Science Of Life

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

Page 71

Fasting does affect the body but it helps fully the development of the inner capabilities. One must go through it as a cleansing, as a purity, as a catharsis, as a change, as a mutation. Fasting combines health consciousness along with rituals. After meal one feels drowsy and fasting gives opposite result. The body uses quite a bit of energy to digest food, and when fasting this energy becomes available for other uses. Energy is limited. Either you use it in digestion of food or mental development.
There is an unwarranted fear of fasting that strength diminishes from the catabolism of proteins from muscle fibres. Although protein is being used by the body during the fast, a person fasting even 40 days on water will not suffer a deficiency of protein, vitamins, minerals or fatty acids. Some negative health consequences have been observed as a result of fasting practices, however, especially those carried out over longer periods. For example, excess acids can build up in the digestive system during a prolonged fast. The gastric acidity results in a sour taste in the mouth, a burning in the stomach, and other symptoms of illness. To bring about a balance between a person's energy and his inner capabilities, fasting is advised till the mind is healthy and happy. If the mind is not pure then even the fasting is not. Fasting is neither an ordeal nor a penance, if penance is unnatural it is suffering. It makes body unhealthy. It is not wholesome. As per Jain texts, “A person should practice fasting only after taking into consideration his physical strength, prowess, devotion, state of health and the knowledge of time and place."
Fasting is the simplest, easiest and most effective way to find out that man does indeed have the power
74