________________
202
Aptavani-4
with shuddha upayog (pure applied awareness) it will generate an entire year's worth of shuddha upayog for him. For fasting, you have to 'lock up' (no eating or drinking) on the night before. Before going to bed, you have to make a firm decision that you are going to fast with pure awareness the following day. After giving you my agna (special directive), you will maintain the awareness of, 'I am pure Soul and you will also be able to remain in the Five Agnas. In this way, if you can, put a lock on your mouth for thirty-six hours, you will attain awareness for a whole year. And the Lord has also said that if you have not attained Gnan and you fast, you will reap the benefit of staying hungry; if you have a fever, you will feel better. So many people fast, just to get on a procession carriage (celebrating the effort and courage of those who have fasted).
For crying out loud! Why are you bothering to fast when all your ribs are showing? It is only good for someone who is fat. The fasting that the Lord spoke of is not wrong. In fact, it is very beautiful, but who was it meant for? If you fast with the awareness as the Self that I have given You, You will indeed reap the benefits that the Lord has spoken of.
Fasting was recommended for the bygone people who enjoyed pure fresh milk in the morning and pure ghee (clarified butter) at mealtimes. Their grain was not rationed, their ghee was ample and everything they ate was unadulterated, unlike today's food. The wretched mortals today are already starving, so why would they want to fast? Is there even any strength in them? You can even see their ribs! It is okay to do two or three fasts.
Dada's Way of Fasting Questioner: How many times did you fast in order to become a Gnani?
Dadashri: To tell the truth, I have not fasted even once. I am always doing unodari tapa (the penance of eating less than
