Words lead us to the doorway of truth, but only by contemplating their meaning can we pass through.
Power invariably elects to go into the hands of the strong. Strength may be physical, or of the heart or, if we do not fight shy of the word, of the spirit. Strength of the heart connotes soul-force. Let it be remembered that physical force is transitory. But the power of spirit is permanent even as the spirit is everlasting.
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.
