Tapas तपस्
Sutra 2.43 kāyendriyasiddhiraśuddhikṣayāt tapasaḥ
Within the depths of our being, a profound fire dwells—a flickering flame capable of igniting our spirits, cast light upon our journeys, and propel us towards a sense of personal growth and self-discovery. This sacred fire is embodied in the yogic principle of Tapas (Sanskrit: तपस्)*, an essential Niyama (personal, introspective practices within yoga - we’ve been journeying through them since August’s post, on Saucha) that calls us to cultivate discipline, passion, and the unwavering commitment to our life’s call. Tapas is rooted from the word ‘tap’ (तप्), denoting to heat, to burn, to shine. It relates to liberation by burning off past karma, and is most commonly interpreted as discipline, austerity, or willpower. Tapas is not a practice of self-punishment, deprivation, or self-annihilation. It is a heating process that burns with love and devotion—a love that is fierce, relentless, and unyielding in its pursuit of the untarnished, our utmost authenticity, and the unbreakable union with the Cosmic Light within and external of ourselves. Tapas invites us to harness the energy of this fire, channeling it towards our personal and spiritual evolution.
In our modern world of instant gratification and addiction to the comfortable, the concept of Tapas may seem estranged from our reality, irrelevant, or even unnecessary. Yet, it is in the crucible that we discover the depths of who we really are, and the potentials that could only arise from such circumstances. Much like wild, pyrophytic flora and funghi, there are parts of us that actually require the fiery power of committed focus and a conscious surrender to pressure so that what we did not know we had within ourselves can emerge. Tapas urges us to transcend the limitations of our comfort zones, to venture into the unknown, and to embrace the challenges and discomforts that lead to releasing old stories, to growth, and to widened identity.
The practice of Tapas encompasses various dimensions of our lives. It includes the discipline of our physical bodies, through practices such as asana (yoga postures), pranayama (breath control), what we expose ourselves energetically to, and healthful lifestyle choices. It extends to the habits of our minds, where we cultivate mindfulness, focus, and the ability to observe our thoughts without being consumed or controlled by them. Tapas also encompasses how we regulate our emotions, any sense of entitlement, or hyper individuality, as we cultivate qualities such as compassion, tenderness, and relatability for ourselves and the world around us.
Tapas is not about rigid asceticism or self-imposed suffering. It is about our awareness of choices, which eventually build to habits (or eliminating undesirable ones) that align with what we find of highest importance. Much of the time, the practice of Tapas illuminates and exposes our supposed declared values from our most authentic priorities. It is about embracing a way of life that keeps us humble, see our own humanity, and the interconnectedness of all beings in the tension between light, dark, and paradox. Tapas calls us to exercise discernment—to make choices that nourish our bodies, minds, and spirits while remaining aware of the difference between the necessary, the extraneous, and the nuances of its polarities.
The fire of Tapas burns away the layers of ego, attachment, and illusion, revealing the radiant essence of who we are and who we are becoming. On one hand, the practice requires us to face our doubts, demons, dramas and distortions, to identify our self-made excuses, and spiritual posturing and where we can generally do better. On the other hand, the fire illuminates our greatest potentials and gifts; it brings to our awareness why we are here, and beckons us to step out of our shadowy comfort zones into greater visibility of our brilliance. It’s the heat and pressure that change pre-existing minerals in the earth into shining gemstones; the word ‘metamorphic’ in geology literally means this.
Through Tapas, we cultivate the strength of character and the resilience needed to navigate the daily stresses and uncertainties of life with willingness, honesty, and integrity. Here lies the difference between Western spiritual traditions and Eastern ones (whether Indian, Chinese, or other Eastern philosophies): the West is concerned about what can we add, what can we accumulate; the East asks who we are when the pressure is applied and comforts are stripped away? What are we without our clothing, our gear, our titles and past accolades, our productivity, our social media followers, our cars and toys, our lavish meals, our indulgences, our distractions? Who are we underneath it all? Who are we when we are sitting on a rock in a forest on Bowen Island, where no one is watching us? What then?
It’s natural to look to how others view us when defining spiritual practice and self-identity. Tapas is not a practice carried out in isolation; it thrives in the soil of community and connection. We find strength in the collective flame—the shared responsibility and dedication to mutually thrive. Together, we stoke the fire of Tapas, witnessing each other and encouraging one another along our unique life paths. Through our shared commitment, we create a supportive safe space where the fire of transformation burns brightly, illuminating the way for all. In this way, Tapas is ultimately concerned about the whole, and until everyone is doing well, no one is. The practice of Tapas invites us to view challenges and obstacles not as barriers but as opportunities for resilience and for the social aspect of Tapas above, to even relational reconciliation. It encourages us to embrace discomfort and lean into the edges of our perceived limitations, knowing that it is through these experiences that we expand our capacity for empathy, understanding, and restored conversation. Tapas teaches us that it is in the face of adversity that our most honest colours are revealed, and that the hues and shades that are most personal are also the most universal.
In the embrace of Tapas, we learn to distinguish between living lightly and performed lightness. It is a delicate balance—a dance of polarities between effort and surrender, discipline and self-compassion—where most of the time, only you truly know what’s going on within. And here lies the illuminating edge of Tapas: what you put in is what you’ll get out of it, no one can do the work for you.
Tapas calls us to approach our practice with dedication and devotion, while also honouring our limitations and allowing space for rest, reflection, and ease. It is through this balance that the transformative fire of Tapas continues to burn brightly, nourishing and guiding us on our path. All the more that spiritual practice is a relational one; the private yoga retreat may call us to some inner work, but ultimately, it is the gathering of the group (perhaps here at Nectar Yoga Retreat on Bowen Island), that can form more lasting impressions or a prompting of a personal or group agreement. This is partly from the power of being witnessed and witnessing others. Within a collective setting, we are inspired to cultivate a practice that is rooted in love—a discipline that springs forth from a deep yearning for wholeness and union with the sacred—a form of sacred that can also be found in chance encounters, friendships, and other forms of deep bonds.
The life-long student who undertakes Tapas is called a ‘tapasvin’. Agni, the fire deity in Hinduism, central to many Hindu rituals and spiritual practice is considered an agent of heat, of incubation, and creative energy. Most humbling of all, Agni, even as a divine being, is considered a great tapasvin; one who has and is still actively engaged in the practice. If a deity devotes himself to this Niyama, it is not only an aspiration but an honour we can also join him by the fire. May we embrace the gifts of Tapas with openness and receptivity, knowing that through our willingness and dedication, we come closer to the realization that the divine is within us.
*Tapas (Sanskrit: तपस्) extends beyond the domains of yoga, where the practice can also be found within Jainism, Buddhism, and various traditions of Hinduism. Most frequently observed in stillness and solitude, the Tapas practice holds centrality in monastic traditions, serving as a doorway to liberation and transcendence (moksha).
Sources and further reading:
Understanding the Niyamas – Tapas
The Power and Purpose of Tapas in Yoga
How To Make the Yamas and Niyamas Work for You in the Modern World
Tapas: The Fire of Transformation
Kick Up Your Yoga Practice with Tapas, the Ancient Art of Discipline
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T.K.V. Desikachar
The Yamas & Niyamas: Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translated by Swami Satchidananda
Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar
The Heart of Meditation: Discovering Innermost Awareness by H.H. the Dalai Lama