Tapas means fire or heat. Fire is a great purifier. Fire removes all the dross and what remains is pure matter. Burning in fire allows the golden radiance of the pure and the true to glow. When gold is mined from earth it is impure and has other minerals mixed in it. When it is burnt in fire, all the impurities are burnt and the metal glows in its golden purity. The same is the case when we do tapas. All the dross is burnt within us and we are connected with the Universe and glow with the radiance of God.
Tapas is a heat or force generated in us when we do spiritual practices. Whether it is singing the name of God, or hearing His greatness, or reading a sacred text daily, or doing japa of Siddha mantra or meditation – in all the practices the sense organs are diverted inwardly. The consciousness and the sum total of our energy which is normally used by the sense organs outside towards objects of sense are focussed within and on God. We prevent the sense organs from focussing on external objects by not concentrating on seeing, tasting, touching, smelling or hearing. At the time of inward focus, we think only of the sacred name of God or Light or Consciousness and not other things. By doing so, we prevent our energy from leaking outwards. All our energy is directed and focussed within and retained inside. When this is done on a regular basis, it creates heat and the retained energy within makes us feel strong, energetic and forceful. This is tapas.
Those who do japa and meditation with the Siddha mantra and those who meditate after taking the Shaktipata of Kundalini can easily feel the force of tapas within themselves in a short period of time. The vibrations of the Siddha mantra help in easier and stronger focus within self and add to the heat generated. When the spiritual practices are followed regularly and in a disciplined manner, the heat of tapas burns all the physical toxins, mental junk, samskaras or mental impressions of past and karmic burdens that we carry. Slowly but surely, we can feel the difference in ourselves. We are less prone to anger or lust or jealousy or attachment or pride or ego. We are able to overcome our lower selves
In our spiritual practices, we focus on God. When we do so, we withdraw all our sense organs from the external world and focus them within. Being centred on God within ourselves is the highest tapas. This is also Yoga. Yoga means yoking ourselves to God. Yoga or Tapas are not mysterious processes. They are simple. It is living with God as centre in your life. And God is within us. All our life force is now centred on God.
We live in illusion that world is outside us and so is God. When we have right understanding that the Universe is within us and God is the Universe and we are not apart from Him – this is tapas. As long as we have this illusion of separation from world and God, we are always at conflict with ourselves and with the world. When we realise the truth that all is One and that One is within us, we are at peace and the world is at peace with us. We are at harmony with all creation.
This internal focus and tapas bring about intense self purification. Our desire for spiritual development becomes more, our faith intensifies. We cultivate greater endurance, willpower and balance in life. Moderation in eating, sleep and reaction are necessary. In Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna says: Yoga is not for him who eats too much nor for him who eats too little. It is not for him who sleeps too much nor for him who sleeps too little. For him who is temperate in his food and recreation, temperate in his exertion at work, temperate in his sleep and waking, yoga puts an end to all sorrows.
Tapas liberates us from identification with the body and unites us with the invisible power of God. Realizing this truth is the greatest tapas.
