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.
This deep self-confidence, uncompromising quest for Truth is a lesson for all of us.
Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it…
Compassion is fellow feeling or sorrow for the sufferings of another. Compassion opens the door for freedom and expands the heart. It melts the hardened and makes people as soft as butter.
Without faith there is no knowledge, without knowledge there is no virtuous conduct, without virtues there is no deliverance, and without deliverance there is no perfection.
