Om Swami
What should I do when someone is hurting or harassing me?
Answer harm with non-violence
Answering violence with violence is very easy, and it is not tapas. But when someone is violent with you and you answer with non-violence, that is tapas. It is the better thing to do, though painful, because it serves your conduct, the happiness of your mind and your spiritual progress.
Answering violence with violence is very easy, very accessible, very simple; that is no tapas. But when someone is violent with you and in return you answer with non-violence, that becomes tapas.