________________
Aptavani-4
207
Dadashri: It was not just fasting. They did so many other things.
Food in itself is an intoxicant. Regardless of the kind of food it is, it is intoxicating and people take pleasure in its intoxication. Through fasting, the intoxication is reduced. But if fasting does not support one's awareness, then it would be futile. All it does is keep the body healthy, and perhaps clears the mind a little, and that is about it. But later on, the person may not be able to stay awake so he falls asleep. Sooner or later he will have to eat, will he not? However, once you are fully aware (jagrut) it does not matter whether you eat and drink. Once his ‘eyes are opened' eating and drinking will not get in the way. You have to take in whatever food that suits you. If the 'food' of penance appeals to you, then you should take it, and if it does not appeal to you, then don't. Even penance (tapa) is food. Nevertheless, if you have indigestion, then you should fast. There is no connection between God and food. Why would the Atma (Self) need to fast? People fast and say that they are doing it for their Atma. And the Atma says, how are you obliging me by doing this? So if you feel like undertaking the penance, then you should go ahead with it.
Is There Liberation Through Fasting?
Every day you keep feeding this body, so if you did not give it anything to eat for just a day, it would stay clean, your mind would stay well and all in all, everything would be healthy; therefore, fasting is not detrimental. But all this is really not necessary for those who wish to go to moksha. Fasting does play a helpful role, but one should not become too obsessed with it. If you want to attain moksha, then all you need to know is: “Am I bound or not?', 'How was this bondage created?', and 'How can I break free from this bondage?' You should know the answers to these.
The way to break the bondage is to ask someone who
