The practice of tapas can also be done by the householders quite effectively. All the spiritual practices we do are aimed at attaining concentration or focus on God. This turns the focus of our sense organs and energy towards the inward or within self. The sense organs waste a huge amount of energy by aimless wandering in the external world. When the sense organs are turned inward in prayers, meditation, mantra japa and other practices, all this energy is conserved. Regular and sustained spiritual practices produce heat in the body which is called tapas.
Tapas is not extreme austerity. We can live our normal lives as householders and still practice tapas successfully. We need to have a correct understanding about tapas for it. Tapas is having control over thought, word and deed. We can easily control our actions and words. But it is difficult to control thoughts. When we learn to watch our thoughts and not act on the wrong ones, we attain thought control. With regular practice, a stage comes when we will not think wrong about anyone or anything. Control over thought, word and deed helps us not just in spiritual life but also in our worldly life as we have better relations, work ethics and are reliable and trustworthy.
Tapas is non-attachment to worldly objects, sensual enjoyments, material enjoyments. This does not mean that you do not own or possess objects of comfort or luxuries. It only means that you use them and enjoy them but are not attached to them and crave for them. It is like travelling in a plane and enjoying the comforts of it and not hankering to own it. When we live like this, we are like the lotus in the pond. The lotus draws its nourishment from the mud and mire but floats on the water without getting dirty.
Tapas is developing a strong will power and acquiring wisdom and knowledge which help us to rise above anger, lust, greed, attachment, jealousy and pride. It is also remaining in balance during heights of joy and depths of sorrow. When we acquire these qualities, our stress levels in the world reduce drastically and we become peaceful and balanced. This helps us to live a better quality life and enjoy loving relationships.
Tapas is living a simple life style and being self reliant. It is the ability to understand the cause of pain and discomforts of body, mind and emotions and rise above it. We do not blame others around us for our suffering. We understand that we are ultimately responsible for ourselves and we overcome and reduce our own suffering.
Tapas is living in the present and not yearning for the past or future. It is the right understanding that though we are influenced by deeds of past, we still have choice to do the right thing now and by doing so the future takes care of itself. Tapas is walking the Middle path where we do not go to any extremes in life for anything. We understand that suffering and happiness are short lived and only the Divine Peace, Divine Love and Divine Bliss are permanent. It is not making the body suffer through too much fasting or too many restrictions. It is keeping the body fit and learning to live with love, compassion, patience, courage, will power, determination, perseverance, acceptable compromises, forgiveness, self-discipline, positive thinking, peace, correct understanding and non-attachment.
Being faithful and loyal to the partner in life and giving unconditional love and care is tapas. It is doing good and offering all actions to God and accepting the fruits as prasad from God. It is serving God and seeing God in all. When we work on ourselves and attain a state of purity, it is tapas. By doing tapas, we get knowledge and wisdom and eventually attain enlightenment. Doing tapas helps us to have a better life.
