In Sanskrit, fasting is called upavasa. Upa means “near” and vasa means “to stay.” This “staying near” refers to attaining closeness with the Divine. In Hebrew, a fast is tsom, literally meaning, “to not eat.” In Greek, the term is nesteia, meaning “no food.” A basic definition of fasting is the voluntary abstinence from food. This abstinence means ingesting no (or minimal amounts of) food and caloric beverages for periods that typically range from twelve hours to several weeks. In a larger context, fasting means to abstain from that which is toxic to mind, body, and soul.

When spiritual fasting, we deliberately let go of that which binds us to the material world (food) in order to receive sustenance from the more subtle and spiritual world. We make the choice that for a period of time we will detach from our physical cravings in order to focus on spiritual ones. We feed our soul with the same enthusiasm with which we normally feed our bodies.

For, as the great Persian poet Al-Ghazali wrote: “He who buries his head deep in a nosebag full of food cannot hope to see the invisible world.”

Fasting, practiced as an essential discipline for the revelation of true knowledge, has a place in the traditions of most world religions. Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan while Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus fast on designated days of the week or at special times of the year.

Socrates and Plato practiced 10-day fasts in order to purify the soul to better perceive the Truth. Pythagoras did 40-day fasts and required the same of his disciples before he would initiate them. He believed that only in this way would they be pure enough to understand the profundity of the teachings.

In addition to its spiritualizing effects, fasting is also profoundly healing for the physical body. In fact, it is probably the oldest known healing method. Great physicians such as Hippocrates, Paracelsus, and Galen prescribed it. When we fast, the body is focused on the removal of toxins and the regeneration of damaged tissue. The eliminative systems (skin, lungs, kidneys, bowels, and liver) become more active. Because the body is not spending energy digesting and eliminating new toxins, it is able to direct all its energy toward the elimination of accumulated toxins and waste products. Fasting has a normalizing effect on the biochemical and mineral balance in the tissues and tones the nervous system, encouraging an overall state of well-being.