Tapas undertaken with a foolish obstinacy by means of self-torture, and “austerities” indulged in for the sake of destroying others are of the lowest type. A Tapaswin must have clear notions as to why he undertakes the Tapas. And also, he should know what is Tapas and how to do it. Without a correct knowledge of the technique, no seeker can independently walk the ‘path’ of inner integration and gain spiritual fulfilment.

When the Vedic notion of Tapas is misconstrued, the seeker will, at best, be only torturing himself. Self-torture cannot bring about any unveiling of the true beauty of the Soul; it can only create a ludicrous caricature of the Perfection in us. Twisted and torn into a disfigured personality, perverted in its emotion and unclean in its ideals — this alone can be the outcome of any unintelligent austerity.

And when these misconceived and wrongly practised austerities are undertaken by any one for bringing about sorrow and discomfort to others, such Tapas is considered as Tamasic.

CHARITY ALSO CAN FALL UNDER THREE KINDS:

Yat, that; tapah, austerity; which is kriyate, under-taken; mudha-grahena, with a foolish intent, with a conviction arising out of non-discriminating; pidaya, causing pain; atmanah, to oneself (to one’s body etc.); va, or; utsadanartham, for the destruction; parasya, of another; tat, that; is udahrtam, said to be; an austerity tamasam, born of tamas. Now the classification of charity is being spoken of: