A premature and excessive physical austerity (tapasya) may endanger the process of the sadhana by establishing a disturbance and abnormality of the forces in the different parts of the system. A great energymay pour into themental and vital parts, but the nerves and the body may be overstrained and lose the strength to support the play of these higher energies. This is the reason why an extreme physical austerity is not included here as a substantive part of the sadhana.
~ Sri Aurobindo
CWSA Vol. 31, Letters on Yoga-4, 432-33,
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