manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam ucyate
"Serenity of mind, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, purity of emotion—this is called austerity of the mind."
What This Means:
Mental austerity consists of: keeping the mind serene, cultivating gentleness, practicing silence, restraining the self, and purifying one's motivations and emotions.
Going Deeper:
Mental austerity (mānasa tapas): (1) manaḥ-prasāda—serenity/cheerfulness of mind, (2) saumyatva—gentleness/benevolence, (3) mauna—silence (inner and outer), (4) ātma-vinigraha—self-control/restraint, (5) bhāva-saṁśuddhi—purity of intention/emotion. The subtlest discipline—governing the mind itself.
How To Apply This:
Work on mental discipline: cultivate a calm, cheerful mind; be gentle in your inner dialogue; practice inner silence; restrain reactive impulses; purify your motivations. This is the most important austerity.
Key Sanskrit Terms: