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so who is religous here? |
scotsboyuk
Joined: Jun 02, 2003
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From: UK
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Which other religions include fasts?
"I may be drunk my dear woman, but in the morning I will be sober, and you will still be ugly." WSC | |
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JK
Joined: Feb 24, 2005
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From: S. Africa - JOZI
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You guys started fasting before us? Is it always like that? We start today ... I got 10 hours to go 
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PeterKay
Joined: Jul 08, 2003
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From: The Ummah
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I have started fast number 2, remember me in your prayers 786kbr 
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whizkidd
Joined: May 14, 2004
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Quote:
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On 2005-10-05 06:44:48, scotsboyuk wrote:
Which other religions include fasts?
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Hindus do fast..(not all)
Fasting in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual gains. According to the scriptures, fasting helps create an attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well being of a human being as it nourishes both his/her physical and spiritual demands.
Hindus believe it is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality in one's daily life. We are harangued by a lot of considerations, and worldly indulgences do not allow us to concentrate on spiritual attainment. Therefore a worshipper must strive to impose restrains on himself/herself to get his mind focused. And one form of restraint is fasting.
Self-Discipline
However, fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind and the body to endure and harden up against all hardships, to persevere under difficulties and not give up. According to Hindu philosophy, food means gratification of the senses and to starve the senses is to elevate them to contemplation. Luqman, the wise once said, "When the stomach is full, the intellect begins to sleep. Wisdom becomes mute and the parts of the body restrain from acts of righteousness."
Different Kinds Of Fasting
* Hindus fast on certain days of the month such as Purnima (full moon) and Ekadasi (the 11th day of the fortnight).
* Certain days of the week is also marked for fasting, depending on individual choices and on one's favorite god and goddess. On Saturday, people fast to appease the god of that day, Shani or Saturn. Some fast on Tuesdays the auspicious day for Hanuman, the monkey God. On Fridays devotees of the goddess Santoshi Mata abstain from taking anything citric.
* Fasting at festivals is common. Hindus all over India observe fast on festivals like Shivratri and Karwa Chauth. Navaratri is a festival when people fast for nine days. Hindus in West Bengal fast on Ashtami, the eighth day of the festival of Durga Puja.
* Fasting can also mean abstaining from taking certain things, either for religious reason or for the sake of good health. For instance, some people refrain from taking salt on particular days. It is common knowledge that excess salt and sodium causes hypertention or elevation of blood pressure.
* Another common kind of fast is to forego taking cereals when only fruits are eaten. Such a diet is known as phalahar.
Ayurvedic Viewpoint
The underlying principle behind fasting is to be found in Ayurveda. This ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good for heath, and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of fasting prevents the flatulence.
Since the human body, as explained by Ayurveda, is composed of 80% liquid and 20% solid, like the earth, the gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid contents of the body. It causes emotional imbalances in the body, making some people tense, irritable and violent. Fasting acts as antidote, for it lowers the acid content in the body which helps people to retain their sanity.
A Non-Violent Protest
From a matter of dietary control, fasting has come to be a handy tool of societal control. It is a non-violent form of protest. A hunger strike can draw attention to a grievance and can bring about an emendation or redress. It is interesting to note that it was Mahatma Gandhi who used fasting to capture people's attention. There is an anecdote to this: Once the workers at the textile mills in Ahmedbad were protesting their low wages. Gandhi told them to go on strike. After two weeks when the workers took to violence, Gandhi himself decided to go on fast till the matter was resolved.
Fellow-Feeling
Finally, the pangs of hunger that one experiences during fasting make one think and extend one's sympathy towards the destitute who often go without food. In this context fasting functions as a societal gain wherein people share with each other a fellow feeling. Fasting provides an opportunity for the privileged to give food-grains to the less privileged and alleviate their distress, at least for the moment.
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amnesia
Joined: Jan 15, 2004
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i know Christians fast.
But like not a complete fast.
It's like no food that comes from animals or something but they can drink water and eat fish?
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whizkidd
Joined: May 14, 2004
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From: India
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Happy Navratri To All!!
It's the beginning of a nine-day fast for Hindus (Oct 4-12).
About Navratri (The Nine Divine Nights):
"Nava-ratri" literally means "nine nights." This festival is observed twice a year, once in the beginning of summer and again at the onset of winter.
What's the Significance of Navratri?
During Navaratri, we invoke the energy aspect of God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as "Durga," which literally means the remover of miseries of life. She is also referred to as "Devi" (goddess) or "Shakti" (energy or power). It is this energy, which helps God to proceed with the work of creation, preservation and destruction. In other words, you can say that God is motionless, absolutely changeless, and the Divine Mother Durga, does everything. Truly speaking, our worship of Shakti re-confirms the scientific theory that energy is imperishable. It cannot be created or destroyed. It is always there.
Why Worship the Mother Goddess?
We think this energy is only a form of the Divine Mother, who is the mother of all, and all of us are her children. "Why mother; why not father?", you may ask. We believe that God's glory, his cosmic energy, his greatness and supremacy can best be depicted as the motherhood aspect of God. Just as a child finds all these qualities in his or her mother, similarly, all of us look upon God as mother. In fact, Hinduism is the only religion in the world, which gives so much importance to the mother aspect of God because we believe that mother is the creative aspect of the absolute.
Why Twice a Year?
Every year the beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because:
(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.
(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.
Why Nine Nights & Days?
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
Wikipedia On Navratri
Navratri or Navratra is a Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word "Navratri" literally means nine nights; Nav-Nine and Ratri-nights. The festival is celebrated for nine nights every year at the beginning of October although as the dates of the festival are according to the Hindu calendar (which is based on the Moon), the festival may be held for a day more or a day less depending on the calendar.
Navaratri is divided into sets of three days to adore different aspects of the supreme goddess. On the first three days, the Mother is invoked as powerful force called Durga in order to destroy all our impurities, vices and defects. The next three days, the Mother is adored as a giver of spiritual wealth, Lakshmi, who is considered to have the power of bestowing on her devotees the inexhaustible wealth. The final set of three days is spent in worshipping the mother as the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati. In order have all-round success in life, we need the blessings of all three aspects of the divine mother; hence, the worship for nine nights.
During Navaratri, some devotees of Durga observe a fast and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property. A period of introspection and purification, Navaratri is traditionally an auspicious time for starting new ventures.
On the tenth day, the holiday of Dussehra an effigy of Ravana is burnt to celebrate the victory of good (Rama) over evil.
In Gujarat, it is celebrated quite uniquely.
Garba during Navaratri
Garba word comes from sanskrit word "Garbha Deep". the closest meaning of "Garbha" in English language is "inside", as inside of an earthen pot which people still use to store drinking water. The word "Deep" is diya, with a burning cotton wick in oil in an earthen small vessel. People in western India do Ghat Sthapana, which is an earthen pot with holes in it, and decorated with colors, patterns, mirrirs, etc, with a diya inside. Traditionally, Navratri was celebrated only by Hindu women only, in the honor of goddess Amba/Durga. Amba/Durga is a believed to be a Shakti, originating from Lord Shankara.
Women would put this "Garbha deep" in the center, as a symbol of shakti/godess. And at the rythm of prayers/bhajanas they will be dancing with clapping in concentric circles around "Garbha Deep" or "Garabo".
Though dandiya raas is also somewhat associated with garba, it is originating from a totally different root. Dandiya raas was traditionally performed by men only. This dance/art originated in western part of Guajarat state in India. The Dandiya is actually a pair of bamboo or any wooden sticks of the length 1.5 to 2 feet. Men would held this sticks in hand, and start with a circuluar formation. Traditionally, this was a psuedo practice of the swords' fight with foot work, you can call it as in poomse in Tae Kwon Do or Kata in Karate. And that is the reason it was performed by men only. It is a high energetic sort, of an exercise. You will still find this traditional movements and forms of Dandiya raas in in Saurashtra (Western Gujarat). This was an excellent social tradition of incorporating goddess with an art of swords and also with entertainment, when there were many invasions happening on small kingdoms and almost every men in society was responsible for their region's and community's safety.
Different parts of India celebrate Navratri in their own unique fashion..
In the north, its time for Ram-Leela's (the plays depicting Rama's(Good) victory over Ravana (Evil))
In the East it is celebrated as Durga Pooja..with completely different set of customs..
In the west, it is time for fun and enjoyment with dance and music.
While in the south (dravidians)
Navratri is celebrated for one day and it does not have as much significance as it has in the North.
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JK
Joined: Feb 24, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: S. Africa - JOZI
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Jews fast, also sunrise to sunset, but i think its for one day only. |
Janet_k500i
Joined: Sep 03, 2005
Posts: 57
From: The Hague, Netherlands
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Thanks for the info whiz 
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jagger2k
Joined: Nov 14, 2004
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From: Leicester, UK Phone: IPh
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is it the fasting season already? well good luck, am sitting here with a bacon sandwich eggs and sasseges.........hmmmmmmm
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Janet_k500i
Joined: Sep 03, 2005
Posts: 57
From: The Hague, Netherlands
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Hmm i want to eat kfc my lil sister just came home With it. But im a vegetarian now  |
amnesia
Joined: Jan 15, 2004
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From: Doha, London, Tokyo, Shanghai
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thats not cool.
I've starving here and you're tempting me with food (let alone pork stuffs)
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jagger2k
Joined: Nov 14, 2004
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From: Leicester, UK Phone: IPh
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Quote:
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On 2005-10-05 12:56:44, amnesia wrote:
thats not cool.
I've starving here and you're tempting me with food (let alone pork stuffs)
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sorry amnesia, what can i say, me love my food 
Quote:
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On 2005-10-05 12:40:00, Janet_k500i wrote:
Hmm i want to eat kfc my lil sister just came home With it. But im a vegetarian now
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Hmmmmm.........KFC, a bit early for me yet but i might get a bucket later on in the day, thanks for the idea. but am currently in the mood for a meatball subway sandwhich.
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[ This Message was edited by: jagger2k on 2005-10-05 12:00 ] |
Janet_k500i
Joined: Sep 03, 2005
Posts: 57
From: The Hague, Netherlands
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i want to eat kfc. but i cant and my whole family s eatin here |
jagger2k
Joined: Nov 14, 2004
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From: Leicester, UK Phone: IPh
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Quote:
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On 2005-10-05 13:59:00, Janet_k500i wrote:
i want to eat kfc. but i cant and my whole family s eatin here
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you could always lick their fingers lol. |
amnesia
Joined: Jan 15, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Doha, London, Tokyo, Shanghai
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guys is this intentional?
Because this is a cruel thing to do.
I myself have great self control but others might not take such a thing so lightly.
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Posted: 2005-10-05 06:44
