Neelesh Anant
New Delhi: Fasting brings us closer to self. Longer the fast period closer we are to ourselves. This is the reason fasting has got so much importance in Hinduism.
During Navratra, one of the most auspicious time in the Hindu calendar, millions of people observe fast. While many fast for a day breaking it in the evening, a lot of people prefer to be on bare minimum diet of fruit and milk for complete eight days.
On the 9th day people shift to their regular diet.
As body and mind slows down due to fasting and change in diet pattern, people do not react much to the external stimuli. Hence, most of the time the focus is inward. We get to observe our thinking patterns and also how breathing is closely related with them. Further, how mind functions, what controlling hunger means, how patience develops and what does it feel when one finds it difficult to keep patience and succumbing to the impulses.
Mind is the most powerful thing in the universe. During the fast, one gets to read his/her own mind and change it to achieve higher goals in life.
Fasting offers an opportunity to cleanse the body and mind. The quality of thought suddenly changes. The food that goes into the body changes the thought!! After a few days of bare minimum and pure vegetarian diet, one may read the link between food and thoughts in the mind.
During the fast, even the sense organs which are otherwise difficult to control become wise. They suddenly start setting their limits and refuse to go wild. The eyes no longer want to set sight on unnecessary things. The ears immediately identify what is music and what is noise. Tongue after a long while knows what not to eat. So, when your senses are wise you too are wise.
A non-vegetarian and spicy food produces altogether a different set of thoughts. Once one feels the difference he/she is willing to change from deep within. The determination is high and change is long lasting. It’s therefore important one observes fast. The occasion may be Navratra or any other suitable period.
Given that habit formation generally takes a minimum of 9-10 days, it is advisable to observe fast for a slightly longer period.
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