Sunday, March 6, 2011

Yamas and Niyamas - Week 8 - Tapas

Sutras II.40-II.45 describes the effects of practicing the five niyamas.  They are the internal disciplines or individual rules of conduct.  They are the positive and help one to follow the yamas.  If one is disciplined in niyama it will be easy to follow yama.
II.43  kaya indriya siddhih asuddhiksayat tapasah

Self-discipline (tapas) burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity.

The sanskrit word "tap" means "to burn".

Tapas is self discipline, it is that burning desire to achieve a goal and to have the intense discipline or consistency to bring out the true self, free from attachments.

Tapas is not to be mistaken though as just doing something difficult.  We can labor through many difficult things in our lives, but if we bring our ego or pride into it, or complain endlessly about it, it is no longer tapas.
True tapas as Mr. Iyengar says destroys all impurities which balances the body, mind and senses so consciousness functions freely.  When one has self discipline with themselves they learn to have compassion and forgiveness for others. 

Mr.Iyengar says that tapas, this sustained practice, corresponds to pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses).  It is the hinge between the outer and inner aspects of yoga. 

Tapas is the study and practice of yoga with devotional attention to God.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/

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