Mystic Mantra: Charity and penance

The Gita categorises tapa (penance) and daanam (charity) into three categories, corresponding to the three gunas of satva, rajas and tamas. Devotion to guru, gods, elders and evolved beings, cleanliness, strai-ghtforwardness, celibacy and non-violence comprise bodily penance. Kind words, truthfulness, study of scriptures and chanting the divine name are penance in speech. Cheerfulness, placidity, contemplating the divine, control over senses and purity of intent are the penance of mind.

When the threefold penance of mind, body and speech is performed with utmost devotion without expecting anything in return, it is called satvik. Penance performed for name, fame, popularity or material gains yields an uncertain and temporary fruit and is rajasik. Penance performed out of foolishness and obstinacy is tamasik. Black magic and dark arts fall in the last category and are a sure-shot route to hell.

Today, there are only a handful who practice satvik tapa. They don’t charge a fee for it. Sadhna is purely evolution. Majority of meditation schools lure masses with the promise of material gain. Here, a temporary happiness is the experienced by the practitioner but the experience of reality evades him/her, tying on to the cycle of progressively painful births. Just like penance, charity too is of three kinds and has matching effects.

Charity performed as a duty, without expecting anything in return, at an appropriate time and place to the deserving is satvik. Charity performed with a view to extract a favour, service or reward is rajasik, to undeserving people, is tamasik. Charity should be such that the left hand doesn’t know what the right gave. Service to stray and wild animals, teaching the underprivileged and feeding the poor — with de-tachment as per guru vakya — are some examples of charity that accelerates one’s spiritual journey. The fruits of charity to earn name, fame and appreciation are limited and short-lived.