Self-Torture is Not Spiritual Practice

 

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Self-Torture is Not Spiritual Practice

Throughout history, seekers have often mistaken self-inflicted austerities for genuine spiritual practice. Fasting, extreme penances, or bodily mortifications are sometimes glorified as paths to enlightenment. Yet, such acts are not spirituality; they are merely another manifestation of the ego. When one says, “I am fasting today,” the emphasis is not on the practice but on the I. The ego becomes stronger, and the sense of self-importance grows. Instead of dissolving the ego, these practices reinforce it.

True spirituality is not about torturing the body or mind. The body is a sacred vessel, and harming it does not bring one closer to truth. The mind, by nature, is restless, and austerities only give it another distraction. The ego cleverly disguises itself in the garb of discipline, whispering, “Look at me, I am spiritual because I suffer.” But suffering is not spirituality. It is attachment to the idea of achievement, a subtle pride that prevents one from experiencing the natural, free state of being.

Enlightenment is not the result of effort. It is not something one can achieve by fasting, punishing the body, or suppressing desires. Enlightenment is the total emptiness of the mind, a state where there is no I left to claim ownership of practice. It is pure silence, beyond effort, beyond striving. Any attempt to “get” enlightenment only becomes a hindrance, because effort itself is born of the ego. The more one tries, the more the ego grows, and the further one moves from the truth.

Spiritual practice, in its essence, is about dissolving the ego, not strengthening it. Meditation under the guidance of a living master is the true path. A master helps the seeker turn inward, away from the distractions of the world and the false pride of austerities. In meditation, the mind gradually quiets down. It learns to rest in silence, free from the compulsion to prove itself through suffering. This silence is not forced; it arises naturally when the ego is set aside.

Self-torture is rooted in the belief that one must earn enlightenment through pain. But enlightenment is not a reward; it is our natural state. It is already within us, waiting to be uncovered. The mind, restless and proud, creates obstacles by clinging to practices that inflate the sense of I. When the ego says, “I am spiritual because I fast,” it builds walls around the truth. Only when the ego dissolves completely does the seeker realize that nothing needs to be done—truth simply is.

The path of meditation is gentle, compassionate, and inward. It does not demand suffering; it invites surrender. In surrender, the ego loses its grip, and the mind becomes empty. This emptiness is not a void of despair but a fullness of presence. It is the state of no-mind, where the illusion of effort disappears, and the seeker rests in the eternal now. This is enlightenment—not an achievement, but a realization.

Therefore, self-torture is not spiritual practice. It is the ego’s game, a subtle reinforcement of pride. True practice is the dissolution of the ego through meditation, silence, and surrender. Enlightenment cannot be forced; it blossoms when the mind becomes empty. In that emptiness, the seeker discovers freedom, peace, and the eternal truth that was always present.