Yoga Philosophy: Tapas

 Yoga Philosophy

Tapas

Limbs or PrinciplesYama/Niyama (Ethics for Life)

Previously, we covered the Yama or Yamas. Today we will delve into one of the Niyama. In Raja Yoga of Patanjali's Sutras there are 5 of each. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika there are 10 of each.

Tapas is often transalated into Self-Discipline. It also means austerity, deep meditation, and it can mean suffering and pain as well.

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which we've been studying, has some interesting insight into the meaning of Tapas.

Early in the HYP, before the Asanas/Poses are described it says,

"For those continually tempered by the heat of tapa (the three types of pain - spiritual, environmental and physical) hatha is like the hermitage giving protection from the heat. For those always united in yoga, Hatha is the basis acting like a tortoise who supports the world. (1.10) "

Swami Muktibodhananda in his commentary says:

"The Sanskrit word tapa has two meanings: one is ‘to heat,’ the other is ‘pain. Pain itself is a type of heat. It tempers and heats the mind, emotions and physical body. Pain is of three types: adhyatmik, ‘spiritual,’ adhidevik, ‘natural/environmental,’ and adhibhautik, ‘physical.’"

3 Types of Tapas/Pain

1. Spiritual
2. Natural/environmental
3. Physical

In HYP, Tapas is the first Niyama,  In Raja/the Yoga Sutras it is the third. 

Tapas as Heat

Swami Muktibodhananda in his commentary says:

"The first is tapah which means ‘to heat’ and also refers to austerities. There are three types of tapas: sharirik, physical; vachik, vocal; and manasik, mental; which may again be sattwic, rajasic or tamasic." 

3 Types of Heat/Austerities 

1. Physical
2. Vocal
3. Mental

He goes to explain how Tapas used to mean austerities like standing in a pose in cold water for a long time and that now it is different. He says:

"Austerities for people of this age involve doing those things which test the willpower and strength of mind and body." (p61)

More about Sattwic, Rajasic, and Tamasic soon. 

Yoga Sutras on Tapa/Tapah

Tapas is part of a 3 part Yoga of Action

Sutra 2.1 tapah svadhyaya ishvara-pranidhana kriya-yogah

Tapah -- Self-discipline, austerities 

Svadhyaya -- another Niyama, Self-Study

Ishvarpranidhana -- another Niyama, -- Respectful behavior to, contemplation or meditation on the Supreme Sou or Collective Consciousnessl.

Is the Kirya Yoga -- Yoga of Action. 

This Sutra is saying that Tapas/discipline goes with Self Study and contemplation on the Supreme Soul as a Yoga of Action.

In Yoga Sutra 2.32 Patanjlai list all five Niyama which adds Cleanliness/Purification-- Shaucha and Contentment -- Santosha. 

Sutra 2.43 elaborates on Tapas kaya indriya siddhih ashuddhi kshayat tapasah

Kaya  -- the body

Indriya -- the senses, belonging to the Perceiver 

Siddhih -- perfection

Ashuddhi -- opposite of perfection

Kshayat -- ruled over, destroyed

Tapasah -- discipline, austerities

Tapas destroys or rules over the imperfections of the body and the mind.

Conclusion 

So, Tapas can be a type of pain from which Yoga can give us refuge and it can also be a discipline of practice when combined with Self Study and Contemplation on the Cosmic Consciousness can help destroy our imperfections and lead us to perfection/Siddhi. 

References

https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/pranidhana

https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/indriya