual ecstasy of a yogin or tāpasá (a Vrddhi derivative meaning "a practitioner of austerities, an ascetic").

Swami Satchidananda says "The direct meaning of tapas is "to burn," as was discussed in the first Sutra of this portion." Examples of tapas are given :

• physical tapas or fasting - burns away excess fat with toxins that have accumulated in the body.


• mental tapas - burning all old impressions


• verbal tapas - observing silence to control speech

He says when we burn, pain and heat are felt and we undergo suffering. "So, tapas also means to accept suffering. If someone suffers, he or she is blessed, because by that suffering some impurities are purged out." Swami Satchidananda says that we should never run from pain and how our lives are filled with hundreds of opportunities for tapas. Washing a piece of cloth is given as an example of going through tapasya to become pure. "The mind must be washed, squeezed, tossed, dried and ironed" like the cloth. We are informed that people who cause us pain are actually helping to purify us. If we still get upset from insults, our mind is not yet strong.

"Adapt, adjust, accommodate. Bear insult. Bear injury. That is the highest sadhana (spiritual practice)." was what Swami Satchidananda's Master told him. It is easy sadhana to go in a corner and say a mantra, however, to keep a serene mind when insulted is higher than saying a thousand rosaries of japa. "That is tapasya. The power to control the body and senses comes by tapasya."

"The practice of self-discipline refines our sense-perceptions and even our physical substance until we become aware of latent psychic powers, such as the power of clairvoyance, telepathy, levitation, etc. " - "How to Know God - The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali" translated and commented on by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood

See related posts:

• Niyama - The Observances - YS II - 32
• The Eight Limbs of Yoga - YS II - 28, 29
• Mantra

Austerity, Study and Surrender YS II-1

Book two of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali is referred to as Sadhana Pada Book Two, which deals with the practice of yoga as opposed to the aims and or goals of yoga (samadhi) in book I . Prefacing the first sutra of this section,

Swami Satchidananda says that Patanjali refers to practical hints and gives a number of simple directions that can be followed in our daily lives to prepare us for the more subtle practices which lead to samadhi.

Yoga Sutra II-1- TAPAH SVADHYAYESVARA PRANIDHANANI KRIYAH YOGAH - Accepting pain as help for purification, study of spiritual books, and surrender to the Supreme Being constitute Yoga in practice.

Swami Satchidananda begins his commentary of this sutra by the following:"Using the Sanskrit terms, Kriya Yoga comprises tapas, svadhyaya and Isvara pranidhanam"

In addressing the first part, you might wonder how acceptance of "pain as help for purification" can be part of a yoga practice. The word tapas in this sutra, according to Swami Satchidananda means "to burn or create heat." He uses the example that the more gold is heated, the purer it gets as the impurities are removed. He further states "We will actually be happy to receive pain if we keep in mind its purifying effects." Tapas or" self-discipline obviously cannot be practiced in a meditation rooms, but only in our daily lives as we relate to other people."

" Although control of the senses and the organs often seems to bring pain in the beginning, it eventually ends in happiness." I can relate to this with an example of a job I had over ten years ago. At end of my employment, circumstances became unpleasant and I knew it was time to leave. As a result of that situation I became certified to teach yoga. I can actually give thanks to the painful situation which pushed me to do something that I love and brings me happiness.

Swami Satchidananda clarifies that he is not talking about self-torture, but self discipline that is an aid to spiritual progress.

The next part of the sutra has to do with study of scriptural books (swadhyaya). Swadhyaya, or study of the true Self with scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita, The Ramayana, The Yoga Sutras, Shiva Sutras, Bible, Koran, etc. that will elevate the mind. And studying with understanding and from the heart, gleaning new and deeper meanings.

The last part of this sutra has to do with surrendering to the Supreme Being your actions, words and deeds. In other words not doing things in life as the doer or the egoic mind, but from a higher place within us, the higher Self. Swami Satchidananda goes into great deal for these sections, so you can always get his book for further indepth explanation. Stay tuned.