Science Of Life

Author(s): U S Dugar
Publisher: U S Dugar

Page 70

As the fast continues, the cleansing process becomes more thorough. During extended fasts the body removes: dead, dying and diseased cells; unwanted fatty tissue, trans-fatty acids, hardened coating of mucus on the intestinal wall; toxic waste matter in the lymphatic system and bloodstream; toxins in the spleen, liver and kidney; mucus from the lungs and sinuses, imbedded toxins in the cellular fibres and deeper organ tissues; deposits in the microscopic tubes responsible for nourishing brain cells and excess cholesterol. Fasting for 3 days can help us to know our natural requirement of food.
Fasting is not a method of causing pain to the body or the mind. The renounciation which does not bring forth joy is not renounciation at all. An ascetic is not an enemy of body unlike a glutton is fair-weather friend of body. The body put through the fire of penance is not vulnerable. Austerity is not suffering. It is transformation.Fasting is not to destroy the body, it is to destroy the demands. This is not the method of torture; it is the method of strengthening. Percept of penance is "I am not body." Soul and body are two separate entities. The soul is one's real identity. Body has entity different from soul. Giving pain to the body is hurting the other. Hurting the others is against the principles of non-violence. The practice of tolerance leads to the ability to distinguish the soul from the mind and body. Penance cannot have the overtones of causing pain to the body. It can only have the overtones of bearing pain. Penance is the way to get rid of pain. When the clasp of pain has to be broken, then it cannot also be invited simultaneously.
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