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However, it is crucial to pause and reflect on what we are calling a “fast,” for, although the idea of fast is still upheld with great fervor, its true meaning and purpose can be obscured by the latest phalahar recipes. Upvas In Sanskrit, the word for fast is Upvas. This literally means, “sitting near to...” Sitting near to whom? Near to God. Fasting is a time in which our bodies are light, a time in which our vital energy is not being dissipated through the process of consumption and digestion, a time in which we are free from the heaviness and lethargy resulting from overindulgence. A Fast For All Senses We tend to think that we only “eat” through our mouths, that our meals are the only “food” our bodies get. However, what we hear, what we see, what we touch – all these things are taken into our bodies as food. Just as pure, wholesome food brings us health of the body, so do pure, wholesome sights, sounds and other stimuli bring health to the mind, heart and soul. Therefore, when we undertake a fast, we must be equally as aware of purifying the food that we take in through our eyes, ears and hands as we are of the food that we take in through our mouths. However, a fast is not meant to be merely a refrain from During our fast, our ears should refrain from hearing anything other than chanting of the Lord’s name, positive con- eating. In fact, it is not necessary to refrain entirely from servation which is peaceful, pious and beneficial or the food on the day of a fast. Fruits and milk enable our bod- quiet of our own thoughts. During a fast we should not ies to remain strong and active while simultaneously giv- listen to rock music, watch TV, or be part of idle gossip. So ing us the benefit of a “fast.” Upvas, however, is not as frequently we see people at temple who have spent the simple as just reducing one’s caloric intake or avoiding whole day “fasting” and then they come to temple and certain foods. Upvas is not a time in which only our stom- huddle together gossiping and chatting. Their bodies may ach is free from excessive external stimulation. It is not a time of mere restraint of the tongue. Rather, it should be a be hungry, but their soul has not fasted. time in which all of our organs are restrained. It should be Additionally, that which we see – frequently without even a time in which all of our organs are purified, a time in noticing it – penetrates our minds and hearts and changes which every sense is turned toward the divine. our perspective. The simple sight of a woman’s bare leg may arouse lust in an otherwise simple and pious man; Our tongues should refrain from both indulgence in food the sight of blood might cause nausea and panic in one and drink, as well as from indulgence in speech. A fast who is usually calm; the sight of a enemy might immedi- should also be a time duirng which we observe as much ately evoke animosity in one who is usually peaceful and silence as possible, for we lose much of our vital energy in speech, and through speech our focus becomes diverted loving. outward. When we fast we must limit all stimuli which we perceive. DROPS DROPS OF OF OF NECTAR NECTAR NECTAR . 62 DROPS DROPS OF OF NECTAR NECTAR . 63
That is why we should “sit near to God.” Sit at the temple – either the temple in your home or in the actual mandir. Or, if you prefer, be with nature. Just make sure that as much as possible the sights and the sounds which you “imbibe” during your fast are pure, pious, loving and filled with divinity. Even if you go to work or to school during your fast, try as much as possible to avoid those situations in which you will see or hear things that are arousing, disturbing or distracting. If there is a way to drive to work or school that may be perhaps a few minutes longer but that takes you through a tree-lined road rather than the packed freeway, take the nicer drive. If you can spend your lunch break walking in a park or with your eyes closed in meditation, do that rather than spend the time siitting in a cafe with your friends. Remember, a fast is not every day. “this is my fast.” The days of the Indian week are in honor of a particular deity or aspect of the divine. Monday, Somvar, is the day dedicated to Lord Shiva. Tuesday, Mangalvar, is the day dedicated to Hanumanji. Thursday, Guruwar, is the day dedicated to the Guru. It is said that on these particular days, that aspect of the divine is in the nearest reach of the devotee. So, for example, devotees of Lord Shiva will observe a fast on Mondays in order to offer their respects to the Lord and to seek his blessings. Seekers who are strongly devoted to their Guru will observe fast on Thursdays, in order to feel “one” with the Guru and to remember him throughout the course of the day. It should be a special day of purification and However, sometimes we see that these fasts have become merely ritual; the spiritual aspect has been lost in many rememberance of God. Try to take steps that remind you cases. People observe fast because they’ve done it for years, throughout the day that you are “fasting” all of your senses. or because their parents did it, or because they were in- During a fast we should also try to quiet our mind as much structed to do so. It is a rare and truly divine devotee who as possible. So much of our energy is drained each day in truly remembers, throughout the course of the day, that our ceaseless, incessant thought process. And frequently it aspect of the divine for whom they are fasting. Again, fre- leads only to more confusion and more questions. Therequently we see plates of puris, pakoras and ladoos, and fore, as we give our bodies a rest from digesting food in our stomachs, as we give our ears a rest from digesting days spent just like any other day. impure thoughts, and as we give our eyes a rest from di- Indian culture and Hindu tradition are meant to bring us gesting over-stimulating or sensual sights, let us also give into close contact with the divine. They are meant to open our minds a rest from having to digest our thousands upon up the infinite, glorious channel between us and God. These thousands of thoughts each day. rituals were given to help us step out of the mundane world and re-realize our divine connection. If we fill our stomachs Weekly Fasts with pakoras and ladoos and fried potatoes, are we really Many people fast on a particular day of the week. You will very likely to remember God? That doesn’t mean that one notice, for example, on Monday that many people will say must have a completely empty, aching stomach. One can DROPS DROPS OF OF OF NECTAR NECTAR NECTAR . 64 DROPS DROPS OF OF NECTAR NECTAR . 65
Page 2 and 3: Drops of Nectar Fourth Edition A Co
Page 4 and 5: Swami Chidanand Saraswati,2004, Dro
Page 6 and 7: Pieces Sent by Others Give, by Kahl
Page 8 and 9: Thus, in these pages you will find
Page 10 and 11: INTRODUCTION I have been blessed be
Page 12 and 13: face, I knew that what He was going
Page 14 and 15: SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 - ITS MEANING, I
Page 16 and 17: and that our ears can process the s
Page 18 and 19: We must look deeper than treaties,
Page 20 and 21: consumption are raised distinctly d
Page 22 and 23: those hormones (which are the same
Page 24 and 25: a great risk of developing infectio
Page 26 and 27: in the middle of the room, closing
Page 28 and 29: of everything unto Me, you will be
Page 30 and 31: attaining God realization. As an an
Page 32 and 33: Yes, of course, souls can come back
Page 36 and 37: take fruit, nuts and milk without l
Page 38 and 39: with sumptuous, cooked meals prepar
Page 40 and 41: not, similarly these moral and ethi
Page 42 and 43: principles and laws. Remember what
Page 44 and 45: There was once a huge elephant cros
Page 46 and 47: So, then, the root to success in li
Page 48 and 49: found not in the acquisition, but r
Page 50 and 51: poverty to you. But, if you look a
Page 52 and 53: in a boat to cross the water and sp
Page 54 and 55: is what is needed. There is a beaut
Page 56 and 57: MEIN TO KAB SE TERI SHARAN MEIN HUN
Page 58 and 59: should be a minute to minute, momen
Page 60 and 61: says, “Bhagwad Gita Kinchidadhita
Page 62 and 63: KUMBHA MELA - FESTIVAL OF THE NECTA
Page 64 and 65: than Jayant and they pursued him re
Page 66 and 67: mother, this means treating her wit
Page 68 and 69: However, it must be remembered that
Page 70 and 71: However, the library is silent. It
Page 72 and 73: His work is flowing through you, wh
Page 74 and 75: What do I want out of life? What is
Page 76 and 77: e to carry a gun to protect himself
Page 78 and 79: They are the chains of our attachme
Page 80 and 81: CORPORAL PUNISHMENT Corporal punish
Page 82 and 83: understand. Instead, she would simp
Page 84 and 85:
There is a story that goes as follo
Page 86 and 87:
Gujaratis marrying Gujaratis, Punja
Page 88 and 89:
We have seen that everyone wants to
Page 90 and 91:
do our sadhana, perform our duties
Page 92 and 93:
THE DANGER OF ANGER There was once
Page 94 and 95:
So many times in life we read spiri
Page 96 and 97:
pathy and charity make us feel like
Page 98 and 99:
longer coursing with high volumes o
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we really want to be healed at thei
Page 102 and 103:
DIVINE ASSISTANCE There was once a
Page 104 and 105:
ather than obstinately trying to be
Page 106 and 107:
“You can not take the needle with
Page 108 and 109:
crippled man, a dirty child or a cr
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ing job, a lucrative career — the
Page 112 and 113:
as childish. Yet, those views are f
Page 114 and 115:
ONLY YOU There once lived a king, b
Page 116 and 117:
ing it through success, others brin
Page 118 and 119:
always tell people, “Be God consc
Page 120 and 121:
ished!!!” However, the saint was
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a divine, compassionate, pious, dev
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DO YOUR DUTY There was once a horri
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THE LEAKY BUCKET In the very olden
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The prose has become poetry, the st
Page 130 and 131:
this re-connection to your culture
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appear better, or we criticize thos
Page 134 and 135:
“I have come to take you away fro
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say, “I will not buy another jack
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SEARCHING FOR THE NEEDLE Once a wom
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He watched as the saint carefully a
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way? For how long can you move othe
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GIVE GIVE BY BY: BY : KAHLIL KAHLIL
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WHA WHAT WHA T A A DIFFERENCE DIFFE
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there with your same degree; there
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LET LETTER LET TER FR FROM FR OM GA
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I’VE I’VE LEARNED LEARNED I’v
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WA WATCH WA CH CH AND AND LISTEN LI
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BILL BILL GA GATES’ GA TES’ 11
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Never in his life had Shaya run to
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president and spiritual head of Par
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In the midst of this ocean of desti
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Rural Development Program: We are r
Page 166 and 167:
Praise for Drops of Nectar Dear Bha
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Jay Siya Ram Pujya Swamiji i hope m
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