TRUE AND FALSE AUSTERITY

Vedanta defines austerity as the spiritual practice of conserving energy and directing it toward the realization of God. 

As set out in Chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita, there are three kinds of true austerity.

The first is called austerity of the body and includes doing no harm, straightforwardness, physical cleanliness, and sexual purity.

To speak without ever causing pain to another, to be truthful, to say always what is kind and beneficial, and to study the scriptures regularly, is called austerity of speech (words).

Austerity of the mind consists of the practice of serenity, sympathy, meditation upon the Atman, withdrawal of the mind from sense objects, and integrity of motive.

When the three austerities are undertaken with full faith and concentrated mind, without longing for results, but only for the sake of God, they are said to be “in goodness.”

When, on the other hand, austerity is undertaken for the purpose of getting praise from others, such as “He is a great ascetic,” or with the aim of receiving bodily respect, such as having people stand up when the person approaches, or for the purpose of gaining mental respect which would manifest in the future as, for example, gifts of money, then the austerity is in what is called the mode of passion and is considered false austerity.

Similarly, when austerity is performed out of blind attachment and foolishness, causing pain to oneself or others, or with the objective of harming or destroying others, the austerity is in the mode of ignorance and is likewise considered false austerity.