March 5, 2012
Swamini Vimalanandaji of the Chinmaya Mission has been giving talks on "Sure Mantras of Success (SMS) from the Bhagavad Gita". I was listening to one of them on DVD and saw a very neat distinction drawn between tapas (तपस austerity) and titikshA (तितिक्षा forbearance).
Swaminiji was discussing Śrī Kṛṣṇa's instruction in 2-14:
तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत । taa.nstitikShasva bhaarata |
"Endure them bravely, O descendant of Bharata."
Swaminiji says that tapas is what one voluntarily undertakes while titikshA is accepting what comes to you.
As I thought about this, it made sense. Fasting is austerity, we do it voluntarily. So is maunam (मौनम़ - vow of silence). Accepting the ups and downs of the weather is titikshA. Undertaking voluntary activity or seva is tapas, acceptance of the quirks of one's spouse or child is titikshA.
In the case of titikshA, we may wish things were different but cheerfully accept what life has to offer. Stretching oneself in order to change habits (think of diet control to deal with diabetes or cholesterol problems) or for consciously remembering the Lord (fasting on Shivaratri or Ekadashi) is auterity.
We have numerous opportunities for both tapas and titikshA. I may choose my job, but I cannot choose my colleagues. In these times of a floundering economy, it is tapas to continue to perform well in our jobs (rather than complain about dwindling bonuses or absence of salary raises), while cheerfully learning to work with all types of colleagues is titikshA.
Choosing to wake up early to make a detour for a spiritual talk or to go to the temple is a small act of tapas, enduring traffic that could potentially make you late is titikshA.
When everyday acts of tapas or titikshA become natural to us, then we become ready for bigger things. Let us undertake our small acts of tapas and titikshA...and celebrate when we do them well.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post
Swamini Vimalanandaji of the Chinmaya Mission has been giving talks on "Sure Mantras of Success (SMS) from the Bhagavad Gita". I was listening to one of them on DVD and saw a very neat distinction drawn between tapas (तपस austerity) and titikshA (तितिक्षा forbearance).
Swaminiji was discussing Śrī Kṛṣṇa's instruction in 2-14:
तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत । taa.nstitikShasva bhaarata |
"Endure them bravely, O descendant of Bharata."
Swaminiji says that tapas is what one voluntarily undertakes while titikshA is accepting what comes to you.
As I thought about this, it made sense. Fasting is austerity, we do it voluntarily. So is maunam (मौनम़ - vow of silence). Accepting the ups and downs of the weather is titikshA. Undertaking voluntary activity or seva is tapas, acceptance of the quirks of one's spouse or child is titikshA.
In the case of titikshA, we may wish things were different but cheerfully accept what life has to offer. Stretching oneself in order to change habits (think of diet control to deal with diabetes or cholesterol problems) or for consciously remembering the Lord (fasting on Shivaratri or Ekadashi) is auterity.
We have numerous opportunities for both tapas and titikshA. I may choose my job, but I cannot choose my colleagues. In these times of a floundering economy, it is tapas to continue to perform well in our jobs (rather than complain about dwindling bonuses or absence of salary raises), while cheerfully learning to work with all types of colleagues is titikshA.
Choosing to wake up early to make a detour for a spiritual talk or to go to the temple is a small act of tapas, enduring traffic that could potentially make you late is titikshA.
When everyday acts of tapas or titikshA become natural to us, then we become ready for bigger things. Let us undertake our small acts of tapas and titikshA...and celebrate when we do them well.
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post
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