288
Aptavani-2
Penance
The Lord has said liberation has four pillars: Gnan
(enlightened knowledge of the real Self), darshan (enlightened
view), charitra (enlightened conduct) and tapa (penance), but
people have interpreted this in their own way. ‘I am Shuddhatma’
is the Gnan (conviction; pratiti). ‘I am Shuddhatma’ is the
darshan and to remain as ‘gnata-drashta’ (knower-observer) is
charitra (conduct). Remaining just the knower-observer of the
suffering, caused by anything that goes on externally or internally,
is considered tapa (penance). Internal penance (antartapa) is
invisible (adeethatapa). For moksha, you will need inner
penance not external. Through external penance (bahyatapa)
you will attain a better life form but you will not attain moksha.
Adeetha tapa is something that is not visible. The Lord calls this
invisible penance, true penance. In this penance, You remain in
the ‘home’ as the Self and not venture into the ‘foreign’ i.e. the
relative self (Chandulal). Adeetha tapa is not allowing that which
is of the Self and that which is the non-self to become one. And
why do you have to suffer this penance? It is because you have
remained in the foreign location for endless lifetimes, nevertheless
you do not have to suffer the ‘heat’ of this penance.
The path of liberation is absolutely natural and easy. Here
no rituals or effort is needed. Rituals of penance, renouncing,
chanting (japa) etc., will give fruits. Dwell in it as long as you
receive the fruit, but who knows what your mind will be like
when you are faced with the fruits? A person may have been an
ascetic when he sows a seed (creates a cause) but he may be
a family man when he experiences the effect of that cause; he
may even be engrossed in all his five senses. With penance and