we're halfways through the month of fasting, and a bit later than expected, I'll try and write some of my thoughts. I'll start of with a few quotations:
"Verily I say, there is a great station before God for fasting and prayer..."
"Besides all this, prayer and fasting are the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests."
Fasting and obligatory prayer constitute the two pillars that sustain the revealed Law of God.
"In the realm of worship, fasting and obligatory prayer constitute the two mightiest pillars of God's holy Law."
"Obligatory prayer and fasting are among the most great ordinances of this holy Dispensation."
the Fast of course has its physical aspect in the fact that one doesn't eat between sunrise and sunset for a Bahá'í month, 19 days. since the Fast occurs just before the spring/autumn equinox (northern/southern hemisphere), the time to fast is never absurdly long or short. for those who live for example of the polar circle where the sun is up for a very long time, they go by the clock, from 6-18. the others follow the sun, which means that the non-eating time averages somewhere around 11h or so.
some say that fasting has physical benefits to the body, such as cleansing the body of toxins, healing it, and also having an effect on lifespan (source). others claim that fasting has negative effects on the body, even though it seems to be in regard to total fast, ie not drinking or eating for a prolonged period. and we also know that we would never be ordinanced something that would be unhealthy to us.
however, as the quotations above state, the main aspect of fasting is of course spiritual. it is a time for prayer and meditation, of thought and reflection. oftentimes, the period of fasting is followed by some sort of change in personality and lifestyle, as it gives the opportunity and time to do some other things instead of all the time focusing on food. and if not, it is at least a reminder to us as to what is most important in our life, in regards to the physical versus spiritual aspects of our life.
to me, the not eating part isn't all that difficult. I'm used to skipping lunch every now and then, and now I am also mentally and spiritually prepared for it. what I find more difficult is to get the time and energy for reflection and meditation. usually my eating-time just goes to something else. that's something I need to improve a bit more on. and naturally, I do get a bit more tired at the end of the working day due to lack of energy, and I also miss the natural breaks. lunch and fruit breaks are good in the sense that they force you away from the computer, which gives a bit of rest for the eye and mind.
all in all, I like the period of fasting. it usually is a calm month, which also gives many opportunities for dinners with friends, to break the fast together. it also is the period right before spring comes, and the day gets lighter and lighter. and then of course, we can always hope that God accepts it :)
"Verily I say, there is a great station before God for fasting and prayer..."
"Besides all this, prayer and fasting are the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests."
Fasting and obligatory prayer constitute the two pillars that sustain the revealed Law of God.
"In the realm of worship, fasting and obligatory prayer constitute the two mightiest pillars of God's holy Law."
"Obligatory prayer and fasting are among the most great ordinances of this holy Dispensation."
the Fast of course has its physical aspect in the fact that one doesn't eat between sunrise and sunset for a Bahá'í month, 19 days. since the Fast occurs just before the spring/autumn equinox (northern/southern hemisphere), the time to fast is never absurdly long or short. for those who live for example of the polar circle where the sun is up for a very long time, they go by the clock, from 6-18. the others follow the sun, which means that the non-eating time averages somewhere around 11h or so.
some say that fasting has physical benefits to the body, such as cleansing the body of toxins, healing it, and also having an effect on lifespan (source). others claim that fasting has negative effects on the body, even though it seems to be in regard to total fast, ie not drinking or eating for a prolonged period. and we also know that we would never be ordinanced something that would be unhealthy to us.
however, as the quotations above state, the main aspect of fasting is of course spiritual. it is a time for prayer and meditation, of thought and reflection. oftentimes, the period of fasting is followed by some sort of change in personality and lifestyle, as it gives the opportunity and time to do some other things instead of all the time focusing on food. and if not, it is at least a reminder to us as to what is most important in our life, in regards to the physical versus spiritual aspects of our life.
to me, the not eating part isn't all that difficult. I'm used to skipping lunch every now and then, and now I am also mentally and spiritually prepared for it. what I find more difficult is to get the time and energy for reflection and meditation. usually my eating-time just goes to something else. that's something I need to improve a bit more on. and naturally, I do get a bit more tired at the end of the working day due to lack of energy, and I also miss the natural breaks. lunch and fruit breaks are good in the sense that they force you away from the computer, which gives a bit of rest for the eye and mind.
all in all, I like the period of fasting. it usually is a calm month, which also gives many opportunities for dinners with friends, to break the fast together. it also is the period right before spring comes, and the day gets lighter and lighter. and then of course, we can always hope that God accepts it :)
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