The fast.

Sboyce · 03-12-2011, 06:52 PM

I had a very hectic weekend so far. I stayed up until 5 this morning before getting up at 1 pm to have a long day. Sunset was at 6:50 pm, but I was out on a group date before a school function and I ate at 6:20. Is this acceptable because I did break the rules of sunrise to sunset, but I had not or drunk in almost 24 whole hours...
I feel horrible that I let my hunger and social situation pull me away from the spiritual law of fasting at this time. It is my first time ever fasting and It has been great for me.
Any input would be helpful

Lunitik · 03-12-2011, 09:45 PM

I think your guilt is punishment enough, cannot change your action but clearly your heart is in the right place. Stay strong

arthra · 03-12-2011, 10:36 PM

I've found that reading the prayers for the Fast to be most uplifting and illuminating.. Don't worry about slip ups or problems ..just focus on the spiritual part and you'll be fine..!

The first prayer for the Fast has repetitive endings..

Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and 238 clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come

~ Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 237

This sets a rhythm and beat.. Each section has the most beautiful imagery..

such as:

I beseech Thee, O my God, by the splendor of Thy luminous brow and the brightness of the light of Thy countenance, which shineth from the all-highest horizon,

and

I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy hair which moveth across Thy face, even as Thy most exalted pen moveth across the pages of Thy Tablets, shedding the musk of hidden meanings over the kingdom of Thy creation

and so on...

RuhiWarrior19 · 03-13-2011, 10:38 AM

Dwelling on mistakes is a form of egoism. Each of us possess a thing that the Writings call the insistent self. This is the voice in your head that makes you distracted during prayers, and the part of you that makes you start getting hungry even earlier than you normally would during the fast. God desires us to progress, and Baha'u'llah tells us that what is in the past is forgiven. Focus on how to avoid failing in the future, not on how you failed in the past. The insistent self will even make us of false piety, trying to trick you into so focusing on the letter of the law and your need for repentance as to forget the spirit of the law and the true goals of obedience. If you feel you have made a mistake and worry about repeating it my advice would be to open up your prayer book to the section on steadfastness in addition to Art's great advice.

03-12-2011, 06:52 PM	#1
Sboyce Kitab-i-hearsay Joined: Nov 2010 From: Richmond, Indiana Posts: 245	The fast. I had a very hectic weekend so far. I stayed up until 5 this morning before getting up at 1 pm to have a long day. Sunset was at 6:50 pm, but I was out on a group date before a school function and I ate at 6:20. Is this acceptable because I did break the rules of sunrise to sunset, but I had not or drunk in almost 24 whole hours... I feel horrible that I let my hunger and social situation pull me away from the spiritual law of fasting at this time. It is my first time ever fasting and It has been great for me. Any input would be helpful

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03-12-2011, 09:45 PM	#2
Lunitik Senior Member Joined: Oct 2010 From: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,635	I think your guilt is punishment enough, cannot change your action but clearly your heart is in the right place. Stay strong

03-12-2011, 10:36 PM	#3
arthra Senior Member Joined: Jun 2006 From: California Posts: 3,058	I've found that reading the prayers for the Fast to be most uplifting and illuminating.. Don't worry about slip ups or problems ..just focus on the spiritual part and you'll be fine..! The first prayer for the Fast has repetitive endings.. Thou seest me, O my God, holding to Thy Name, the Most Holy, the Most Luminous, the Most Mighty, the Most Great, the Most Exalted, the Most Glorious, and 238 clinging to the hem of the robe to which have clung all in this world and in the world to come ~ Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 237 This sets a rhythm and beat.. Each section has the most beautiful imagery.. such as: I beseech Thee, O my God, by the splendor of Thy luminous brow and the brightness of the light of Thy countenance, which shineth from the all-highest horizon, and I beseech Thee, O my God, by Thy hair which moveth across Thy face, even as Thy most exalted pen moveth across the pages of Thy Tablets, shedding the musk of hidden meanings over the kingdom of Thy creation and so on...

03-13-2011, 10:38 AM	#4
RuhiWarrior19 Call me Gerald Joined: Apr 2009 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Posts: 25	Dwelling on mistakes is a form of egoism. Each of us possess a thing that the Writings call the insistent self. This is the voice in your head that makes you distracted during prayers, and the part of you that makes you start getting hungry even earlier than you normally would during the fast. God desires us to progress, and Baha'u'llah tells us that what is in the past is forgiven. Focus on how to avoid failing in the future, not on how you failed in the past. The insistent self will even make us of false piety, trying to trick you into so focusing on the letter of the law and your need for repentance as to forget the spirit of the law and the true goals of obedience. If you feel you have made a mistake and worry about repeating it my advice would be to open up your prayer book to the section on steadfastness in addition to Art's great advice.