It is good to perform austerity. If the base is of austerity then undoubtedly in life satisfaction, strength, peace and power come naturally on its own. But only when it is practised as sanctioned by the scriptures, is performed with good intentions and objectives. Here the matter relates to austerity but the situation is very amazing! One feels astounded by reading and hearing about it.

The performance of austerity should be there but to end the ostentation, egoism, desire and attachment, for bringing comfort and peace in life; but here the situation is exactly opposite. Austerities are severe and violent but filled with ostentation! One is trying to portray oneself as a great ascetic. The people should see how the sage is standing on the thorns on one leg, in summer he is sitting near the fire, in winter he is just clad in loin cloth, etc. These too can be right; but if it is done with the motive that the senses should be controlled; that the senses should not be drawn towards their objects, in this way the mind should understand and become stable! Here the goal itself is misplaced. Inside resides hypocrisy and the target is acquiring material objects or fame and is accompanied by egoism.

Austerity is to stabilize the mind. For that purpose if bodily comfort and convenience is put on restraint, there is nothing wrong with that. But to torture the body and cause it to shrivel and to believe that there can be no austerity without this-is to weaken the physical strength and nothing else. In all bodies in the form of the soul the Supreme dwells. When the body is tortured deliberately and more than desirable austerities are performed causing harm to others, that the Lord who resides inside us all will also be displeased; He will also feel grieved by this. For the Lord to get annoyed and cause suffering to Him, this thought when it comes to the mind startles one. Take it in this way-we should not indulge in any activity which will put our Lord to discomfort, for which He has to use the words 'tanvidhyasuraniscayan' (know them to be of demoniac nature).