Prabhupāda: Of course, scholarly Mohammedans, they also read very nicely Bhagavad-gītā. I know one Mohammedan professor in India. He was a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa. He did not disclose that he was a devotee, but he was observing Janmāṣṭamī fasting day and he was writing one article on Kṛṣṇa every Janmāṣṭamī day. There are many. They read.
Fasting (Conversations)
Conversations and Morning Walks
1969 Conversations and Morning Walks
1971 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Just like your father has got ten sons. So all the tens sons have got the right to use the property of the father. That is law. Similarly, all the living entities, not only human beings. Birds, animals, birds, beasts—everyone. This is called spiritual, or transcendental, communism. According to Vedic civilization, a householder has to see that even a lizard in the room is not fasting, to see whether it has got his food. Even there is a snake in the house, the householder is to see whether the snake has got his food. A householder would stand on the street, and before taking his food, he will say loudly, "If anyone is hungry, please come. Still I have got my food." And if there is no response, then he takes prasādam.
1972 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: "Kṛṣṇa is mine, Kṛṣṇa is mine, and I am Kṛṣṇa's." That is our actual position.
Bob: We are part of Kṛṣṇa.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Everything is part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa. Because everything is generated by the energy of Kṛṣṇa. And everything is energy of Kṛṣṇa. (break) ...tomorrow fasting.
Bob: Tomorrow's fasting?
Acyutānanda: Tomorrow we fast. Up until evening.
Śyāmasundara: Even if you don't want to practice austerity, you must. You are forced to.
Prabhupāda: No, because... You have got... You have surrendered to your spiritual master. His order is final. So even if you don't like, you have to do it. To please me. Even you don't like. Nobody likes to fast, but spiritual master says, "Today is fasting," so what can be done? (laughter) This is austerity. And disciple means who has voluntarily agreed to be disciplined by the spiritual master. That is austerity.
Devotee: On ekādaśī, we can offer the Deity grains?
Prabhupāda: Oh yes. But not guru. Ekādaśī observed by jīva-tattva, not by Viṣṇu-tattva. We are fasting for clearing our material disease, but Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Caitanya Mahāprabhu... Caitanya Mahāprabhu also may not be offered grains because He is playing the part of a devotee. Only Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, Jagannātha can be offered grains. Otherwise, Guru-Gaurāṅga, no. And the prasādam should not be taken by anyone. It should be kept for next day.
1973 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: But population is reducing, it is increasing. You take the statistics, the world population is increasing, it is not decreasing.
Svarūpa Dāmodara: It is increasing, but not as fast as the...
Prabhupāda: Anyway it is increasing; it is not decreasing. And besides that, there is no such restriction among the birds and beasts. How you can make more for... A cat, a dog, a hog, this birth—one dozen children at a time. And twice in a year. So increasing population is more there, they have got more capacity. So they are not fasting.
Prabhupāda: Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, after the Battle of Kurukṣetra, all the five brothers, they were almost fasting, as, what is called, atonement for so many people killed for their sake.
1974 Conversations and Morning Walks
Dr. Patel: Śubhāśubha-phalair evaṁ mokṣyase karma-bandhanaiḥ (BG 9.28). Ah, yat tapasyasi kaunteya tad kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam (BG 9.27).
Prabhupāda: Yes. Tapasi, tapasya. There are many, they are very much addicted to tapasya, suska tapasya. Śūṣka tapasya. There are many stages. Unnecessarily starving, fasting, unnecessarily.
1975 Conversations and Morning Walks
Brahmānanda: It's the first time any ex-chief executive has ever testified.
Prabhupāda: So he is not out of danger.
Brahmānanda: Well, they're still investigating the whole thing.
Prabhupāda: But I heard that he made a condition that he will no more be bothered. On this condition, he agreed to resign. (break) ...India the trouble is dissention between Indira Gandhi and Jaya Prakash Nārāyaṇa. So that Jaya Prakash Nārāyaṇa is fasting, I have heard.
Sudāmā: A lot of devotees, they take these fasting for twenty days, thirty days, fasting.
Prabhupāda: That means they are manufacturing their own way of life. That's not good.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: One of our best devotees, Śrīla Prabhupāda, he recently left our association. And one of the... I know the biggest reason is that he was fasting completely from almost all foods for thirty days.
Prabhupāda: But fasting is good. If one can fast, that is good. That is tapasya.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. But see, they read these books in addition.
Prabhupāda: Fasting is not bad. If one can fast, that is very good.
Yadubara: Śrīla Prabhupāda, you said that we should not fast more than one day.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yeah, I wanted to point out to you that the results...
Prabhupāda: No, artificial... Just like Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, he was fasting, but he was not weak. That fasting. And he who will fast artificially and become weak, "I cannot work," that is not required. That is called markaṭa-vairāgya. If you fast and at the same time you do not become weak, then that is recommended. And after fasting you cannot do a flat, fall flat, then what is the use of fasting? Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī was fasting, but he was taking thrice bathing and offering obeisances hundred times. His regular activities was not stopped.
Tejas: This is Ayana Bhavan. (break)
Prabhupāda: ...Balarāma's. So fasting.
Tejas: Yes. Till noon?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Kartikeya: All the big people have failed, and they have not been able to deliver the country or anything because their moral character...
Prabhupāda: No, no, even they have delivered the country, these physical elements you cannot avoid. You cannot avoid unless you are on the transcendental platform, Kṛṣṇa consciousness. So long you are on the physical platform, you cannot avoid. It is impossible. (Hindi) Gandhiji... (Hindi)... mistake. (Hindi) "And physical? Oh, you have done this? Fifteen days fasting."
1976 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: So today, ekādaśī as usual, the Varāha-dvādaśī will be also observed and tomorrow breakfast.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Breakfast. Fast? No.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Fasting tomorrow or...
Prabhupāda: No.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Regular...
Prabhupāda: Simply worshiping Varāhadeva. Keśava dhṛta-śūkara-rūpa, jaya jagadīśa hare. That take.
Hṛdayānanda: There's a very famous lecture you gave, Śrīla Prabhupāda, one day on a Varāha-dvādaśī, where you sang Jaya Jagadīśa and then you explained it. A very wonderful lecture.
Jayapatākā: And the day after is Nityānanda's āvirbhāva.
Prabhupāda: Oh, then half-day fasting.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: (break) ...on your appearance day and Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī's and Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura and Gaura Kiśora's we should observe half-day fast. I have a question that on all the other auspicious days, just like Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura and others, should we also observe half-day fast?
Prabhupāda: It is... But if you cannot, that is another...
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Sometimes because of the saṅkīrtana...
Prabhupāda: No, no. If you cannot, you can take.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And just sing some songs and praise.
Prabhupāda: Yes. Yes. Kīrtana is main thing.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And if possible, then the fasting.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I see. (break) ...is up till sun...
Prabhupāda: Up till sunset. Lord Rāmacandra.
Prabhupāda: Standard is sixteen, but if one can chant more, then he is welcome.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's not mandatory for ekādaśī.
Jayapatākā: Recommended.
Prabhupāda: No. Ekādaśī means that, fasting and chanting.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Sometimes I'm wondering, because our men have to go out on book distribution.
Prabhupāda: No, no. That is also preaching work. For that purpose you can stop this, but generally, one who has no preaching work, he can chant.
Prabhupāda: Guru is also depending, and combination means I depend on you, you depend on me, that's all. That is combination. That's all. So prasādam? Now, we are fasting.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We are fasting.
Prabhupāda: In the evening there will be prasādam.
Rāmeśvara: On the calendar it says it is Bhīma-ekādaśī.
Prabhupāda: Bhīma-ekādaśī, yes.
Rāmeśvara: So I've been told that if one fasts on Bhīma-ekādaśī, that it is like fasting on all the ekādaśīs. Is that true?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Ekādaśī is meant for fasting, either Bhīma or Arjuna. But we cannot fast, therefore we have to take little fruits and.... Otherwise, ekādaśī means fasting.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: If it is possible, should we go without eating at all?
Prabhupāda: Yes. But don't lie down and sleep.
Prabhupāda: If there is service and, on my fasting, service will be stopped, then I can take. First consideration, service. Now if somebody feels weak, he can take mahā-prasāda, render service.
Rāmeśvara: Could you explain that?
Prabhupāda: Fasting and feasting is the same?
Rāmeśvara: That what I, they told me.
Prabhupāda: Yes, it is in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, for Kṛṣṇa. For Kṛṣṇa, you fast or feast, the same thing. Better fast. (laughter)
Rāmeśvara: (break) ...by the devotees, is that in the spiritual world every day is feasting.
Prabhupāda: And there is no fasting. Fasting is recommended when a man is diseased. When he's in health, there is feasting. So spiritual world means health. Why there should be fasting?
Puṣṭa Kṛṣṇa: May I ask another question, Śrīla Prabhupāda? "Are fasting and other dietary regulations necessary for leading a spiritual life?"
Prabhupāda: Certainly.
- tapasā brahmacaryeṇa
- śamena damena va
- tyāgena sattva-śaucābhyāṁ
- yamena niyamena vā
- (SB 6.1.13)
To advance in spiritual life these things are essential, tapasya. Tapasya means voluntarily accepting something which may be painful. Just like we are recommending no illicit sex, no gambling, no meat-eating. So those who are accustomed to these bad habits, for them, in he beginning it may be a little difficult. But in spite of becoming difficult, one has to do it. That is called tapasya. To rise early in the morning, those who are not practiced, it is a little painful, but one has to do it. So this is called tapasya. So according to the Vedic injunction, there are some tapasyas that must be done. It is not, "I may do it or not do it." It must be done. Just like in the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad it is ordered that one must go to the spiritual master. Tad-vijñānārthaṁ sa gurum evābhigacchet (MU 1.2.12). So there is no question of voluntarily, but it must be. And one must carry out by the order of a spiritual master and the order of the śāstra. That is called tapasya. Just like in our line ekādaśī is compulsory. One may feel some inconvenience fasting or simply eating fruits. No. It must be done. There are so many rules and regulations which is essential. It must be done. That is called tapasya. Without consideration whether it is convenient or inconvenient for you, which is, must be done, that is called tapasya.
Prabhupāda: The four "no's," that is very difficult. Still they are breaking. No illicit sex, they are breaking. But if they develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, this will be automatically "no." So don't bring many "no's," but give them positive life. Then it will be automatically "no." And if you say "no," that will be a struggle. This is the psychology. Positive engagement is devotional service. So if they are attracted by devotional service, other things will be automatically "no." Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. Just like Ekādaśī day. Ekādaśī day, we observe fasting. And there are many patients in the hospital, they are also fasting. But they'll "No, no." They'll, within heart, "If I get, I shall eat, I shall eat." But those who are devotee, they voluntarily "no." The same fasting is going on for the devotees and the hospital patient. And that "no" and this "no," there is difference. Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (BG 9.59). It is not meant for the mass of people, but at least if we keep a section of people ideal to the human society, they will be guided. At the present moment, there is no ideal section. Everyone is rascal, demons, rogues, everything. There is no ideal character.
Vipramukhya: When we prepare a feast we should give and give and give, and when no one wants any more then...
Prabhupāda: Up until he comes to this point. Not only this point, but up to this point. Eat as much as you like. We are not miser. You eat. As much you want I shall supply. But don't waste. Eat. Don't waste.
Hari-śauri: This morning you were saying that fasting is very good. (laughter)
Harikeśa: I was just thinking about that.
Prabhupāda: No. Not prasādam. I never said. No, those who want to eat... Fasting... One who has not developed Kṛṣṇa consciousness, for him fasting. And one who takes pleasure, "Oh, it is Kṛṣṇa's pleasure, or Kṛṣṇa's food. I'll take." This is the idea. So we are not devotees, therefore we should first fast. And those who are devotees, they'll take as much as they like. I was telling fasting because I am not a devotee. (laughs) For me fasting is good.
1977 Conversations and Morning Walks
Prabhupāda: Paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate (BG 9.59). Just like a man is observing Ekādaśī, fasting. Another, in the hospital, he's also fasting. So these two fastings, they are different.
Dr. Patel: Here fasting of all the senses and applying to God.
Prabhupāda: For satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. And there compulsory fasting, but he has got desire. So paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate. When you get better taste, when you stop this nonsense for better taste, that is positive. Artificially, if you do, it will not benefit.
Prabhupāda: Today I think fasting.
Indian Lady: Fasting.
Prabhupāda: I have no appetite, I could not eat even breakfast.
Prabhupāda: Therefore ekādaśī. One day or two days in the month he should practice fasting, and then he'll be able to conquer over these things. These are all practical. So we should practice ourself and teach others. This is Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. And if he thinks that he's quite all right in this material atmosphere, then he's doomed.
Prabhupāda: Rāma-navamī is upavāsa up till the... Go to observe fasting up to the evening.
Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: So moon.
Prabhupāda: Sunset.
Page Title: | Fasting (Conversations) |
Compiler: | Labangalatika, Visnu Murti, Priya |
Created: | 05 of Feb, 2010 |
Totals by Section: | BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=0, Con=30, Let=0 |
No. of Quotes: | 30 |