Bhairitu: > What is the practical value? What is the quality of life? > One can attain moksha and enlightenment without this. > Why bother? > The ascetic sect in South Asia is very old and originated even before the composition of the Rig Veda. The idea is called tapas - burning up the accumulation of past karma by performing austerities such as meditation and yoga and various fasting diets and techniques such as fire breathing inside a sauna.
If you want to burn up a lot of karma in a short amount of time, you should try meditating surrounded by five blazing fires in the middle of the summer. However, the most beneficial tapas of all and highly recommended for householders, is the tapas of maintaining absolute silence around the house and when you go out, you must be silent at all times - EVEN IN TIMES OF PUBLIC VERBAL ABUSE, and be totally naked in all seasons. This will burn up a lot of karma in a very short time. "The giving up of activities that are based on material desire is what great learned men call sanyasa. And giving up the results of all activities is what the wise call yoga." - BG: 18.2
