Let’s Talk About Fasting

[mangalavara]

There are different kinds of fasting. Medical fasting, dietary fasting, and religious fasting are some of them. In this thread, let’s talk about religious fasting.

Do you practice religious fasting?

What does it mean to you?

Would you care to share any of the benefits that you get out of fasting?

 

[Twilight Hue]

There are different kinds of fasting. Medical fasting, dietary fasting, and religious fasting are some of them. In this thread, let’s talk about religious fasting.

Do you practice religious fasting?

What does it mean to you?

Would you care to share any of the benefits that you get out of fasting?

No. I just call it being on a diet.

 

[JustGeorge]

There are different kinds of fasting. Medical fasting, dietary fasting, and religious fasting are some of them. In this thread, let’s talk about religious fasting.

Do you practice religious fasting?

What does it mean to you?

Would you care to share any of the benefits that you get out of fasting?

I used to do more of it, but haven't done as much lately(life is hectic).

I did recently decide to give up some favored foods while a friend goes through an ordeal; a show of support.

I felt fasting was good for the body, as well as the spirit... it helped keep my mind focused while undertaking one, and helped mark that day was 'different' to my mind.

 

[mangalavara]

I did recently decide to give up some favored foods while a friend goes through an ordeal; a show of support.

That is indeed a way to show support to your friend. I admire what you are doing.

I felt fasting was good for the body, as well as the spirit... it helped keep my mind focused while undertaking one, and helped mark that day was 'different' to my mind.

Fasting really does help one mark a day as different from most other days.

My own practice is to fast every Monday (Somavāra is its Sanskrit name and I like to call it that) from sunrise to nighttime. This is a devotional practice that I have been doing for a little more than half a year now. (It is taught in the Śiva Mahāpurāṇa as one of the rites of Śaiva tradition.) So, when I notice that Somavāra is at hand, I have the sense that a weekday that is a bit different from all other weekdays is near.

As for how my particular fasting benefits me, it always teaches me that life is more than food, something that Jesus of Nazareth taught his disciples. It also reminds me to be kind to other beings, not just on Monday but all other days. If I want my fast on Monday to be pleasing to Śiva, I must be extra kind to other people that day. Further, if I want Monday fasting to be a pleasing regular practice to him, I should be very kind on all days. If Monday is the only day when I am admirable in how I treat others, then Monday fasting as a regular practice might be as pleasing as washing a cup only once a week.

 

[JustGeorge]

That is indeed a way to show support to your friend. I admire what you are doing.



Fasting really does help one mark a day as different from most other days.

My own practice is to fast every Monday (Somavāra is its Sanskrit name and I like to call it that) from sunrise to nighttime. This is a devotional practice that I have been doing for a little more than half a year now. (It is taught in the Śiva Mahāpurāṇa as one of the rites of Śaiva tradition.) So, when I notice that Somavāra is at hand, I have the sense that a weekday that is a bit different from all other weekdays is near.

Very nice!

I kept Pradosh for a long time; the fasting was about the same. Sunrise to nightfall. I enjoyed the practice.

As for how my particular fasting benefits me, it always teaches me that life is more than food, something that Jesus of Nazareth taught his disciples. It also reminds me to be kind to other beings, not just on Monday but all other days. If I want my fast on Monday to be pleasing to Śiva, I must be extra kind to other people that day. Further, if I want Monday fasting to be a pleasing regular practice to him, I should be very kind on all days. If Monday is the only day when I am admirable in how I treat others, then Monday fasting as a regular practice might be as pleasing as washing a cup only once a week.

Yes, behavior and abstaining from negativity is another way of fasting. Builds up good practice.

 

[mangalavara]

I guess voluntarily going without food as a religious practice is not a popular practice among RF members. Lol.

Or maybe they don’t talk about it so as not to feel glorified by human beings.

 

[JustGeorge]

I don't meet a lot of fasters, really. Especially not for religious reasons.

It brought up the random memory of my husband telling me proudly he fasts every day. I told him it was my opinion that his proud ritual of not eating until 10pm didn't qualify as a religious fast.

 

[mangalavara]

It brought up the random memory of my husband telling me proudly he fasts every day. I told him it was my opinion that his proud ritual of not eating until 10pm didn't qualify as a religious fast.

Yamarāja finds that practice really amusing.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Do you practice religious fasting?

Only on Yom Kippur, but that's hardly a fast.
On the other hand, long ago I fasted for ten and a half days as part of a civil rights action; I started the fast overweight, and I ended the fast overweight.

 

[JustGeorge]

Only on Yom Kippur, but that hardly a fast.

What does that fast consist of?

On the other hand, long ago I fasted for ten and a half days as part of a civil rights action; I started the fast overweight, and I ended the fast overweight.

What did you give up during this fast?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Only on Yom Kippur, but that's hardly a fast.

What does that fast consist of?

The Jewish day runs from evening to evening. This year that will be (roughly) sundown Friday, October 11th, thru sundown Saturday, October 12th. During this period (and in the absence of health constraints) females over twelve and males over thirteen abstain from food and drink.

On the other hand, long ago I fasted for ten and a half days as part of a civil rights action; ...

What did you give up during this fast?

Everything but water.

 

[JustGeorge]

The Jewish day runs from evening to evening. This year that will be (roughly) sundown Friday, October 11th, thru sundown Saturday, October 12th. During this period (and in the absence of health constraints) females over twelve and males over thirteen abstain from food and drink.



Everything but water.

Wow! That's a tremendous amount of time to go without food! (Referring to the 10 day fast)

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Wow! That's a tremendous amount of time to go without food! (Referring to the 10 day fast)

It was roughly six decades ago, but I seem to recall that sleeping on the floor was more onerous than the fasting.

 

[Regiomontanus]

There are different kinds of fasting. Medical fasting, dietary fasting, and religious fasting are some of them. In this thread, let’s talk about religious fasting.

Do you practice religious fasting?

What does it mean to you?

Would you care to share any of the benefits that you get out of fasting?

Fasting is important in Orthodoxy.

Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesday in remembrance of the betrayal of Christ and on Fridays in remembrance of His crucifixion and death.

Orthodox Fasting - Questions & Answers

Why do Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays? Who decided that Orthodox fasting must include abstaining from animal products? Wouldn’t it…

www.oca.org

 

[JustGeorge]

It was roughly six decades ago, but I seem to recall that sleeping on the floor was more onerous than the fasting.

Really? I like sleeping on the floor. Fasting is harder for me.

Fasting is important in Orthodoxy.

Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesday in remembrance of the betrayal of Christ and on Fridays in remembrance of His crucifixion and death.

Orthodox Fasting - Questions & Answers

Why do Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays? Who decided that Orthodox fasting must include abstaining from animal products? Wouldn’t it…

www.oca.org

Interesting! I didn't know that.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I found Fordson: Faith, Fasting, Football interesting.

 

[Stonetree]

Wow! That's a tremendous amount of time to go without food! (Referring to the 10 day fast)

Some fast a day, a week for weight control....If you're healthy it's not dangerous.

 

[JustGeorge]

Some fast a day, a week for weight control....If you're healthy it's not dangerous.

No, its not dangerous.

I imagine a week or more would take a lot of willpower, though!

 

[Vinidra]

I tried to fast for Mahashivaratri this year. It did not go well. I completed the fast, but all I could think about while trying to meditate was how hungry I was. Not exactly conducive to spiritual progress.

 

[mangalavara]

I tried to fast for Mahashivaratri this year. It did not go well. I completed the fast, but all I could think about while trying to meditate was how hungry I was. Not exactly conducive to spiritual progress.

While thinking about the hunger might not seem conducive to spiritual progress, Śiva is nonetheless pleased with the fast. The result of the fast on Mahāśivarātri will be rather significant.