One, who earns leadership of the people by working ceaselessly for their welfare, finally realises that he has been rewarded with many added advantages.
Now you worship His Form, you repeat His name; ignoring His orders. Without practicing the discipline laid down by Rama to purify the mind, all else is mere show, empty rituals.
Fasting in the monastic community is considered an ascetic practice, a “dhutanga” practice. Dhutanga means “to shake up” or “invigoration”. The Buddha, as is well known, emphasized moderation, the Middle Way that avoids extremes, in all things. Fasting is an additional method that one can take up, with supervision, for a time.
Rain down your wisdom in sacred streams to carry me like an upturned leaf through the currents of this grey day.
