The Lord said,
"Penance is of three kinds,depending upon which of the three Gunas are present in the penance. But before coming to that let me explain to you the three dimensions of penance. Penance is discipline chosen wholeheartedly by the individual. It reflects in the person's life and personality homogeneously. See how it determines our behavior in three dimensions . One is the dimension of the body. Another is the dimension of speech and the third is the dimension of the mind.
When one follows the discipline of penance at the level of the body, it show in reverence for the elders and the enlightened. It shows in the purity of the body and the mind. It shows in the gentleness of attitude to those around you. This is penance at the level of the body and the language of the body.
Penance at the level of speech is characterized by these signs. There is no inclination to say things with the intention to cause despondency and agitation in the listener. At the same time the person must abide by truth and while speaking he should keep the welfare and the well-being of the listener in his mind. This is penance at the level of the speech. The person who submits to this discipline, undertakes to educate his mind by reading, reflection and study.
Penance at the level of the mind produces a broad, quiet and cheerful mind. It does not hold radical views and expresses itself in a mild and gentle way. It remains silent and speaks when there is something that needs to be said. It remains under control as a rule.
When a person follows the discipline thus in his attitude, speech and thought and performs all activities without attachment to the fruit, or the benefit of action for his own self, it falls in the category of Sattvik penance. It makes the person's presence sublime to behold..
There is another kind of behavior to be seen next. When the penance is performed with ostentation and pride, with a view to gaining honor, felicitation and worship from others, it produces a dubious result. The fruit of this penance does not stay. This falls in the category of Rajas penance.
There are those who undertake penance with a vile motive of harming others. In the madness to seek revenge they do not mind suffering in their own body. This is called Tamas penance.
"Penance is of three kinds,depending upon which of the three Gunas are present in the penance. But before coming to that let me explain to you the three dimensions of penance. Penance is discipline chosen wholeheartedly by the individual. It reflects in the person's life and personality homogeneously. See how it determines our behavior in three dimensions . One is the dimension of the body. Another is the dimension of speech and the third is the dimension of the mind.
When one follows the discipline of penance at the level of the body, it show in reverence for the elders and the enlightened. It shows in the purity of the body and the mind. It shows in the gentleness of attitude to those around you. This is penance at the level of the body and the language of the body.
Penance at the level of speech is characterized by these signs. There is no inclination to say things with the intention to cause despondency and agitation in the listener. At the same time the person must abide by truth and while speaking he should keep the welfare and the well-being of the listener in his mind. This is penance at the level of the speech. The person who submits to this discipline, undertakes to educate his mind by reading, reflection and study.
Penance at the level of the mind produces a broad, quiet and cheerful mind. It does not hold radical views and expresses itself in a mild and gentle way. It remains silent and speaks when there is something that needs to be said. It remains under control as a rule.
When a person follows the discipline thus in his attitude, speech and thought and performs all activities without attachment to the fruit, or the benefit of action for his own self, it falls in the category of Sattvik penance. It makes the person's presence sublime to behold..
There is another kind of behavior to be seen next. When the penance is performed with ostentation and pride, with a view to gaining honor, felicitation and worship from others, it produces a dubious result. The fruit of this penance does not stay. This falls in the category of Rajas penance.
There are those who undertake penance with a vile motive of harming others. In the madness to seek revenge they do not mind suffering in their own body. This is called Tamas penance.
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