Asceticism And Religion

Asceticism consists of practices of self-discipline undertaken voluntarily in order to achieve a higher state of being. Asceticism denotes a life which is characterized by refraining from worldly pleasures (austerity). Those who practice ascetic lifestyles often perceive their practices as virtuous and pursue them to achieve greater spirituality. Many ascetics believe the action of purifying the body helps to purify the soul, and thus obtain a greater connection with the Divine or inner peace. This may take the form of self-mortification, rituals or harsh renunciations of pleasure. However, ascetics maintain that self-imposed constraints bring them greater freedom in various areas of their lives, such as an increased ability to think clearly and resist potentially destructive short term impulses. …show more content…
One such text depicts the typical ascetic (tapasvin) of the time as one who, “goes naked, is of certain loose habits, licks his hands, respects no approach nor stop; accepts nothing expressly brought, nor expressly prepared, nor any invitations.… He takes food once a day, or once every two days, or once every seven days.… He feeds on herbs, or on the powder of rice husks, on rice-scum, on flour of oil seeds, on grasses, on cowdung, or on fruits and roots from the woods.… He wears coarse hempen cloths, discarded corpse cloths, discarded rags, or antelope hide, or bark garments.” (Digha Nikaya, quoted in Bhagat, p. 151). These practices are said not to be the path itself but only preparatory for the path; they help the seeker eliminate all forms of