Why Do Many Faiths Recommend Self-denial such as Fasting or Shunning Luxuries?

Why do so many faiths recommend self-denial such as fasting or shunning luxuries?
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-sikhi-sikhism/29550-why-do-many-faiths-recommend-self.html
By Ajit Singh Sahota, Citizen SpecialMarch 13, 2010


The Sikh faith teaches temperance and moderation, and so neither fasting nor feasting are encouraged.

If the goal of fasting and avoidance of luxuries is to control the mind and to turn inward, then the Sikh faith teaches that this is only possible through reflection on Naam or the Word of God. The goal of human life is to discover the light of God within and reunite with the divine. All religious practice must be focused on achieving this goal.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29550

God has given us the human body, which houses His divine light. It is therefore important that the body be nourished and cared for. Fasting or deprivation of the body through wilful hunger is not considered a spiritually beneficial practice. A Sikh is encouraged to eat in moderation to sustain the body. Similarly with respect to luxuries, the principle of moderation is central.

The Sikh faith teaches that one should permanently avoid those things that are harmful physically, mentally or spiritually. It is for this reason that all intoxicants like alcohol, tobacco, etc. are forbidden to Sikhs.

The key to spiritual progression is not in temporary self-deprivation. One may feel a sense of achievement after fasting or a period of abstinence; however, true spiritual progression must be marked by a permanent change. Through reflection on the Word, one must find the much greater pleasure that is available through spirituality. As a result, one achieves a permanent measure of self-control and the desire for worldly luxuries and indulgences naturally declines and disappear. The constant company of Lord God is cherished.

Ajit Singh Sahota is a retired biologist from Agriculture Canada and a founding member of the Sikh National Archives of Canada.
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It is observed that Sikhs who practice Simran do develop lot of self control and do not given to temptations and wrong doing.

On the other hand the notional Sikhs (and their number is considerable) who do not practice Simran go berserk with indulgences. I have not been able to understand complete lack of self control in the second type!

Interesting observation, Harbansj Ji.
My understanding is that indulgence comes from desire and desire it self is due to the gunas (or force of nature). It is nature, the outer world, which stimulate the vrittis (impressions) of the mind, leadnig the ahankara (ego sense) to identify with them as "me and mine". This process is rapid as it is a part of thought itself and so can go unchecked.

The impulse from vrittis manifests itself as action which comes with its result in the form of reward (statisfied desire) or frustration (a sense that something has stopped me), thus strengthening the belief in "me as doer and achiever" (ahankara). The thought that vrittis should be obeyed is connected with the result of the action, it a cause-effect relationship, reinforcing us to act again on our desires.

Simran still this, or at least allows us to see that there is action in the actionless state of mind also. In my humbile opinion this is the wisdom which the Gurus blessed us with.

Respectfully, Ambers.

common psychology ( Fasaii Chalo Ji in Punjabi !!) just keep banging...carrot and danda..whatever it takes to instill fear and obedience...
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29550

GURMATT is now where near all this..its clear that the CREATOR BUILT THIS BODY for His own RESIDENCE..we are just the CARETAKERS...Harmandir Har Sajjiah...we are DUTY BOUND to take GOOD CARE of it..best foods, best clothes, best health....Healthy Mind..Healthy BODY...Hassan kuddan mann Ka Chao..laugh..be happy..enjoy the BODY...and Make HIS DAY !! You will NOT get another chance....DONT be like the "tenants from HELL"..who write graffitti on rented walls..sweep rubbish under the capets.....ride the bannisters..scribble and scratch marble floors...**** bricks in toilets to block them....cut the trees in the garden...BE "SIKH" TENANTS..who keep all walls cleaned daily..floors swept..carpets cleaned...bannisters for holding...polished marble floors..trees watered.......then the LANDLORD WILL BE HAPPY.happymunda

Gyani ji

I don't clean my walls every day The message however is a good one. A Sikh does not make sacrifices to hoard merit points with the Creator, almost like a piggy bank of collected sacrifices to use later as an insurance policy against hard times after death. A Sikh helps as help is needed and does what he/she can to set matters straight as required. Sometimes that does require personal sacrifice. But sacrifice is not the goal, The goal is to restore goodness to the world around us here and now in praise of the Creator who is everywhere.

Harbans ji,

Guru Fateh.

You write:

What does "Sikhs who practice Simran" mean and what is it modus operandi? Can you express that in your own words for me to have some better understanding?

Is there a physical data or research done by some credible Universities or think tank groups with volunteers for them to come to the above conclusions?

I would love it if shared with us the same.

What do the above category does that make them berserk? It can not be in the inactions and what kind of indulgences and in what manner?

People in both these researches had to define in concrete terms what practicing Simran is and how it is done. Can you also share that with us?

This is truly fascinating and I am glad you mentioned that their number of the latter group is considerable which indicates that some kind of data based research has taken place.

Please share with us the findings of the above.

Thanks & regards

Tejwant Singh

Tejwant Singh ji,

What I have written is just subjective observations of friends, relatives, acquaintances and strangers.
I am not aware of any database created or any research findings on this topic

Simran as I understand is simple Naam jap. What i have learnt is that Simran can be done at any time at any place in any posture. There are no limitations.
Whenever thouhts wander and they get into an area of any negative contemplation or wrong doing then Simran does help to arrest such thougts.
Otherwise too Simran helps to cleanse the soul of accumulated dirt over a period of time.
Bhai Vir singh ji has described this wondrous process in detail in I think Guru Nanak Chamatkar.

This is again based on personal subjective obsevation. I had admitted in the above post that I do not understand why such persons go berserk with indulgences. By indulgences, I mean the undesirable types such as intoxications, adultry, wrongful and dishonest accumulation of wealth, being tyranical towards the weak, gluttony etc.
As per my very subjective and non scientific observations people who practice Simran hardly ever fall into these traps.

If a scientific study is conducted on the effect of Simran, the results could be very revealing.

However a Ludhiana based organisation known as "Sarab Rog ka Aukadh Naam" claims to have data about patients sufferring from chronic and incurable diseases to have benefitted greatly from Simran and listening to Gurbani and understanding it. And very sensibly they do not encourage stopping of on going medical treatment.

Harbans ji,

Guru Fateh.

Thanks for your response.

The reason of my asking the question was multifolds and I will explain the reasons why. I am a novice to the Gurmat side of Gurbani as compared to many devout people like yourself and others.

In 1988, when I was still single, I was introduced to the Dodra Group during my trip to Vancouver and fell in love their hourly Simran twice a day and their way of doing Keertan. I started going to their Samagams in Los Angeles in some people's houses as they were not allowed to do in the Gurdwaras then. Now, some Gurdwaras allow them. I used to go with Bhai Jeewan Singh ji from AKJ and he is very unlike AKJ who is a friend of the family. In fact Bhai Jeewan Singh ji performed my Anand Karaj 21 years ago today at Alhambra Gurdwara in Los Angeles. He was also instrumental in opening of Khalsa Schools and Khalsa Credit Union in Vancouver BC. The more one talks about his great attributes, lesser the words one can find to express them.

Coming back to the Dodra group, although I enjoyed their ways of doing Simran and Keertan, there were a couple of things that preturbed me from the very beginning.

The first one was that rather than greeting each other with fateh, they greet each other with " Dhan Guru Nanak", which is ok. But the most egregious part I noticed was men hugging women in a long close embraces which really unsettled me. Then I saw some of women during samagam breaks giving leg massages to the some who wore blue cholas. I personally know some infidelities taking place there and no one really cared about that.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29550

The straw that broke the camel's back was when a gentleman from Canada belonging to the Dodra jatha called Balraj Singh was convicted of rape and spent 5 years in the Canadian jail. It took sometime to bring him to justice.

There is lots of Sangat that still visit Dodra in Bathinda district and they have samagams all around North America including Las Vegas once a year.

So, this is the group that is famous for naam simran and Sangat doing keertan. No raagi jathas are hired. But some of their actions are very questionable.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29550

My question was based on this objective incident of the particular group. I have no idea if you are familiar with this group.

Regards

Tejwant Singh

Just some interesting backgrounds...

Once upon a time I had a very large poster EXPOSING the ANTI-GURMATT wriitings /actions of the DODRA Originator Jaswnat Singh and the actions of Balraj Singh in Canda. It was sent out by the WSO...World Sikh Organsiation and for putting up in Gurdwaras to alert the sangats. ( Unfortunately this poster was fraudently taken from me by a DODRA supporter in the guise of taking it to make a photopcopy....and then he flatly refused to return it...almost like the Rochestor DVD of Prof darshan Singh and Lamba's "borrowing" the Original DVD). That poster quoted a lot from books by Jaswant Singh as to how he was Guru nanak..blah blah..
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29550
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=29550

The Baba From USA Wallah recently in the news vis vis absconding with teenage daughters of a sikh..was also brought in by the Malaysian Dodra Chapter a few years ago wehn the USA wallah Baba was a NOVICE (Now he has a massive complex in Gurgaon india)

Dodras publish and use books by some one called KHOJI...whose explanations of Gurbani are weird....:c razy: