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It is not “I may do it or not do it.” These austerities must be done. For example, in the …

At the very beginning of life one must be a brahmacārī. He must go to the spiritual master’s place and …

After brahmacārī life, one may marry. This means he enters gṛhastha life, household life. That is also tapasya. He cannot …

People do not follow any tapasya at the present moment, but human life is meant for tapasya – regulative principles. …

So tapasya means following the regulative principles strictly, according to the higher order. And that is human life.

Animal life, however, means you can do whatever you like. On the road, animals may keep to the right or …

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: And so, Śrīla Prabhupāda, tapasya includes dietary regulations?

Śrīla Prabhupāda: That is also tapasya. For example, we prohibit meat-eating. So in your country this is a little troublesome. …

Tapasya applies to diet, to personal behavior, to dealings with others, and so on and so forth. In every aspect …

So one should practice tapasya in every way – in body, mind, words, personal behavior, and dealings with others. That …

And what is the aim of performing tapasya? The aim is to please the Supreme Lord through the spiritual master. …

Now, in today’s educational institutions, who is teaching this tapasya? Where is the school or college? The students are even …

Even from the standpoint of basic moral instruction, we must ask: Who today is educated? The educated person is described …

“The educated man sees another’s wife as his mother and another’s property as untouchable garbage, and he sees all others …

That is the paṇḍita, the learned man. In Bhagavad-gītā [5.18] Kṛṣṇa also describes the paṇḍita:

“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an …

Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: Next question, Śrīla Prabhupāda? “What is the role of rituals in religion? Are they to be discouraged, as …

Śrīla Prabhupāda: A ritual is a practice based on tapasya, or austerity. Generally, unless one undergoes the ritualistic ceremonies for …

In His Śikṣāṣṭaka, Lord Caitanya describes the progressive benefits of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa. First, ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam. The beginning is cleansing the …

And when the heart is cleansed, then a person becomes eligible for being freed from the clutches of māyā, or …