Why do we want to know about Tapovan Maharaj?
1. .. This is a work capable of producing great good.. page 236
तव कथामृतं तप्त जीवनं कविभिरीडितं कल्मषापहम्।
श्रवण मङ्गलं श्रीमदाततं भुवि गृणन्ति ते भूरिदा जनाः॥
2. Why do we visit temples? It is said that temples and shrines purify and sanctify the visitors.
2.1 Why do sages visit temples? Sacred temples are themselves sanctified by the visit of sages.
3. Sri Sankara says in dhanyashTaka
त्यक्त्वा गृहे रतिमधोगतिहेतुभूतम्। आत्मेच्छयोपनिषदर्थरसम् पिबन्तः॥
वीतस्पृहा विषयभोगपदे विरक्ताः। धन्याश्चरन्ति विजनेषु विमुक्तसङ्गाः।
4. Sages possess conviction and courage to translate conviction into an accomplished fact.
Swami Tapovan took to the life of a recluse throwing away a prosperous worldly career.
4.1 किं दूरं व्यवसायिनाम्। What is there beyond the reach of the industrious?
5. Even though He is a realized person himself, Swamiji performed austerities to set an example for all the aspirants.
6. Sages illustrate living by ideals. Swami Tapovan set before himself the ideal portrayed in the Gita by the Lord.
6.1 Why do sages live by ideals?
खादते मोदते नित्यं शुनकः सूकरः खरः। तेषां एषां विशेषः कः वृत्तिर्येषां तु तैस्समाः॥
6.2 What do you mean by ideals?
When the people get all the facts related to a great life that they have learnt to admire and love, there is a natural tendency to imitate the hero or copy his life, at least, in part.
7. Sages test the Hindu philosophical theories to test of actual realization. Due to sages like Swami Tapovan, the scriptures become verifiable, verified, and trusted guidance for rest of us.
8. Every word that Swamiji spoke has the supreme authority of the Vedas; and had passed through the test of his own realization. As a result, his words produce a complete reorientation in the listener.
8.1 Difficult spiritual subjects are discussed in the narration of Swamiji's spiritual history
9. Vedanta and Sannyasa have to be together; or else each one is incomplete. Vedanta without Sannyasa is dry intellectualism. Vedanta can not be grasped without emptying the ego through Sannyasa. Sannyasa without Vedanta is pointless and does not serve its purpose. Swamiji through his life has created a lofty example of what true Vedanta and Sannyasa have to be.
10. If our goal here is to obtain a vision of God, Swami Tapovan, through his life and his life-sketch, reveals to us the secret to this attainment.
For Youth
1. What is conviction? How do you get it? Discuss examples.
2. Why do you need courage when you have conviction?
3. What is purity? And who says that we need to have it?
4. Discuss Tapas and how Swami Tapovan did his Tapascharya
Example: Page 96. Convert evil into good.
5. What would you like to do to build 'purity'?
6. Why do we believe in Vedas? How do we know that they are true?
7. What is Vedanta, Sannyasa?
8. How to obtain a vision of God?
For Children
1. Name Five Swami / Sages that you know
2. Why do they wear clothes of one color only?
3. Look at Tapovan Maharaj. Why do you think he is not wearing a pant?
4. What is Tapas? See pictures of sages in Tapas.
5. Why are Swamijis doing Tapas?
6. What are Vedas?