Fasting
FastingSubscribe |
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Sat, 01/06/2007 - 16:51
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humble
Join Date: 2006-07-21 Forum Posts: 26 |
Hi everyone,I have a question about fasting. I want to know what is the gnostic view. I've only came across not eating meat especially pork and that is about the only restriction that I've found on this web. What about fasting for days or weeks and also fasting on particular days as it is found in many religions. I went on wikipedia and found that: "Fasting for religious and spiritual reasons has been a part of human custom since pre-history. It is mentioned in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testament, in the Mahabharata, in the Upanishads and in the Qur'an."Because Gnosticism has some connection with Christianity I just thought I'll copy the info for the biblical acounts for fasting from wikipedia:Biblical accounts of fasting-Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights while he was on the mountain with God. (Ex 34:28) -King David fasted when the son of his adulterous union with Bathsheba was struck sick by God, in punishment for the adultery and for David's murder of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite. Nevertheless, the son died, upon which David broke his fast (2 Samuel 12:15-25). -King Jehosaphat proclaimed a fast throughout Judah for victory over the Moabites and Ammonites who were attacking them (2 Chronicles 20:3). -The prophet Isaiah chastised the Israelites in Isaiah 58 for the unrighteous methods and motives of their fasting. He clarified some of the best reasons for fasting and listed both physical and spiritual benefits that would result.[1] -The prophet Joel called for a fast to avert the judgement of God. -The people of Nineveh in response to Jonah's prophecy, fasted to avert the judgement of God (Jonah 3:7). -The Pharisees in Jesus' time fasted regularly, and asked Jesus why his disciples did not. Jesus answered them using a parable (Luke 5:33-39). J-esus also warned against fasting to gain favor from men. He warned his followers that they should fast in private, not letting others know they were fasting (Matthew 6:16?18). -Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights while in the wilderness, prior to the three temptations (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:2). J-esus said : Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:21) -And he (Jesus) said unto them (disciples), This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Mark 9:29) -The prophetess Anna, who proclaimed the birth of Jesus in the Temple, fasted regularly (Luke 2:37). -There are indications in the New Testament as well as from the Apocryphal Didache that members of the early Christian Church fasted regularly.So do the gnostics recognise fasting or the fasting is a symbology in some way?It is starnge that the fasting is accepted by many religions, but still it is different in the periods of fasting, the timing and the days.Thank you,Monika |
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Moderator
Join Date: 2003-11-20
Forum Posts: 95
Fasting as cited in many of the quotes you posted, does not necessarily mean depriving one's self of physical food. Especially in the case of the Gospels, fasting can relate to the act of denying 'food' to the ego.
If we are attentive when a provoking situation happens, we can sometimes spot the precise moment when an ego of anger, for example, wants to come in and feed from our energies by getting into the emotions, the mind, the movements so that we react to the situation in a bad way. If we fight against letting the ego come into those various centers of our body through staying aware and with willpower, then we prevent the ego from feeding itself and getting stronger. If we continue to 'fast' from anger in this way, it gets weaker and weaker until it can eventually be destroyed with the technique for eliminating egos.
As for fasting from physical food, I don't know much about that. I've heard it has its benefits for cleansing the body periodically, but there are other ways to do that as well. Personally speaking, I am at my best with awareness and in my practices when my body is well taken care of in a balanced way.
There is nothing given in the courses that recommends fasting. So that indicates that the author got to the level of which he is at without fasting from physical food.
Regards,
Michael
Join Date: 2004-05-28
Forum Posts: 993
anyways. peace
Join Date: 2004-05-28
Forum Posts: 993
Join Date: 2004-11-30
Forum Posts: 2909
Me too, I find that fasting sometimes can be good to clean the body from toxins we accumulate during our lives. To restore the balance.
However it's really hard to do it, keeping up the same level of spiritual work. For example in my experiences it's not easy to sleep, if I fasten, and do a good astral practice.
I think that different times for it can be explained by uniqueness of locations, using nature cycles, planet influences etc. However none of it is taught in Gnostic Web, having straight focus on optimal way to Liberation.
Fasting has a great esoteric symbology too, like Michael explained.
Starving the egos.
All the best!
Join Date: 2006-07-21
Forum Posts: 26
The esoteric symbology makes sense when you think about it. So does that mean that Jesus or Moses or whoever it is said in the Bible that have fasted haven't really fasted from actual food but fasted from egos?
That would mean that the Bible was misinterpereted as many of the things in the Bible are, but than what about all the other ones like the Mahabharata, in the Upanishads and in the Qur'an? Also that as it was mentioned that fasting was a thing that was practised before pre history. I guess that there a lot of unclear things for fasting as much as for other spiritual things.
One must investigate fully and in depth to find out the truth.
With the symbology thing it is a bit tricky because different people would interpret a particular sentence or symbol or picure differently and that is probably one of the reasons that there are so many religions and sects.
I am all confused with the different practises that different religions offer in our times as well as in ancient. ??? I feel like I would never find out the answers.
Warm Regards,
Monika
Join Date: 2005-01-26
Forum Posts: 1043
Guatama (Buddah) even gave up fasting because he realized it didn't do anything.
Join Date:
Forum Posts: 668
On the contrary. Fasting is done to induce altered states of consciousness for conjuration of spirits or elementals, or for astral projection into the spheres and pathways (or shells and tunnels if you walk the path of da'ath). That is the real reason for fasting, and there are other ways of altering your state, but fasting is the fool-proof way. After a few days of fasting, you automatically go in and out of altered state.
Fasting for body cleansing is better done with water diets. That is not the reason to fast.