Gita Talk 81–Threefold Austerity

The eighty-first in a series of talks by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) on the Bhagavad Gita, India's most famous scripture: the unforgettable dialog between Sri Krishna and Arjuna about the essence of spiritual life.

In this talk, continuing with Chapter 17:14, Swamiji discusses tapasya (austerity) of the body, speech and mind according to Krishna, and how to gain tranquility of mind.

In this talk on Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita, Swamiji explores the threefold nature of tapasya (austerity)—of body, speech, and mind—as expressions of spiritual discipline. He emphasizes the importance of sincerity, steadiness, and scriptural grounding in all forms of practice.

Key Points

1. Tapasya of the Body includes:

• Reverence for the gods, teachers, sages

• Physical purity and self-restraint

• Non-injury (ahimsa) and celibacy (brahmacharya)

2. Tapasya of Speech includes:

• Speaking truthfully, kindly, and beneficially

• Avoiding words that cause distress

• Teaching and speaking about the Self and Dharma

3. Tapasya of the Mind includes:

• Tranquility and kindliness

• Observing inner silence and self-control

• Mental purity through japa and meditation

The Threefold Classification

• Sattwic Tapasya: Done with sincere faith, no desire for personal reward, and steady effort

• Rajasic Tapasya: Done for prestige, honor, or admiration—unstable and short-lived

• Tamasic Tapasya: Done with self-torture, delusion, or to harm others—harmful and misguided

Swamiji recounts real-life examples of misguided austerity (including one involving a harmful cult), warning that even meditation can be misused when approached with delusion, self-loathing, or ego.

Closing Insight

True tapasya purifies the heart, aligns us with our divine Self, and must be grounded in kindness, clarity, and higher understanding. Done properly, it brings light. Done wrongly, it brings confusion or harm.