BG 17.

14 to 19 – Types of Austerities in the Modes

 Human life is meant for austerity, as all other species are not meant for austerity, just serving
their prison sentence while enjoying eating sleeping mating and defending…
 Austerity of body – worshipping the Supreme Lord, the brähmanas, the spiritual master, and
superiors like the father and mother
o Prahlad Maharaj – either here on in austerity in mode of passion
o Lord Rama worshipping his father and mother – was willing to undergo extreme
austerity and pain, just to fulfill the desire of his elders
o Devotees have been given the process of always worshipping the superiors by the mercy
of SP – Supreme Lord thru Chanting and deity worship / reading, brahmanas and guru
thru charity, hearing and serving
 Austerity of body contd – also in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence- discuss from a
devotional perspective
o Cleanliness – Bathing respecting body as temple of Lord and anointing body with tilak
o Simplicity – Simple living high thinking
o Celibacy – sex life only within grihasta ashram and to product children, not for sense
gratification
o Non violence – no meat eating, no blasphemy

Austerity of speech - speaking words that are truthful, pleasing, beneficial, and not agitating to others,
not talk nonsense

 . It is a social convention that if you want to speak the truth you should speak it very palatably.
o Story of sadhu who was attached to telling truth – in jungle, person was running from
dacoits and took shelter in his ashram, he pointed to dacoits and they killed the people.
Better to avoid such truth
o Attachment to Truth of Dashrath caused him to create so much disturbance for Lord
Rama and Mother Sita, but Vasudev was willing to lie as a service to Krsna
o When we preach it can be the truth, but it must be priyam or pleasing, beneficial, not
agitating
o Someone wanted to tell Socrates about someone..Filters - is it true, good or kind, is it
beneficial or necessary for me to know?
 Reciting Vedic literature – limitless stock, so imp to take shelter of scriptures, benefits of
chanting mantras – immunity, calms the mind, balancing chakras, concentration & learning,
 Words not agitating to others – news channels. Purpose of news is to agitate, else who will
watch, so our austerity is to not watch (if we have been watching)
 For devotees, austerity of speech means to not speak or hear gramya katha, and use the tongue
for glorifying Krsna and chanting His Holy names

Austerity of mind - satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one's existence are
the austerities of the mind.
 To make the mind austere is to detach it from sense gratification.
o Very difficult as mind is a faithful servant who keeps reminding us of our old ways.
Arjuna says Chanchalam hi manah Krsna pramathi balavad dhridam tasyaham nigraham
manye vayur eva sa dushkara…
o Satisfaction of the mind can be obtained only by taking the mind away from thoughts of
sense enjoyment. The more we think of sense enjoyment, the more the mind becomes
dissatisfied.
o The best course is to divert the mind to the Vedic literature, which is full of satisfying
stories, as in the Puränas and the Mahäbhärata.
o It should be so trained that it can be devoid of duplicity, and always thinking of doing
good for others.
o One should be straightforward in his dealings and thereby purify his existence. All these
qualities together constitute austerity in mental activities.
o Manas trayate iti mantra – best way to control the mind is to chat the Holy names…
 Quick reference to austerity in three modes – from translations
o Sometimes penance and austerity are executed to attract people and receive honor,
respect and worship from others – Facebook / Insta world
 Other beneficial austerities suggested by Acharyas for us – fasting on Ekadashi, appearance /
disappearance of acharyas / Lord’s incarnations, Chatur masya, bowing down before deities,
guru and vaishnavas, reading scriptures, not eating non Prasad, damodar arti in Kartik…
 Narada Panchratrta: Aradhito yadi Hari tapasa tatha kim, na aradhito yadi Hari tapasa tahta
kim?