austerity
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Imported quote 13847 Following the principles of forest living and the footsteps of the great sages and munis, Prthu Maharaja accepted five kinds of heating processes during the summer season, exposed himself to torrents of rain in the rainy season, and, in the winter, stood in water up to his neck. He also used to simply lie down on the floor to sleep.
(More...) Imported quote 13848 These are some of the austerities executed by the jnanis and yogis, who cannot accept the process of bhakti-yoga. They must undergo such severe types of austerity in order to become purified from material contamination. Panca-tapaḥ refers to five kinds of heating processes. One is also enjoined to sit within a circle of fire, with flames blazing from four sides and the sun blazing directly overhead. This is one kind of panca-tapaḥ recommended for austerity. Similarly, in the rainy season one is enjoined to expose himself to torrents of rain and in winter to sit in cold water up to the neck. As far as bedding is concerned, the ascetic should be content with simply lying on the floor. The purpose for undergoing such severe austerities is to become a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, as explained in the next verse.
(More...) Imported quote 18079 So human life is not meant for like that. Human life is meant for tapasya. Tapo divyam putraka yena suddhyet sattvam [SB 5.5.1]. Suddhyet. You have to purify your existence. Now our existence is not purified. We get this contaminated body and change it; again another contaminated body, another... Just like one man is suffering from disease: one contamination, then another contamination, another... This is not life. You purify yourself. And that purification begins when you accept the life of austerities, tapaḥ, tapasya. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting some... This is not inconvenience. Just like in our Society it is enjoined, the students, they should voluntarily accept the principle: no illicit sex life; no meat-eating, no fish-eating, no, nothing of the sort; no intoxication; and no gambling. This is tapasya. Especially for these European and American students, they are, from the beginning of their life, they are accustomed to these habits. But they have voluntarily given up on my word. And that is guru's business. So to purify so that he may be saved from this illusion-he must be purified-so this little inconvenience for higher happiness, that is desired, that is required.
(More...) Imported quote 18919 The more we become advanced in spiritual consciousness, the more we become situated in atma-stha. That is called sthita-prajna. Then we shall not be disturbed. And we should practice not to be disturbed by these conditional or ethereal transformation. We should. Because we do not belong, as spirit soul, aham brahmasmi, I do not belong to this material arrangement, but I have been accustomed to this. So by practice I have to come to the spiritual status. And during practice it requires tolerance. That is called bhajana, sadhana or tapasya, austerity, penance, tolerance. The things which are not, but somehow or other, we have identified with such material things, and to practice again, come to the spiritual platform, that tolerance is called tapasya. This is the meaning of tapasya. Tapaḥ means pain, to voluntarily accepting some pain. Just like sannyasa, kali-kara[?]. In this age it is very difficult. But Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us the example that He was lying down on the floor. His devotee wanted to give Him a quilt, a soft bedding, but He refused. He did not take it. So He is teaching us. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the teacher. Apani acari' prabhu jivere sikhaila. But still, it is very difficult to strictly follow. But we must try to follow as far as possible.
(More...) Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/?qg=1704
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