Fasting For Lent

[bluenote492000]

So is anyone fasting or abstaining for Lent?

[Jenny]

Fasting in the sense of eating only one meal per day? No, I can't.
But I do abstain from certain things like alcohol, meat etc on Fridays.

[snowbird]

At one time is was the practice to do some form of abstinence during lent as a form of 'self denial'.
Recently people have been encouraged instead, to 'do some act of charity', in other words, instead of focusing on self, try to focus on someone less fortunate. One way would be say ..... instead of eating a full meal, give the equivalent of that meal to someone who doesn't have any.

[brag]

When we fast, we keep the mind away from evil thoughts, the tongue from evil or harmful words and the body from wrong or thoughtless actions. The sacrifice must be for coordinating thoughts, words and deeds that reflect doing unto others what we would have them do unto us. Yes, fasting is a great discipline for turning the mind around in the direction of helping the poor. The savings from fasting is intended to help the poor and neeedy.

[Scorpio]

No Alcohol.

[brag]

Here is another point of view on fasting for those who need reassurance that food fasting is not necessary.
http://www.shirdi-sai-baba.com/sai-satcharitra32.html

"Baba never fasted Himself, nor did He allow others to do so. The mind of the faster is never at ease, then how could he attain his Paramartha (goal of life)? God is not attained on an empty stomach; first the soul has to be appeased. If there is no moisture of food in the stomach and nutrition, with what eyes should we see God, with what tongue should we describe His greatness and with what ears should we hear the same? In short, when all our organs get their proper nutrition and are sound, we can practise devotion and other sadhanas to attain God. Therefore, neither fasting nor overeating is good. Moderation in diet is really wholesome both to the body and mind."

Sathya Sai Baba also does not recommend food fasting as he says that real fasting must be from negative thoughts, words and deeds, and it not should not involve starving the body.

[Falcon]

So brag,
how does this tie-in with the people who never eat for umpteen years?

I can't agree with that: the way I see it, you have to bring your body under control before you can truly contemplate things above....I can't see satisfying the flesh, then dealing with God things, as being prioritised.

Of course just my view.

[brag]

Hey Falcon, do you have the ability to know what I am writing before I finish writing it? Are you omniscient? I just wrote this piece and before I could reread and edit it you comment was on the board. What is going on here?

[brag]

For those people who do not eat and survive without food for years, it was not about fasting or contorting the body without food. I don't know what it is but it could be another aspect of the functioning of nature.