Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Tapa

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    March 2006
    Location
    Italy
    Age
    36
    Posts
    651
    Rep Power
    231

    Tapa

    Namaste!

    My question is about one of the five niyamas listed in Patanjali's Yoga-sutra: what is tapa?

    Pranama,
    Orlando
    Last edited by orlando; 14 July 2015 at 04:59 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    September 2007
    Location
    Canada
    Age
    70
    Posts
    7,191
    Rep Power
    5038

    Re: Tapa

    Vannakkam Orlando. It's penance, in all it's forms and intensities. Fasting, silence vows, walking yatras, and self-imposed discipline that one wouldn't normally do.

    Aum Namasivaya

  3. #3
    Join Date
    March 2006
    Location
    Italy
    Age
    36
    Posts
    651
    Rep Power
    231

    Re: Tapa

    About fasting...I will try to observe a partial fast(not eating cereals and legumes) on ekadashi.

    I am not able to follow a complete fast.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    September 2007
    Location
    Canada
    Age
    70
    Posts
    7,191
    Rep Power
    5038

    Re: Tapa

    Vannakkam: Yes, that's a common one, for Vaishnavites. The idea of penance varies widely from sect to sect. Same with fasting. I know a person who did a 41 day water fast. Others figure not eating meat for one meal is fasting. In my own tradition, penance is fairly common, as a means of thanking, or clearing, or most commonly, retribution for perceived misdeeds. Generally the individual gives it to himself, but those under guidance of a qualified Guru, and working hard in yoga, may also be assigned penances.

    Aum Namasivaya

  5. #5
    Join Date
    March 2006
    Location
    Italy
    Age
    36
    Posts
    651
    Rep Power
    231

    Re: Tapa

    Quote Originally Posted by Eastern Mind View Post
    Others figure not eating meat for one meal is fasting.
    Vaishnavas must totally avoid meat,fish and eggs.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    July 2010
    Location
    The Holy Land - Bharat
    Posts
    2,842
    Rep Power
    5499

    Re: Tapa

    Namaste,

    In addition to all the above, tapa also requires practicing giving up ego. When a devotee lives with the guru in the pre-initiation phase, he is at the beck and call of the guru and is required to humble/surrender h(er)imself completely. The outer austerities are fine but ego stands in the way of the changing of the inner being; and for that a complete surrender to the guru for a certain duration is a requirement for initiation. Of course that training stays with the devotee and getting initiation does not mean that (s)he may start to show pride again. So, even though people may aim to serve the servant of the servant of the Supreme; in actual practice they may face many obstacles and fall short of that goal without a concerted effort.

    Pranam.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    December 2013
    Location
    Anāhata
    Age
    49
    Posts
    394
    Rep Power
    1772

    Re: Tapa

    Namaste ji
    Quote Originally Posted by orlando View Post
    My question is about one of the five niyamas listed in Patanjali's Yoga-sutra: what is tapa?
    I am currently studying the Yoga Sutras and several commentaries on Patanjali's work describing Ashtanga Yoga, and wanted to offer my thoughts.
    Also, my thanks to you for this question at this timing. Reviewing this has cleared up and settled my mind in some areas. Thank you.

    Interesting the form of the word you chose here: "Tāpa" is not a Niyama, the Niyama is "Tapas" or "Tapasaḥ":

    ताप - meaning "distress" or "suffering", sometimes "pain" found in sutra II.15:
    परिनाम्तापसंस्कारदुःस्वैगु॔णवून्त विरोधाच्
    च दुःस्वम एव सव॔ँ विवेकिनः
    For one who has discrimination, everything is suffering on account of the suffering produced by consequences (of action), by pain (itself), and by the saṃskāras, as well as on account of the suffering ensuing from the turmoil of the vṛttis due to the guṇas.

    This is a key sutra to the second chapter and to Kriya Yoga. All experience, whether good/pleasurable or bad/unpleasurable, is suffering. When we understand this, we seek to end distress or suffering through the practice of Yamas and Niyamas.

    तपः - meaning "Austerity" or "Self-discipline", found in II.1
    तपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः
    Kriyā-yoga, the path of action, consists of self-discipline (Tapas), study (svādhyāya), and dedication to the Lord (Īśvara-praṇidhāna).

    This is the path for those living in the material world, who are not yet established enough in sattvic mind and Yoga to practice abhyāsa and vairāgya well. Kriya Yoga helps to cultivate sattvic mind.
    Because we are attracted and addicted to sense objects, we must cultivate self-discipline, 'Tapas', it is the most important thing to Yoga, there is no Yoga without Tapas. For those who are not in full control of their mind, it is best to use faily gentle auterities to cultivate sattvik mind and avoid causing turmoil or impressions. Limiting actions to ones that produce as much sattva as possible and as little Rajas and Tamas as possible helps the individual gain control of mind, from which one can progress. Things like controlling what you eat and how much, what you listen to, what you read, celebacy, these are good for beginners on the path to reign in the senses. More severe austerities may be taken by those in strog control of the mind.

    Together, all three key practices in Kriya Yoga are also the first three Niyamas.

    The form of study and dedication to the Lord described here is not the same as in the advanced stages described in the first chapter. This is considered by many to be a match to Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jñāna Yoga, as described in the Gita. Kriya Yoga combines them all.

    ~Pranam
    Last edited by Aanandinii; 19 July 2015 at 10:58 PM.
    ~~~~~
    What has Learning profited a man, if it has not led him to worship the good feet of Him who is pure knowledge itself?
    They alone dispel the mind's distress, who take refuge at the feet of the incomparable one.
    ~~Tirukural 2, 7

    Anbe Sivamayam, Satyame Parasivam

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •