Baba
Special science of fasting
Namaskar,I was blessed with the opportunity to attend Sadguru Baba’s darshan on a few occasions - one of which was in Patna during the year 1971. That was the unique occasion Baba clearly described why fasting is so important for our human progress and how fasting counteracts the negative effects of the celestial bodies during certain lunar days, or tithis.
Part 1: upward pull by celestial bodies
In this darshan, Baba begins by telling that due to the pull or attraction of certain celestial bodies like the moon and the sun, the liquid portion of the earth rises. Baba details how the tides of the ocean and sea levels are affected by the pull of the moon on particular lunar days: ekadhashii, or the 11th lunar day, pu'rn'ima', and amavasya.
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(Note: Modern day sciences of geology and physics have verified this fact. The earth's oceans and tides are primarily affected by the moon etc and can result in tidal waves and other dangerous conditions.)
Then Baba began to systematically explain how even the liquid section in our human body gets affected on these lunar days (tithis). Because the liquid portion rises up and disturbs the regular functioning of the brain and other primary organs in the upper regions of the body. One's thinking and sadhana are adversely affected on these days.
(Note: Our bodies are 60% to 65% water / fluid, so when the liquid portion of the body is disturbed, the effect is quite dramatic and can even make people act in a grossly imbalanced and even crazy manner. That is why the term lunacy (meaning crazy or psychotic) stems from the root ‘luna’ meaning moon. Due to the effect of the moon, people lose their mental balance. This is also recognised in the common society.)
Part 2: effect on the cakras
In the next sequence, Baba details the effects on the cakras. Because when the liquid portion rises up then the upper cakras are hampered. Under normal conditions, the vishuddha cakra (5th cakra), ajina cakra (6th cakra), and the sahasra'ra cakra (7th cakra) are purely for subtle and sentient pursuits. These cakras are primarily sattvika or sentient.
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The manipura cakra (3rd cakra) to anaha'ta cakra (4th cakra) deal with both higher and lower works, both spiritual and physical activities. Baba has classified these as being ra'jasik, a mixture of crude and subtle. Then the two lower cakras - muladhara (1st cakra) and svadhisthana (2nd cakra) - generally deal with baser activities, as they are ta'masik in nature. But, as we all know, certain crude works need to be attended to in this life, so those lower cakras also have their purpose.
That is how Baba described it in this darshan. Now here comes the key point: On certain lunar days - tithis - like ekadashii, or the 11th lunar day, pu'rn'ima' (full moon), and amavasya (new moon), the liquid portion of the body rises up and disturbs the functioning of the upper cakras - i.e. the ra'jasik and sentient cakras. That means the manipur cakra all the way up to the sahasra'ra cakra are adversely affected.
(Note: Baba also differentiates between lunar days known as tithis and solar days known as din in Sanskrit. And it is these lunar days or tithis which create this disturbance in the body.)
On those aforementioned lunar days or tithis (ekadashii, purnima & amavasya), due to the adverse effect of the moon's pull and the ensuing rise of the liquid portion of the human body, those higher cakras cannot function normally. In turn, our entire existence is negatively affected. Our regular and higher functioning of mind becomes impaired.
Part 3: how yogis addressed this problem
The ancient yogis - being practical scientists and researchers - knew well that the upper cakras could not carry out their normal manner of functioning on those tithis, so they came up with a solution. And that solution was: fasting.
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Next, Baba revealed one very interesting idea. He told us that when one fasts, a vacuum is created in the stomach - because there is neither water nor food in the belly - and that vacuum pulls the liquid back down. That brings relief to our entire system on these lunar days. In that case, when fasting during those lunar days like ekadashii, the higher organs are no longer hampered by the liquids which would normally rise up on those lunar days. Hence, the lungs, heart, thyroid, brain etc can function normally.
That is the great benefit to the physical and mental body during fasting days. Baba also then gave proof of this theory. He told that those suffering from arthritis and gout will experience worse conditions during ekadashii and other tithis. They will not experience any remission on these days. Because the liquid portions of the body rises up and creates problems for such patients. So for all these reasons and more, fasting is a necessity for human health and vitality.
Part 4: our practice in Ananda Marga
Then in a very sweet manner Baba began to discuss the fasting system in Ananda Marga. He explained that our fasting days occur on the following tithis: eleventh moon (ekadashii), full moon (purnima), and new moon (amavasya).
And He told how He did not prescribe four fastings to family people - just two, i.e. the two fasting days of ekadashii. That will help them greatly in their physical and spiritual life. Whereas, Wts are required to do four fastings as they need to engage in more spiritual activities.
Finally, Baba added that all family people are welcome to fast 4 times each month, but for them it is not a requirement. Should any family person adopt the practice of fasting on purnima and amavasya, then they will not be questioned in any way. If they desire, they may freely do the four fastings.
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Part 5: upa'vasa not anashana
Baba then clarified that our fasting days are more than just days where we refrain from taking food. Not eating is known as anashana in Samskrta. But that is not our approach. We call our fasting days as upa'va'sa. Then Baba explained the meaning several times using various examples and definitions from the realm of linguistics, and we all repeated and replied.
Upa' means "near", and va'sa means "sitting". Hence upa'va'sa means to sit or reside or live near the Lord. Following is a quote from one of Baba's published discourses on upa'vas'sa.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "Upa” is a Sam'skrta prefix. In Sam'skrta there are twenty recognized prefixes, and one of these prefixes is “upa”. “Upa” means “proximity”. And “Va'sa” means “to live”, “to reside”. The word “upava'sa” means then, “to live near the Lord”. “Upava'sa” – on these days of fasting, what are all spiritual aspirants to do? Mentally they should live near their Lord. On all other days they are to remain balanced between objective adjustment and subjective approach. On these days of fasting, however, on these days of upava'sa, one remains in closer proximity to the Lord than to one’s mundane duties. That is why these days are known as “upava'sa”. The word “fasting” does not represent the proper sense or proper spirit. The Sam'skrta term for going without food is “anashana” – “ana” means not, “ashana” means eating – not “upava'sa”. But these eka'dashii, amavasya and pu'rn'ima' days are days of upava'sa." (1)
The above passage was given in a discourse from 1978. It nicely complements what Baba told us that day in 1971 about upa'va'sa so I have included it here. During fasting, one may encounter difficulty in doing intense physical labour on that day. Some people may not experience any hardship, but for others doing arduous physical tasks may be beyond their reach. It varies from person to person.
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In that case, on upa'vasa', one should engage in more intellectual and spiritual pursuits, and less in physical duties. One should goad the mind toward higher echelons of philosophy, ideology, and spiritual life. On these days, one should sit near Parama Purusa. Thus our fasting days are not just anashana (not eating), but upavasa as we are to pursue maximally in the spiritual realm and remain with the Lord.
Conclusion
Two key points from this unique darshan are:
- (1) A main function of fasting is to free the upper cakras from the negative effects of liquids rising up in the human body during certain lunar days.
- (2) The operative factor is that a vacuum is created in the stomach due to a dearth of food and water and that vacuum pulls those liquids downward.
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Namaskar,
in Him,
Suresh
~ In-depth study ~
More benefits of fasting
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "On and around the times of new and full moon, one may observe that the gaseous and aqueous factors in the body rise up into the head and chest, creating an uncomfortable feeling. Therefore, if a person does not take food at these times, these factors will be drawn down from the higher portions of the body to the lower portions, thereby alleviating the uncomfortable feeling." (2)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "You should not depend on food too much. This is why I have prescribed fasting on four days a month for some people and two days a month for others, and personally I have proved by fasting for five years and ... months at a stretch that if people try, they can remain without food. If one's dependence on food decreases, one will gain more freedom in a particular aspect of life." (3)
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 6, Upavása
2. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Fasting
3. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, In Kali Yuga, Strength Lies in an Organized Body
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The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
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== Section: Important Teaching ==
Human duty: propagate dharma
Ananda Marga ideology says, "It is the duty of every sa'dhaka to propagate dharma so that humans will not make a mistake but will follow the path of spirituality. Humans are endowed with intellect and the faculty of judgment. So if they do not act properly or fail to follow the path of spirituality, they are no better than animals."
"Even though human beings may not be very highly evolved, there is the potential in them to attain the height of evolution. Those who utilize this potential are intelligent but those who do not, and live like animals, will be born as even more inferior creatures in the next life. Animals have no intellect and therefore cannot work intellectually. Humans, however, are already endowed with intellect and the faculty of judgment. So if they do not act properly or fail to follow the path of spirituality, they are no better than animals. It is therefore the duty of every sádhaka to propagate dharma so that humans will not make this mistake but will follow the path of spirituality." (1)
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 4, The Three Stages of Spiritual Progress, Kolkata, 6th November, 1978
== Section: Important Teaching ==
How capitalists are anti-dharma
Prout philosophy states, "In a joint family every member is provided with adequate food, clothing, education and medical treatment, and amenities, as per their individual needs, according to the financial capacity of the entire family. If, however, any member of the family appropriates more grains, clothes, books or medicines than he or she requires, will that person not be the cause of distress to other members of the family? In such circumstances his or her actions will be certainly against dharma – certainly antisocial."
"Similarly, the capitalists of this modern world are anti-dharma, or antisocial, creatures. To accumulate massive wealth, they reduce others to skin and bones gnawed by hunger and force them to die of starvation; to dazzle people with the glamour of their garments, they compel others to wear rags; and to increase their own vital strength, they suck dry the vital juice of others." (1)
Reference
1. Problems of the Day #1
== Section 3: Links ==