Spiritual: March 10, 2021 Issue [#10656] |
This week: Fasting Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating More Newsletters By This Editor
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"...For this material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God."
‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, #35
"Fasting and prayer are common injunctions in my religion."
Mahatma Gandhi
" Fasting is, first and foremost, an exercise for identifying and managing adversity in all its forms. With faith, in full conscience, fasting calls women and men to an extra degree of self-awareness."
Tariq Ramadan
"Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful."
Joseph B. Wirthlin
"Meditation is a spiritual human activity like mourning, fasting, or praying, and is not limited to one religious group while remaining unavailable to others."
David Brazzeal
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ASIN: B01MQP5740 |
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Fasting is a common practice in all religions. The followers of some religions practice it on an individual basis and at different times of the year. In other religions, the founders of those religions gave specific instructions on when and how it is practiced. In the Baha'i Faith, the Fast occurs for nineteen days in March. During this time, Baha'is--who are over the age of maturity, under the age of 70, and in good health--abstain from food and drink between sunup and sundown.
During the nineteen-day Fast, like all spiritual fasts, Baha'is pray and meditate instead of consuming food and liquid. Prayer and meditation cleanses the soul, while abstaining from foods has a cleansing effect on the body. However, it is the spiritual benefits of fasting that the individuals, who practice this spiritual discipline are most concerned with. The physical benefits, which have been proven scientifically, are usually not considered by the individual believer.
There are several benefits of intermittent fasting. Some of these are (1) weight lose, (2) changes in the way certain hormones, cells, and genes function, (3) lowering the risk of certain diseases, and (4) assist in some of the cellular repair processes. These are only a few of the physical benefits of fasting, To find more about the physical benefits, do an internet search for "benefits of intermittent fasting."
Some of the spiritual benefits are (1) detachment, (2) a closer relationship with God, and (3) spiritual renewal. It doesn't matter what your religion, because these benefits are innate to the fasting process. In order to receive these spiritual benefits you need only to pray and meditate while you are fasting. Baha'i's have several prayers specifically revealed for the nineteen-day fast. I know from experience, that these prayers assist the individual during the fasting process.
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Excerpt: Recently I was fortunate enough to quit smoking cigarettes. I started when I was eighteen. Always a pack a day of Marlboro reds. This past December, 2012, I turned thirty-seven on the eleventh. Ten days later on the twenty-first, that date the Mayan calendar ended, I smoked my last cigarette. Nineteen years is a long time to throw away good money on a vice that has no discernible benefit.
Excerpt: The fast with a wow of hunger pang
removed the ease from Belly, Inc.,
and sudden waves of dizziness
appeared to interfere with think.
Excerpt: Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar (this is the lunar calendar). All Muslims are commanded to fast during this month.
| | Ramadan (E) Here's my thoughts on why I fast and what it feels like. #1468959 by SasaShehu |
Excerpt: That rumble in my stomach
That pain of thirst
My body saying: “Just one bite.”
“Surely it won’t hurt”.
Excerpt: You’re not hungry, you’re thirsty
| | Amen (E) Feel like you have lost your way? You're never alone. #764829 by 👼intuey |
excerpt:The winds are blowing gently,
soft and silky through the trees,
as I kneel to pray upon my knees.
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