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Fasting (Letters)

Correspondence

1967 Correspondence

Just after seeing the Full Moon on the sky the day's fast should be broken. I mean the devotees should observe fasting the whole day. In the evening the devotees should take food as in the Ekadasi days.
Letter to Brahmananda -- San Francisco 14 March, 1967:

You shall observe Lord Caitanya's birth day as follows:

1. The picture of Lord Caitanya with His party should be nicely decorated with flowers and garlands and Sankirtana should be performed regularly from Morning to evening. Just after seeing the Full Moon on the sky the days fast should be broken. I mean the devotees should observe fasting the whole day. In the evening the devotees should take food as in the Ekadasi days.

2. The next day you can celebrate feasting on account of Lord Caitanya's appearance and read about His life as given shortly in my Srimad-Bhagavatam and you can read also from the teachings of Lord Caitanya part of which is going to be published in the present issue of Back to Godhead.

In your last letter you asked how to celebrate Krishna's and Radha's birthday. As last year, on K's with fasting up to midnight, and R's fasting up to noon. Then feasting.
Letter to Brahmananda -- Vrindaban 15 August, 1967:

In your last letter you asked how to celebrate Krishna's and Radha's birthday. As last year, on K's with fasting up to midnight, and R's fasting up to noon. Then feasting. Certainly those who take Krishna's advent as that of an ordinary man are great fools, but if one can simply understand the transcendental nature of this event as well as His disappearance, he becomes immediately liberated.

1968 Correspondence

Regarding the observance of Lord Caitanya's Advent Day. Fasting should be continued up to evening, then you may have food like on Ekadasi, fruits, milk, etc. On the next day you may observe festival.
Letter to Mahapurusa -- Los Angeles 7 March, 1968:

Regarding the observance of Lord Caitanya's Advent Day: No, there is no need for any other devotional songs or chants; simply chant Hare Krishna, with Kirtana or beads, and sing the prayer "Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita Gadadhara, SriVasadi, Gaura Bhaktavrinda." You can also chant the prayer you asked about. This was spoken by Lord Nityananda while He was preaching in the town. He was addressing the people: "My dear brothers, you simply worship Lord Caitanya; talk of Lord Caitanya; speak Lord Caitanya's Name, so anyone who does so, he is my life and soul." Thus spoke Lord Nityananda. So far the reading is concerned, you may read any one of the books you have mentioned—Introduction to Srimad-Bhagavatam, Professor Sanyal's book, Srila Bhaktivinode's book Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Life and Precepts, or English translation of Sri Sri Caitanya Caritamrta. Best thing is to take any one of the above mentioned books and finish it, from beginning to end. You can do that with Srila Bhaktivinode's book, that would be very nice.

At the meeting everyone should try to speak something on Caitanya Mahaprabhu's life, teachings, and philosophy. You can take quotations from the above mentioned books, and have discussions. Fasting should be continued up to evening, then you may have food like on Ekadasi, fruits, milk, etc. On the next day you may observe festival.

So far the Advent Day of Lord Caitanya is concerned, the main points are that we should all observe strict fasting up till moonrise, and at that time, an offering is made to Lord Caitanya of Ekadasi foods, fruits, peanuts, milk, and so forth.
Letter to Balai -- San Francisco 12 March, 1968:

So far the Advent Day of Lord Caitanya is concerned, I have written a full suggestion to Montreal, in which the main points are that we should all observe strict fasting up till moonrise, and at that time, an offering is made to Lord Caitanya of Ekadasi foods, fruits, peanuts, milk, and so forth. Then, on the next day, Friday the 15th, a full-scale feast is held to celebrate His Advent Day. On the 14th, chanting, reading of Srila Bhaktivinode's book, Life and Precepts and Caitanya Caritamrta, Introduction to Bhagavatam, may be held all the day in the Temple.

Our next ceremony is Lord Ramacandra's Birthday, on the 7th of April. It should be observed in the same way as Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day, namely, fasting up to evening and then accept Prasadam.
Letter to Mukunda -- San Francisco 26 March, 1968:

Our next ceremony is Lord Ramacandra's Birthday, on the 7th of April. It should be observed in the same way as Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day, namely, fasting up to evening and then accept Prasadam, and all our ceremonies should be performed with continuous Kirtana, of Hare Krishna, Hare Rama. That will make all our functions successful.

So far the Advent Day of Lord Rama Candra, it should be celebrated as Lord Caitanya's Birthday was done. Fasting up to evening, and then take prasadam.
Letter to Mahapurusa -- San Francisco 28 March, 1968:

So far the Advent Day of Lord Rama Candra, it should be celebrated as Lord Caitanya's Birthday was done. Fasting up to evening, and then take prasadam, and chant Hare Krishna whole day, and be engaged in reading and chanting off and on, chant for some time, then read for some time, then again have Kirtana and so on, throughout the day. If you have not got a Ramayana, then you can read Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, that is all right.

1969 Correspondence

When we serve some mundane master, he gives us sufficient salary, so when we serve the Supreme Master, how it is possible that He will keep us fasting?
Letter to Gurudasa, Yamuna -- Los Angeles 21 January, 1969:

If we are sincere, Krishna will supply us with all necessities of life. When we serve some mundane master, he gives us sufficient salary, so when we serve the Supreme Master, how it is possible that He will keep us fasting? Actually due to our lack of Krishna Consciousness sometimes we become disturbed with shortage of funds. But we should be confident that our necessities will certainly be fulfilled by the Supreme Lord. The same incident sometimes happens in New York temple. When there is a shortage of funds, sometimes they find money accidentally without knowing the source.

Lord Caitanya's advent day is on the 4th of March 1969. On that day you should keep fasting up to the moonrise in the evening, and the whole day may be utilized in performances in kirtana and reading of Lord Caitanya's teachings.
Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 20 February, 1969:

Lord Caitanya's advent day is on the 4th of March 1969. On that day you should keep fasting up to the moonrise in the evening, and the whole day may be utilized in performances in kirtana and reading of Lord Caitanya's teachings. In the evening after ceremony of kirtana is observed, light refreshments like fruit and milk, boiled potatoes may be taken and the next day general feasting and distribution of Prasadam to public may be observed.

I am enclosing a list of fasting days and festivals days which you should observe nicely.
Letter to Yamuna -- New Vrindaban 21 June, 1969:

I am enclosing a list of fasting days and festivals days which you should observe nicely. Also enclosed is a letter for Gurudasa, which you may please hand over to him. I hope this will meet you in very good health.

I am enclosing a list of the fasting days and festival days which you may follow. Please keep it carefully.
Letter to Krsna dasa -- New Vrindaban 21 June, 1969:

I am enclosing a list of the fasting days and festival days which you may follow. Please keep it carefully. Kindly convey my blessings to the other devotees there. I hope this will meet all of you in very good health.

There is no need of fasting once every week. Two days fasting per month on Ekadasi is sufficient. Besides that there are other special fasting days.
Letter to Rudra -- London 11 November, 1969:

Regarding the vows and chanting method you have adopted, it is very nice. But do not impose something which will be difficult to execute. There is no need of fasting once every week. Two days fasting per month on Ekadasi is sufficient. Besides that there are other special fasting days. Spiritual realization depends on austerities and vows, but in this age, by the Mercy of Krishna and Lord Caitanya, we need not undergo very severe penances, as we are unable to do it. The rules and regulations which we have already prescribed, that is sufficient for ordinary men. But as you have increased the chanting of beads to 25 rounds daily, that is very nice.

1970 Correspondence

One who observes fasting irregularly gives unnecessary trouble to the soul; and the soul and the Supersoul sitting together or the soul being part and parcel of the Supersoul, indirectly it is parching the Supersoul.
Letter to Ekayani -- Los Angeles 15 March, 1970:

Regarding the statement in Bhagavad-gita (17.6) that those who are demons parch the Supersoul within the body, Krishna cannot be parched, but one who observes fasting irregularly gives unnecessary trouble to the soul; and the soul and the Supersoul sitting together or the soul being part and parcel of the Supersoul, indirectly it is parching the Supersoul. The idea is that one should not unnecessarily give trouble to the soul or Supersoul. That is the business of the demon.

I am trying to change diets and sometimes fasting. But after all, it is old body, so dizziness is not unnatural.
Letter to Himavati -- Los Angeles 1 April, 1970:

I am trying to change diets and sometimes fasting. But after all, it is old body, so dizziness is not unnatural. Regarding herb teas for colds and sore throat, up to now I have no such complaint, so they are not necessary.

When there is an important Dvadasi, the Ekadasi fasting is transferred on the Dvadasi, and this is called Mahadvadasi.
Letter to Pradyumna -- Los Angeles 29 April, 1970:

When there is an important Dvadasi, the Ekadasi fasting is transferred on the Dvadasi, and this is called Mahadvadasi. The 26th October, 1970, is actually Dvadasi, so the fasting is observed together, or Ekadasi fasting is disregarded, and the Dvadasi (Mahadvadasi) fasting is taken as important.

1971 Correspondence

Real Ekadasi means fasting and chanting and no other business. When one observes fasting, the chanting becomes easier.
Letter to Jadurani -- Los Angeles 9 July, 1971:

Why just 25 rounds? You should chant as many as possible. Real Ekadasi means fasting and chanting and no other business. When one observes fasting, the chanting becomes easier. So on Ekadasi other business can be suspended as far as possible unless there is some urgent business.

1975 Correspondence

Regarding your fasting, if you are sick, then fasting is the best medicine.
Letter to Revatinandana -- Bombay 16 January, 1975:

Regarding your fasting, if you are sick, then fasting is the best medicine. For disease and unwanted guests, if you do not give them food, they will go away.

1976 Correspondence

According to our Vaisnava philosophy even a snake or lizard is in the house shall not go without eating, what to speak of other living entities. We want to see even a snake not fasting.
Letter to Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 18 November, 1976:

I am a little hopeful that if we preach in the communist countries, they will like it. According to our Vaisnava philosophy even a snake or lizard is in the house shall not go without eating, what to speak of other living entities. The communists have an idea for feeding human society, but our idea is expanding. We want to see even a snake not fasting.

1977 Correspondence

No feasting in the evening of Caitanya's birthday. Fasting all day till evening moon rise. Then take Prasadam like Ekadasi.
Letter to Rayarama -- Unknown Place Unknown Date:

No feasting in the evening of Caitanya's birthday. Fasting all day till evening moon rise. Then take Prasadam like Ekadasi. Next day you can have full swing feasting. On the birthday if can take a procession of Kirtana on the street it is very nice.

Page Title:Fasting (Letters)
Compiler:Labangalatika, Kanupriya
Created:05 of Feb, 2010
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=0, Let=18
No. of Quotes:18