WHY DO WE FAST? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE AFTER FASTING? & ABOVE ALL, HOW TO FAST?
In the modern western society, fasting, in the main is related to dieting. In the days gone by – as late as only some forty years ago, people used to fast during Lent, Bereavement, Time of Distress etc. being just some of the reasons to name a few. Whilst there are three main occasions for fasting according to the Bible, Quran boasts of fasting for one full month. Every religion has some reason given to fast. All of them have similar reasons and ways of fasting. To fast, basically is to spend a day, a week or even as much as a month without consuming anything or even having just one meal or one glass of milk or water a day.
People from the subcontinent of India, in particular, the ones following Sanatan Dharma or sectors thereof fast for many reasons and on regular basis according to their beliefs. Apart from why people fast, there is also a question of how they fast? So first, let us analysis the ways of fasting:
Jains within the community have a philosophy that the fasting really commences from the evening before and ends the morning after the day in question. Quran speaks of avoiding food between sunrise and sunset for a whole month. There are just short of 10 million entries on fasting on the Internet. I will primarily concentrate on the fasting as explained in the scriptures referred to within Sanatan Dharma. Otherwise more famously known as Hindu Religion. More on this later.
In the modern western society, fasting, in the main is related to dieting. In the days gone by – as late as only some forty years ago, people used to fast during Lent, Bereavement, Time of Distress etc. being just some of the reasons to name a few. Whilst there are three main occasions for fasting according to the Bible, Quran boasts of fasting for one full month. Every religion has some reason given to fast. All of them have similar reasons and ways of fasting. To fast, basically is to spend a day, a week or even as much as a month without consuming anything or even having just one meal or one glass of milk or water a day.
People from the subcontinent of India, in particular, the ones following Sanatan Dharma or sectors thereof fast for many reasons and on regular basis according to their beliefs. Apart from why people fast, there is also a question of how they fast? So first, let us analysis the ways of fasting:
Jains within the community have a philosophy that the fasting really commences from the evening before and ends the morning after the day in question. Quran speaks of avoiding food between sunrise and sunset for a whole month. There are just short of 10 million entries on fasting on the Internet. I will primarily concentrate on the fasting as explained in the scriptures referred to within Sanatan Dharma. Otherwise more famously known as Hindu Religion. More on this later.
So, let us explore the How's first ...
Certain religious books and leaders of religion actually state that fasting should commence from the evening before the day before the day of fasting and carry on to the morning after the day after the day of fasting. For the two days on either side of the day in question, one should only have one meal. So, let us suppose that you want to fast on a Monday of a given week. In this case, on Saturday, you can eat what you like and as much as you like. Once you have switched off for the day on Saturday, on Sunday, you only consume one meal before sunset. Monday being the day of fasting, on Tuesday, you should only eat once at about the same time as you ate on Sunday and not have anything else until after sunrise on Wednesday. That, my friends, is the correct way to fast.
That said; if that is too much to ask for, you may refrain from food all day on the day of fasting. Or for people on medication, have one meal as late as possible but before sunset on the day. The meal in question may be light weight or a plate of fruits. No salt or derivatives thereof may be added in the food.
Any other form of fasting such as enjoying one full meal followed by loads of crisps or potato chips and/or fruits and who knows what not may as well not bother. You are only but kidding yourself.
Now, let us investigate the reasons for fasting.
Pleasing God
Reducing Waist Line
Controlling / Toning Body
Protest For Your Rights
For And On Benefit Of … and many more
The wrong reasons to fast may for example be to fast today and make up for it tomorrow or save food being consumed today as tomorrow you may run dry and so on.
Fasting in Sanskrit is “Oopvas”. “Oop” means near and “vas” means to stay. So in other words, fasting is for staying close to God; to build up a closer relationship with Him. Same reason is offered in Bible, Quran, Bahai and many other infamous religions.
Next, from preparation of raw material, cooking food and then on to consuming it followed by washing up, drying and replacing the utensils takes up a lot of time. This time potentially be utilised for meditating for the real need behind fasting. The alternative is to have something light weight that will take up less time in the aforementioned exercise saving on time and effort. There is also the question of detoxification. The off-shoot of this saving is that one is more alert and free from temptations. The alertness thereof exercises your mind positively. Having positive sparks flying throughout your body thereof releases mental attitude that reflects the purpose of fasting. The longer your mind controls the temptation of food, the better your will power becomes towards ensuring reaching your goal.
Certain religious books and leaders of religion actually state that fasting should commence from the evening before the day before the day of fasting and carry on to the morning after the day after the day of fasting. For the two days on either side of the day in question, one should only have one meal. So, let us suppose that you want to fast on a Monday of a given week. In this case, on Saturday, you can eat what you like and as much as you like. Once you have switched off for the day on Saturday, on Sunday, you only consume one meal before sunset. Monday being the day of fasting, on Tuesday, you should only eat once at about the same time as you ate on Sunday and not have anything else until after sunrise on Wednesday. That, my friends, is the correct way to fast.
That said; if that is too much to ask for, you may refrain from food all day on the day of fasting. Or for people on medication, have one meal as late as possible but before sunset on the day. The meal in question may be light weight or a plate of fruits. No salt or derivatives thereof may be added in the food.
Any other form of fasting such as enjoying one full meal followed by loads of crisps or potato chips and/or fruits and who knows what not may as well not bother. You are only but kidding yourself.
Now, let us investigate the reasons for fasting.
Pleasing God
Reducing Waist Line
Controlling / Toning Body
Protest For Your Rights
For And On Benefit Of … and many more
The wrong reasons to fast may for example be to fast today and make up for it tomorrow or save food being consumed today as tomorrow you may run dry and so on.
Fasting in Sanskrit is “Oopvas”. “Oop” means near and “vas” means to stay. So in other words, fasting is for staying close to God; to build up a closer relationship with Him. Same reason is offered in Bible, Quran, Bahai and many other infamous religions.
Next, from preparation of raw material, cooking food and then on to consuming it followed by washing up, drying and replacing the utensils takes up a lot of time. This time potentially be utilised for meditating for the real need behind fasting. The alternative is to have something light weight that will take up less time in the aforementioned exercise saving on time and effort. There is also the question of detoxification. The off-shoot of this saving is that one is more alert and free from temptations. The alertness thereof exercises your mind positively. Having positive sparks flying throughout your body thereof releases mental attitude that reflects the purpose of fasting. The longer your mind controls the temptation of food, the better your will power becomes towards ensuring reaching your goal.
Staying on the same wave-length, just think how alert you are before having a heavy meal and how lethargic you feel after that awesome meal. Well, staying hungry keeps you alert and therefore allowing you to focus on your goals/targets. Whereas consuming food will direct your blood and energy in digesting and digressing from your focus of the day being fasting for a reason.
Now, take any mechanically propelled instrument such as a vehicle. After a while it needs some rest; an overhaul; a service. Well, our body is exactly the same. It also works on the same principal. The heart, in this case, is the main mechanically functional organ. Same as the oil changing process, our body also needs to extract unwanted debris so that fresh food (oil) is not contaminated with the old junk curtailed in various corners.
Fasting must not bring with it the weakness in you nor should it bring discontent or the guilt of going hungry. If the belief and commitment is not there, then these sort of thoughts will overpower your mind and you will break that fast. Of not this time, you most certainly will not pursue this course of action.
Lots of people fast in order to successfully reduce weight. This shows commitment and determination; also known as ‘mind over matter’. One is more likely to achieve their goal if the thought of food is replaced by the thought of feeling good. Positive thinking will most certainly keep that 'feel good' factor on target.
Yet another reason to fast is knowing that there are lots of people out there for whom fasting is a necessity, not a luxury. The food saved by not eating today can go to assist those poor souls who otherwise would go to bed without a grain reaching their belly. Our religious books demand some charitable acts from us. All three major religions boast of at least 10% of the income to go towards charity. Make this part of that 10% if you cannot otherwise afford to extend that percentage. It further reaffirms that should you fail to freely offer that 10%, He will find a way of taking that money off of you - by hook or by crook. Just think when was the last time you received a parking ticket or spent money on something that you regretted within days thereof and were unable to return as the outlet had 'No Return, No Refund' policy!
Then there is fasting on the day of any auspicious ceremonies to be carried out. Most mum's, maasi's, kaki's, foi's aunties and every other person - relative or otherwise want to advise the persons to be sitting in the ceremony that they must fast. Ask them why? and the answer is because religion demands it. Well, ... I have news for you. Having read volumes, I have yet to come across a religious book giving a decent explanation on the subject. I have now figured it out. The main reason for fasting on the day is just that if you eat something untoward, you just may embarrace yourself by wanting to excuse yourself to releive yourself. So as to avoid such scenario, one needs to fast on that one auspicious occassion.
If I sit down to write a book on why we ought to fast, volumes can be written. I feel certain that the message however, has been relayed.
Now, take any mechanically propelled instrument such as a vehicle. After a while it needs some rest; an overhaul; a service. Well, our body is exactly the same. It also works on the same principal. The heart, in this case, is the main mechanically functional organ. Same as the oil changing process, our body also needs to extract unwanted debris so that fresh food (oil) is not contaminated with the old junk curtailed in various corners.
Fasting must not bring with it the weakness in you nor should it bring discontent or the guilt of going hungry. If the belief and commitment is not there, then these sort of thoughts will overpower your mind and you will break that fast. Of not this time, you most certainly will not pursue this course of action.
Lots of people fast in order to successfully reduce weight. This shows commitment and determination; also known as ‘mind over matter’. One is more likely to achieve their goal if the thought of food is replaced by the thought of feeling good. Positive thinking will most certainly keep that 'feel good' factor on target.
Yet another reason to fast is knowing that there are lots of people out there for whom fasting is a necessity, not a luxury. The food saved by not eating today can go to assist those poor souls who otherwise would go to bed without a grain reaching their belly. Our religious books demand some charitable acts from us. All three major religions boast of at least 10% of the income to go towards charity. Make this part of that 10% if you cannot otherwise afford to extend that percentage. It further reaffirms that should you fail to freely offer that 10%, He will find a way of taking that money off of you - by hook or by crook. Just think when was the last time you received a parking ticket or spent money on something that you regretted within days thereof and were unable to return as the outlet had 'No Return, No Refund' policy!
Then there is fasting on the day of any auspicious ceremonies to be carried out. Most mum's, maasi's, kaki's, foi's aunties and every other person - relative or otherwise want to advise the persons to be sitting in the ceremony that they must fast. Ask them why? and the answer is because religion demands it. Well, ... I have news for you. Having read volumes, I have yet to come across a religious book giving a decent explanation on the subject. I have now figured it out. The main reason for fasting on the day is just that if you eat something untoward, you just may embarrace yourself by wanting to excuse yourself to releive yourself. So as to avoid such scenario, one needs to fast on that one auspicious occassion.
If I sit down to write a book on why we ought to fast, volumes can be written. I feel certain that the message however, has been relayed.
Finally, I'd like to thank http://www.gurjari.net/ for their part of the contribution. Soon I hope to add another section relating to main fasting events in Sanatan Dharma. Watch this space.
May Your God Give You Strength To Continue Fasting …
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