Expert: Justin Choo - 10/17/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
could you please tell me if you have fasting in your religion or not? and inform me about age of people who should fast & people who do not have to fast & expiation & what happen if someone breaks his/her fast without any acceptable reasone?
Answer -
Hi Mali,
Thank you for asking me.

Buddhism does not impoe fasting on people.  This means I will not have to answer the rest of your questions!

Perhaps I may make some comments on Buddhism to explain why there is no imposition on followers of Buddhism, to force them to perform certain rites and rituals.  Buddhism is not a dogmatic religion.  It is a religion of freedom.  Freedom from the bondages of human ignorance and freedom from the shackles of self-imposed restrictions and taboos which enslave one's life.  Buddhists understand the universal law of cause and effect which works in clockwork precision without fear or favour.  We believe our lives are what we made up to be.  We are the results of what we were; and will be the results of what we are.  Wholesome actions beget wholesome results.  Evil actions generate evil consequences.  There is no escape.  This law transcends race, religion, nationality, space, and time.  No amount of fasting and penance will wash away our "sins" if we continue with our evil scheming and selfish pursuits.  


Smile from justinchoo :-)  



hello dear justinchoo
thanks a lot for such a complete answere, it was very informative for me. you said you dont have obligation about fasting in buddhist.OK, but i just wondered if you have any voluntary or? fasting? i hope you get my meaning. you see, for example this is a scentence which i found in the web" All the main branches of Buddhism practice some periods of fasting, usually on full-moon days and other holidays."who does practice this fast?

thanks mali  

Answer
Hi Mali,

Thanks for coming back.

I just noticed that there was a typing error in the 1st line of my reply.  "impoe" should be "impose".

Now to answer your follow-up question.  It is actually not fasting, but having meals only at certain time of the day.  The monks only have meals before noon.  It is their traditional practice since the Buddha's time.  It is a form of discipline, as well as for practical purpose of not imposing too much on the devotees who supported them each day.  

Apart from that, the devotees observe "fasting days" or uposatha, which fall on new moon day, 1st. quarter-moon, full moon, and 3rd quarter-moon days.  On these days, the devotees usually stay in the temple to observe the 8 precepts, away from worldly affairs.  They also discipline themselves by taking meals only before noon.

This practice is purely voluntary.  On this premise, it would be very likely that the observers during these days are committed devotees.  Otherwise they need not have to observe this exercise at all.  It is only when people are being forced to perform certain rituals and penance in the name of religion, that problems arise.  In Buddhism, there is no such thing as being forced to do.  We have complete freedom because the Buddha encouraged us to use our human intelligence and common sense to practise his teachings.

Hope this answer your question.  Please call again if you have further questions.

Smile from justinchoo :-)