Fasting -its Spiritual Significance !

[Guest guest]

Our beloved Islamic friends all over thw world are observing the Holy

Month of Ramadhan - Devout muslims allover the world offer prayers

and observe 'fasting' during the 40 days of Ramadhan!

 

Beloved Sufi Bhakta poet Rumi describes 'fasting' thus

 

Fasting

 

 

There is an unseen sweetness

in the stomach's emptiness.

 

We are lutes.

When the soundbox is filled,

no music can come forth.

 

When the brain and the belly

are burning from fasting,

every moment a new song rises

out of the fire.

 

The mists clear,

and a new vitality makes you

spring up the steps before you.

 

Be empty and cry as a reed instrument.

Be empty and write secrets with a reed pen.

When satiated by food and drink,

an unsightly metal statue

is seated where your spirit should be.

 

When fasting, good habits gather like

helpful friends.

 

Fasting is Solomon's ring.

Don't give in to illusion

and lose your power.

 

But even when all will and control

have been lost,

they will return when you fast,

like soldiers appearing out of the ground,

or pennants flying in the breeze.

 

A table descends to your tents,

the Lord's table.

Anticipate seeing it when fasting,

this table spread with a different food,

far better than the broth of cabbages.

 

'The Essential Rumi'

Translated by Coleman Barks with John Moynes

 

**********************************************************************

 

well, most Hindus observe fasts during all important religious

occasions like Shivaratri, Krishna Janmastami, Vaikunta Ekadashi etc.

My grandmother always used to fast on saturdays and Ekadashis etc

and we kids used to love that ! She used to fast throughout the day

and break the fast with a bang during the evening hours! This meant

my mother , grandmother's daughter-in-law , would prepare all tasty

food items instead of the traditional dishes ... virtually , fasting

was always accompanied by feasting! how we children used to wish our

grandma would observe fast everyday! smiles!!

 

Seriously speaking, does 'fasting' have any religious significance ?

ihave read that Upanishads recommend 'fasting' as part of spiritual

discipline.

 

i invite learned readers in this group to throw light on this

important subject of 'Fasting' !

 

i have seen young girls go on a crash diet to lose weight and i have

seen many others going on a 'fast' with a juice diet or a 'phalahar'

( fruit diet) etc for medical reasons....

 

honestly, when you go on a 'fast', you sure know what it feels to

be 'hungry' and then you realize how many people in the world go to

bed hungry every night and then your conscience really 'hurts' ! how

can you be such a Glutton WHEN HALF THE WORLD IS HUNGRY?

 

'annam is brahman'

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16>

wrote:

>

...........

> honestly, when you go on a 'fast', you sure know what it feels to

> be 'hungry' and then you realize how many people in the world go to

> bed hungry every night and then your conscience really 'hurts' !

>how can you be such a Glutton WHEN HALF THE WORLD IS HUNGRY?

_____

 

Namaste Adiji.

 

That is altruistic - a sentiment mouthed by every faster and

forgotten at sunset when he dives down into sumptuous delicacies with

a vengeance. Rumi very kindly and sensibly has not made any such

claims.

 

IMHO, an advaitin is hunger when he is hungry. He is the fire that

burns in all empty stomachs all over the world. And that fire is not

any different from the Fire extolled in the Vedas. It is the Fire of

Consciousness whose fangs relish Its own creations in a sublimating

appetite. Perhaps, who knows, the Prophet meant it that way.

 

So, let us ask if there is a faster out there who fasts without a

sense of fastership. He is never hurt and to him belongs Rumi's

promised table of the Lord.

 

PraNAms.

 

Madathil Nair

[Guest guest]

Thank you, Nair-ji for your wonderful insights on fasting. As usual,

you are able to see everything from an Advaitic perspective. That is

what i love about you! smiles!

 

yes ! the attitude in 'FASTING' is very important.

 

In the holy Month of RAMADHAN, when Muslims fast , they are required

to observe certain codes of conduct

 

1) the believer is not supposed to commit any unworthy act.

 

2) he is supposed to abstain from lying, cheating and stealing

 

3) he is supposed to abstain for indulging in 'sexual' pleasures .

Abstain from smoking and drinking.

 

4) he is supposed to give alms ( FOOD, CLOTHING ETC) to the poor and

the needy.

 

5) of course. if he can go on a pilgrimage to Mecca during his

lifetime, it is considered great.

 

In other words, 'fasting' is not just abstinence from Food- IT IS A

WHOLE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE WITH SPECIAL CHARATERSTICS.

 

but all hindus observe 'fasts' at one time or the other- both

Advaitins and non-advaitins! IN fact , Vaishnavites

observe 'vaikunta' ekadasi with a lot of fervor and faith!

 

this brings us to the next question ...

 

what is the Hindu term for 'fasting'?

 

UPA-VASA - upa means *NEAR* and *VASA* means to 'Reside'!

 

it is beieved that when you observe 'fast' you are in holy communion

with the Lord!

 

Thus, 'fasting' is accompanied by 'purification' - only in s pur body

devoid of all toxins, can the LORD reside!

 

There is another meaning-

 

UPA MEANS 'GOING BACK' or retreat !

 

VASA - MEANS TO LIVE OR LIFE!

 

Withdrawing from all sinful thoughts and actions and going back to to

divine and holy communion with the Lord!

 

That is the spiritual meaning of fasting!

 

Fasting also helps you to avoid excessive sleeping and along with the

control of the 'appetite' , fasting also helps the spiritual aspirant

to control his 'sexual' appetite! This is one reason why spiritual

aspirants are asked to observe 'fasting' once a week- to prepare them

mentally and physically for 'Saadhnaa'!

 

Mahatma Gandhi-ji observed 'fasts' regularly in his lifetime . He was

acccused of using 'fasting' as a political weapon ... but , this is

what Gandhi-ji has to say on fasting ...

 

" complete fast is a complete and literal denial of self. It is the

truest prayer. "

 

"A genuine fast cleanses the body, mind and soul. It crucifies the

flesh and to that extent sets the soul free."

 

"What the eyes are for the outer world, fasts are for the inner."

 

"My fast is among other things meant to qualify me for achieving that

equal and selfless love. "

 

"My fast is a matter between God and myself. "

 

Nair-ji has given us a wonderful 'advaitic' interpretation of

fasting.

 

Here is what Beloved Ramana Maharishi says on fasting ....

 

Devotee :Can fasting help towards Realization?

 

Ramana: Yes, but it is only a temporary help. It is mental fasting

that is the real aid. Fasting is not an end in itself. There must be

spiritual development at the same time. Absolute fasting weakens the

mind too and leaves you without sufficient strength for the spiritual

quest. Therefore eat in moderation and continue the quest.

 

Devotee: They say that ten days after breaking a month's fast the mind

becomes pure and steady and remains so forever.

 

Ramana: Yes, but only if the spiritual quest has been kept up right

through the fast.

 

 

And dear-hearts, we all know what happened to Gautama Buddha? one

needs FOOD TO KEEP THE BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER !!!! you all must have

heard the story of Dadichi! SMILES!

 

in closing, a Rumi verse !

 

Rumi: Hunger is the Sultan of Remedies

 

Indeed hunger is the sultan of remedies.

Place hunger in the soul--

Regard it not with such contempt!

Hunger makes all unpleasant things pleasant--

But without it, all pleasant things are rejected.

 

A man was eating bread made from bran.

Someone asked him, "How is it you have an appetite for this?"

He replied, "When hunger has been doubled through patience,

Barley bread becomes halva in my eyes." . . .

 

God has given hunger to His elect so that

They may become mighty lions.

 

-- Mathnavi V: 2832-35, 38, translation by William C. Chittick

The Sufi Path of Love, SUNY Press, Albany, 1983

 

ps- anyway- i will share a secret! before every colonsocopy

procedure, you fast totally and get rid of all the toxins in the body

by 'purgatives' .... Guess what! I feel so good and my mouth smells

so sweet - full of fragrance ! and that is the best time to utter the

holy name of God/ess when your breath is pure and untainted!!!!

 

love and regards !

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

Gita's approach is one of 'moderation'.

 

naatyashnatastu yogo.asti na chaikaantamanashnataH .

na chaatisvapnashiilasya jaagrato naiva chaarjuna .. 6\-16..

Verily, YOGA is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him

who does not eat at all; nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him

who is (always) awake, O Arjuna.

 

yuktaahaaravihaarasya yuktacheshhTasya karmasu .

yuktasvapnaavabodhasya yogo bhavati duHkhahaa .. 6\-17..

YOGA becomes the destroyer of pain for him who is moderate in eating

and recreation, who is moderate in his exertion during his actions,

who is moderate in sleep and wakefulness.

 

Krishna's strictures against penance (includes fasting)

are even more telling:

 

ishhTaanbhogaanhi vo devaa daasyante yaGYabhaavitaaH .

tairdattaanapradaayaibhyo yo bhuN^kte stena eva saH .. 3\-12..

"The DEVAS , nourished by the sacrifice, will give you the desired

objects. " Indeed he who enjoys objects, given by the DEVAS , without

offering (in return) to them, is verily a thief.

yaGYashishhTaashinaH santo muchyante sarvakilbishhaiH .

bhuJNjate te tvaghaM paapaa ye pachantyaatmakaaraNaat.h .. 3\-13..

The righteous, who eat the "remnants of the sacrifices" are freed from

all sins; but those sinful ones, who cook food (only) for their own

sake, verily eat but sin.

 

ashaastravihitaM ghoraM tapyante ye tapo janaaH .

dambhaaha.nkaarasa.nyuktaaH kaamaraagabalaanvitaaH .. 17\-5..

karshhayantaH shariirasthaM bhuutagraamamachetasaH .

maa.n chaivaantaHshariirastha.n taanvid.hdhyaasuranishchayaan.h .. 17\-6..

Those men who practise terrific austerities, not enjoined by the

scriptures, given to hypocrisy and egoism, impelled by the force of

lust and attachment . . .

Senselessly torturing all the elements in the body, and Me also who

dwells within the body --- you may know these to be of 'demoniacal'

resolves.

 

These are Krishna's words for the serious seeker:

 

viviktasevii laghvaashii yatavaakkaayamaanasaH .

dhyaanayogaparo nitya.n vairaagya.n samupaashritaH .. 18\-52..

Dwelling in solitude; eating but little; speech, body and mind

subdued; always engaged in meditation and concentration; taking refuge

in dispassion;

 

For the ultimate stretch, this is Shankara's Sadhana

Panchakam:

 

kShudvyaadhishcha chikitsyataaM pratidinaM bhikshauShadhaM bhujyataam.h .

svaadvannaM na tu yaachyataaM vidhivashaat.h praaptena santuShyataam.h ..

Cure the disease of hunger; swallow daily the medicine which is in the

form of alms. Do not beg foe tasty food. Be satisfied with what you

get by destiny.

 

Swami Chidananda-ji, of Rishikesh, has succintly

stated the goal thus:

 

http://www.dlshq.org/download/spiritualadvice.htm

"Spiritual life is movement through the darkness of primal spiritual

ignorance towards the light of Divine experience. The earnest keeps

close to God and in continuous worship he moves through the long drawn

dark night of his soul towards the dawning of Divine Wisdom. In this

period of constant endeavour to commune with God, he has to exercise

great dispassion and self-restraint and keep ever awake while the

world sleeps. Unremitting vigilance is the price for liberation.

Fasting actually signifies the denial of sense-appetite and refusing

to feed the desires and cravings of the lower self in man. Renouncing

all sense-indulgences, controlling senses and subduing desires the

seeker exercises vigilance keeping himself ever in a state of

spiritual wakefulness and aspiring for the dawn of God-realisation. He

is ever awake to his grand goal of life, the ethical and spiritual

ideals, and the higher principles that guide the soul from the unreal

to the Real and from death to Immortality. He achieves the goal

through unshakable faith and continuous worship, despite the

surrounding loom of phenomenal life. Lord Siva Himself embodies this

ideal of abstinence, awareness and adoration. He is the great God ever

immersed in absorbing adoration of the supreme SELF-REALITY in a state

of unbroken inner awareness and totally dead to the

objective-sense-universe through a perfect subduing of desires. All

cravings are burnt up and the ashes adorn the divine body of this Lord

of Yogis."

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

 

 

advaitin, "Madathil Rajendran Nair"

<madathilnair> wrote:

>

> advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16>

> wrote:

> >

> So, let us ask if there is a faster out there who fasts without a

> sense of fastership. He is never hurt and to him belongs Rumi's

> promised table of the Lord.

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you my own MOST BELOVED Sundar-ji!

 

i was 100% sure you would sooner or later come up with all your

wonderful quotations from the Srimad BHAGWAT GITA as well all other

scriptural references including adi shankara bhagvadapada's Sadhana

panchakam! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

 

Yes, the middle path is always the best - one of moderation -that is

the 'saatwik' path!! no extremes!!!

 

and Madhukari Biksha -that is what Adi shankara advocated ! MADUKHAR

is another name for a BEE - just as a bee gathers honey from going

from one flower to another, a sanyasi wanders from one house to

another asks for Alms! There is also an esoteric meaning - the bee

also gathers honey from various sources - a jnani also gathers

knowlege from various sources during his wanderings!

 

and why our beloved Shiv-shankara bhagwan whose own wife is Mata

ANNAPURNA go begging from door to door with his alms bowl!! That is

the ultimate in renunciation!!

 

AND WHEN Lord Shankara asks his divine consort Mata ANNAPURNI

FOR 'BIKSHA' - he is not merely asking for 'food' , he is also asking

for 'JNANA Biksha" ! Adi shankara refers to Devi's breast milk

as "jnana PAAL" ( MILK OF KNOWLEDGE) - the two breasts of devi

reprsent IDA AND PINGALA! ( SAUNDARYA LAHIRI) and i would request

learned members to go back and read professor Vk JI'S EXCELLENT

TRANSLATION OF SAUNDARYA LAHIRI wherin he makes a reference to Devi's

jnana paal !!

 

And it is said of all the organs - the Tongue commits a lot of sins -

therefore , tongue should be used not only for taking 'sattwic' food

but for also speaking the Truth and chanting the names of the Lord -

sattwic food purifies the body , uttering the holy name purifies the

soul !!!

 

Tantriks do not believe in tormenting the body by subjecting the body

to unnecessary tortures and penances ... Body is the temple of the

Godess ! take good care of it! use it for the purpose for which god

gave you the body! Tan means body AND TRA MEANS TO SAVE! USE THE BODY

IN THE SERVICE OF THE LORD- let your tongue utter the holy name of

god/ess, let your feet be used to circumabulate the archa-vigrahas of

god/esses , let your eyes see and admire the beauty inherent in god's

creation, let your ears hear the glories of god/ess , let your hands

be always engazed in offering salutations to the lord ... in short ,

tan, man, dhan- engaze your body, your mind and your wealth - all in

the service of god and his creation!

 

Harihi AUM!

 

 

 

 

 

n advaitin, "advaitins" <advaitins> wrote:

>

> Namaste,

>

> Gita's approach is one of 'moderation'.

>

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16>

wrote:>

> There is another meaning-

>

> UPA MEANS 'GOING BACK' or retreat !

>

> VASA - MEANS TO LIVE OR LIFE!

 

Namaste,

 

Will you kindly give the source of this etymology? Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sunderji:

 

Most probably, Adiji has got the interpretation from the Bhakti list

archives. Sri Vijayaragavan's post there explains the significance of

Ekadasi by the following:

" The importance of Ekadasi for worshippers of Sriman Narayana cannot

be emphasized enough. Ekadasi is also called ?Hari-Vasara? (Lord

Hari?s day). All our elders have steadfastly observed the Ekadasi-

Dwadasi vratam or ?Upavasam? on this sacred day. Upa means near and

Vasam means stay. Stay close to Hari contemplating on His kalyana

gunas. This is the summum bonum of Ekadasi vratam."

 

URL: http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/feb2000/0060.html

 

As we all know for the Vaishnavas, Ekadasi is an important vratam and

the most precious of the ekadasy comes during winter month (Tamil

Month, Markazi - approximately between second week of December and

second week of January) - Vaikunda Ekadasi.

 

Vaishnavaites believe that the mouth should mutter the name of 'Hari'

instead of munching food. There is a famous Carnatic song starts

with - RamaNamam Payasam and KrishnaNamam Chakkarai (recitation of

the name of Ram is the pudding and the recitation of the name of

Krishna brings the sweetness). In general on the Upavasam date such

as Ekadasi, the worshipers keep repeating the names of their

Ishtadevatas.

 

It should be pointed out that fasting is quite common among all

across India irrespective of whether they are Vaishnavas or Shivaites

or Jainists or Buddhists or Muslims.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin, "Sunder Hattangadi" <sunderh>

wrote:

>

> advaitin, "adi_shakthi16"

<adi_shakthi16>

> wrote:>

>

> > There is another meaning-

> >

> > UPA MEANS 'GOING BACK' or retreat !

> >

> > VASA - MEANS TO LIVE OR LIFE!

>

> Namaste,

>

> Will you kindly give the source of this etymology?

Thanks.

>

> Regards,

>

> Sunder

[Guest guest]

sunder-ji!

 

i got this meaning from a Vaishnava source!

 

the common meaning of upavasa is 'residing near' the lord or sitting

in holy communion with lord

 

but this other meaning i obtained from

 

http://www.vnn.org/editorials/ET0108/ ET25-6871.html - 20k - Cached

 

and i thought that is an interesting explanation...

 

sorry, i could not respond earlier as i was busy cooking a big

diwali feast for daughter and her Fiance and other guests!!!

 

thanx for asking ! you always keep me on my toes!

 

love and regards

 

- advaitin, "Sunder Hattangadi" <sunderh>

wrote:

>

> advaitin, "adi_shakthi16"

<adi_shakthi16>

> wrote:>

>

> > There is another meaning-

> >

> > UPA MEANS 'GOING BACK' or retreat !

> >

> > VASA - MEANS TO LIVE OR LIFE!

>

> Namaste,

>

> Will you kindly give the source of this etymology?

Thanks.

>

> Regards,

>

> Sunder

[Guest guest]

Namaste Ramji,

 

I was not questioning the fasting ritual; I was

questioning the 'other meaning' of UPA = going back or retreat. It did

not fit the context at all.

 

In fact, Ekadashi is specially chosen because it is the

11th day of the lunar phase; the Moon is the Devata of the Mind, and

Mind is considered the 11th 'indriya' (organ). So the propitiation on

this day is specially conducive to the control of the Mind.

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <RamChandran@a...> wrote:

> Most probably, Adiji has got the interpretation from the Bhakti list

> archives. Sri Vijayaragavan's post there explains the significance of

> Ekadasi by the following:

> > > There is another meaning-

> > >

> > > UPA MEANS 'GOING BACK' or retreat !

> > >

> > > VASA - MEANS TO LIVE OR LIFE!

> >

> > Namaste,

> >

> > Will you kindly give the source of this etymology?

> Thanks.

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> > Sunder

[Guest guest]

Namaste Sunderji:

 

What you have raised is a valid question and the meaning doesn't fit

well in the Ekadesi context. The usages - upanayanam, upavasam and

upadesam, etc. are parallel and the 'upa' has quite similar

interpretations.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin, "Sunder Hattangadi" <sunderh>

wrote:

>

> Namaste Ramji,

>

> I was not questioning the fasting ritual; I was

> questioning the 'other meaning' of UPA = going back or retreat. It

did

> not fit the context at all.

[Guest guest]

Oh Ram-ji!

 

There is always a literal interpretation and a metaphysical

interpretation for a word!

 

The vainshnavites specially the Hare Krishnas like to interpret all

rituals in terms of GOING BACK TO GODHEAD ! and the author in the

article i mentioned was trying to preach that by keeping Fasts one

can overcome sins and go back to eternal life , THATS ALL!!! (

VAIKUNTA) SMILES!!!

 

And anyone who knows a little sanskrit knows that UPA stands for

*near*

 

one need not go to monier williams site to know the meaning of 'upa'

 

you write

 

"The usages - upanayanam, upavasam and upadesam, etc. are parallel

and the 'upa' has quite similar interpretations. "

 

may i add another important 'word' to your list!

 

YOU HAVE LEFT OUT "UPANISHADS" - something that advaitins should

never forget in any context! smiles!

 

what does upanishad mean? sitting near ! sitting near a sage , to be

precise!!!

 

There are maany words beginning with 'upa' not just the few you

mentioned! i will mention a few popular ones!

 

upa = near

 

upakaara = benefit

 

upachaaraH = (m) remedy, treatment

 

upadaanaM = (n) gratuity

 

upamaa = comparative

 

upayoga = use

 

upasarga = Prefix

 

upaasana =worship

 

so on and so on!

 

**********************************************************************

so, you see, Ramji , there are words and words beginning with upa!

 

the author was just trying to take poetic liberty with the word and

was using the word in a methaphysical context!!!

 

btw, Ram-ji, IT IS NOT JUST VAISHNAVITES WHO KEEP 'FASTS' -ladies

observe 'varalakshmi vratam' . IN NORTH INDIA, THEY OBSERVE 'KARVA

CHAUTH' wherein the women fast praying for the longevity of husbands.

 

You observed fasts are observed by jains, buddhists, hindus and

muslims etc! you have left out the Christians !!! smiles!

 

here is what the bible says on fasting ...

 

Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted

of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights,

he was afterward an hungred

 

Jesus (Matthew 4:1,2)

 

on a lighter note, the same word may have different meanings and

depends in which language it is used!

 

phalahaaram - 'phala' means fruit and 'ahaaram' means food

 

pala ahaaram- pala in tamil means 'many' or a variety and *ahaaram*

means food!

 

That is one reason why we kids used to love when our grandma

observed 'fasts' for my mother used to cook 'pala-ahaaram' ( varities

of food)

 

Here was some food for Thought! hope you can digest it!

 

ps - our nair-ji always loves to interpret everything in a

metaphysical way. did you see how he interpreted 'fasting' ! we all

can learn a lot from him.

[Guest guest]

>

> Fasting also helps you to avoid excessive sleeping and along with

the

> control of the 'appetite' , fasting also helps the spiritual

aspirant

> to control his 'sexual' appetite! This is one reason why spiritual

> aspirants are asked to observe 'fasting' once a week- to prepare

them

> mentally and physically for 'Saadhnaa'!

>

>

 

 

Dear all

 

Generally fasting means "fasting from all sense organs"..not only of

stomach...but to all sense organs by restraining from sleep, watching

movies, not hearing to gossips or going to movies!!!!

 

One is supposed to keep mounam ..mesaditate on BRAHMAN

 

Regards

Jayshree

[Guest guest]

Namaste Adiji:

 

Your response is quite 'fast' and thanks for filling up the blanks

with additional facts (three cheers!).

 

If we focus on the metaphysics, the purpose of fasting is to control

the most vibrant sensual thrust for 'food.' Swamiji Chinmayanandaji

used to make a humorous remark regarding our feeling 'hunger for

food.' Swamiji calls 'head' as the uttarpradesh (level of knowledge

in the head) and the 'stomach' as the madhyapradesh (level of food in

the stomach). Swamiji quite rightly observed the following behavior

of most of us: We seem to feel that our stomach is empty even when

it is full and the head is full even when it is empty! (smiles!) This

is our fundamental problem and Swamiji's humorous remarks should

server as the right medicine for all of us to recognize our

fundamental weekness and learn correct our tendencies. We too often

tend to jump into conclusions without contemplating on the importance

and significance of rituals such as 'fasting during Ekadesi or

Ramdaan or any Vrathams.'

 

It was nice that we could discuss the spiritual significance of

fasting with an open mind so that we could control our senses and

help purify the mind.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin, "adi_shakthi16" <adi_shakthi16>

wrote:

>

> Oh Ram-ji!

>

> There is always a literal interpretation and a metaphysical

> interpretation for a word!

[Guest guest]

Thank you Ram-ji for that Humorous interlude! God knows we need that

sense of humor in Washington these days! For, the last election was

the 'biggest' joke of this century ! smiles! i am still in tears over

the election outcome! my man Kerry lost!

 

on another note, i always enjoy reading Chinmayanandaji's commentary.

He had a great sense of humor.

 

and Ram-ji. WHAT ABOUT THE HEART? THAT IS VERILY THE HIMACHALA-

PRADESH?

 

It is in the Heart-lotus , that Siva and shakti perform their

celestial dance of mount kailash! when the heart is Full ( of divine

love for the divine couple) , that is Purnamidam ! But when the heart

is empty ( devoid of love), what is the use if the head is full ( of

jnana- mundane knowledge) or the stomach is full of ( sattwic food) !

 

anyday, i would prefer a Heart full of love than a head full of

knowledge ! smiles , again!

 

Happy Diwali

 

ps - thank you jayashree! yes, that is a good point - that is the way

sri ramana interprets it- fasting and mouna go hand in hand.

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <RamChandran@a...>

wrote:

>

> Namaste Adiji:

>

> Your response is quite 'fast' and thanks for filling up the blanks

> with additional facts (three cheers!).

>

> If we focus on the metaphysics, the purpose of fasting is to

control

> the most vibrant sensual thrust for 'food.' Swamiji Chinmayanandaji

> used to make a humorous remark regarding our feeling 'hunger for

> food.' Swamiji calls 'head' as the uttarpradesh (level of

knowledge

> in the head) and the 'stomach' as the madhyapradesh (level of food

in

> the stomach). Swamiji quite rightly observed the following behavior

> of most of us: We seem to feel that our stomach is empty even when

> it is full and the head is full even when it is empty! (smiles!)

This

> is our fundamental problem and Swamiji's humorous remarks should

> server as the right medicine for all of us to recognize our

> fundamental weekness and learn correct our tendencies.

[Guest guest]

Dear Ramachandran-Ji & Sunder-Ji:

 

One of the classic laxaNa for "upavaasa" probably throws some light

on the current discussion:

 

upaavR^ittasya paapebhyo yastu vaaso guNaiH saha |

upavaasaH sa vij~neyaH sarvabhogavivarjitaH ||

 

This would mean that going away from "paapa-karma" or/and leads for

going toward Godhead, which is all "sadguNa". The last

word "sarvabhogavivarjitaH" is extremely important.

 

For experimental scientists the classic expression is

 

"ERROR = - CORRECTION"

 

Regards,

 

Dr. Yadu

 

 

 

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <RamChandran@a...>

wrote:

>

> Namaste Adiji:

>

> Your response is quite 'fast' and thanks for filling up the blanks

> with additional facts (three cheers!).

>

> If we focus on the metaphysics, the purpose of fasting is to

control

> the most vibrant sensual thrust for 'food.>

> Ram Chandran

>

> advaitin, "adi_shakthi16"

<adi_shakthi16>

> wrote:

> >

> > Oh Ram-ji!

> >

> > There is always a literal interpretation and a metaphysical

> > interpretation for a word!

[Guest guest]

Namaste Dr. Yadu-ji,

 

Thanks for the clarification. The point is, one cannot

abbreviate the word 'upaavR^itta' to upa [a prefix to boot] and say it

has the same meaning, and calling it a metaphysical interpretation.

This would be metaphysical licence!

 

Regards,

 

Sunder

 

 

advaitin, "ymoharir" <ymoharir> wrote:

>

> Dear Ramachandran-Ji & Sunder-Ji:

>

> One of the classic laxaNa for "upavaasa" probably throws some light

> on the current discussion:

>

> upaavR^ittasya paapebhyo yastu vaaso guNaiH saha |

> upavaasaH sa vij~neyaH sarvabhogavivarjitaH ||

>

> This would mean that going away from "paapa-karma" or/and leads for

> going toward Godhead, which is all "sadguNa". The last

> word "sarvabhogavivarjitaH" is extremely important.

 

> > advaitin, "adi_shakthi16"

> <adi_shakthi16>

> > wrote:

> > >

> > > There is always a literal interpretation and a metaphysical

> > > interpretation for a word!