Burning Enthusiasm

a lighter with a small flame in the darkness

Tapas has several definitions. It can mean self-discipline, spiritual effort, heat, transformation, or (my personal favorite) “burning enthusiasm.” The Niyama of Tapas asks us not to shy away from the difficulties in our lives, because they can be used to tap into our spiritual nature. In fact transformation can occur when we welcome challenges and choose right action.

While any difficulty we encounter can be used to bring us closer to the Divine, it is the one that sparks us into deep, necessary, heart-led change that can catapult us toward self-realization. This type of spirit-driven transformation often comes with friction and/or difficulty that makes us want to give up, but when we face the adversity head-on much progress can be gained. Think of how only through friction does an oyster make a pearl. We should also consider how tuning out and/or avoiding the difficulty not only robs us of spiritual progress, but also may create prolonged suffering.

Along these same lines, change never happens in our comfort zone, so Tapas asks us, “how comfortable can we get with discomfort?” Sitting in the discomfort, allowing all the feelings, and not resisting what we know to be true can bring profound healing and insight.

Let’s not shy away from the idea of self-discipline that comes to us with Tapas. Many people mistakenly think of discipline as a punishment. But discipline, from the root word ‘disciple,’ is more likened to learning than penance. So, it can be helpful to think of this aspect of Tapas as a steady effort that supports your spiritual growth.

Finally, let’s recognize the cathartic nature of tapas within our asana practice. We may experience an intense release of emotions after practice, or a physical release as muscles finally surrender in savasana. Our practice gives us the opportunity to stay connected to our breath, body, mind, and spirit. And within this practice, we are tending to a fire (a small, controlled burn) within ourselves. This is the heat of Tapas that allows us to clear the debris of unwanted habits and thought patterns, and give way to nourishing soil for our own awakening.