Answer

In Jain Dharma, tyag means willingly giving up something, and upwas means fasting with spiritual awareness.

If you want to do tyag with upwas, you should do it with:

• Right intention — for self-purification, not show-off
• Discipline — control over food, speech, anger, and desires
• Devotion — prayer, samayik, pratikraman, swadhyay, and meditation
• Awareness — according to your health and capacity

How to Do It

• Decide your tyag, such as giving up certain food, taste, comfort, phone/social media, anger, gossip, or unnecessary speech.
• Take a simple inner vow or say your intention respectfully before Dev, Guru, or your own soul.
• During upwas, avoid eating for the chosen period according to your tradition and capacity.
• Spend the day in spiritual activities like:
  • Navkar Mantra
  • Samayik
  • Pratikraman
  • Reading Jain scriptures
  • Meditation on the soul
  • Forgiveness and compassion
• Avoid anger, pride, deceit, greed, criticism, and unnecessary worldly activities.
• Break the fast properly with simplicity and gratitude, not with overeating.

Spiritual Understanding

The real purpose of tyag upwas is not only to avoid food. It is to reduce attachment, control desires, and move closer to the pure nature of the soul.

A fast becomes spiritually meaningful when it is joined with:

• Bhav — pure inner feeling
• Sanyam — self-control
• Tap — austerity
• Ahimsa — non-violence in thought, word, and action

Takeaway

Do tyag upwas with humility, purity, and awareness. If you are new, elderly, unwell, pregnant, or taking medicines, consult your family, doctor, and a knowledgeable Jain guru before doing strict fasting.