At its deepest level, Tapas means spiritual purification through inner heat and discipline.

Every habit, unhealed fear, and old conditioning leaves a subtle residue in our energy body, like a heaviness that keeps us bound to old versions of ourselves, and keeps us repeating the same ‘bad’ habits, patterns and reactions. So think of tapas is the deliberate friction cultivated to melt these stuck patterns. Think of your consciousness passing through the heat of dedicated sādhanā to burn away delusions and karmic patterns.

This is a process of divine transformation.The heat created by the Mahā Mṛtyuñjaya Mantra helps clear what is held inside. It moves through the nervous system, stirs up old mental impressions (saṃskāras), and brings hidden or stuck things to the surface.

When these old patterns and heavy emotions come up, your only job is to not attach a story to them. Don't analyse the feeling or feed it with what if this and what if that, instead, you sit with the discomfort, acknowlege that it’s there and offer that friction directly to the fire.

You may have heard me frequently say “Your life/practice on the mat is for your life off the mat!” When the same challenges come up in life, this doesn’t mean you need to start chanting out loud (sometimes internally can help!) but you simply let go of the story, return to your centre and allow the feeling or emotional reaction to pass without feeding it (depending on the scenario).

So what remains after Tapas has done its work is your true nature: clear, steady, strong and peaceful.

Reflections for this month:

What programs or patterns am I still running that are holding me back?

Where is my mind giving up?

What am I resisting?