Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

About Austerities

 

Question: Oh Lord, How many different kinds of austerities are

there?

Austerities are of three kinds - of body, speech and mind. Worship

of Gods, Brahmanas, teachers and liberated souls; to maintain purity

of body by cleansing with water and earth; activities performed by

the body must be straightforward and simple, uprightness, continence

and non-violence are the austerities of the body. (Gita 17:14)

 

Question: What are the austerities of speech?

Not being offensive, being truthful, agreeable, using beneficial

speech and practice and study of sacred texts and constant

repetition of the Divine Name - this is called austerities of

speech. (Gita 17:15)

 

Question: What are the austerities of the mind?

Cheerfulness of mind, serenity, habit of meditation on God, self-

control, purity of disposition - this is called austerities of mind.

(Gita 17:16)

 

If the threefold austerity is performed with supreme faith, by men

having no desire for fruit, it is called pure austerities

(Sattvika). (Gita 17:17)

 

Question: What are the austerities of the mind that are born of the

mode of passion (Rajasik), Oh Lord?

The austerities that are practiced with the objective of winning

respect, honor, and worship or for ostentation and is unstable and

transitory in effect, is said to be driven by the mode of passion

(rajasik). (Gita 17:18)

 

Question: What are the austerities of the mind that are born of mode

of ignorance (Tamasik)?

Austerities done with a deluded understanding with self-torture or

with the objective of causing injury to others is said to be born of

the mode of ignorance (Tamasik). (Gita 17:19)