Huff Post: by Nikhil Bump.
Physiological effects aside, fasting is more than just the physical act of refraining from food. At its core, fasting is discipline of broadening and strengthening, not withholding and waning. It is exercise for our spiritual muscle.
As our Jewish brothers and sisters celebrate their High Holiday season, Jains around the world celebrated the holiday of Paryushan this past week. While many holidays commemorate a person or historical event, Paryushan is a festival honoring the soul. It is an 8-day period of introspection and purification and, similar to Ramadan or Yom Kippur, is most commonly characterized by fasting.
Fasting, as a religious practice, has been a part of human tradition for many, many centuries. It is mentioned in the Bible, in the Old and New Testament, the Qur’an, and the Bhagavad Gita, amongst other religious texts. Many religions require fasting as an act of faith or penance – often as a means of purification. In today’s increasingly materialistic and gluttonous world, regardless of our individual faith or non-faith traditions, we can all benefit from fasting from time to time.