Scientific Secrets of Jainism

Author(s): Nandighoshvijay
Publisher: Research Institute of Scientific Secrets from Indian Oriental Scriptures Ahmedabad

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Advantages And Secrets Of Penance : The Scientific View-point
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mucus and gas produced in the body are controlled or thrown out and the body is purified. Some people vomit bile on the second or third day of fasting. Really speaking, the surplus bile in the body is vomitted out and the body feels relief. During a fast only boiled water is taken and therefore, the surplus faeces is excerted. Since they get no food, worms ec. themselves go
And if there is mucus accumulation, it is removed. Since surplus bile and surplus mucus go out of the body, gas, bile and mucus are balanced. There
re, at least a one day fast should be observed in a fortnight or in amonth. That is why scripturists have mentioned a one-day fast as a fotnighty atonement. Generally, the body of virtuous and self-restrained monks and nu who constantly observe a fast of three days or more is occupied by gods and goddesses. He who performs penance is helped by gods and goddesses. If an ordinary man observed a long fast of eight days, eleven days, fifteen days, thirty days or forty-five days, he generally becomes physically weak or lean and incompetent but by virtue of his will power and spiritual power he can do without food for many days. Some people can abstain from both food and water as long as 16 days. Those who have even an ordinary knowledge of science will find this very surprising. But thinking further on this point, we find that our body takes three days in adjusting with a new situation. During the first three days it opposes the new situation. During these first three days, its physical and mental functions are disturbed but when the reaction of the body does not get any external response, the body gets adjusted to the new situation. According to this principle, during routine days our body gets heat and energy from the food and water that we take. But it does not consume fat and glucose lying within the body, it is so accustomed. When we observe a fast or an Ayambila, our body tries to get heat and energy from the food and water taken from outside, but since it is totally stoped to take
water, the body resists the new situation in the form of hunger etc. And if our will-power is not strong, we break the fast. If we do not break the fast and continue to observe fast, our body instead of getting heat and energy from outside, gets necessary heat and energy from fat, glucose etc.
ored in the body. This arrangement is setteled in three days. They who go to America from India and come to India from America take three days to get the biological clock of their body adjusted to the new surroundings. In medical terminology it is called 'jet lag'. During the three days, they sleep during day time and keep awake at night, they do not become hungry during day