ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 298

Supreme Austerities (Uttama Tapa) Uttama Tapa means fasting, abstinence, prayers, devotion, meditation and through these enlightening one's soul, and thorough control of senses and desires to benefit the spiritual self, get the release himself from the shackles of bondage.
Everyone should, according to his physical capacity, slowly practice austerity (Tapa) and renunciation (Tyāga) and endeavour to take himself higher. It is not proper to take our self near death through meaningless starvation because the human-body is the vehicle (Sadhana) to religious uplift (Dharma Sādhanā) and spiritual betterment.
Austerity is a powerful missile to destroy evils like anger, greed etc. but as the handling of the missile requires perfect training and metal concentration so the austerity has its way in controlling over one self. One is aware of the fact that the physical, mental and vocal activities of a person cause the inflow of karmic matter. This activity is known as yoga. Yoga Vāsistha says, Yogaḥ cittavrtti nirodhaḥ i.e. controlling over fives senses is yoga.
Now how the influx of Karmic matter may be destroyed so Umāsvāmi says, 'Tapasā nirjarā ca! By austerities (is caused) shedding of Karmic matter and also stoppage of flowSamyagyoganigrahoguptiḥ. Gupti prevention is proper control (Nigraha) over mind, speech and body.
There are twelve kinds of Tapa:
1. Six external austerities. 2. Six internal austerities.
Six external austerities
(i) Anaśana-To avoid food and be away from Kaşāys-anger, pride, deceit and greed. (ii) Uņodara- to take less food than you require. (iii) Vrttiparisankhyāna- to decide to take limited things in lunch. (iv) Rasaparityāga- to avoid any juicy thing. (v) Kāyakleśa- to avoid physical pleasures and physical embellishments. (vi) Viviktaśayyāsana- to take only one posture for meditation.
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
Page 285 of 385