I was invited to be a speaker at the Annual Inter-faith Iftar Prayer and Dinner at the Muslim Center of Long Island. Following is my speech.
Good evening – Salam Alaikum – and Namaste to all,
Much has been said about fasting as a means to gain clarity of mind, health in body, purification of the spirit and connection with the divine, all things pertinent to fasting in Hinduism so I won’t go into them. Instead I want to talk about two concepts in Hinduism that emphasizes one of the core foundations of the Hindu faith, which is “balance”. The Hindu philosophy puts an inordinate amount of value on finding balance as a way to living a good life.
The Hindu religious story begins with “Brahman” – which is the Cosmic Principle, the single binding unity behind all that exists in the universe. In ancient books, it has been described as the unchanging, permanent, highest reality. It is formless and genderless, it just is. This primal energy of the universe is the God with the big “G”. From this primal Cosmic energy (the singular) arose the masculine consciousness & the feminine creative energy, which manifests in Trinities; The Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. Neither the masculine or the feminine energy is dominant over the other, neither give rise to the other, instead they exist since the beginning of time in an intricate balance that is manifested in each living being. These masculine and feminine energies form the Hindu pantheon of gods – often gods with a small “g”. Living beings live as part of Samsara; which is the continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth The wheel of Dharma another core concept in Hinduism symbolizes movement, cycles, and transformation, this wheel of balance operates according to the laws of the universe.
So how does balance pertain to fasting? – There are two concepts; one called rasa and the other called Tapa, they represent two contrasting and complimentary approaches to life: one rooted in sensory experience and joy, and the other in discipline and austerity.
Rasa literally means “juice” or “essence,” referring to the emotional and aesthetic experience derived from life, art, and devotion. It encourages engagement or “bhoga” with life, relationships, and emotions, embracing the richness of experience.
“Tapas” or “Tapa” literally means “heat” or “inner fire,” symbolizing self-discipline, asceticism, and the burning away of impurities. It represents renunciation, meditation, and control over desires to attain spiritual enlightenment. Tapa is a physical, verbal, and mental discipline, which aligns with the ethical principles of Yoga. Fasting is considered a form of Tapas, where one practices self-restraint, purification, and spiritual discipline to transcend physical desires and cultivate inner strength. The Sanskrit word for fasting, Upavāsa literally means “dwelling near” or “staying close”—specifically, staying close to the Divine through austerity (Tapas), meditation, and self-discipline. What comes to mind is “Nearer, My God, to Thee”.
Though opposites, Rasa and Tapa are not mutually exclusive. The ideal life involves a balance—enjoying the richness of life (Rasa) while cultivating discipline and self-control (Tapa). In Hinduism, this is embodied in figures like Krishna (who enjoys Rasa but upholds Dharma) and Shiva (who practices Tapas but also engages in cosmic dance).
A shloka or a verse from Bhagvad Gita communicates the importance of this balance:
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन॥
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा॥
The meaning:
“There is no possibility of yoga – meaning spiritual discipline – for one who eats too much or eats too little, nor for one who sleeps too much or too little. He who is temperate in eating, sleeping, working, and recreation can eliminate all suffering through yoga.”
Having said that, ‘tis the season of fasting. So I will end with a quote from Bhagvata Purana “By fasting, a person purifies the body, by truthfulness, the mind; by knowledge and austerity, the soul; and by devotion, he attains liberation.”
Thankyou – Shukirya – and Danyavaad
Swati Srivastava is an immigrant and a multi award-winning writer, director, and voiceover artist. A filmmaker & storyteller, Swati turns ideas into experience. She is also the Director of Visual Media for a national non-profit and an environmentalist. She can be reached via Linkedin and swati@TiredAndBeatup.com