Why Is Fasting Spiritual?
Introduction
Fasting has always been associated with physical and medical benefits that have made it more popular in recent times. The body is normally deprived of food hence the body takes a break from processing food, feeds on fat stores and cells go on repair mode, regenerating new cells as old ones are destroyed.
The purpose for fasting helps with lowering blood insulin levels, weight loss, boosting the immune system, human growth hormone scale-up, lowering cholesterol, regeneration of cells, an extension of mortality, and reduction of inflammation.
Spiritual Fasting Soul Cleansing
Fasting, however, as taught by Sangram Lad has a spiritual aspect to it. It is an embodiment of the spiritual discipline. Through fasting, the physical body is manipulated to get access to the spiritual dimension, understanding and feeding the soul. Practicing the spiritual discipline of fasting helps one unlock a lot of possibilities.
Just like physical hunger rewards the body with countless benefits, Lad teaches of spiritual fasting as the hunger of the soul and by feeding it we get spiritual-related rewards. We are always yearning and lusting for good things and feelings that eventually control us. Lad explains that spiritual fasting helps get rid of desires through boosting concentration and clarity.
Spiritual fasting, through dietary fasting, cleanses our souls. Fasting gets us to understand the connection between our bodies and soul. Discarding our physical needs and distractions helps us get benefits from the fast. Through the fast one purges the unhealthy things, desires, and thoughts.
Spiritual Strengthening and Clarity
Through fasting, the spirit is strengthened as it is exercised. With stronger willpower, you get to control the things we consume in all life areas. Fasting helps choose to follow higher and better principles and do away with lower desires. It gets you to take control of your body instead of following appetites that assert themselves on us. With self-restraint, one can set goals and develop character through practice.
Fasting leads us to a self-knowledge path. After spiritual fasting, one gets a deeper sense of their spirituality and faith. You get to discern truth which is a great way to connect with God. Getting clarity helps with critical and creative decision-making.
Energy Replenishing
During fasting, the body is deprived and is on a break hence all the energy can be directed towards exploring and strengthening your spirituality and faith.
Tuning To The World At Large
Practicing spiritual fasting helps us build our awareness and focus. During fasting, one gets a sense of connection with the universe. You get to free yourself from being self-centered and the confines of your wants and needs
One gets to be aware of everyone around them and focus on connectivity, something greater than themselves. One feels lighter after discarding physical and emotional wants and needs.
Intensification Of Faith And Connection To God
Spiritual fasting helps strengthen our faith and connection to God. The body is deprived of physical and emotional needs and wants which are a distraction to our fundamental focus on our faith and connection to God.
Connection to God through prayer gets intensified. Through spiritual fasting, a deeper connection with God is strengthened through prayer. The physical emptiness gets you on a spiritual clarity that opens communication channels to spiritual intuitions and discernment.
The establishment of a sense of absence and abundance also happens through spiritual fasting. Desires and wants diminish as a sense of abundance and satisfaction.
