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 great gift of Easter is Hope - Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake.
Compassion is fellow feeling or sorrow for the sufferings of another. Compassion opens the door for freedom and expands the heart. It melts the hardened and makes people as soft as butter.
‘New’ is a beautiful word which opens up many possibilities. If every day can be viewed as ‘New’ then, life blossoms - like new leaves, buds, flowers and fruit - full of colour, fragrance, taste and rasa: the very essence of living.
