You have crossed the great ocean; why do you halt so near the shore? Make haste to get on the other side, Gautama; be careful all the while!
An ignorant man committing evil deeds does not realise the consequences. The imprudent man is consumed by his own deeds, like one burnt by fire.
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.
I wish to make a special appeal to mothers to take up the sacred responsibility of keeping the lamp of sangita (music) burning bright in their homes and to instill a love for good music in their children from a tender age.
