Fasting

[Guest guest]

Fasting is good from an Ayurvedic point of view- the stomach gets 1

day rest, during which it recuprates, but Im not so sure from a

spiritual point...

 

Fasting is done for 2 main reasons- 1 to control lower desirs like

sex. But the problem is, soon as you start eating, they return.

 

The 2nd reason is, if you fast for a long time, your physicals bodies

link with Astral body weakens, as food mainly supports the Pranic

body, & without food, its grip on physical body weakens.

 

This can enable you to get Out of Body experiences(OBE), buts it very

dangerous, as your Astral body is very weak, & open to attack from any

lower spirit. Also, you dont have much control over your OBE, & you a

Guru constantly looking over you.

 

The fasting method seems very unnecessary to me- there are other

easier & safer ways to get OBE!

 

That said, you can fast during special times like Navratri, as at

those times it is a sort of Tapas, but prolonged & extreme fasting is

not recommended.

 

love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

I am again in no way trying to impress anyone nor i am trying to hurt

anyone.

 

But the previous post about The Tamoguna and this post both seem to be

totally misguiding and also seems to be self designed weird , ideas.

 

This is my view. And i made a point to let everyone know.

 

apart form this, every great tapasvihi, will loose all the

requirements of the body, one by one.

 

Like even Druva, who ate some dry leave , for second month, third

month took only water drops and fourth month he only breathe and next

he even stoped breathing. He is depending neither on food nor on air

in this state. this is the state of great trance, and state where the

so called astral body is so powerful and energetic that it can cause

effect on the complete manifest.

 

If anyone has doubts please refer the story of Druva in vishnu purana.

 

Again on tamoguna i have complete details from puranas.

 

So basically i just want to request, that if you are not serious and

just writing your imagination, than please stop it for the sake of

good of all.

 

because many are serious here, and i would not expect them to follow

some misguiding instructions and end up in real bad states.

 

this is nothign less than a sin.

 

-- Deito

 

Harirnama Harirnama Harirnama Kevalam.

 

 

 

 

 

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

>

> Fasting is good from an Ayurvedic point of view- the stomach gets 1

[Guest guest]

, deito01 <no_reply wrote:

>

> I am again in no way trying to impress anyone nor i am trying to hurt

> anyone.

 

Dear brother Deito,

 

I agree with your that no one is trying to impress here anyone.

 

But you will agree that everyone has a right to express his

opinion,either he read from scriptures, got from experience or heard

from Guru. If someone is presenting his ideas, we are not bound to

follow it. This is a discussing place and certainly no one will say

the same thing always.

 

Each one of us have our own outlook towards life... any post here

written by anyone, has no binding on any...we can accept the idea or

reject it...choice is always ours.

 

 

Fasting is a part of Tapas and those schools of thought which give

more stress on Tapas, always opt for it.

 

since I dont have much knowledge of scriptures, so i am giving my

own ideas about fasting... it should not be taken as guidelines.

 

Fasting helps the body, by keeping the stomach rested for a day or

two, we let the stomach regain its strength.

 

Fasting helps in curtailing the lower desires... it teaches us how

to control our habits. Since tongue is the most difficult organ to

control, keeping the control on tongue, we exert pressure on all

organs to remain in control....so fasting may be like Pranayama in

which we control the prana...in fasting we control the stomach and

desire to eat.

 

Those who dont fast regularly, if they are using other sadhanas

would find that they are slowly changing their food habits and eating

excessive diet, is a surely curtailed by Sadhna.

 

Like Deito said, Dhruva, Buddha and many other saints had fasting

as important part of their Sadhna

 

Hope someone will write what the scriptures say about fasting.

 

AUM

[Guest guest]

> What is the use of Fasting - Spiritually?

>

namaskar to all

 

my opinion about the fasting is that

1. it controls the desires

2. stomach take rest for one day so it balances the activities of the

digestion saystem

3. a person remains in rememberance of the God , because mind here

concentrates more on God

4. one develops the strength of living on air . ie you will see that

one can remain hungry for 12 hours still he would not feel hungry

i am doing fasting since last 1 and half years on tuesday . and

initially i had lots of problems thirst and hunger but now it is

normal. and i do not feel weakness on the next day , but initially i

had problems.

 

Shantanu sir actually i could not understood

 

This can enable you to get Out of Body experiences( OBE), buts it very

dangerous, as your Astral body is very weak, & open to attack from any

lower spirit. Also, you dont have much control over your OBE, & you a

Guru constantly looking over you.

 

please tell me because i am not satisfied with the above para as you

have written in last posting

 

astral body should be more energetic than physical and how spirits

could attack the astral body , if they can attack astral bodies then

they can also attack physical body ......that is more problamatic.

please tell me ,have you experienced the attack of spirits on astral

bodies . i may be wrong because i have not experienced and i am

curious to know

 

thanks

 

Hare Krishna ,Hare krishna ,Krishna Krishna ,Hare hare ,hare

Rama ,Hare Rama ,Rama Rama ,Hare Hare

[Guest guest]

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

>

> Fasting is good from an Ayurvedic point of view- the stomach gets 1

> day rest, during which it recuprates, but Im not so sure from a

> spiritual point...

>

>could you alos please explain me sir that how food , air are needed

for living ie how these provides energy for living . which energy is

actually needed for living .is it not possible to live on air only .

because i heard that one pboy of nepal is meditating since 6 months

without food . please tell me something request to all

 

Hare Krishna ,hare krishna Krishna Krishna ,Hare Hare,Hare Rama ,Hare

Rama ,Rama Rama ,Hare Hare

[Guest guest]

Everyone has right to express.. this is by gods will.

 

Offcourse.. but i was just afraid, because that is completely wrong in

my view and what if someone follows that and they get into some kind

of trouble, or will not achieve what he wanted to.

 

Just this was the sole reason, now what is someone starts developing

tamogun, he will only end up in lower planes, with Daemons.

 

 

There are many reference, i am just typing down what came to my mind.

 

The first one is form gita, said by Lord himself.

 

 

 

Yaa Nishaa Sarva-bhutaanaam Tasyaam Jaagarti Samyamee

Yasyaam Jaagrati Bhutaani Saa Nishaa Pashyato Muneh.

 

" That which is night to all beings, then the self-controlled man is

awake; when all beings are awake, that is night for the sage who sees. "

 

This is implemented by Revered Mohammed, In the month of ramzan.

 

See he has clearly laid out the principles, exactly as Lord described,

that Muslims pure ones, are not even allowed to swallow the saliva in

daytime, and have to feed on only at night. This is immediate

deviation form current practice, and this brings control of overall

senses.

 

THey are implementing lords words so accurately. Also see that

mohammed has clearly described Lord to be of Blue color , .. on whom

grace of Lord is bestowed can understand a lot of things in muslim or

rather PURE ISLAM religion.

 

next also see the following sloka.

 

Muktimichchasi-chet Taata Vishyaan Vishavat tyaga,

Brahmacharyam Ahimsaam cha Satyam Peeyushavat Bhaja.

 

This avoidance of food is the first qualification.

 

Next followed by water and air, and tale any great saints or consult

any enlightened ones, including Revered Ravi Shankar... any one will

tell this order.

 

Also after Buddha's Enlightenment, Lord Buddha fasted for seven weeks,

and spent a quiet time, in deep contemplation, under the Bodhi tree

and in its neighborhood.

 

Our very own Revered Tailang baba, used to sit in water for months

without air too, And i think in modern rishis known to me, he is the

only one who had mastered Maadalaasa , means a capability by which one

can decrease or increase the size of his body.

 

He preached that the body can servive without food, water and air..

when soul can derive energy form the infinite. He is thus independent

fomr everything including the material nature.

 

but this si all before enlightenment, and after enlightenment,

certainly there is no need for food ( one is out of illusion )

 

Regards,

 

-- Deito

 

Harirnama Harirnama Harirnama Kevalam.

 

 

, " Aum " <beirut_ka_baba wrote:

[Guest guest]

, deito01 <no_reply wrote:

> The first one is form gita, said by Lord himself.

 

> Yaa Nishaa Sarva-bhutaanaam Tasyaam Jaagarti Samyamee

> Yasyaam Jaagrati Bhutaani Saa Nishaa Pashyato Muneh.

>

> " That which is night to all beings, then the self-controlled man is

> awake; when all beings are awake, that is night for the sage who

sees. "

>

> This is implemented by Revered Mohammed, In the month of ramzan.

>

> See he has clearly laid out the principles, exactly as Lord

described,

> that Muslims pure ones, are not even allowed to swallow the saliva in

> daytime, and have to feed on only at night.

 

Deitoji, I may be too stupid but i really could not make out head

and tail of this post. The shloka of Gita has no relevance of Muslims

not swallowing saliva ?

 

will you further explain this ?

[Guest guest]

Namaskar to everyone here! According to what little i know of

fasting which in indian script is referred as Upvaas - up means

near and vaas means to stay therefore staying near god in his

remembrance is what upvaas means. Also a saint has said - i think

it was saint Tukaram of maharashtra who said - NAAM GAYTHA GRASSO

GRASSI TOW JAVEELA THARI UPVASI - meaning one who takes god's name

while consuming each morsel of food has fasted (upvaas - i.e. stayed

near god) and doesn't mean abstaining from food. Nevertheless our

rishis did advocate fasting on 2 ekadasi days i.e. eleventh tithi

of both shukla paksha and krishna paksha (bright half of moon and

dark half of moon) but in modern kaliyuga this becomes impractical

as we follow western calendar and ekadashi can fall on any day of

the week. Therefore it is better to select any day which one likes

or select according to your date of birth i.e. those born on 1 on

sunday, 2 on monday 3 on thursday 4 on saturday 5 on wednesday

6 on friday 7 on tuesday 8 on saturday and 9 on tuesday again.

Rest of the dates to be reduced to single digit.

Again one naturopathist has said any fool can fast but it takes a

genius to break the fast. American hygenist Dr. Herbert Shelton

states one should never fast at home but only in hygenie centres.

Then the question comes with all these restrictions to fast how do

you introduce yourself to fast on the selected day. My opinion is

to have lunch in the afternoon and miss one night meal can go a long

way to introduce yourself to fasting.

Lastly when buddha fasted and lost his strength and fell in the

river while bathing he discarded fasting and started eating again.

Therefore in short, the conclusion is don't go to the extremes on

your own but just miss one night meal and still get benefit of

fasting.

HARI OM TAT SAT!

Sudhakar

[Guest guest]

, " jitendra kumar " <jtin_ja

Hello mr. Jitendra

Namaskar! Re your query on sustaining ourselves on air without

consuming food is possible. It is mentioned in autobiography of

a yogi by paramahansa yogananda wherein he talks of a saintess

who never ate any food but said she sustained due to solar

energy. This fact is put nicely by one Mr. Hira Ratan an engineer

by profession from kerala. To know more about sun gazing please

visit the site www.sungazing.com and www.solarhealing.com which

will give you detailed explanation about how to go about it and

if you follow it diligently in 9 months time you can conquer your

hunger and sustain yourself only on sunrays and water only.

Best of luck and cheers! )

 

Sudhakar

> >

> >could you alos please explain me sir that how food , air are needed

[Guest guest]

Namashkar,

 

Gita, the most holy book of Hindus had anticipated this question of

fasting & food. Krishna says to Arjun:

 

" This Yoga is no for him who eats too much, nor for him who does no

eat at all, O Arjun, it is not for him who is in the habit of sleeping

too much nor for him who keeps awake. " 6:16

 

" For him who is moderate in food and play, moderate in performing

actions, moderate in sleep & waking, for him is the Yoga which

destroys sorrow " . 6:17

 

Krishna advises moderation in all activities, including food. Most

people say Buddha recommended the middle path, but Krishna had

preceded him by several 1000 years. Sudhakarji made the very good

point that Budda found enlightenment only when he started eating normally.

 

Not only does he advise against too much fasting or eating, Krishna

goes one step further-he says people who punish their bodies with hard

austerities(like starving yourself or eating just leaves) are actually

demonic:

 

" Those men hypocrites & egotists, impelled by forced of desire &

passion, who undergo harsh austerities, these people lacking

discrimination impede the function of group of elements making their

body, and they also hurt me dwelling in their body.

 

Know these people to possess a Demonic nature " 17:5-6

 

They are demonic, for Krishna says " I live in the Heart of all Beings,

& those who torture their body, torture me the Soul living in them " .

 

The Teacher of Teachers, here clearly says that harming the body in

the name of fasting is demonic. I know there are stories of Saints who

lived on just leaves or water, but clearly these Saints chose a very

Asuric way of God realisation.

 

Whenever you read about Demons asking for Siddhis, they always stand

one 1 leg in middle of river, starving themselves. I have never heard

anyone get Enlightenment by standing on 1 leg, or not eating anything.

 

There is a Siddhi/Pranayam whereby one can get Pran directly from the

Sun, thereby removing need for food- but that doesnt come by starving

yourself. It involves bringing Kundalni upto Manipura Chakra & saying

a secret version of Gayatri Mantra. But at the end of day, its just a

Siddhi- it doesnt give Moksha.

 

Fasting is a very bad way to control lower vrittis- if the body is so

bad, why did God give us one? The body is our best friend- it can take

all sorts of punishment & still keep working.

 

Overeating is a problem of the mind- the body says give me food, the

mind says Give me Pizzas, choclates! If there is someone that has to

be punished, its the mind. It treats the body badly, ignores its

demands, & blames its own excesses on the body.

 

If anyone needs a fast-its the mind. Try fasting on your thoughts for

a few seconds! If there is a glutton, its the mind. Control the mind,

body will automatically come under control.

 

love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

> Shantanu sir actually i could not understood

Jitendaraji,

 

Out of Body Experiences(OBE) occur when one can leave the Physical

body, enter Astral world, & visit other planes. This happens in sleep,

but not under our control. If we can do it wilfully, we can meet

Higher level beings like Devas/Rishis who can help us in our Sadhna.

 

If you read our stories, like those in Mahabharat, Puranas, people

routinely met Devas like Indra/Agni & asked for boons/advice/weapons.

They did this by going into OBE & visitng the Devas world.

 

This process is very hard, & takes years of practice. An easy way is

to starve yourself- as this bring about death like conditions, when

the astral body automatically separates from physical body. This is

supposed to be " easy " way, but since your body is weak, you cant visit

the really higher lokas. Also, you are easy target for hostile beings.

 

Fasting to go into OBE is equal to hitting with your head with a

hammer when you want to sleep- you will sleep, but also hurt yourself.

 

> astral body should be more energetic than physical and how spirits

> could attack the astral body , if they can attack astral bodies then

> they can also attack physical body ......that is more problamatic.

> please tell me ,have you experienced the attack of spirits on astral

> bodies . i may be wrong because i have not experienced and i am

> curious to know

 

You are right, the astral body is more energetic, but Hostile astral

beings(Rakshas, Asuras) only have an astral body. Also, in their

world, we are like little babies, & for them to hurt is fairly easy if

we are not careful.

 

There is no need to be scared though- if you are Sattvic & pure

hearted, you will skip all these demonic worlds & go straight to Deva

loka. Having strong faith in your Ishta Devta is the best defence

against astral attacks.

 

love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

> >could you alos please explain me sir that how food , air are needed

> for living ie how these provides energy for living . which energy is

> actually needed for living .is it not possible to live on air only .

> because i heard that one pboy of nepal is meditating since 6 months

> without food . please tell me something request to all

 

 

Jitendaraji, food provides Pran, but it is a very weak source of it.

There is a much better technique-draw Pran directly from air. This

happens automatically in Samadhi, which is how the boy in Nepal is

staying alive.

[Guest guest]

Dear Ansuya,

 

Nothing in this world is stupid, and as per the relevance is

concerned, it is completely relevant.

 

Fasting and the fasting of Ramzan, if one of the very good ways of

implementing This in material nature.

 

Because food, form time immemorial is a event of Habitual

consumption and also is depicted as one of very basic nessesity.

 

But Implementing this ramzan fast, one will be completely breaking

this attunement to such a habit, and will also be breaking the

chain of such dependency.

 

and that too very accurately, because with not even swallowing

saliva, The digestive system, completely ceases, almost like how it

would be in your Deep sleep ( alpha state )

 

Hope this conveyed what i wanted to. Lord bless all.

 

-- Deito

 

Harirnama Harirnama Harirnama Kevalam.

 

, ansuya80 <no_reply wrote:

i really could not make out

head

> and tail of this post. The shloka of Gita has no relevance of

Muslims

> not swallowing saliva ?

>

> will you further explain this ?

>

[Guest guest]

, deito01 <no_reply wrote:

as per the relevance is

> concerned, it is completely relevant.

 

Dear deitoji, i understood that fasting is important, but what is the

relevance of Shloka of Gita with Ramazan ? I dont find any connection.

 

Shanracer has quoted gita against fasting, and deito is quoting gita

for fasting. what is real Truth ? Is Gita contradictory or it is a

question of personal understanding ?

 

Dear Farah and spgyoga thanks for your ideas about controlling anger.

Let me hope some other friends will reply to with their valuable

suggestions.

 

ansuya

 

Dear Aradhna have you left the group? why are you not posting ?

[Guest guest]

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

>

> Namashkar,

>

> >

> " For him who is moderate in food and play, moderate in performing

> actions, moderate in sleep & waking, for him is the Yoga which

> destroys sorrow " . 6:17

>

> Krishna advises moderation in all activities, including food. Most

> people say Buddha recommended the middle path, but Krishna had

> preceded him by several 1000 years. Sudhakarji made the very good

> point that Budda found enlightenment only when he started eating

normally.

>

>>

> >

>

i am very happy that you answered my questions by heart and you made

a lot of efforts . thanks

 

 

sir ji what ever you have written from Sri mad Bhagwad Geeta is

right , but there is difference in your and mine understanding

 

Gita, the most holy book of Hindus had anticipated this question of

fasting & food. Krishna says to Arjun:

 

" This Yoga is no for him who eats too much, nor for him who does no

eat at all, O Arjun, it is not for him who is in the habit of

sleeping

too much nor for him who keeps awake. " 6:16

 

 

 

 

 

This Yoga what you have understood from that ie which yoga . for

which Yoga the Lord Sri Krishna is talking about . sir ji the Lord

said about the sankhaya yoga .Lord Buddha was a sankhaya Yogi or

dhayan yogi . for dhayan yogi it is necessary that he should be

moderate . and for achieveing moderation one day fast would help

though not necessary . it is my analysis. there are so many reasons.

even for achieving satvic gunas you need to have control on food.

fasting is one way .....too much fasting or remaining without

food ...and ... all those activities comes under tapa ie it is the

work of tapasvi and not yogi.

 

secondaly

 

" Those men hypocrites & egotists, impelled by forced of desire &

> passion, who undergo harsh austerities, these people lacking

> discrimination impede the function of group of elements making

their

> body, and they also hurt me dwelling in their body.

>

> Know these people to possess a Demonic nature " 17:5-6

 

here sir ji Lord described that people worship to different devtas ,

rakshas , yam ,......... with some desires / to gain powers like

Ravana achieved the powers . and then after achieveing those

desires/powers people want to crush the Lord who resides in the

heart ie Lord Sri Krishna . i think sir some misunderstanding with

you.

 

i hope you understand sir my thinking perhaps we are having

different approach . DOES NOT MATTER but i love your efforts for

something that matters a lot

 

Hare Krishna ,Hare Krishna ,Krishna Krishna ,Hare Hare ,Hare

Rama ,Hare Rama , Rama Rama ,Hare Hare

[Guest guest]

> Shanracer has quoted gita against fasting, and deito is quoting gita

> for fasting. what is real Truth ? Is Gita contradictory or it is a

> question of personal understanding ?

 

 

LOL! I remember in a book by Rajneesh, he says Gita is like a

magicians hat- anybody opens it & pulls out anything!

 

No the Gita is not contradictory. In fact the Gita is one of the

simplest book to understand. Thats why it was compiled like this-

rather than spend years studying Vedas/Upanishads, just reading Gita

is enough.

 

Understanding the Gita is a matter of how developed your Buddhi &

Vivek are. Different people might interpret the Shlokas differently

acc to their Buddhi.

 

Regarding the shloka Deito quotes , my understanding of it is:

 

" What is day for the Yogi is night for the world, what is day for the

world is night for the Yogi "

 

 

Here night represents ignorance, & day wisdom. This is the symbology

the Upanishads & Vedas use(if in doubt, go back to the original- as I

said, the Gita is a summary of them).

 

Most people live in ignorance, & this that it is normal, they think

they are wise. But the Yogi sees that what they call intelligence is

actually ignorance, as they are obsessed with the material world.

So the day of normal people is night of ignorance for the Yogi.

 

The Yogi lives in his own world. For him, the petty pleasures of

physical world hold no charm, as he has seen the much superior bliss

of the Spirit. But the ordinary people think hes crazy- running after

some unknown God, when he could be rich & powerful! So the day of

Yogi, other people see as night(ie they think the Yogi is stupid).

 

This much is available from any commentary on the Gita. If you think I

might be wrong, please enlighten me.

 

love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

Humble Obeisances to all!. Here I would like to add Shreemad Bhagavad Gita

Ch.6/16 meaning This yoga is neither for him who overeats, nor for him who

observes a complete fast; it is nether for him who is given to too much sleep,

nor even for him who is ceaselessly awake. Here fasting is refered. Similarly

Ch.18/6 meaning who emaciate the elements constituting their body as well as Me,

the Supreme Spirit, dwelling in their heart - know these senseless people to

hava demoniac disposition. Here fasting, without proper reason, comes under

'emaciating the elements constituting one's body'. Gita is no where

contradictory in any statement or declaration on Adhyatma/spirituality. May be

we are lacking to construe proper meaning and intention of the God. Regards to

all.

 

> Shanracer has quoted gita against fasting, and deito is quoting gita

> for fasting. what is real Truth ? Is Gita contradictory or it is a

> question of personal understanding ?

[Guest guest]

Very appropriate explanation. Thanks.

 

spbyoga9 <spbyoga9 wrote: Namaskar to everyone

[Guest guest]

Humble Obeisances to All! Gita Ch.2/69... Ya Nisha... meaning that which is

night to all beings, in that state of Divine Knowledge and Supreme Bliss, teh

God-realized Yogi keeps awake. And that the ever changing, transient worldly

happiness, in which all beings keep awake, is night to the seer. Here it is

intended that the common individual strive very carefully and cautiously to

collect instruments and articles for worldly pleasure and happiness. But the

Yogi keeps himself away from all these things ( where common people are

watchful, Yogi is sleeping). Yogi is vary careful and cautious to achieve more

and more development in Sadhana, God-realization, Sakshatkara, Kundalini

Jagarana, and all, the common people are unaware of all these (here they enjoy

sleep of ignorance keeping themselves away from these activities). Sadhana is

night for common persons and worldly pleasures is night for Yogis.

Heartful Regards to all.

[Guest guest]

, keshav daund <keshav_daund wrote:

>

> Humble Obeisances to All!

 

Thanks respected keshavji.. it was very appropriate and beautiful

explanation of the shloka, thanks sudhakar and shacracer

 

Aum