2017 Fasting Diary: Week 3

...Continuation 

(Click here for the introduction: week 1)

(Click here week 2)

March 15, 2017
Food for the soul:

"...Even thou outwardly the Fast is difficult and toilsome, yet inwardly it is bounty and tranquility. Purification and training are conditioned and dependent only on such rigorous exercises as are in accord with the Book of God and sanctioned by Divine law, not those which the deluded have inflicted upon the people. Whatsoever God hath revealed is beloved of the soul. We beseech Him that He may graciously assist us to do that which is pleasing and acceptable unto Him."
-Bahá'u'lláh

Food for the body:

Korean noodles & boiled egg for breakfast

Things have felt a little different these last three days. I've been eating smaller breakfasts, and I've been breaking my fast over an hour over sunset and it has made no difference. I remember during the first week, whenever it hit 12pm, my stomach would make this grumbling sound, but then it would go away and come back again at 3pm. I knew it wasn't because I was hungry; I think my system was just used to those hours as the time I normally eat (so automatic reaction). During the first 10 days or so, I'd reach home with a feeling like there's a knot in my stomach, hence the desire for some warm liquid. But no more. It's obvious the body has adapted. Outwardly, yes the fast looks difficult and challenging, but physical suffering is only temporary. 

2017 Fasting Diary: Week 2

...continuation (see previous post for introduction)

March 08, 2017

Food for the soul:

"O SON OF BEING! My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish."

-Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh (Arabic, No. 9) 

Food for the body:

My Mom and I made a Nigerian breakfast this morning - egg stew and yam (call it tomato omelet, if you may). How to make it: saute onions and garlic until a little brown, then throw in some sliced tomatoes. In the meantime, scramble some eggs in a bowl, then when the tomatoes are a bit soft, pour the eggs over the tomatoes. In Nigeria they usually scramble the eggs on the pan, as they're being cooked, so it becomes scrambled omelet...but we didn't do that. The yam is just boiled - in Nigeria the yam is white, but there's no white yam here; just purple (Filipinos call it ube *not the sweet one*). If you don't have yam, you can just boil potatoes - tastes almost the same. I said *almost the same* ... I know my Nigerian readers might react violently (yam and potatoes do NOT taste the same) I know...but that's the closest taste comparison I could make hehe

Even if this is your 20th fasting-versary (lol), it always takes some getting used to in the beginning. Each year we fast, we realize it's always a different experience - it was different when I was fasting as a student, when I was fasting while on a holiday, and now fasting as an employee. This year I made more effort to read the Holy Writings - before, I would just pray in the morning and that's it, but this time I wanted to make my fasting a more holistic, more meaningful experience. So for the first week I selected quotations related to the Fast, because I felt it would really help me adjust better and gain a deeper understanding of what I'm doing and it has also helped me in sharing with others (who ask) why I'm doing what I'm doing. 

For this second week of the Fast, I'm selecting 7 quotations from The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah (Part I: Arabic). I'm selecting the quotations by the nines...so quotations #9, 19, 29...etc 😃

2017 Fasting Diary: Week 1

I think I'll be calling this and the next two posts my Fasting Diary. To those of you who don't know, Bahá'ís around the world fast for 19 days each year (it always used to be from March 2-20, but since last year it's now March 1- 19). Fasting is obligatory for Baha'is between 15 - 70 years old. It means no eating, drinking, smoking... from sunrise to sunset. People who are traveling (for more than 9 hours), women who are pregnant or are nursing or are on their menstrual cycle, people who are engaged in heavy labor and those who are ill are exempted from fasting. The harmony of science and religion is one of the principles of the Bahá'i Faith, so in terms of physical health, fasting cleans and detoxifies our digestive system. Eating excess food sort of burdens our digestive system (so much stress to digest, metabolize, etc) so giving our body this break will divert its attention to healing and recuperation or basically a chance for the body to "catch up". 

Then spiritually, fasting does wonders - it gives us a chance to reflect on our habits and to detach ourselves from the physical world and from the self... no, not just with food...but to practice self-control and moderation with everything else, even our thoughts!

So I'll be sharing with you my journey through this blog. Each day I will share a quotation from the Bahá'i writings, then I'll also share with you what I had in the morning for breakfast or what I had in the evening to break the fast. I'm only doing the second part because in case you don't already know from my previous posts, I'm a food blogger (or is that just a fancy word for foodie). 

March 01, 2017

Food for the soul:

"Praise be Thou, O God, my God! These are the days whereon Thou hast enjoined Thy chosen ones, Thy loved ones and Thy servants to observe the Fast, which Thou hast made a light unto the people of Thy kingdom, even as Thou didst make obligatory prayer a ladder of ascent unto those who acknowledge Thy unity. I beg of Thee, O my God, by these two mighty pillars, which Thou hast ordained as a glory and honour for all mankind, to keep Thy religion safe from the mischief of the ungoldy and the plotting of every wicked doer. O Lord, conceal not the light which Thou hast revealed through Thy strength and Thine omnipotence. Assist, then, those who truly believe in Thee with the hosts of the seen and the unseen by Thy command and Thy sovereignty. No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the Most Powerful."
-Prayer for the Fast, by Bahá'u'lláh

Food for the body:

This evening I broke the fast with mango cheeeesseeecake from Becky's Kitchen because..... 
it's my birthday today!!
This prayer was a reminder to me of how important obligatory prayer is, and how it should go hand in hand with the fast. It's been difficult for me to say the noon obligatory prayer since I started working this year because there is no room in the office for privacy (to pray)...well there are two empty conference/board rooms which I could go into, but I don't feel comfortable having to go into those rooms alone, and have everyone wonder why? Today however, between 12-1 pm I found myself alone in my office room because everyone was out for lunch, so I had the opportunity to stand and face the Qiblih. It was a wonderful feeling!