TAPA - PENANCE (12 Kinds)The attachment and aversion brings into soul Karmic Atoms, this is the root-cause of our worldly existence. Karmic Atoms control and direct our every movement whether it be inner or outer. But when we become aware of the mighty spiritual empire hidden in us, Karmic Atoms loose their hold on us. Then it is not the matter that dominates the Soul but it is the Soul that dominates the matter. How can you remove Karmic atoms completely from your Soul so that the eternal spiritual splendour in you may outshine everything?Jainism has prescribed 12 methods to uproot the Karmic Atoms from your soul. There are 12 kinds of Penance : 6 - exterior and 6- interior.A: Exterior
1. Anashana -
To forgo a meal or meals.
Ordinarily fasting for minimum 36 hours, if possible even without water.
2. Unodary - To eat less i.e to keep the belly partly unfilled.
3. Vritti Sankshepa - To reduce number of varieties in food - reduce wants.
4. Rasa Parityaga - To forgo rich luscious dishes - tasty food
5. Kaya Klesh - Self suffering - bodily austerity.
6. Sanlinata - To remain still or minimum bodily movements - control of temptation.
B - Interior :
7. Prayaschitta - Expiation and self introspection, confession and penance.
8. Vinaya - Respect - reverence, humility.
9. Vaiya-Vachha - Serve your fellow beings and spiritual superiors.
10. Swadhyaya - Scriptural and religious studies.
11. Dhyana - Meditation - concentration.
12. Kayotsarga - Meditation - reflections in a particular way (statue like) without moving the body including eyelid -lips - absolute indifference to the body and its needs.
Each Penance is of ascending importance. The practice of self - conquest is the path towards purification.
Bhagwan Mahavir's life : (Tapa)
It was the Observation of Tapa that elevated Bhagavan Mahavir's life to the supreme state of an Omniscient Teacher. It was by mortification and austerity that He could become the unequalled master of Ahimsa. Lord Mahavir ate and drank water only 349 times in the course of his 12.5 years and 15 days of ascetic life for the attainment of Omniscience,the stage of perfection and purity. It will be astonishing to know that all these years he did not sit on the ground, was in deep and prolonged meditation, during which unthinkable sufferings and tortures he bore with equanimity. The total time he dozed off during these years was a total of 48 minutes.
You can purge the terrific hold of Karma by 12 kinds of Penances and make your soul perfect.
