Fasting

[andyjamal]

Baha'is who are able are obligated to fast during the last month of the Baha'i calendar, which consists of 19 days. We are to abstain from food and drink, from sunrise to sunset during these days. Fasting can be difficult at times, but I find myself looking forward to it every year. It helps to return my focus, which may have drifted towards the material world, back to God. I find that it purifies both the body and spirit.

 

[michel]

Baha'is who are able are obligated to fast during the last month of the Baha'i calendar, which consists of 19 days. We are to abstain from food and drink, from sunrise to sunset during these days. Fasting can be difficult at times, but I find myself looking forward to it every year. It helps to return my focus, which may have drifted towards the material world, back to God. I find that it purifies both the body and spirit.

What would happen to someone like me, in the Baha'is ? I must eat twice a day to be able to take large dose anti inflamatory medication - if I miss a meal, I am in serious danger of of a stomach bleed. A relative of a friend of mine missed his meals for a couple of days whilst moving house, but carried on taking anti- inflamatories; he nearly died as a result.

 

[andyjamal]

What would happen to someone like me, in the Baha'is ? I must eat twice a day to be able to take large dose anti inflamatory medication - if I miss a meal, I am in serious danger of of a stomach bleed. A relative of a friend of mine missed his meals for a couple of days whilst moving house, but carried on taking anti- inflamatories; he nearly died as a result.

Baha'u'llah states that God does not burden us beyond are capacities; those who are sick, elderly, travelling, pregnant, nursing, etc. are exempt from the fast. Your situation would exempt you from the fast. The fast is meant to beneficial. It should also be noted that there is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith; therefore these matters are not enforced. It is up to the indivdual to serve according to his/her own capacity.:162:

 

[Lee]

Has anyone here ever fasted for religious or spiritual reasons? What was your experience with it and would you do it again? What would you tell people wanting to fast for the first time about fasting?

I fasted for three days once for a spiritual purpose. I'll do it again when I feel like I have the strength or if I feel like I need it for some reason. It made me very weak but at the same time I felt spiritually more aware, and a little stronger that way.

I would say for advice... if you fast, follow Jesus' advice and don't go telling everything you're fasting, or complaining about having to fast, because that kind of defeats the purpose, in my opinion. Just try to forget that you hunger, and concentrate on whatever reason you're fasting for.

- Lee

 

[niamhwitch]

I tried fasting onetime for the three days of the full moon (the day before, day of, and day after the fm). I wanted to do it to help get better control over my body. I am not good at meditating AT ALL and I saw fasting as a way of trying to control my bodily urges. I decided that for three days all I would eat and drink was water and an occasional orange. No specific reason why I picked an orange... mainly I was trying to find something healthy and oranges was the only thing I had.
The problem is... I am a food nut and LOVE to eat... lets just say that it didnt work out. I did well the first day... the second day was rough, and by the third day I was going nuts! :areyoucralol... I ended up ordering chilli fries at Jack in the Box! LOL.:bonk:

Maybe I wasnt ready for that yet. I want to start doing that again, so I can better control my body. Maybe next time I start doing this I will start REALLY slow. For a couple months I will just fast for the day of the full moon (one day with no food and just water). Then once I can do that with no difficulty, I'll start fasting for two days. When I get that down, I'll do the three day thing again.

 

[maj123]

Hi,
I'm allways fasting for a month every year, for religious reasons, it's a nice month
for me , I'm allways waiting for this month. at first time fasting maybe so difficult,
but soon become an easy and lovely thing.

 

[scitsofreaky]

I never really understood how fasting helps anything. People have tried to explain it, but to me it seems like a hinderance: making our minds fragile, and, well, gullible(not trying to say that any of you are gullible). After not eating(unless you are doing a pseudo-fast, when you eat only very little) for even a day I feel faint and I cannot think clearly. While some believe that in this state we can have some sort of revelation, I do not.

 

[michel]

Has anyone here ever fasted for religious or spiritual reasons? What was your experience with it and would you do it again? What would you tell people wanting to fast for the first time about fasting?

Sorry if I sound dense, but what is the actual spiritual benefit of fasting ? - what is the purpose ?

 

[James the Persian]

As an Orthodox Christian, I fast all the time for religious reasons - every Wednesday and Friday in commemoration of the betrayal and crucifixion respectively, nearly 50 days before Pascha (Easter) for the periods of Great Lent and Holy week, 40 days for the Nativity fast (advent), and a number of other shorter fasts through the liturgical year. More than half the days of the year are a fast of some sort, though not all are strict.
Orthodox fasting does not involve a fasting from all foods, but does also include fasting from other things as well. There's also a variation in how strict each day of fasting is. On the very strictest days, nothing is eaten at all, though most lay people don't go this far. Before taking the Eucharist nothing is ever eaten or drunk from the night before. The strictest regular fast, though, is abstention from meat, fish, dairy products, olive oil, alcohol and sexual relations. I'm currently in one such strict fast as Pascha for us is not until 1st May this year.
Personally I find such fasts very useful as they are a way of learning to fight against our passions, though they aren't considered as having spiritual merits in and of themselves. They are more considered as medicine for the soul. The strictness of fasts is relaxed for those who are ill, pregnant, young children etc., often to the point of not being required at all - we tend to be quite pragmatic on such things.

James

 

[Druidus]

I never really understood how fasting helps anything. People have tried to explain it, but to me it seems like a hinderance: making our minds fragile, and, well, gullible(not trying to say that any of you are gullible). After not eating(unless you are doing a pseudo-fast, when you eat only very little) for even a day I feel faint and I cannot think clearly. While some believe that in this state we can have some sort of revelation, I do not.

That can happen to people who have low blood sugar. On the other hand, for me, I was perfect. No light-headedness at all. Of course, I was hungry, for the first daay and a half, but after that it was smoot sailing, and the world became crystal clear. Meditation was stronger, my sense of smell was stronger, I could see better (tested with a chart).

Everything was more intense. I utilize fasting to gain inspiration, and it works.

Sorry if I sound dense, but what is the actual spiritual benefit of fasting ? - what is the purpose ?

Michel, do you meditate or pray? During a fast, even a three-day one, everything becomes more focused. Your meditations and prayers seem stronger; more intense. It's very difficult to explain, but it's almost a euphoria.

 

[johnnys4life]

Be Careful!!!

Something you may not know about fasting is, it can kill you if you do it wrong.
If you fast for too long and then eat a heavy meal, it can throw your system off balance, sending you into metabolic shock, which can cause coma, organ failure, even death.

Granted it's rare, but be careful anyway. I wouldn't want anything to happen to any of you!!!

You can reduce your risk by going on a "partial fast" instead, or by limiting the time that you fast. Allowing yourself a little juice or broth, or maybe even something light each day will help keep your digestive system working. Fasting for a long period of time is particularly dangerous, so you might want to say fast one day, eat the next, etc. And drink water, you want to stay hydrated, or you might get sick.

And no matter what, break the fast GRADUALLY. Don't start out eating a whole chicken or something. But the first day, eat fruits and vegetables, maybe a little bread at the end of the day, hold off on meats till at least the second day, as they can be hard on the system.:tsk:

 

[ayani]

thank you, johnnys! all very good advice.

 

[andyjamal]

Sorry if I sound dense, but what is the actual spiritual benefit of fasting ? - what is the purpose ?

... purification, detachment from worldly things which serves to draw us nearer to God.

 

[andddd]

Doesnt Islam order people to fast during a specific month? Thats kinda neat cuz scientists have proven that fasting is healthy for the body.

 

[Master Vigil]

There are many religions that have specific fasts.

 

[michel]

[PART QUOTE=Druidus]
Michel, do you meditate or pray? During a fast, even a three-day one, everything becomes more focused. Your meditations and prayers seem stronger; more intense. It's very difficult to explain, but it's almost a euphoria.[/PART QUOTE]

I understand Druidus, but don't you think that euphoria achieved without resorting to fasting or use of drugs is more genuine and therefore moere rewarding ? -I am not saying you are wrong, I am just wondering.

 

[Druidus]

Be Careful!!!

Something you may not know about fasting is, it can kill you if you do it wrong.
If you fast for too long and then eat a heavy meal, it can throw your system off balance, sending you into metabolic shock, which can cause coma, organ failure, even death.

Granted it's rare, but be careful anyway. I wouldn't want anything to happen to any of you!!!

You can reduce your risk by going on a "partial fast" instead, or by limiting the time that you fast. Allowing yourself a little juice or broth, or maybe even something light each day will help keep your digestive system working. Fasting for a long period of time is particularly dangerous, so you might want to say fast one day, eat the next, etc. And drink water, you want to stay hydrated, or you might get sick.

And no matter what, break the fast GRADUALLY. Don't start out eating a whole chicken or something. But the first day, eat fruits and vegetables, maybe a little bread at the end of the day, hold off on meats till at least the second day, as they can be hard on the system.:tsk:

As you said, starting eating again slowly is a good idea. However, for me, a semi-fast like what you have written would not be a fast. You would just alternate between hungry and not-hungry, every day. in fasting, once your hunger is out of the way, everything is clearer.

The longest fast ever was over four hundred days (a Jainist).

I understand Druidus, but don't you think that euphoria achieved without resorting to fasting or use of drugs is more genuine and therefore moere rewarding ? -I am not saying you are wrong, I am just wondering.

This is not a euphoria. Just very close. It is more rewarding to get it without fasting, but fasting can be used when you need help. You can answer the questions of your mind in this state much more readily. The euphoria-like feeling does take work. If you just sit around and do nothing, you won't get anything. You must meditate.

 

[michel]

As you said, starting eating again slowly is a good idea. However, for me, a semi-fast like what you have written would not be a fast. You would just alternate between hungry and not-hungry, every day. in fasting, once your hunger is out of the way, everything is clearer.

The longest fast ever was over four hundred days (a Jainist).


This is not a euphoria. Just very close. It is more rewarding to get it without fasting, but fasting can be used when you need help. You can answer the questions of your mind in this state much more readily. The euphoria-like feeling does take work. If you just sit around and do nothing, you won't get anything. You must meditate.

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear; I was asking you if you approved of 'artificially' creating a state in which you are more successful at meditating. I often meditate, but I would never do so whilst 'under the influence' of drugs (Which I have never taken ) or of alcohol (Which I have the odd drop of...well, maybe more than the 'odd drop'..); I have felt euphoric, without any 'additional stimulus'

 

[Druidus]

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear; I was asking you if you approved of 'artificially' creating a state in which you are more successful at meditating.

It depends on the stimuli. Using fasting merely helps one's spirituality open up. Most drugs I disapprove of, however.

I often meditate, but I would never do so whilst 'under the influence' of drugs

I would only use salvia divinorum to attempt a meditation, and then only as an experiment.

or of alcohol

Nor would I.

I have felt euphoric, without any 'additional stimulus'

It's rewarding, isn't it? I, too, have felt this. But during my fasts, I feel closer too the Source, because I have less worldly feelings. Hunger is just gone.

 

[Dinogrrl]

I did the 30 Hour Famine thing with my youth group once. It wasn't that bad. I could easily do it again (heck...I do it for non-religious reasons here in school 9_9;;. I didn't gain anything spiritual out of it though, so I don't know if I'd do it again for religious reasons. I tried to at the beginning of the year, to fast from sundown on Saturdays to after Mass on Sunday, but...that didn't work out very well >>. Scheduling conflicts and such.