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.
We can use our precious and passing moments to nourish and enrich our hearts by loving ourselves and all living beings... not the New Year day alone but may every throb of our life be a moment of loving happiness.
If you have known yourself, you have known everything else. Know that, by knowing which, you will know everything else. The Bible says, “Seek that kingdom within you.” Once you have found that, then everything else will be automatically added unto you; you don’t have to go looking for things outside; they will all come to you.
