Blog Posts

Asceticism is really the austere life of sense-control and mental concentration lived for
the purpose of devotional practices or spiritual meditations. True asceticism necessarily
includes a strict observance of the moral and ethical disciplines, on the basis of which the higher
practices are undertaken. Asceticism is a means to enlightenment in as much as it prepares the
ground for meditation which leads to wisdom and realization. Sometimes, asceticism is taken in
its narrower sense of bodily mortification alone. But this is a grave error and this alone cannot
lead to enlightenment without the calming of the passions and discipline of the mind.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda