Tapasya as Discipline
The closest thing our culture has to the idea of Tapasya is discipline, which is synonymous with punishment in the form of “disciplinary action”. But to the yogic tradition, discipline is actually a source of great solace and peace.
Patanjali writes in his Yoga Sutras that “By cultivating discipline, one is redeemed of all guilt and imperfection, and the higher abilities of the body and senses are attained (2.43)”. Ponder this for a moment. Through discipline we are redeemed of guilt and imperfection. This is particularly important for all of us to remember as we approach our resolutions for inner transformations because those resolutions usually involve a wish to be different than how you are at the moment. This can lead us to feel discontent about our current state, which is unnecessary when seen through the lens of discipline.
Let me show you what I mean. Let’s say you make a resolution to get in shape. If you apply yourself to this end in a disciplined way, you will feel better about your current state long before you lose the weight— why? Because when you do something with discipline, day in and day out, you feel inside that you are walking in the direction of your resolution— and even though you might not be there, your mind can rest assured that you are on the right track. It’s a subtle form of magic— you are able to have the experience of reaching your goal while on the path to it. Discipline, the redeemer of guilt and imperfection, the bestower of gifts.