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.
Appreciate fully what you are eating, enjoy it fully, breathing and smelling the aroma to add to the taste, chewing slowly and well, to taste more and to digest better. Discover the subtleties of taste. Gently keep bringing the wandering mind back to tasting fully what you’re eating. Feel the difference! Give thanks for the chance to be able to enjoy what you eat.
In its function, the power to punish is not essentially different from that of curing or educating.
