HINDU RESOURCES >> FASTING

"It's Meaning, It's Purpose" by Shri Prakash Gossai

Today, fasting has become a great trend throughout the world. Although there are vast differences regarding the mode of fasting and the conditions applied to it, the central idea of fasting is present everywhere. Fasting is another form of worship found universally in the world religions. Most devout Hindus fast regularly or on special occasions. On such days they may abstain from eating at all, eat fruits; drink water or a simple diet.

Fasting in Sanskrit is called Upavaasa. Upa means ‘near’ and vaasa means ‘to stay’, therefore Upavaasa means ‘staying near’ to the Lord. You may ask what does Upavaasa has to do with food? Food is one of the greatest blessings given to us by God, a true pleasure and a true necessity. But as humans, some of us tend to eat more than we need. Our hunger can compel us and dominate our thoughts. Fasting is one of the best ways to control our minds and senses. They allow us to withdraw our senses from the outside world and become refocused on our own divine nature and our connection to God.

Fasting is a very effective method of detoxification and purification. It can also be an inspirational and motivating experience. An ancient tradition, fasting has been used for religious and spiritual purposes, to cleanse and to strengthen the body and spirit. A true fast undertaken with understanding and discipline has the power to cure most ailments of the body, mind and spirit. For the body, a fast restores all systems of the body-the nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems are all regenerated. The toxins and impurities in our blood and tissues are eliminated and our system becomes rejuvenated. It’s benefit of preserving and restoring health is well documented.

Many people fast on a particular day of the week. The days of the Hindu week are in honor of a particular deity or aspect of the divine. Monday is the day dedicated to Lord Shiva, Tuesday to Shree Hanumanji, Friday to Goddess Durga and so on. However, these fasts have become merely rituals; the spiritual aspect has been lost in many cases. Some people observe fast because they have done it for years, or because their parents did it, or because they were instructed to do so. It is a rare devotee who truly remembers, throughout the course of the day, that aspect of the divine for whom they are fasting.

This is not the purpose of the Hindu tradition. Indian culture and Hindu tradition is meant to bring us closer to the divine. They are meant to open up the infinite, glorious channel between God and us. The point of the fast is to be light so we can sit comfortably in meditation. And for the moment have our energy focused on the divine. Being a little hungry reminds us of why we are fasting.

We tend to think that we only eat through our mouths, that our meals are the only food our bodies get. However, what we hear, what we see, what we touch-all these things are taken into our bodies as food. Just as pure wholesome food brings us health of the body, so do pure, wholesome sights, sounds and other stimuli bring us health of the mind, heart and soul. Therefore, when we undertake a fast, we must be equally as aware of purifying the food we take in through our eyes, ears and hands as we are the food that we take in through our mouths.

Eeshvar Me Dhyaan Dharnaa

The Gurukul system teaches us to:

• Meditate upon the Lord to attain contentment and peace

• Enjoy spiritual advancement through our revered scriptures

• Always find ways in contributing to make the world a better place

• Unite for this commitment. We must continuously seek to improve our knowledge of our scriptures

EESHWAR ME DHYAAN DHARNAA GURUKUL SIKHAA RAHAA HAI
SUKH SHANTI PRAPT KARNAA, GURUKUL SIKHAA RAHAA HAI

SHRUTI AUR DARSHANO KEE VIJYAAN VAATIKAA ME
AANAND SE CICHARNAA, GURUKUL SIKHAA RAHAA HAI

SANSAAR KEE BHALAAYEE JAISE HO USTARAH KE
SANKALP SE NA TARNAA, GURUKUL SIKHAA RAHAA HAI

MIL KAR NARESH LOGO, UNKO SAHAAYATAA DO
SEEKHO SAKHAA SUDHARNAA, GURUKUL SIKHAA RAHAA HAI

During a fast we should try to quiet our mind as mush as possible. So much of our energy is drained each day in our ceaseless and incessant thought process. Yet rarely do we actually solve anything or find peace through our own pondering. Therefore, as we give our bodies a rest from digesting food in our stomachs, as we give our ears a rest from processing impure thoughts and we give our eyes a rest from over-stimulating, let us also give our minds a rest from sorting out numerous thoughts each day and remember only God, sat-chit-ananda: absolute reality, pure awareness, unconditional joy.

Our Upanishads say that to control the mind is the greatest task and the greatest accomplishment. It states that when the mind is under control, all else, the senses, the body-will follow. “There is no joy in the finite; there is joy only in the Infinite”.

It is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality in our daily life. Therefore we must impose restraints to get the mind focused and one form of restraint is fasting. However, fasting is not only a part of worship, but also a great instrument for self-discipline. The powers of the mind have no life of their own, the mind is not conscious; it is only an instrument of consciousness. The senses, emotions, intellect, will are all components of the mind.

KIYEJAA RAAM KAA SIMRAN, AGAR MUKTI KO PAANAA HAI
ARE BAABAA YE GHAR HAI JO, EK DIN CHHOR JAANAA HAI

If one wants to be liberated from this cycle of birth and death, one must constantly remember God, O devotee! One day you will surely leave this home (body).

Fasting should be a time in which every sense is turned toward God. The Upanishads teaches us that Reality is the essence of every created thing, and the same Reality is our real Self-atman; so each of us is one with the power that created and sustains the Universe. They also teach us that this oneness can be realized directly, not after death but in this life, and that this is the purpose for which each of us has been born and the goal toward which evolution moves. Fasting helps us to achieve Self-realization and ultimately, God-realization.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti