12-23-2015, 09:37 AM
WHY DO JAINS FAST
Today, fasting has become a “new” trend/fad around the world. There are juice fasts, water fasts, fruit fasts, the list is endless. Especially heralded as the "miracle weight loss", volumes have been written, extolling one fast or another. However, while fasting is certainly of great health benefit, to define it merely as a type of "diet" is to undermine one of the oldest and mos...t sacred spiritual practices.
Fasting, as a religious practice, has been a part of human tradition for millennia, across the globe, by many faiths for one COMMON purpose - to purify bodies, minds and souls and to bring every cell of our bodies into connection with the 'divine'.
Across traditions fasting is a time to turn inward and reflect, with individual faiths adding further purpose to the process of introspection.
Let’s understand fasting in the Jain tradition.
THE PURPOSE OF A JAIN FAST?
A disciple asked, "What does the soul achieve from austerity?" Mahavir Bhagwant replied, "Through penance, the soul eradicates previously acquired KARMAS and achieves purification. With the help of external and internal Tapa, a person elevates himself individually, morally as well as mentally". The purpose of fasting in the Jain tradition is thus to strengthen and purify the soul by shedding or weakening the karma attached to it. ‘Tapasa Nirjara Cha’ - NIRJARA can be achieved by austerities -Tattvarthasutra
SELF CONTROL
"Dehsyaindryanram ch tapam karoti ityanshanadi tap ichauchaytai” (Rajvartika) - To keep fast and observe austerities by restraining man's tendency of indulging in the pleasures of the body and senses is penance.
A ‘true’ fast is one that aids self-control - to keep PASSIONS in control by putting a check on DESIRES for all worldly allurements. Fasting is primarily about self-control and the primacy of the soul over the mind and body.
ALL FASTS ARE NOT EQUAL
ASHAN means eating and ANASHAN (the first of the six types of external Tapa) means non-eating or fasting. Thus eating and non-eating are rather physical phenomena. As long as the body survives, it is going to need food. Fasting has its own importance in order to inhibit our need for and attachment to food.
But fasting when performed only in the ‘physical manner’ by itself however, does not lead us any way closer to eradication of Karmas. For Nirjara, we have to resort to combining 'physical' with the ‘psychic'. Saints, scriptures and the wise unanimously agree that - what exactly you eat or don't eat is not as important as the spirit in which the fast is done.
In the physical manner the person performs the austerity, but does not have the inner desires to change his or her life and therefore, it is just a physical act. While in the psychic austerity the person controls his or her inner desires along with performing a physical act. Unless the austerities are performed in psychic manner, they do not produce the much needed results.
UPVAS
The term ‘Upavas’ that we generally use for fasting is not synonym with Anashan. ‘Upa’ means closer and ‘Vas’ means to reside, literally meaning, "sitting near to”
Sitting near to whom? Near to your soul; abiding in proximity with or in tune with soul. This is the actual heart of the idea of fasting.
If a person sincerely tries to stay in accordance with the real nature of soul, he cannot indulge in any sense of craving or aversion. As such, he would stay away from all defilements and achieve a very high degree of Nirjara. Thus Upavas in the true sense of the term amounts to 'right activity' and is as such panacea for eradicating Karmas.
MORE THAN ‘NOT EATING’
It is, in a way, paradoxical to think that Upavas can be observed simply by abstaining from food. It is not sufficient for a Jain simply to not eat when fasting. A Jain must also stop wanting to eat. If the desire for food continues the fast is pointless.
Fasting is more than just the physical act of refraining from food. At its core, fasting is a discipline of broadening and strengthening, not withholding and waning. The practice is not just about depriving oneself of food and water, but about paying attention to the nature of one’s relationship with this acquired body, which is only a piece of the planet.
A JAIN VIEW OF FASTING
In Jain philosophy, instead of food, fasting takes on a magical or ritualistic aspect. The elaborate rules about food merely ensure that one has a system to gradually eat as little as one can; not eating prevents new violence and entanglements.
Jain tradition encourages a focus of the mind and body on the inner qualities and virtues of the soul with the goal of self-purification and cleansing. Jain festivals also incorporate fasting as a central element as does all of Jain mythology.
Jains believe that fasting is one step in the gradual race to achieve enlightenment or, more generally, happiness. By sheer nature of the added emotional component with which one takes on such a task, the act of fasting naturally entails a process of personal introspection and growth.
NOTE - An important thing to keep in mind is that no one is ever required to fast. At no point should a Jain feel required or obligated to fast, as there are many other ways to improve oneself spiritually. To fast is a personal choice, and most Jains accept that each individual's circumstances and karmas affect the extent to which he or she can fast. Forcing oneself to fast for the sake of social appearances or out of obligation is not spiritually useful. Jain Dharm is largely a personal religion, and most Jains practice to the extent that they can or choose.
Michämi Dukaddam (apologies) for any errors and omissions. Data compiled from many Web sites Jain, Lectures & Books.
Shäshan Viruddha Känay Lakhäyu hoy to Man, Vachan and Kaya Thi Micchhämi Dukkadam.
THE POSITIVE ‘SIDE EFFECTS’ OF FASTING
For most faiths, the sacrifice of food and water - for hours, days, or weeks at a time - is understood to be an intensely spiritual practice that allows for reflection and asceticism. But while the spiritual importance of fasting is widely known, its physical effects on the body are less clear.
How does the human body begin to change when it is systematicall...y deprived of food (and sometimes water)?
Are there any biological benefits that accompany spiritual ones?
Here are some answers -
CLEANSES BODY MIND & SOUL
- SPIRITUAL BENEFITS
Fasting in the Jain tradition is the practice of rigid self-denial to gain ascendancy of the mind over the body; control of the passions, and shed karma. Jain fasting, simultaneously serves multifaceted functions as
➢ a practice of ahimsa (nonviolence),
➢ a form of vrata (vow of self-control),
➢ a type of tapasya (penance),
➢ a way to improve dhyan (spiritual focus) and
➢ a way to gain sam (equanimity)
- MENTAL BENEFITS
Fasting is also one of the best ways of controlling our mind and senses. Jain seers have used fasting for millennia to subdue the 4 kashaya – passion – anger, greed, deceit and pride and become refocused on our own divine nature.
Additionally, during this period of tap or austerity of restraint one realizes that one is truly the master of one's body, not vice versa.
Fasting also cleanses the mind of accumulated ‘toxins’. A man arrives more quickly at his own natural instincts and true desires after fasting. With every fast he sheds some part of the artificial and false ones which habit, heredity, society, suggestion, and ignorance have imposed upon him.
- PHYSICAL BENEFITS
A true fast, undertaken with understanding and discipline has the power to cure most ailments of the body. For the body, a fast restores all systems of the body - the nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems are all regenerated. The toxins and impurities in our blood and tissues are eliminated and our system becomes rejuvenated. It is a rare man who dies from under-eating; however, the majority of all today's terminal illnesses are rooted in over-consumption.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY DURING A WATER FAST
Our entire digestive system – stomach, liver, pancreas, small and large intestine, gall bladder and the kidneys are constantly working to process the food that we eat and to eliminate the wastes. About 25% – 30% of our energies are utilized by the digestive system alone.
When one starts fasting, the digestive system shuts down as there is nothing to digest. The body after sensing that there is no food input, switches to conservation mode and runs slower than it generally does. The metabolism rate comes down so does the heart rate. The body temperature comes down as well so that more energy is saved in order to keep the body going for long.
All the energy that is generally used by the organs that digest is now available and re-directed for carrying out the much needed repair work in the body. Process of healing happens by itself without use of any medicines.
Another important thing that happens is the discharge of glucose reserves. The body stores glucose in the liver and the muscles as a back-up so that the internal organs will not starve when there is no food. As many of us eat 3 (or more) times a day, the liver and the muscles do not get the opportunity to burn the stored glucose. This stored glucose is released during fasting and is rebuilt again as we start eating food the next day. Remember, the glucose store is like a battery. One needs to discharge and recharge a battery regularly to be assured of longevity – same applies to the human body.
SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF FASTING
One of the few things that both believers and scientists agree on is: Fasting! The normal instinct of scientists is to scoff at religious rituals as primitive and naïve, and scientists do, indeed, downplay many of the supposed benefits of abstaining from food. But a host of new studies suggest that tactical fasting can be beneficial in a surprising number of circumstances:
DETOXIFICATION & CLEANSING
According to the science of Ayurveda, toxins are formed in the body due to improper digestion and food habits. These toxins are carried to the various organs by the blood. Accumulation of these toxins eventually manifests as diseases in those organs. The body would like to throw out these toxins through the intestine, but it never gets a chance as long as we are eating food and the intestines are constantly processing the food. During water fasts, the body finally gets a chance to throw out these toxins through the intestine, the lungs and the skin. Fasting gives the body a chance to regain its lost chemical balance and reduce cravings.
AUTOPHAGY
Central to many of the health benefits of fasting is a process called “autophagy.” Autophagy is the body’s natural process of killing off, eating up, or cleaning out bad cell matter that’s built up in the body. It’s an important system for staving off many diseases, including preventing cancer development.
DISEASE HEALING
Hippocrates, one of the founders of Greek medical science and practice, which gave so much to modern allopathy, put fasting among the primary remedies. Yet how neglected has it been until lately, until the awakening of old truths reborn under new names in spiritual, psychic, and physical matters.
The ancient medical systems like Ayurveda also recognised the importance of Upvas/fasts for maintaining good health and for curing diseases such as fever, smallpox, measles, asthma, blood pressure, eczema etc. (the children of an American doctor Edward David, were saved from Diphtheria, as chronicled in his book)
HEART HEALTH & DIABETES PREVENTION
A 2008 study conducted in Utah found that people who fast on a regular basis lower their risk of contracting coronary disease. In 2014, a follow up study found that fasting instigates metabolic changes and lowers “bad” cholesterol levels, which in turn can reduce the chance of heart disease by as much as 58%. That study also showed a decrease in blood sugar levels among people who fast.
MENTAL HEALTH
Autophagy induced through caloric restriction also slows neuro-degeneration and is one of the few things that can lead to production of new brain cells. This research suggests that fasting can protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. This is also likely why epileptic and autistic people respond very well to fasting.
LONGEVITY
Reduced autophagy (the state that the common over-eating diets leave us in) leads to accelerated cell aging, which explains why in numerous studies on lab animals, restricting their caloric intake significantly increased their lifespan. Fasting improves immunity and gives longevity. Is it no wonder then that 'yogis' never seem to age?
SLOWS DOWN CELL AGING
Research by Marc Hellersteing, at Berkeley, suggests that targeted fasting, can shows signs of slowing cancer and reducing aging. It improves glow and texture of the skin. This is validated also by the fact that our Sadhus and Sadhvis, radiate a beautiful glow.
IMPROVED EYESIGHT
A fast even improves eyesight because millions of tiny capillaries in the eyes are choked by toxic debris.
ARTHIRITS
A Norwegian study by Jens Kjeldsen-Kragh and others (2000) concluded that a 7 to 10 day controlled fast is effective in improving rheumatoid arthritis, but only if followed by a strict vegetarian diet. Patients who returned to eating normally lost all benefits. Periodic fasting helps with reducing chronic pains, rheumatic diseases, high blood pressure, and anything related to inflammation.
FERTILITY
A study by Jonathan Tilly of Harvard Medical School, shows that reducing the caloric intake of older mice by 40 percent significantly reduces the number of eggs with abnormal chromosomes. A similar study by Tilly concluded that restricting food intake of adult mice extended their reproductive lifespan and the health of their offspring.
BREAKING ADDICTION
Fasting, some say, gives the body time to pause and reset. That pause -- breaking from dietary routines -- can help to break food habits like sugar or caffeine addictions.
OTHER BENEFITS
Benefits of water fast have also shown improvement in various conditions -
• maintaining vigour and optimum body weight,
• curing chronic health problems like dyspepsia,
• loss of appetite,
• gastritis,
• inflammation of bowels,
• sinusitis,
• allergies,
• skin problems,
• diabetes,
• migraine,
• joint pains,
• gas problem,
• constipation, etc.
WEIGHT LOSS
Although weight loss is reported by most people who fast, according to nutritionist Adam Brown, “Fasting should NEVER be undertaken to lose weight. After about half a day of not eating, the body turns to muscle and fat for fuel, then eventually slows down its metabolism, so that once you start eating again, any weight loss is quickly reversed.
Fasting is thus a great rejuvenator and overhauls the body, mind and spirit.
Michämi Dukaddam (apologies) for any errors and omissions. Data compiled from many Web sites Jain, Lectures & Books.
Shäshan Viruddha Känay Lakhäyu hoy to Man, Vachan and Kaya Thi Micchhämi Dukkadam. See More
— at JAIN STUDY GROUP.
Today, fasting has become a “new” trend/fad around the world. There are juice fasts, water fasts, fruit fasts, the list is endless. Especially heralded as the "miracle weight loss", volumes have been written, extolling one fast or another. However, while fasting is certainly of great health benefit, to define it merely as a type of "diet" is to undermine one of the oldest and mos...t sacred spiritual practices.
Fasting, as a religious practice, has been a part of human tradition for millennia, across the globe, by many faiths for one COMMON purpose - to purify bodies, minds and souls and to bring every cell of our bodies into connection with the 'divine'.
Across traditions fasting is a time to turn inward and reflect, with individual faiths adding further purpose to the process of introspection.
Let’s understand fasting in the Jain tradition.
THE PURPOSE OF A JAIN FAST?
A disciple asked, "What does the soul achieve from austerity?" Mahavir Bhagwant replied, "Through penance, the soul eradicates previously acquired KARMAS and achieves purification. With the help of external and internal Tapa, a person elevates himself individually, morally as well as mentally". The purpose of fasting in the Jain tradition is thus to strengthen and purify the soul by shedding or weakening the karma attached to it. ‘Tapasa Nirjara Cha’ - NIRJARA can be achieved by austerities -Tattvarthasutra
SELF CONTROL
"Dehsyaindryanram ch tapam karoti ityanshanadi tap ichauchaytai” (Rajvartika) - To keep fast and observe austerities by restraining man's tendency of indulging in the pleasures of the body and senses is penance.
A ‘true’ fast is one that aids self-control - to keep PASSIONS in control by putting a check on DESIRES for all worldly allurements. Fasting is primarily about self-control and the primacy of the soul over the mind and body.
ALL FASTS ARE NOT EQUAL
ASHAN means eating and ANASHAN (the first of the six types of external Tapa) means non-eating or fasting. Thus eating and non-eating are rather physical phenomena. As long as the body survives, it is going to need food. Fasting has its own importance in order to inhibit our need for and attachment to food.
But fasting when performed only in the ‘physical manner’ by itself however, does not lead us any way closer to eradication of Karmas. For Nirjara, we have to resort to combining 'physical' with the ‘psychic'. Saints, scriptures and the wise unanimously agree that - what exactly you eat or don't eat is not as important as the spirit in which the fast is done.
In the physical manner the person performs the austerity, but does not have the inner desires to change his or her life and therefore, it is just a physical act. While in the psychic austerity the person controls his or her inner desires along with performing a physical act. Unless the austerities are performed in psychic manner, they do not produce the much needed results.
UPVAS
The term ‘Upavas’ that we generally use for fasting is not synonym with Anashan. ‘Upa’ means closer and ‘Vas’ means to reside, literally meaning, "sitting near to”
Sitting near to whom? Near to your soul; abiding in proximity with or in tune with soul. This is the actual heart of the idea of fasting.
If a person sincerely tries to stay in accordance with the real nature of soul, he cannot indulge in any sense of craving or aversion. As such, he would stay away from all defilements and achieve a very high degree of Nirjara. Thus Upavas in the true sense of the term amounts to 'right activity' and is as such panacea for eradicating Karmas.
MORE THAN ‘NOT EATING’
It is, in a way, paradoxical to think that Upavas can be observed simply by abstaining from food. It is not sufficient for a Jain simply to not eat when fasting. A Jain must also stop wanting to eat. If the desire for food continues the fast is pointless.
Fasting is more than just the physical act of refraining from food. At its core, fasting is a discipline of broadening and strengthening, not withholding and waning. The practice is not just about depriving oneself of food and water, but about paying attention to the nature of one’s relationship with this acquired body, which is only a piece of the planet.
A JAIN VIEW OF FASTING
In Jain philosophy, instead of food, fasting takes on a magical or ritualistic aspect. The elaborate rules about food merely ensure that one has a system to gradually eat as little as one can; not eating prevents new violence and entanglements.
Jain tradition encourages a focus of the mind and body on the inner qualities and virtues of the soul with the goal of self-purification and cleansing. Jain festivals also incorporate fasting as a central element as does all of Jain mythology.
Jains believe that fasting is one step in the gradual race to achieve enlightenment or, more generally, happiness. By sheer nature of the added emotional component with which one takes on such a task, the act of fasting naturally entails a process of personal introspection and growth.
NOTE - An important thing to keep in mind is that no one is ever required to fast. At no point should a Jain feel required or obligated to fast, as there are many other ways to improve oneself spiritually. To fast is a personal choice, and most Jains accept that each individual's circumstances and karmas affect the extent to which he or she can fast. Forcing oneself to fast for the sake of social appearances or out of obligation is not spiritually useful. Jain Dharm is largely a personal religion, and most Jains practice to the extent that they can or choose.
Michämi Dukaddam (apologies) for any errors and omissions. Data compiled from many Web sites Jain, Lectures & Books.
Shäshan Viruddha Känay Lakhäyu hoy to Man, Vachan and Kaya Thi Micchhämi Dukkadam.
THE POSITIVE ‘SIDE EFFECTS’ OF FASTING
For most faiths, the sacrifice of food and water - for hours, days, or weeks at a time - is understood to be an intensely spiritual practice that allows for reflection and asceticism. But while the spiritual importance of fasting is widely known, its physical effects on the body are less clear.
How does the human body begin to change when it is systematicall...y deprived of food (and sometimes water)?
Are there any biological benefits that accompany spiritual ones?
Here are some answers -
CLEANSES BODY MIND & SOUL
- SPIRITUAL BENEFITS
Fasting in the Jain tradition is the practice of rigid self-denial to gain ascendancy of the mind over the body; control of the passions, and shed karma. Jain fasting, simultaneously serves multifaceted functions as
➢ a practice of ahimsa (nonviolence),
➢ a form of vrata (vow of self-control),
➢ a type of tapasya (penance),
➢ a way to improve dhyan (spiritual focus) and
➢ a way to gain sam (equanimity)
- MENTAL BENEFITS
Fasting is also one of the best ways of controlling our mind and senses. Jain seers have used fasting for millennia to subdue the 4 kashaya – passion – anger, greed, deceit and pride and become refocused on our own divine nature.
Additionally, during this period of tap or austerity of restraint one realizes that one is truly the master of one's body, not vice versa.
Fasting also cleanses the mind of accumulated ‘toxins’. A man arrives more quickly at his own natural instincts and true desires after fasting. With every fast he sheds some part of the artificial and false ones which habit, heredity, society, suggestion, and ignorance have imposed upon him.
- PHYSICAL BENEFITS
A true fast, undertaken with understanding and discipline has the power to cure most ailments of the body. For the body, a fast restores all systems of the body - the nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems are all regenerated. The toxins and impurities in our blood and tissues are eliminated and our system becomes rejuvenated. It is a rare man who dies from under-eating; however, the majority of all today's terminal illnesses are rooted in over-consumption.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BODY DURING A WATER FAST
Our entire digestive system – stomach, liver, pancreas, small and large intestine, gall bladder and the kidneys are constantly working to process the food that we eat and to eliminate the wastes. About 25% – 30% of our energies are utilized by the digestive system alone.
When one starts fasting, the digestive system shuts down as there is nothing to digest. The body after sensing that there is no food input, switches to conservation mode and runs slower than it generally does. The metabolism rate comes down so does the heart rate. The body temperature comes down as well so that more energy is saved in order to keep the body going for long.
All the energy that is generally used by the organs that digest is now available and re-directed for carrying out the much needed repair work in the body. Process of healing happens by itself without use of any medicines.
Another important thing that happens is the discharge of glucose reserves. The body stores glucose in the liver and the muscles as a back-up so that the internal organs will not starve when there is no food. As many of us eat 3 (or more) times a day, the liver and the muscles do not get the opportunity to burn the stored glucose. This stored glucose is released during fasting and is rebuilt again as we start eating food the next day. Remember, the glucose store is like a battery. One needs to discharge and recharge a battery regularly to be assured of longevity – same applies to the human body.
SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS OF FASTING
One of the few things that both believers and scientists agree on is: Fasting! The normal instinct of scientists is to scoff at religious rituals as primitive and naïve, and scientists do, indeed, downplay many of the supposed benefits of abstaining from food. But a host of new studies suggest that tactical fasting can be beneficial in a surprising number of circumstances:
DETOXIFICATION & CLEANSING
According to the science of Ayurveda, toxins are formed in the body due to improper digestion and food habits. These toxins are carried to the various organs by the blood. Accumulation of these toxins eventually manifests as diseases in those organs. The body would like to throw out these toxins through the intestine, but it never gets a chance as long as we are eating food and the intestines are constantly processing the food. During water fasts, the body finally gets a chance to throw out these toxins through the intestine, the lungs and the skin. Fasting gives the body a chance to regain its lost chemical balance and reduce cravings.
AUTOPHAGY
Central to many of the health benefits of fasting is a process called “autophagy.” Autophagy is the body’s natural process of killing off, eating up, or cleaning out bad cell matter that’s built up in the body. It’s an important system for staving off many diseases, including preventing cancer development.
DISEASE HEALING
Hippocrates, one of the founders of Greek medical science and practice, which gave so much to modern allopathy, put fasting among the primary remedies. Yet how neglected has it been until lately, until the awakening of old truths reborn under new names in spiritual, psychic, and physical matters.
The ancient medical systems like Ayurveda also recognised the importance of Upvas/fasts for maintaining good health and for curing diseases such as fever, smallpox, measles, asthma, blood pressure, eczema etc. (the children of an American doctor Edward David, were saved from Diphtheria, as chronicled in his book)
HEART HEALTH & DIABETES PREVENTION
A 2008 study conducted in Utah found that people who fast on a regular basis lower their risk of contracting coronary disease. In 2014, a follow up study found that fasting instigates metabolic changes and lowers “bad” cholesterol levels, which in turn can reduce the chance of heart disease by as much as 58%. That study also showed a decrease in blood sugar levels among people who fast.
MENTAL HEALTH
Autophagy induced through caloric restriction also slows neuro-degeneration and is one of the few things that can lead to production of new brain cells. This research suggests that fasting can protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers and Parkinsons. This is also likely why epileptic and autistic people respond very well to fasting.
LONGEVITY
Reduced autophagy (the state that the common over-eating diets leave us in) leads to accelerated cell aging, which explains why in numerous studies on lab animals, restricting their caloric intake significantly increased their lifespan. Fasting improves immunity and gives longevity. Is it no wonder then that 'yogis' never seem to age?
SLOWS DOWN CELL AGING
Research by Marc Hellersteing, at Berkeley, suggests that targeted fasting, can shows signs of slowing cancer and reducing aging. It improves glow and texture of the skin. This is validated also by the fact that our Sadhus and Sadhvis, radiate a beautiful glow.
IMPROVED EYESIGHT
A fast even improves eyesight because millions of tiny capillaries in the eyes are choked by toxic debris.
ARTHIRITS
A Norwegian study by Jens Kjeldsen-Kragh and others (2000) concluded that a 7 to 10 day controlled fast is effective in improving rheumatoid arthritis, but only if followed by a strict vegetarian diet. Patients who returned to eating normally lost all benefits. Periodic fasting helps with reducing chronic pains, rheumatic diseases, high blood pressure, and anything related to inflammation.
FERTILITY
A study by Jonathan Tilly of Harvard Medical School, shows that reducing the caloric intake of older mice by 40 percent significantly reduces the number of eggs with abnormal chromosomes. A similar study by Tilly concluded that restricting food intake of adult mice extended their reproductive lifespan and the health of their offspring.
BREAKING ADDICTION
Fasting, some say, gives the body time to pause and reset. That pause -- breaking from dietary routines -- can help to break food habits like sugar or caffeine addictions.
OTHER BENEFITS
Benefits of water fast have also shown improvement in various conditions -
• maintaining vigour and optimum body weight,
• curing chronic health problems like dyspepsia,
• loss of appetite,
• gastritis,
• inflammation of bowels,
• sinusitis,
• allergies,
• skin problems,
• diabetes,
• migraine,
• joint pains,
• gas problem,
• constipation, etc.
WEIGHT LOSS
Although weight loss is reported by most people who fast, according to nutritionist Adam Brown, “Fasting should NEVER be undertaken to lose weight. After about half a day of not eating, the body turns to muscle and fat for fuel, then eventually slows down its metabolism, so that once you start eating again, any weight loss is quickly reversed.
Fasting is thus a great rejuvenator and overhauls the body, mind and spirit.
Michämi Dukaddam (apologies) for any errors and omissions. Data compiled from many Web sites Jain, Lectures & Books.
Shäshan Viruddha Känay Lakhäyu hoy to Man, Vachan and Kaya Thi Micchhämi Dukkadam. See More
— at JAIN STUDY GROUP.