Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle …a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl. And the anticipation nurtures our dream.
Fasting in the monastic community is considered an ascetic practice, a “dhutanga” practice. Dhutanga means “to shake up” or “invigoration”. The Buddha, as is well known, emphasized moderation, the Middle Way that avoids extremes, in all things. Fasting is an additional method that one can take up, with supervision, for a time.
This is true knowledge: to seek the Self as the true end of wisdom always. To seek anything else is ignorance.
We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have the power to make ourselves. So we have to know how to act.
