It is inevitable that a tragedy should arouse sorrowful feelings. Still, out of that sorrow itself comes a feeling of triumph – the victory of the human will over the most adverse circumstances. And thus out of sorrow and defeat come joy and victory.
Self-inquiry is the process and the goal also. ‘I am’ is the goal and the final reality. To hold to it with effort is self-inquiry. When spontaneous and natural it is realisation.
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.
