For those who may not find happiness to exercise religious faith, it’s okay to remain a radical atheist – it’s absolutely an individual right, but the important thing is with a compassionate heart – then no problem.
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.
Above the cloud with its shadow is the star with its light. Above all things reverence thyself.
You say: “He lost his life” or “my life”, as if life were something that you can possess or lose. The truth is: you don’t have a life, you are life. The One Life, the one consciousness that pervades the entire universe and takes temporary form to experience itself as a stone or blade of grass, as an animal, a person, a star or a galaxy.
Bright but hidden, the Self dwells in the heart. Everything that moves, breathes, opens, and closes Lives in the Self. Self is the source of love and may be known through love but not through thought. Attain this goal!
