jamesrf

Hello all. I am a new Baha'i as of last year. As we approaching the fast, I have a question. I am underweight and just started gaining. My metabolism is overtime and I have worked hard to put on some pounds. I've read a lot about not eating a lot before and after sun, and how it is important to maintain weight during the fast neither gaining nor losing. It takes 2600 calories a day for me to not lose anything. Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid losing much weight during the fast, while staying true to the wonderful sacrifice? Thanks!

cire perdue

We are to be wise about such things. If it were me, I would attempt to eat before sunrise, I would forbid myself tea during the day or other things like that, at lunch I would eat a non-exciting meal and wait until after sunset to eat. I would drink liquids when I first got up before eating to conserve fluids and attempt to do without liquids during the day. This is a mere suggestion, but an example of what I would do if it were me and feel okay about it. I am going to be faced with possibly not being able to Fast for medical reasons, so I am working on it as well. Fast has been very, very special for me in the past and sometimes I went into it kicking and screaming and came out with some spiritual "achievements" that were peace and joyful. Hope this helps.

Pollwr

Hello Jamesrf

If there is a medical reason why you should not fast then, as a Bahá'í, you are suposed to go with the doctor's advice. If you think this is the case, maybe you should get consult a doctor. The purpose of the fast is not to injure our health. I fast because I am lucky enough to have good health and I know it does not harm me. When I have been ill I did not fast and I did not feel guilty about it.

I have heard some Bahá'ís say that they should lose weight during the fast but I have never seen anything in the writings about weight and I think that is unimportant from a spiritual point of view.

"Fasting is of two kinds -- spiritual and material.
The spiritual fasting comes first, and is
the soul's refusal or denial of all kinds of evil
actions and habits -- this is the important fasting.
The bodily fasting or abstinence from
food, is a sign or witness to the inward fasting,
and is of no value by itself. But when both
kinds of fasting go together, then the effect upon
the soul is as "light upon light."

(Compilations, Baha'i Prayers 9, p. 48)
"Break thy fast, Oh Leaf
of My Tree, because, when hurtful, fasting has
been, and will be, of no benefit."

(Compilations, Baha'i Prayers 9, p. 14)

arthra

I'm assuming this is your first fast...

If you are extremely under weight.. you might consult your physician and see if fasting would endanger your health. If your doctor advises you shouldn't fast you have an excuse not to...

People who are ill or have health problems are excused or exempt from fasting.

Essence of GOD

anyone know when fasting starts and ends? time and date please.

arthra

That's an excellent question!

Baha'i Month of Fasting

The last month in the Baha'i calendar, March 2-20, is dedicated to the Baha'i Fast. During this time, Baha'is between 15 and 70 years of age do not eat or drink for 19 days from sunrise to sunset and set aside time for prayer and meditation. Exemptions from the Fast occur for illness, pregnancy, nursing mothers, extended travel and arduous physical labor.

So it depends on where you live..that is from sunrise to sunset...and the dates are also variable..that is you will start fasting earlier as the fast proceeds because the sun will rise earlier..and set later.

I found this site is very helpful for finding out the times of sunrise and sunset where ever you live:

Sunrise, sunset, dawn and dusk times around the World - Gaisma

Just answer the questions as to where you live!

Here is another way to figure this out:

Sunrise/Sunset Entry

The above is taken from

Baha'i Faith: Fasting, Software, and Miscellaneous

You can also consult local sources for the times of sunrise and sunset .. It maybe in a local newspaper or even a weather channel.

Essence of GOD

thank you sir, expect me to ask the same question next year

arthra

Hey we'll look forward to it!

If you think about..and sometiems I "think" ..not too heavily though..

The Baha'i Calendar is more solar than lunar based..so that means our fast and new years Nar-Ruz will be about the same time each year! The Christian Lent and Easter varies as they are lunar based and of course so does the Muslim calendar..which is lunar..where Ramadan fast moves around the year..so they really need a new calendar each year..

The Christian new year isn't really a Holy Day... and the names of the Gregorian months are still basically derived from pagan names such as January from "Janus" the goddess of entering/beginning

January late 13c., Ieneuer, from O.N.Fr. Genever, O.Fr. Jenvier (Mod.Fr. Janvier), attested from early 12c. in Anglo-French, from L. Ianuarius (mensis) "(the month) of Janus," to whom the month was sacred as the beginning of the year (see Janus; cf. It. Gennajo, Prov. Genovier, Port. Janeiro).

and March from "Mars"

March c.1200, from Anglo-Fr. marche, from O.Fr. marz, from L. Martius (mensis) "(month) of Mars," from Mars (gen. Martis). Replaced O.E. hreðmonaþ, of uncertain meaning, perhaps from hræd "quick, nimble, ready, active, alert, prompt." For March hare, proverbial type of madness, see mad.

April was from "Venus"

April c.1300, aueril, from O.Fr. avril (11c.), from L. (mensis) Aprilis "(month) of Venus," second month of the ancient Roman calendar, dedicated to the goddess Venus

May early 12c., from O.Fr. mai, from L. Majus, Maius mensis "month of May," possibly from Maja, Maia a Roman earth goddess (wife of Vulcan) whose name is possibly from PIE *mag-ya "she who is great," fem. suffixed form of base *meg- "great" (cognate with L. magnus).

and so on.

While all our months are dedicated to the attributes of God:

The names of the nineteen months are: Bahá (Splendour), Jalál (Glory), Jamál (Beauty), 'Azamat (Grandeur), Núr (Light), Rahmat (Mercy), Kalimát (Words), Kamál (Perfection), Asmá' (Names), 'Izzat (Might), Mashíyyat (Will), 'Ilm (Knowledge), Qudrat (Power), Qawl (Speech), Masá'il (Questions), Sharaf (Honour), Sultán (Sovereignty), Mulk (Dominion), and 'Alá (Loftiness).

You could much more easily set up a perennial calendar for the Baha'i year as it only varies one day every "leap year"..every four years, of course this would put a lot of people out of work. I mean think about it...Think of all those calendars people have to buy each year to keep up with the Gregorian year!

Essence of GOD

amazing observation,
Muslim fasting was after nurooz, which was hard, cause nurooz had ended.
Bahia fasting is awesome cause its before nurooz, it ends with a celebration, much easier mentally to not think obtruding thoughts during fasting spiritually.
physically, they are the same.

how lucky are we to have found Baha'ullah?
some times i feel so amazed of my luck in finding him

armin

I so feel the same I don't know how to express my feelings. But yes, I'll suffice to say this. I feel so lucky and privileged that I have found Baha'ullah and I can't stay silent. I was just saying this to my fiancee and when I read what you wrote 'Essence of GOD' it just hit me boom . I want everyone to feel lucky that they've found Baha'ullah; that they're special. It's such a great feeling and I wish everyone would feel the same ...

Enough with my rambling

Eric

Beautifully said!

BruceDLimber

It definitely helps if you live in the right place!

Here in the DC area, during the Fast the time of sunset is always within one minute of the date: so that on March 14, for example, sunset will be within one minute of 6:14 pm (and in fact, usually during that very minute)!

Wrks great! :-)

bruce