Penance does not mean retiring to the forest and living on fruits and tubers. In fact such a life can be called a life of dullness (thamas), not penance (thapas). True penance lies in controlling one’s emotions, thoughts, words and deeds arising out of Sathwic, Rajasic and Thamasic qualities. You should contemplate on God at all times and achieve harmony of thought, word and deed. A noble person is one whose thoughts, words and deeds are in complete harmony (Manasyekam Vachasyekam Karmanyekam Mahatmanam). Do not be carried away by pain or pleasure. The Gita teaches that you should be even-minded in happiness or sorrow, gain or loss, victory or defeat. You should discharge your duty with utmost sincerity and serve society without any expectation of reward. Such even-mindedness and desireless state is true penance.

- Divine Discourse, Aug 22, 2000.