This is true knowledge: to seek the Self as the true end of wisdom always. To seek anything else is ignorance.
A person once asked me in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: “Tell me, when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?” We must always consider the person.
Fasting in the monastic community is considered an ascetic practice, a “dhutanga” practice. Dhutanga means “to shake up” or “invigoration”. The Buddha, as is well known, emphasized moderation, the Middle Way that avoids extremes, in all things. Fasting is an additional method that one can take up, with supervision, for a time.
No matter what country or culture you’re from, you always believe in friendship, you always believe in human values, and you always believe in peace.
