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| Word | Meaning | ||
| 1 | Japa and Tapa | To constantly repeat a particular religious name ('Nama') or a cryptic maxim ('Mantra') is 'Japa'. Undergoing hard penances for considerable length of duration is 'Tapa'.
These two words contain within them following insightful meanings. 'Japa': 'Ja' = 'Born from or in', 'Produced or caused by' + 'Pa' = 'Guarding', Protecting', 'Ruling'. Thus the meaning that emerges for 'Japa' is 'That which ('Nama' and 'Mantra') is born or produced 'within', guards and protects oneself'. What is indicated here very subtly is, it is not mere mechanical repetition of 'Nama' and 'Mantra' is of any real help in our spiritual quest. They have to be literally 'born from or in' one's undivided consciousness. Only then they have the quality of 'guarding and protecting' our inner sanity. 'Tapa': The word 'Tapa' means 'Heat', 'Glow', 'Torment', 'Pain', 'Agony'. What is THAT, which has to undergo the sustained tormenting, painful and agonizing heating, so as to GLOW? One's sense of ego has to get repeatedly subjugated through the tormenting heat of painfully agonizing self-denials, so as to get purified and glow free of arrogating madness of individuality. One has to be 'Mindful' with total awareness, to repeatedly deny the wanton ways of one's ego. This cannot be a mere brutal denial. Without the subtle power of insight into the core-issue, if one undertakes self-denial as a blind method, the malady would only get compounded. The power of ego will only grow more in its strength, by further appropriating the energy present in the act of brutal self-denial as well! The power of ego-energy is gross. Blind 'self-denial' is equally gross in its nature. Thus, it gets only added to one's ego-energy, whereas, the ego can be dissolved only by a subtler power of INSIGHT. Thus, 'Tapa' of self-denial has to be undertaken with insight ('Shukshma-Gyana'), to make true progress in our spiritual quest. It is indeed quite evident that both 'Japa' and 'Tapa' are essential factors in one's spiritual endeavor. |
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