The etymology of the word Tapas indicates a process of internal purification that passes through a discipline.
This process leads to maturity, strength development, a type of force that must also be understood as a mixture of grace and determination. There is no pride, no anger. Let's see specifically what it is.
Tapas : purify yourself, gain strength and beauty
In some quarters this term is mistaken for a chaste and impeccable conduct; in reality it is the setting up of a principle of safeguard and love for oneself.
In Ayurvedic medicine health depends mainly on the purity of thoughts and the state of health of the digestive system ; taking the latter as an example, when the digestive fire becomes weak, the pure and conscious operation to be performed, the one really dictated by a sense of self-purification and a boost to improvement, is to introduce less food.
It seems logical and taken for granted, but in a consumer society this is not the case at all, on the contrary it happens that the distance between feeling and living adequately becomes enormous.
If we take instead an example related to the first area, that inherent in the mental, here is that thoughts governed by emotions that have taken over can lead, if there is enough love towards oneself, to a total revision of the ways in which certain emotions are received .
In other words, self-discipline leads us to beauty, because it is a way of getting to know each other, strengthening our intention and getting rid of dirt, also understood as the superfluous that does not serve and hinders.
The 3 types of tapasya
There are 3 types of tapasya and they have different characteristics:
- the one considered the "highest" is the sattvica, which arises from the firm intention to purify body and mind for the purpose of spiritual elevation. The way through which this purification follows is that of meditation . Being within oneself, one feels from the heart the limitations, the convictions and all that holds us back from exploring the infinite power. When the mind begins to generate too many "monsters", the meditation practice returns with the mind to pranayama, to the sum art of breath control. This practice also includes the execution of positions (hatha yoga) held with intention and regular and deep breath. Sometimes also the mantra recitation and the Vedic chant are combined. In an extended sense, all that is yoga and union through physical practice is still sattvic work.
- what is identified as rajasic which is strictly inherent in fasting and exposure of the body to sources of heat and cold to eliminate impurities from the body . When you don't have a clear intent or a good guide this kind of practice can be completely useless and cause a lot of energy to be lost.
- The third type is the tamasico . Here the body in some cases can even be really put to the test and an example is the fakirs or the practitioners of extreme positions held for a long period . In any case, we always start from a work on the calm of the mind.
Beyond the traditional forms, these ways remind us how much the excesses weigh on the senses and make them weak. Repercussions also occur at the metabolic and emotional level, given that things are not separated.
It is about recognizing one's dependencies and getting rid of them, removing categories of guilt and shame that slow down the process.
