Soul Sustenance

Enhancing Your Will Power Through Fasting 

Fasting Strengthens Our Will Power And Enhances Self Discipline Which Helps In Soul Cleansing. 

Almost all faiths and traditions advocate fasting as a tool to spiritual upliftment. Most of us today find ourselves saying that we cannot live without mobiles, the internet, a car, an AC, coffee, etc. At such times, the days of fasting make us aware of our own strength and will power which we are not using. Fasting creates a disciplined regime and self control which takes us on a path of higher consciousness. The discipline of fasting teaches us that once we create a determined thought, nothing is impossible. As we practice fasting on a physical level, we can also do it on a mental level. It is only a decision. We can decide that for a few days we will choose peace instead of anger, in every situation. 

In every faith, the fast is not just purely for a few minutes or hours but for weeks or even a month or more, because it takes time to realize, appreciate and sustain changes at a deep-rooted level. During any fast it is important to give attention to intention. Are we doing it because our religion says we must do it; everyone is doing it so we must do it; have been doing it every year; to appease God; if we don't do it we will be punished... If it is any of these or similar intentions, then pause and consciously change the intention to a higher purpose. We do it so that it gives us the strength to connect to God, and to clean our self of our weaknesses of ego, anger, greed, jealousy and pain. Let us choose onesanskar of ours today, and let us make a firm resolve that for a few days we will abstain from it - irritation, criticism, anger... and use instead asanskar of patience, appreciation, love. If we are holding any hurt or animosity, now is the time, create one powerful thought - Past is Passed, it's over. Forgiveness is the message of every religion, so let us follow religion. All religions teach love and unity, so let go of every negative thought. Let us not just cleanse our body, but cleanse the mind also. Religion gave us the tradition of fasting, so that it comes as a reminder for us to take out time for soul cleansing. This is the message that Ramadan or Ramzaan, which has just got over, conveys.