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Summary of Question:	Fasting Works ??
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Saturday, 10/12/2002 2:06 AM MDT

Waheguru ji ka khalsa, Waheguru ji ki fateh.

I would like to ask a question related to fasting. I know fasting is prohibited in sikhism. But i have tried it so many times if i fast regularly, i remember god most of the time in the day, like when i feel hungry, i remember, that i am fasting in the name of almighty. Its like at other times, when i dont fast, but i do path, even at amrit vela and night, even for 3 hours. Throughout the day, i dont remember god, though i know that my day passes well. Even gurbani says, that "..eat less, less sleep and less talk" . I want to know why is fasting prohibited, when fasting means eating less, which helps us to control, control our habbits of eating anything that comes across, helps in remembrance of the almighty, help us in thinking that he is watching us, helps us in sleeping little. I hope you understand what i mean. Would it be wrong, i mean would, guru ji be angry with me, if i do path as is directed by the tenth master and also fast in the name of almighty.

Pls let me know.

Thanks
Simrat

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Reply:

Sat Siri Akal.

You know - your spiritual path is between you and the Guru. It isn't that fasting is prohibited in Sikhi because there are many good reasons - especially health reasons - to fast from time to time. It's just that fasting used to be a heavy requirement of spiritual practice and people would induce spiritual experiences by nearly starving themselves to death. Not really a balanced, life-affirming approach to finding God, if you know what I mean. So the Gurus don't want us to try to find God through extraordinary means because the experience of God lies within our own hearts and we can have that experience through very human, ordinary methods. That said, if you find that fasting from time to time helps you remember God - then enjoy it. Be careful of your health, don't be excessive about it, but trust your own inner wisdom to guide you along your path. God is in your heart and the Guru guides you through your own breath - so trust yourself and keep walking.

All love.

GPK