Tapas - (Austerity) - Part II

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The Bhagavad Gita classifies tapas into tamasika, rajasika and sattivka according to the motive behind the performance of that spiritual discipline and the means employed in performing them.

Tamasika tapas is defined as that which is not sanctioned by the shastra and involves indiscriminate forms of self-affliction. All forms of tapas involve some kind of self-discipline, restriction, denial or affliction. But our attitude makes all the difference.

Consider for instance, extreme forms of religious discipline performed by followers of all religions. Some Hindu devotees pierce their bodies or walk on fire with the belief that it will atone for their past karma. We see public demonstrations of masochism during Moharram. There are Christians who undergo crucifixion willingly to share the passion of Christ. Are such practices sanctioned by the scriptures?

The Gita says any extreme form of religious discipline involving physical injury to one's own body is asuric or tamasika tapas and is not enjoined by the scriptures. It is an act of violence on the sacred body which is the temple of the Self.

In his search for enlightenment, Gautama Buddha, after renouncing his kingdom, is said to have performed a severe penance for six months by starving himself of food and water. Finally, he collapsed out of exhaustion and was saved by a courtesan girl who revived him. After his recovery and the attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, Buddha taught his disciples not adopt extreme forms of self-denial in the search for nirvana and advocated 'the middle path' as an important element of his teachings.