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.
A life without love is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.
The way to overcome the angry man is with gentleness, the evil man with goodness, the miser with generosity and the liar with truth.
The more willing you are to surrender to the energy within you, the more power can flow through you.
Your hills, O Earth, your snow-clad mountain peaks, your forests, may they show us kindliness… Impart to us vitalising forces that come, O Earth from deep within your body, your central point, your navel, purify us wholly.
