The Key for Threefold Austerity Date: 2009-11-22 Author: Vaijayantimala devi dasi Dear Prabhujis and Matajis, Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva! The scriptures clearly insist that the human form of life is meant for tapasya or penance or austerity by which we can purify our existence. Our idea of tapasya is going to the forest and meditating. This is highly impossible in this age and hence we think that we cannot do any austerity. In Srimad Bhagavad Gita Lord Shri Krishna lists the austerities of body, words and mind and these are austerities which we can follow in our daily lives and thus purify our valuable human existence. 1. Austerity of the body – Srimad Bhagavad Gita 17.14, deva-dvija-guru-prājña- pūjanaṁ śaucam ārjavam brahmacaryam ahiṁsā ca śārīraṁ tapa ucyate Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the braahmanaas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence. 2. Austerity of speech – Srimad Bhagavad Gita 17.15, anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ ca yat svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa ucyate Austerity of speech consists in speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others, and also in regularly reciting Vedic literature. 3. Austerity of mind - Srimad Bhagavad Gita 17.16, manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam ucyate And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one’s existence are the austerities of the mind. All our sinful activities are performed either by the body or by the words or by the mind or by their combination. By following the above austerities, we are saved from committing all these sins. Regarding the austerity of the body, Srila Prabhupada writes that one should not do anything which is not sanctioned by the scriptural injunctions. So, it becomes very clear that in order to follow the austerities of the body, knowledge of the scriptural injunctions is essential. Hence study of the scriptures is a must. Krishna says that the superiors must be offered obeisances and this practise can be followed by us. In Manu smriti also it is said that, abhivādana śīlasya nityaṁ vṛddhopa sevinaḥ tasya catvāri vardhante āyur vidyā yaśo balam Just by offering obeisances to the superiors, four things keep increasing and that is our lifespan, knowledge, fame and strength. In the previous days, the children were simply following the practices of the elders without questioning. Nowadays the children want explanation for everything. Hence it is important that we study the scriptures so that we can convince ourselves of the importance of these practices and also convince the younger generation. Regarding the austerity of speech, one of the important items is svādhyāya or the regular recitation of vedic literature. Srila Prabhupada writes very wonderfully in the purport,’The process of speaking in spiritual circles is to say something upheld by the scriptures. One should at once quote from scriptural authority to back up what he is saying. At the same time, such talk should be very pleasurable to the ear. By such discussions, one may derive the highest benefit and elevate human society. There is a limitless stock of Vedic literature, and one should study this. This is called penance of speech’. Thus, the study of the scriptures automatically makes us austere in our speech and also the more the time we spend on the study of the scriptures, less the time available to indulge in nonsensical talk. Regarding the austerity of the mind, Srila Prabhupada writes, ‘To purify one’s nature is to become Krishna conscious. Satisfaction of the mind can be obtained only by taking the mind away from thoughts of sense enjoyment. The more we think of sense enjoyment, the more the mind becomes dissatisfied. In the present age we unnecessarily engage the mind in so many different ways for sense gratification, and so there is no possibility of the mind’s becoming satisfied. The best course is to divert the mind to the Vedic literature, which is full of satisfying stories, as in the Puranas and the Mahabharata. One can take advantage of this knowledge and thus become purified.’ Thus, the satisfaction of the mind becomes possible just by the study of the scriptures. Thus, in order to be relieved of the sins committed by the body, mind and words and to follow the penance of mind, words and body, there is only one key and that is scriptural study. That is why our beloved Guru maharaj always insists us to bury ourselves in the unlimited stock of vedic literature so meticulously presented by Srila Prabhupada. Let us make our best endeavour in this regard and reap the results. Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Vaijayantimala devi dasi Abu Dhabi..