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PATHIOF LIBERATION
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(441) (1) Fasting, (2) eating less than one's normal diet, (3) begging for alns (4) giving up of delicacies. (5) mortification of body, (6) lonely residence-these are the external penances.
(442) He who voluntarily gives up food for a day or so, for purging the soul from Karmas practises the external penance of fasting.
(443) A monk who takes a little food for undertaking study of scriptures is said to be a tapasvi (i.e., one practising the penance), according to scriptures. The penance of fasting without scriptural study amounts only to starving.
(444) Fasting is penance when the person observing it does not entertain any inauspicious thoughts, when it does not result in bodily weakness, and when the activities of mind, speech and body remain unimpaired.
(445) A person should decide upon fasting after taking into consideration his physical strength, stamina,faith,state of health, place and time.
(446) In short, subjugation of senses is also described as fasting; therefore those who have conquered their senes, are said to be fasting, though they maybe taking food.
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