Sexual Relationships, Tapas & Kama Restraint and Pleasure
1. Tapas & Kama – Restraint and Pleasure Stick in the 4 aims of Hindu life sheet c) Explain the difference between karma and kama. 3 marks
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3. What is Tapas? Definition: The word tapas literally means "heat" in Hinduism it is an idea which refers to practicing restraint austerity or self-denial (especially refraining from worldly pleasures). Avoiding passion and suffering. This is a religious act and requires discipline, it is used by holy men to challenge their physical state in order to become pure. It involves the endurance of pain and suffering to achieve self-improvement.
4. Can you think of any examples of tapas from Hinduism? Meditations pilgrimage fasting Self-denial, celibacy Giving up possessions Tapas can be extreme bodily mortification, which is practiced by long term sadhanas, such as meditating under a tree in one place for 12 years, taking a lifetime vow of silence and never speaking or writing, or standing on one leg for a prescribed number of years. Scriptures warn against extreme asceticism that harm the body.
5. How does this picture show the idea of tapas? Why do you think Hindus would do this? How would this benefit them?
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9. How Gandhi used the idea of Tapas - look at this image of Gandhi and discuss how he used this idea of tapas in his life?
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