Austerity at the level of the Mind and Intelligence

Speaking about austerity, Swamiji says that Tapas (austerity) can be of three levels. The physical Austerity is the elimination of whatever one otherwise does generally, or incorporation of something new which one is not used to doing as a daily routine. Tapas in the mind level is when one introduces a thought or a set of thoughts and try to revolve them in the mind like mantra japa, thinking of God etc.

Austerity in the intelligence level is when you start contemplating upon God or Self. This is the Austerity where knowledge becomes the goal, knowledge becomes the means, and knowingness becomes the nature! Knowleedge austerity is the highest, noblest level of Austerity. A true seeker, by a process of contemplation, must renounce his possessiveness and ego and reach higher levels of purity.

Shlokas Chanted in the Track:

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।
Bhagavadgeeta 4.38

सत्यान्नास्ति परो धर्मः।