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.
The best things are never arrived at in haste. God is in no hurry; His plans are never rushed.
If we celebrate the festival with the objective of divine wealth then we will get an experience of supreme Bliss or anand and the desire for worldly inferior pleasures will automatically start reducing, leading to our true Liberation.
Your hills, O Earth, your snow-clad mountain peaks, your forests, may they show us kindliness… Impart to us vitalising forces that come, O Earth from deep within your body, your central point, your navel, purify us wholly.
