☀️ JOIN SPN MOBILE
Forums
New posts
Guru Granth Sahib
Composition, Arrangement & Layout
ਜਪੁ | Jup
ਸੋ ਦਰੁ | So Dar
ਸੋਹਿਲਾ | Sohilaa
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਿਰੀਰਾਗੁ | Raag Siree-Raag
Gurbani (14-53)
Ashtpadiyan (53-71)
Gurbani (71-74)
Pahre (74-78)
Chhant (78-81)
Vanjara (81-82)
Vaar Siri Raag (83-91)
Bhagat Bani (91-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਝ | Raag Maajh
Gurbani (94-109)
Ashtpadi (109)
Ashtpadiyan (110-129)
Ashtpadi (129-130)
Ashtpadiyan (130-133)
Bara Maha (133-136)
Din Raen (136-137)
Vaar Maajh Ki (137-150)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗਉੜੀ | Raag Gauree
Gurbani (151-185)
Quartets/Couplets (185-220)
Ashtpadiyan (220-234)
Karhalei (234-235)
Ashtpadiyan (235-242)
Chhant (242-249)
Baavan Akhari (250-262)
Sukhmani (262-296)
Thittee (296-300)
Gauree kii Vaar (300-323)
Gurbani (323-330)
Ashtpadiyan (330-340)
Baavan Akhari (340-343)
Thintteen (343-344)
Vaar Kabir (344-345)
Bhagat Bani (345-346)
ਰਾਗੁ ਆਸਾ | Raag Aasaa
Gurbani (347-348)
Chaupaday (348-364)
Panchpadde (364-365)
Kaafee (365-409)
Aasaavaree (409-411)
Ashtpadiyan (411-432)
Patee (432-435)
Chhant (435-462)
Vaar Aasaa (462-475)
Bhagat Bani (475-488)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੂਜਰੀ | Raag Goojaree
Gurbani (489-503)
Ashtpadiyan (503-508)
Vaar Gujari (508-517)
Vaar Gujari (517-526)
ਰਾਗੁ ਦੇਵਗੰਧਾਰੀ | Raag Dayv-Gandhaaree
Gurbani (527-536)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਹਾਗੜਾ | Raag Bihaagraa
Gurbani (537-556)
Chhant (538-548)
Vaar Bihaagraa (548-556)
ਰਾਗੁ ਵਡਹੰਸ | Raag Wadhans
Gurbani (557-564)
Ashtpadiyan (564-565)
Chhant (565-575)
Ghoriaan (575-578)
Alaahaniiaa (578-582)
Vaar Wadhans (582-594)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੋਰਠਿ | Raag Sorath
Gurbani (595-634)
Asatpadhiya (634-642)
Vaar Sorath (642-659)
ਰਾਗੁ ਧਨਾਸਰੀ | Raag Dhanasaree
Gurbani (660-685)
Astpadhiya (685-687)
Chhant (687-691)
Bhagat Bani (691-695)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਤਸਰੀ | Raag Jaitsree
Gurbani (696-703)
Chhant (703-705)
Vaar Jaitsaree (705-710)
Bhagat Bani (710)
ਰਾਗੁ ਟੋਡੀ | Raag Todee
ਰਾਗੁ ਬੈਰਾੜੀ | Raag Bairaaree
ਰਾਗੁ ਤਿਲੰਗ | Raag Tilang
Gurbani (721-727)
Bhagat Bani (727)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸੂਹੀ | Raag Suhi
Gurbani (728-750)
Ashtpadiyan (750-761)
Kaafee (761-762)
Suchajee (762)
Gunvantee (763)
Chhant (763-785)
Vaar Soohee (785-792)
Bhagat Bani (792-794)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ | Raag Bilaaval
Gurbani (795-831)
Ashtpadiyan (831-838)
Thitteen (838-840)
Vaar Sat (841-843)
Chhant (843-848)
Vaar Bilaaval (849-855)
Bhagat Bani (855-858)
ਰਾਗੁ ਗੋਂਡ | Raag Gond
Gurbani (859-869)
Ashtpadiyan (869)
Bhagat Bani (870-875)
ਰਾਗੁ ਰਾਮਕਲੀ | Raag Ramkalee
Ashtpadiyan (902-916)
Gurbani (876-902)
Anand (917-922)
Sadd (923-924)
Chhant (924-929)
Dakhnee (929-938)
Sidh Gosat (938-946)
Vaar Ramkalee (947-968)
ਰਾਗੁ ਨਟ ਨਾਰਾਇਨ | Raag Nat Narayan
Gurbani (975-980)
Ashtpadiyan (980-983)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਲੀ ਗਉੜਾ | Raag Maalee Gauraa
Gurbani (984-988)
Bhagat Bani (988)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਾਰੂ | Raag Maaroo
Gurbani (889-1008)
Ashtpadiyan (1008-1014)
Kaafee (1014-1016)
Ashtpadiyan (1016-1019)
Anjulian (1019-1020)
Solhe (1020-1033)
Dakhni (1033-1043)
ਰਾਗੁ ਤੁਖਾਰੀ | Raag Tukhaari
Bara Maha (1107-1110)
Chhant (1110-1117)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕੇਦਾਰਾ | Raag Kedara
Gurbani (1118-1123)
Bhagat Bani (1123-1124)
ਰਾਗੁ ਭੈਰਉ | Raag Bhairo
Gurbani (1125-1152)
Partaal (1153)
Ashtpadiyan (1153-1167)
ਰਾਗੁ ਬਸੰਤੁ | Raag Basant
Gurbani (1168-1187)
Ashtpadiyan (1187-1193)
Vaar Basant (1193-1196)
ਰਾਗੁ ਸਾਰਗ | Raag Saarag
Gurbani (1197-1200)
Partaal (1200-1231)
Ashtpadiyan (1232-1236)
Chhant (1236-1237)
Vaar Saarang (1237-1253)
ਰਾਗੁ ਮਲਾਰ | Raag Malaar
Gurbani (1254-1293)
Partaal (1265-1273)
Ashtpadiyan (1273-1278)
Chhant (1278)
Vaar Malaar (1278-91)
Bhagat Bani (1292-93)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਾਨੜਾ | Raag Kaanraa
Gurbani (1294-96)
Partaal (1296-1318)
Ashtpadiyan (1308-1312)
Chhant (1312)
Vaar Kaanraa
Bhagat Bani (1318)
ਰਾਗੁ ਕਲਿਆਨ | Raag Kalyaan
Gurbani (1319-23)
Ashtpadiyan (1323-26)
ਰਾਗੁ ਪ੍ਰਭਾਤੀ | Raag Prabhaatee
Gurbani (1327-1341)
Ashtpadiyan (1342-51)
ਰਾਗੁ ਜੈਜਾਵੰਤੀ | Raag Jaijaiwanti
Gurbani (1352-53)
Salok | Gatha | Phunahe | Chaubole | Swayiye
Sehskritee Mahala 1
Sehskritee Mahala 5
Gaathaa Mahala 5
Phunhay Mahala 5
Chaubolae Mahala 5
Shaloks Bhagat Kabir
Shaloks Sheikh Farid
Swaiyyae Mahala 5
Swaiyyae in Praise of Gurus
Shaloks in Addition To Vaars
Shalok Ninth Mehl
Mundavanee Mehl 5
ਰਾਗ ਮਾਲਾ, Raag Maalaa
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New resources
Latest activity
Videos
New media
New comments
Library
Latest reviews
Donate
Log in
Register
What's new
New posts
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Welcome to all New Sikh Philosophy Network Forums!
Explore Sikh Sikhi Sikhism...
Sign up
Log in
Discussions
Sikh Sikhi Sikhism
Fasting Is Not For Khalsas
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Amarpal" data-source="post: 4358" data-attributes="member: 10"><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Dear Khalsa Ji,</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The English word ‘Fasting’ means not eating or not drinking or both. This word indicates what many people in India do when they say they are having Upavaas - they do not eat; they do not drink. </span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">What my learning has taught me is different from what is actually the practice here. In my understanding not eating and not drinking is not Upavaas. To me, Upavaas has nothing to do with such abstentions. The basis of my having this view, I elaborate below.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We study the word Upavaas. It is made up from two words - Upa and vaas i.e. Upa+vaas. Upa means near and vaas means staying. Taken together it means staying near. Since Upavaas is directed towards God, it means staying near God. In other words, depending on the level of individual’s spiritual evolution, this staying near can be any thing from doing prayers at the feet of the deity up to going into Samadhi.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">When the individual goes into Samadhi, the senses loose all hold over the individual. The individual in Samadhi does not feel the pangs of hunger or thirst; the person in Samadhi does not ask for food or drinks. What people around this evolved person can perceive is only what their senses tell them i.e. this evolved individual doing her or his Upavaas (mentally being with the God in Samadhi) has not eaten or imbibed any drink. These people cannot know what is happening deep inside the individual who has gone in Samadhi to perform her or his Upavaas. As one understands so one interprets; these people concluded that performing Upavaas means not eating and not drinking i.e. fasting.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The people around this evolved person, probably started imitating her or him based on what they understood. They only knew that Muni Ji do not eat and drink while performing Upavaas. These common individuals started having their Upavaas by denying themselves any nourishment during the period of Upavaas. This way, what was the natural consequence (not feeling hungry so not eating and not feeling thirsty so not drinking) of Upavaas with evolved individuals, became the basic instrument of Upavaas for the commoners. This way Upavaas became synonymous with fasting and the real meaning was lost in the crowd of the commoners.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Based on this rational, I hold the view that Fasting is not Upavaas; Upavaas means mentally being with the God. Fasting has nothing to do with Upavaas.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In Hindi there is another word for Fasting and that is Annshann; it is not Upavaas.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">I hold the opinion that Fasting is injurious to health of the individual. If this individual happens to be a lady, it is injurious for those whom she may bring into this world.</span></span></p><p> </p><p>Unlike others groups, we in Khalsa Panth have no requirement from Sikhi to undertake fasting. Not all Khalsas have yet given up the baggage of their ancient past, some of us continue to think fasting to be and instrument of spirituality. Which, in my opinion, is not in accordance with Sikhi. </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Our systems of the body have evolved for use in moderation. The heart takes rest between its two beats so is the case with respiratory system; they keep working through out the life of the individual. This is the case with digestive system also. Digestive system has evolved for periodic intakes of nourishment. Elements of the digestive system sequentially rest between two meals as the food taken in moves from one portion to the other within the system. Taking nourishment in moderation to satisfy hunger is all that we humans are expected to do. We do not have to organise special rest sessions for digestive system. To me the suggestion that Fasting is good to give rest to digestive system is only good for those who live to eat and eat continuously. This is to force them to eat less. In other words, in my opinion fasting has nothing to do with spirituality or religiosity.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">No one ever suggests giving rest to respiratory system or circulatory system; why this special consideration of giving rests to digestive system alone? In my opinion, the suggestion that fasting and the consequent rest to the digestive system are only a way to justify this practice. Eating based on the need of the body i.e. in moderation is all that we have to do.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Living bodies are the abode of ‘The Sat’; the needs of the body should be respected. Saiyam, and not abstention is the guiding word to meet the requirements of the body.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Saiyam is in between abstention and indulgence; it is the middle path; the best path that of moderation.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">With this I close.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">With love and respect for all.</span></span></p><p> </p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Amarpal </span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Amarpal, post: 4358, member: 10"] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]Dear Khalsa Ji,[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]The English word ‘Fasting’ means not eating or not drinking or both. This word indicates what many people in India do when they say they are having Upavaas - they do not eat; they do not drink. [/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]What my learning has taught me is different from what is actually the practice here. In my understanding not eating and not drinking is not Upavaas. To me, Upavaas has nothing to do with such abstentions. The basis of my having this view, I elaborate below.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]We study the word Upavaas. It is made up from two words - Upa and vaas i.e. Upa+vaas. Upa means near and vaas means staying. Taken together it means staying near. Since Upavaas is directed towards God, it means staying near God. In other words, depending on the level of individual’s spiritual evolution, this staying near can be any thing from doing prayers at the feet of the deity up to going into Samadhi.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]When the individual goes into Samadhi, the senses loose all hold over the individual. The individual in Samadhi does not feel the pangs of hunger or thirst; the person in Samadhi does not ask for food or drinks. What people around this evolved person can perceive is only what their senses tell them i.e. this evolved individual doing her or his Upavaas (mentally being with the God in Samadhi) has not eaten or imbibed any drink. These people cannot know what is happening deep inside the individual who has gone in Samadhi to perform her or his Upavaas. As one understands so one interprets; these people concluded that performing Upavaas means not eating and not drinking i.e. fasting.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]The people around this evolved person, probably started imitating her or him based on what they understood. They only knew that Muni Ji do not eat and drink while performing Upavaas. These common individuals started having their Upavaas by denying themselves any nourishment during the period of Upavaas. This way, what was the natural consequence (not feeling hungry so not eating and not feeling thirsty so not drinking) of Upavaas with evolved individuals, became the basic instrument of Upavaas for the commoners. This way Upavaas became synonymous with fasting and the real meaning was lost in the crowd of the commoners.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]Based on this rational, I hold the view that Fasting is not Upavaas; Upavaas means mentally being with the God. Fasting has nothing to do with Upavaas.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]In Hindi there is another word for Fasting and that is Annshann; it is not Upavaas.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]I hold the opinion that Fasting is injurious to health of the individual. If this individual happens to be a lady, it is injurious for those whom she may bring into this world.[/size][/font] Unlike others groups, we in Khalsa Panth have no requirement from Sikhi to undertake fasting. Not all Khalsas have yet given up the baggage of their ancient past, some of us continue to think fasting to be and instrument of spirituality. Which, in my opinion, is not in accordance with Sikhi. [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]Our systems of the body have evolved for use in moderation. The heart takes rest between its two beats so is the case with respiratory system; they keep working through out the life of the individual. This is the case with digestive system also. Digestive system has evolved for periodic intakes of nourishment. Elements of the digestive system sequentially rest between two meals as the food taken in moves from one portion to the other within the system. Taking nourishment in moderation to satisfy hunger is all that we humans are expected to do. We do not have to organise special rest sessions for digestive system. To me the suggestion that Fasting is good to give rest to digestive system is only good for those who live to eat and eat continuously. This is to force them to eat less. In other words, in my opinion fasting has nothing to do with spirituality or religiosity.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]No one ever suggests giving rest to respiratory system or circulatory system; why this special consideration of giving rests to digestive system alone? In my opinion, the suggestion that fasting and the consequent rest to the digestive system are only a way to justify this practice. Eating based on the need of the body i.e. in moderation is all that we have to do.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]Living bodies are the abode of ‘The Sat’; the needs of the body should be respected. Saiyam, and not abstention is the guiding word to meet the requirements of the body.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]Saiyam is in between abstention and indulgence; it is the middle path; the best path that of moderation.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]With this I close.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [font=Times New Roman][size=3]With love and respect for all.[/size][/font] [size=3][/size] [size=3][font=Times New Roman]Amarpal [/font][/size] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Discussions
Sikh Sikhi Sikhism
Fasting Is Not For Khalsas
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top