Observing Rituals of Space
Fasting
Space for the mind.
While doing fasting keep observing the mind and how thoughts arise and
what sort of the thoughts play havoc in the mind. This observing
attitude is a good exercise to bring back the wandering mind.
While doing Pranayama the focus of the mind is on the breath and so
the wandering of the mind is significantly reduced. Similar focus
happens in fasting because the mind tends to focus on food. When the
mind is focused on a particular object, it is very easy to observe the
mind. This is the secret of fasting which helps to heal the mind apart
from imparting cleansing benefits to the body.
Similarly like food fasting one can do abstinence from other aspects
that we have mentioned earlier. Please be again clear that abstinence
is not a punishment or torture to the mind or body. Through abstinence
we are exercising control over the mind.
Observing rituals is only for observing the mind
Though observing rituals are helps to watch our own weakness of the
mind, it does benefit the body also. It gives the opportunity to
repair the body tissues and keep the vital substances of the body
(hormones, enzymes etc) in proper balance.
We have discussed about space food fasting which is abstinence of food
for a small period of time. In Vedic traditions in the name of
festivals which falls in different times of the calendar year, these
rituals are observed. It has helped people to stay physically
and mentally healthy. If some one misses to observe one of these mind
and body cleansing in one season , they will catch up that in the
festival of other season.
The greatness of Vedic tradition is that it is very flexible. People
who cannot abstain from food also can obtain similar benefits by the
choice of the rituals. Please
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to read
an interesting mind body cleansing that is observed for centuries
especially in kerala, the southern state of India.
One of the powerful ritual fasting is to observe by abstinence of
salt.
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