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.
There is no feeling, except the extremes of fear and grief, that does not find relief in music.
-George Eliot
No matter how much ever your brain understands, ultimately it is the "mind"
that needs to be transformed. Because of wrong decisions being taken in an
enraged state of mind, the brain may decide n-number of times not to get angry
again, yet, as soon as there is an inkling of anger in the mind, you will invariably
end up being angry.
-Deep Trivedi
Ester asked why people are sad.
“That’s simple,” says the old man. “They are the prisoners of their personal history. Everyone believes that the main aim in life is to follow a plan. They never ask if that plan is theirs or if it was created by another person. They accumulate experiences, memories, things, other people's ideas, and it is more than they can possibly cope with. And that is why they forget their dreams.”
-Paulo Coelho
What are the traits of an awakened person? First, his comings and goings are
only as per his wish. Second, no reason of the outside world can influence him
and third, whatever he is once determined to do, he breathes only when it is
brought to fruition.
-Deep Trivedi
You may control a mad elephant; You may shut the mouth of the bear and the tiger; Ride the lion and play with the cobra; By alchemy you may earn your livelihood; You may wander through the universe incognito; Make vassals of the gods; be ever youthful; You may walk on water and live in fire; But control of the mind is better and more difficult.
