Day 59

We are talking about tapas. What does tapas do? Why should we undergo tapas? It purifies our system and strengthens our system - purity and strength. That is the purpose of tapas. But tapas can bring a big ego in a person. Unfortunately, people think by doing tapas, they will become very great. 

If someone has to fast for long periods of time, he must have had lots of impurities. Out of proportion glorification of tapas leads to ego. That is why the next thing to be done immediately after tapas is swaadhyaaya. Swaadhyaaya is self-study. Why do you fast? Is it just to show off? 

Is it in competition with somebody? There is a story. There were two persons who were meditating and doing some tapas. They were neighbors. And, God came to one of them and asked him what he wanted. The man said that he wanted whatever He would give to his neighbor. 

He asked God if He was visiting his neighbor, too. God replied that he certainly would, considering that both of them had started tapas on he same day. God pointed out that He had come there first because he had started his tapas an hour earlier. 

He again asked the man what he wanted. The man asked Him if He could avoid going to his neighbor. God refused, saying that it would be an injustice if He did so. He had to go there. God, once again, asked the man what he wanted. The man replied that he wanted twice as much of whatever God gave the other man.

The God went to the other man and asked him what he wanted. He asked if He had not come to him after seeing his neighbor. God said that He had. The man asked God what He had given to his neighbor. Initially, God was silent. When the man insisted, He said that the neighbor has asked to be given twice as much of whatever he would want. 

And the man asked God to take away one his eyes, and one of his ears. That would teach his neighbor a lesson. Continuing, he said that the neighbor was always in competition with him and God could give him twice as much as he had been given. This sort of tapas, without self-study leads to ego.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji 

PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS