The jiva or living being is endowed with ego and his knowledge is limited, whereas Ishwar is without ego and is omniscient.
Of winter’s lifeless world each tree now seems a perfect part; Yet each one holds summer’s secret deep down within its heart.
By self-study, by observing, by being hollow and empty, you become a channel - you become a part of the Divine. You are able to feel the presence of Divinity. All the different angels and devas, all these different forms of our consciousness, start blossoming.
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.
