# Austerity and penance *Austerity (tapasya) is the voluntary acceptance of some hardship for spiritual advancement. Human life is meant for austerity — not for comfort and sense gratification as the animals pursue. The greatest austerity in this age is the chanting and hearing of the holy names of the Lord. Through austerity one purifies the consciousness, controls the senses, and becomes qualified to receive spiritual knowledge. However, austerity performed for material gain or with pride is in the mode of passion or ignorance, while austerity for the pleasure of Krishna is in pure goodness.* ## Human Life Is Meant for Austerity ![[sb/1/3/9]] ![[sb/7/14/1]] ## Austerity Is Essential for Spiritual Life ![[sb/6/4/46]] ![[sb/7/8/43]] ## Chanting and Hearing Are the Austerity for This Age ![[sb/6/2/12]] ![[sb/6/5/27-28]] ## Austerity Purifies the Consciousness ![[sb/9/4/26]] ![[sb/8/19/24]] ## Austerity in Devotional Service ![[sb/4/8/72]] ![[sb/1/2/28-29]] ## Austerity Must Be for Krishna ![[sb/4/23/7]] ![[sb/4/31/12]] ## From the Index - [[index/entries/austerities|Austerities]] — Voluntary hardship for advancement - [[index/entries/tapasya|Tapasya]] — Penance and self-control - [[index/entries/renunciation|Renunciation]] — Related practice