et me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.
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.
In thinking, “This is I” and “That is mine”, he binds himself with his self, as does a bird with a snare.
Every person has both a bad heart and good heart. No matter how good a man seems, he has some evil. No matter how bad a man seems, there is some good about him. No man is perfect
