Difference between revisions of "Fasting"
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− | To fast (''upavasa'' or ''anasana'') is to go without food for an extended period. Fasting is practised for religious, for health or for medical reasons. It has also sometimes been used for political purposes as Mahatma Gandhi and IRA prisoners did. Scientific research has shown that regular fasting for brief periods can be good for the health, although long fasts (more than three days) can be dangerous. Those preparing to undergo certain medical procedures are often asked to abstain from food. Fasting of one sort or another and for one period or another is practised in most religions. Jains practise several types of fasting including what is called Santhana, fasting to death. Muslims are supposed to abstain from all fluids and food between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan. Fasting is frequently mentioned in the Bible (e.g. Acts 14,23; Luke 2,37; Matthew 6,16; etc.) and Jesus once fasted for 40 days (Matthew 4,2). | + | |
− | Fasting, even extreme fasting, formed a part of the self-mortification (''attakilamathāna yoga'') practised by ascetics during the Buddha’s time. During the six years the Buddha (or more correctly, the Bodhisattva) was learning from other teachers and experimenting with various ascetic practices he to underwent long fasts. Some of these as described by him in the Mahasihanāda Sutta included eating only once every seven days, eating only one kola fruit a day (M.I,78). The kola is the fruit of Zizyphus jujube, a small fruit with limited nutritional value. As a result of these and other fasts the Buddha’s body became extremely emaciated. ‘Because of eating so little my ribs stuck out like the rafters of an old hut, my eyes sunk into their sockets and their gleam looked like the gleam in the on the water in a deep well, my stomach touched my back bone so that when I tried to touch my stomach I got my backbone and when I touched my backbone I got my stomach, all because I ate so little.’ (M.I,80). The famous Fasting Buddha in the Lahore Museum in Pakistan is based on this passage. | + | |
− | After attaining enlightenment there is no record of the Buddha fasting himself or recommending fasting. Monks and nuns are expected to abstain from food from noon to sunrise the next day, a too short to be considered fasting. Also, during that time they are allowed to take fruit juices and other liquids. Milk is included in the prohibition against food at night but for some unaccountable reason Thai monks ignore the fact that cheese is made out of milk and eat it in the evenings. The Vinaya also stipulates that monks and nuns can eat honey, sugar, oil and ghee in the evening if they are ill (Vin.III,51). Sri Lankan monks participating in all-night chanting will consume a mixture of these four substances. This mixture is called ''catumadhura''. | + | |
− | Lay people keeping the ''uposatha'' will also abstain from food from noon to sunrise the next day. The Buddha’s recommendation to monks and nuns to abstain from food at night seems to have been entirely for reasons of health. He said, ‘I do not eat in the evening and thus am free from illness and affliction and enjoy health, strength and ease.’ (M.I473). Long fasts such as are recommended by certain | + | |
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+ | To fast (''[[upavasa]]'' or ''[[anasana]]'') is to go without [[food]] for an extended period. [[Fasting]] is practised for [[religious]], for [[health]] or for {{Wiki|medical}} [[reasons]]. It has also sometimes been used for {{Wiki|political}} purposes as [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and IRA prisoners did. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Scientific]] research has shown that regular [[fasting]] for brief periods can be good for the [[health]], although long fasts (more than three days) can be [[dangerous]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Those preparing to undergo certain {{Wiki|medical}} procedures are often asked to abstain from [[food]]. [[Fasting]] of one sort or another and for one period or another is practised in most [[religions]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Jains]] practise several types of [[fasting]] [[including]] what is called Santhana, [[fasting]] to [[death]]. {{Wiki|Muslims}} are supposed to abstain from all fluids and [[food]] between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan. [[Fasting]] is frequently mentioned in the Bible (e.g. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Acts 14,23; Luke 2,37; Matthew 6,16; etc.) and {{Wiki|Jesus}} once fasted for 40 days (Matthew 4,2). | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | [[Fasting]], even extreme [[fasting]], formed a part of the [[self-mortification]] (''[[attakilamathāna yoga]]'') practised by [[ascetics]] during the [[Buddha’s]] time. During the six years the [[Buddha]] (or more correctly, the [[Bodhisattva]]) was {{Wiki|learning}} from other [[teachers]] and experimenting with various [[ascetic practices]] he to underwent long fasts. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some of these as described by him in the [[Mahasihanāda Sutta]] included eating only once every seven days, eating only one kola fruit a day (M.I,78). The kola is the fruit of Zizyphus jujube, a small fruit with limited nutritional value. | ||
+ | |||
+ | As a result of these and other fasts the [[Buddha’s body]] became extremely emaciated. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ‘Because of eating so little my ribs stuck out like the rafters of an old hut, my [[eyes]] sunk into their sockets and their gleam looked like the gleam in the on the [[water]] in a deep well, my {{Wiki|stomach}} touched my back bone so that when I tried to {{Wiki|touch}} my {{Wiki|stomach}} I got my {{Wiki|backbone}} and when I touched my {{Wiki|backbone}} I got my {{Wiki|stomach}}, all because I ate so little.’ (M.I,80). The famous [[Fasting]] [[Buddha]] in the [[Lahore]] Museum in {{Wiki|Pakistan}} is based on this passage. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | After [[attaining enlightenment]] there is no record of the [[Buddha]] [[fasting]] himself or recommending [[fasting]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Monks and nuns]] are expected to abstain from [[food]] from noon to sunrise the next day, a too short to be considered [[fasting]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Also, during that time they are allowed to take [[fruit juices]] and other liquids. Milk is included in the prohibition against [[food]] at night but for some unaccountable [[reason]] [[Thai]] [[monks]] ignore the fact that cheese is made out of milk and eat it in the evenings. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The [[Vinaya]] also stipulates that [[monks and nuns]] can eat [[honey]], sugar, oil and ghee in the evening if they are ill (Vin.III,51). | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Sri Lankan]] [[monks]] participating in all-night [[chanting]] will consume a mixture of these four {{Wiki|substances}}. This mixture is called ''catumadhura''. | ||
+ | |||
+ | [[Lay people]] keeping the ''[[uposatha]]'' will also abstain from [[food]] from noon to sunrise the next day. The [[Buddha’s]] recommendation to [[monks and nuns]] to abstain from [[food]] at night seems to have been entirely for [[reasons]] of [[health]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | He said, ‘I do not eat in the evening and thus am free from {{Wiki|illness}} and [[affliction]] and enjoy [[health]], strength and ease.’ (M.I473). Long fasts such as are recommended by certain ‘[[health]]’ practitoners are not good for [[health]] and would contravene the [[Buddha’s]] {{Wiki|concept}} of talking a [[middle way]] (''[[majjhima patipada]]'') and avoiding extremes. | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
[http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=477 www.buddhisma2z.com] | [http://www.buddhisma2z.com/content.php?id=477 www.buddhisma2z.com] | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Fasting]] |
Latest revision as of 03:11, 11 February 2020
To fast (upavasa or anasana) is to go without food for an extended period. Fasting is practised for religious, for health or for medical reasons. It has also sometimes been used for political purposes as Mahatma Gandhi and IRA prisoners did.
Scientific research has shown that regular fasting for brief periods can be good for the health, although long fasts (more than three days) can be dangerous.
Those preparing to undergo certain medical procedures are often asked to abstain from food. Fasting of one sort or another and for one period or another is practised in most religions.
Jains practise several types of fasting including what is called Santhana, fasting to death. Muslims are supposed to abstain from all fluids and food between sunrise and sunset during the month of Ramadan. Fasting is frequently mentioned in the Bible (e.g.
Acts 14,23; Luke 2,37; Matthew 6,16; etc.) and Jesus once fasted for 40 days (Matthew 4,2).
Fasting, even extreme fasting, formed a part of the self-mortification (attakilamathāna yoga) practised by ascetics during the Buddha’s time. During the six years the Buddha (or more correctly, the Bodhisattva) was learning from other teachers and experimenting with various ascetic practices he to underwent long fasts.
Some of these as described by him in the Mahasihanāda Sutta included eating only once every seven days, eating only one kola fruit a day (M.I,78). The kola is the fruit of Zizyphus jujube, a small fruit with limited nutritional value.
As a result of these and other fasts the Buddha’s body became extremely emaciated.
‘Because of eating so little my ribs stuck out like the rafters of an old hut, my eyes sunk into their sockets and their gleam looked like the gleam in the on the water in a deep well, my stomach touched my back bone so that when I tried to touch my stomach I got my backbone and when I touched my backbone I got my stomach, all because I ate so little.’ (M.I,80). The famous Fasting Buddha in the Lahore Museum in Pakistan is based on this passage.
After attaining enlightenment there is no record of the Buddha fasting himself or recommending fasting.
Monks and nuns are expected to abstain from food from noon to sunrise the next day, a too short to be considered fasting.
Also, during that time they are allowed to take fruit juices and other liquids. Milk is included in the prohibition against food at night but for some unaccountable reason Thai monks ignore the fact that cheese is made out of milk and eat it in the evenings.
The Vinaya also stipulates that monks and nuns can eat honey, sugar, oil and ghee in the evening if they are ill (Vin.III,51).
Sri Lankan monks participating in all-night chanting will consume a mixture of these four substances. This mixture is called catumadhura.
Lay people keeping the uposatha will also abstain from food from noon to sunrise the next day. The Buddha’s recommendation to monks and nuns to abstain from food at night seems to have been entirely for reasons of health.
He said, ‘I do not eat in the evening and thus am free from illness and affliction and enjoy health, strength and ease.’ (M.I473). Long fasts such as are recommended by certain ‘health’ practitoners are not good for health and would contravene the Buddha’s concept of talking a middle way (majjhima patipada) and avoiding extremes.