Spiritual Fasting

Certain sections of this article may have undergone refinement with the assistance of artificial intelligence to enhance comprehensibility.

The moment someone uses the word fast, we start thinking of torture and how and can we let ourselves starve and how one needs to have a balanced diet and how God would never want us to torture ourselves, etc. etc.

Let’s Change That

Fasting is nothing but using our bodies nutrients that are stored in it to heal itself. When a person fasts for more than ten days, or practices one meal a day or intermittent fasting, they initiate the body’s self-healing mechanism, leading to cleansing, recuperating, and healing. The initial few days of fast are tough on people. There’s an innate desire for food, hunger pangs, and low energy. But as one progresses, they end up getting high levels of energy, less need of sleep, and the body starts cleansing itself and then taking the rest it requires to start healing itself.

How Does it Relate to Spirituality

In ancient times, the monks, the sages, the prophets, and the holy men, fasted for days at length. The idea is simple, when you don’t have to think about feeding your body with food, you can concentrate on how you can elevate yourself and get closer to God. Many monks even now practice intermittent fasting or eat just one meal a day. When you meet them, however, they are bursting with energy. This is a very simple test to establish this. Remember how to feel after a thanksgiving dinner, full and lazy right? Many people drink coffee after dinner to not feel sleepy. Now imagine you just eat one balanced meal a day, see the difference?

Will it bring you closer to God?

The You Are What You Eat analogy works here as well. When your body is stuffed with food, so is your mind, leaving no space for the Light to enter. But when your body isn’t stuffed with food, your mind starts getting clearer as well. All the past emotions and stuffed anger and negative thoughts come out and get cleansed. You are then able to focus better when you meditate and your mind opens up to the possibilities and positivity that spirituality offers. Finally, communicating with the Divine doesn’t seem so difficult anymore. Think of it like this, imagine you are carrying a lot of baggage with you and you meet a friend on the way – you two try catching up but both of you are constantly interrupted by the weight of the baggage and aren’t able to get past it – now, imagine you have no baggage whatsoever and you meet your friend – the conversation lasts for hours and hours when you learn new things about each other. Makes sense?

There are multiple ways of fasting. There’s OMAD (One means a Day), Intermittent Fasting, Water Fasting, and Dry Fasting. Read up on them and decide what suits you best. Also, try going about it gently and gradually. The aim is to not torture yourself but to ascend spiritually. Tell us what you fee about fasting in the comments section. Fasting, often associated with sacrifice and deprivation, has historically been viewed through a lens of discomfort and torture. The mere mention of the word can evoke thoughts of enduring hunger and the challenge of maintaining a balanced diet. However, it's time to reshape this perception and recognize fasting as a powerful tool for harnessing the body's natural ability to heal itself.

When an individual engages in prolonged fasting, adopts a one-meal-a-day approach, or practices intermittent fasting, the body undergoes a transformative process. Initially challenging, with hunger pangs and low energy, fasting gradually leads to heightened energy levels, reduced need for sleep, and a self-cleansing mechanism that sets the stage for healing.

Ancient traditions reveal that monks, sages, prophets, and holy men often embraced fasting as a means to connect with the divine. By freeing themselves from the constant need to consume food, they could redirect their focus towards spiritual elevation. Many contemporary monks still adhere to intermittent fasting or consume just one meal a day, showcasing vibrancy and energy that defies the conventional expectations associated with limited food intake.

The relationship between fasting and spirituality becomes clearer when considering the "You Are What You Eat" analogy. A mind cluttered with excess food struggles to make space for spiritual enlightenment. However, when the body is not overloaded with food, the mind gains clarity, expelling past emotions and negative thoughts. This newfound mental clarity facilitates more effective meditation, enabling individuals to embrace the positivity and possibilities inherent in spiritual pursuits.

Fasting becomes a pathway to a closer connection with the divine when the mind is unburdened by the weight of excessive consumption. Imagine shedding the baggage of overindulgence, allowing conversations with the divine to flow freely and effortlessly. The analogy of meeting a friend without any baggage perfectly illustrates the liberating effect of fasting on the mind and its potential to deepen spiritual connections.

There exist various fasting methods, such as One Meal A Day (OMAD), Intermittent Fasting, Water Fasting, and Dry Fasting. Choosing a method that aligns with individual preferences and goals is crucial. It's essential to approach fasting gently and gradually, emphasizing spiritual ascension rather than self-torture.

As the perception of fasting evolves, individuals are encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences in the comments section, fostering a community that explores the transformative power of fasting on both the physical and spiritual planes.