A Wisdom Archive on Tapas

See Tapas (Sanskrit) for the spiritual concept. Tapas are essentially snacks. In many regions of Spain they are often included in the price of drinks (beer, wine, not soft drinks or spirits) served in bars. In this case, they can amount to as little as a few olives, a piece of cheese, or something more substantial like a pork stew. Bigger portions that are ordered to make up part of a meal are called raciones. The portions are usually shared by diners, and a meal made up of raciones resembles a Mi ...

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The word Tapa can refer to many different things: Tapa is a town in Estonia Tapa is a place in Afghanistan Tapa is a traditional cloth from Polynesia Tapa is a game similar to backgammon Tapa is a Hindu meditation technique. Tapa is a Filipino dish. Tapa is a Spanish snack. Other related archivesAfghanistan, Estonia, Filipino, Hindu, Polynesia, Spanish, Tapa, backgammon

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Tapas: Tapas means devoting oneself single mindedly to spiritual practice and it is often translated as spiritual austerity or penance. When Shri Swamiji uses the term tapas, he usually refers to meditation in samadhi for at least twelve hours every day. He explains that such tapas is necessary if one wishes to attain God realization.

 
(See also: Tapas, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary )

For more dictionary entries, see » Tapas Dictionary

Trilinga Swami
Sri Trilinga Swami of Benares, born in Andhra Desa, lived some fifty years ago. He lived for 280 years. He made his Tapas in Manasarovar (Tibet). Once Ramakrishna Paramahamsa also saw him at Benares.
 
From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

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The Inner Voice of Dharma: He who is endowed with a pure heart through protracted Tapas, Japa, Kirtana, meditation and service of Guru and who has a very clear conscience, can be guided by the inner voice in matters of Dharma or duty or moral action.
 
Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Inner Voice of Dharma: Inner Voice of Dharma in the Hindu Scriptures

The mark of Dharma is Achara or good conduct. Achara is the mark of the good. From Achara is Dharma born. Dharma enhances life. Man attains prosperity and fame, here and hereafter, through the practice of Dharma.

Good conduct is the highest Dharma. It is the root of all Tapas or austerities. Righteousness, truth and good works, power and prosperity - all originate from conduct.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Ethics: Ethics in Hindu Darma

Man is made up of a sensory system - therefore, he indulges in sensory pleasures; that's his destiny, say some. However true this might be, man must attempt to rise above them if he is to discover the Divine hidden within.
 
Aware of the difficulties in controlling the senses, ancient philosophers evolved practical methods of daan or almsgiving, vrat or fast, tapas or austerities and dhyan or meditation. Daanam means the will to share one's wealth with others. But why should we give away anything? Because, it helps to purify the Self. Sharing wealth requires purification of mind, atmashuddhi, and control of senses, damashca

 
(See also: Charity, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul )

Read more here: » Charity: Perfect the Art of Giving Graciously  

Sri Aurobindo, a scholar of India's spiritual-philosophical tradition, developed an original philosophy, which contained an evolutionary dimension. Humanity's destiny, according to Sri Aurobindo, is to evolve towards a higher state of consciousness that would fundamentally alter life, as we know it. To accomplish this, Sri Aurobindo synthesized various traditions of ancient spirituality and offered the instrument of integral Yoga. This prophet of the New Age not only predicted the perfectibility of the human condition but also assured that the day is not far when man's Supramental consciousness achieves its fullest fruition on earth. Following is an excerpt from Sri Aurobindo's Synthesis of Yoga.

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Story Of An Aspirant
An aspirant went to a Mahant of Gorakhnath Panth. Gorakhnath-followers are those who wear either big black celluloid or glass earrings. The Mahant bored the aspirant's ears, inserted big earrings and gave him a beautiful name also, Yogi Ishvarananda
 
From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

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Gorakhnath
Sri Gorakhnath was a great Yogi like Sri Jnanadev of Alandi. In Chandragiri village on the banks of the Godavari, there was a Brahmin named Suraj. His wife's name was Sarasvati.
 
From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda
 

Read more here: » Yogis: Gorakhnath