Tapas - (Austerity) - Part 5 - Sattvika Tapas

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In the last three articles, we examined the nature of Tamasika and Rajasika tapas which have to be avoided. Sattvika tapas is the only real form of tapas advocated for sincere spiritual aspirants.

Sattvika tapas can be described as any spiritual discipline performed according to the injunctions of the shastras, at the right time & place, by a qualified spiritual aspirant. One of the key characteristics of the sattvika nature is humility and absence of pretence, extravagance and ostentation.

The Vishnusahasranama describes Lord Vishnu's sattvika qualities thus:

"He who controls the sattva guna that paves the way for liberation... He who confers the fruits of sattva guna... One who is essentially established in sattva guna."

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to often advise his disciples to perform spiritual disciplines in secrecy. He describes the sattvika and rajasika temperaments thus, "Do you know what a worldly person endowed with sattva is like? Perhaps his house is in a dilapidated condition here and there. He doesn't care to repair it. The worship hall may be strewn with pigeon droppings and the courtyard covered with moss, but he pays no attention to these things. The furniture of the house may be old; he doesn't think of polishing it and making it look neat. He doesn't care for dress at all; anything is good enough for him. But the man himself is very gentle, quiet, kind, and humble; he doesn't injure anyone.

Again, among the worldly there are people with the traits of rajas. Such a man has watch and chain, and two or three rings on his fingers. The furniture of his house is all spick and span. On the walls hang portraits of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, and other prominent people; the building is whitewashed and spotlessly clean. His wardrobe is filled with a large assortment of clothes; even the servants have their livery, and all that."

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu describes the qualities of a qualified aspirant in his beautiful Shikshashtakam thus:

"One who considers himself as lower than a straw, who is forbearing and tolerant like a tree, who does not expect respect or adoration from others but gives respect to all living beings - he alone is qualified to chant Hari's name."

We may wonder how one can live like the sattvika person described above, in this conflict ridden world where everyone is mad after money and pleasures. We cannot become sattvika overnight by feigning the qualities described above; there are no shortcuts in character building. It takes a prolonged cycle of life experiences before such emotional maturity blossoms in the personality of the aspirants. A genuine acceptance of our own limitations and a sincere, patient effort to correct lower tendencies in ourselves is the best way to acquire sattva.

Next: Dana (Charity)