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.
How much suffering and fear, and how many harmful things are in existence? If all arises from clinging to the “I”, what should I do with this great demon?
Compassion: I don’t think that there is another world as important in marking a person’s inner growth. No other word completely conveys what this single word conveys.
Service without ideal of self…trains you to transcend all the artificial distinctions imposed by history and geography, and to realise that the human community is one and indivisible.
The jiva or living being is endowed with ego and his knowledge is limited, whereas Ishwar is without ego and is omniscient.
