“Windows To Spirituality”
What Is Ramadan? Ramadan (رمضان Ramaḍān, Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan, or Ramathan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (sawm) to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad according to Islamic belief. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five...
Abstinence In Judaism Abstinence is the refraining from enjoyments which are lawful in themselves. Abstinence (in Judaism) in general can be considered a virtue only when it serves the purpose of consecrating a life to a higher purpose. The saints, or adherents of religious and philosophical systems that teach the...
What Is Abstinence? Abstinence is a self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstinence from alcohol, drugs, or food. Because the regimen is intended to be a conscious act, freely chosen to enhance life,...
Sexual Abstinence Sexual abstinence or sexual restraint is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, financial, philosophical, moral, or religious reasons. Asexuality is distinct from sexual abstinence; and celibacy is sexual abstinence generally motivated by factors such as an individual’s personal or...
What Is Asceticism? Asceticism (exercise, training) is a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from sensual pleasures, often for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals. Ascetics may withdraw from the world for their practices or continue to be part of their society, but typically adopt a frugal lifestyle, characterised by the renunciation...
![Lent celebrants carrying out a street procession during Holy Week, in Granada, Nicaragua. The violet color is often associated with penance and detachment. Similar Christian penitential practice is seen in other Christian countries, sometimes associated with fasting.[20]](https://slife.org/wp-content/uploads/Holy_Week_procession_in_Granada_Nicaragua-520x390.jpg)
What Is Lent? Lent (Quadragesima, ‘Fortieth’) is a solemn religious observance in the Christian liturgical calendar that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends approximately six weeks later on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday. The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, doing penance, mortifying the...
Fasting In Buddhism In Buddhism, there are a variety of attitudes towards different forms of Fasting. The Buddha is known to have practiced extreme forms of fasting which led to his emaciation and to have famously abandoned it before his great awakening. Nevertheless, different forms of fasting are practiced in various Buddhist traditions....
Christian Dietary Laws This article covers Christian Dietary Laws. In mainstream Nicene Christianity, there is no restriction on kinds of animals that can be eaten. This practice stems from Peter’s vision of a sheet with animals, described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 10, in which Saint Peter “sees a sheet...
Detoxification Or Body Cleansing Detoxification or body cleansing (often shortened to detox) is a type of body cleansing treatment which aims to rid the body of unspecified “toxins” – substances that proponents claim have accumulated in the body and have undesirable short-term or long-term effects on individual health. Activities commonly associated with...
What Is Preoperative Fasting? Preoperative fasting is the practice of a patient abstaining from oral food and fluid intake for a time before an operation is performed. This is intended to prevent pulmonary aspiration of stomach contents during general anesthesia. Pulmonary aspiration The main reason for preoperative fasting is to prevent pulmonary aspiration of stomach contents while under the effects...
What Is Simple Living? Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one’s lifestyle. These may include, for example, reducing one’s possessions, generally referred to as minimalism, or increasing self-sufficiency. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they have rather than want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simply and refraining...
Fasting And Abstinence Of The Coptic Orthodox Church Of Alexandria This article covers Fasting and Abstinence of The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria. The Copts (Christians of Egypt), who belong mostly to the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, observe fasting periods according to the Coptic calendar. These fasting periods are exceeded by no...
What Is Jewish Vegetarianism? Jewish vegetarianism is a commitment to vegetarianism that is connected to Judaism, Jewish ethics or Jewish identity. While classical Jewish law neither requires nor prohibits the consumption of meat, Jewish vegetarians often cite Jewish principles regarding animal welfare, environmental ethics, moral character, and health as reasons...
What Is Christian Vegetarianism? Christian vegetarianism is the practice of keeping to a vegetarian lifestyle for reasons connected to or derived from the Christian faith. The three primary reasons are spiritual, nutritional, and ethical. The ethical reasons may include a concern for God’s creation in general – especially given climate...
Fasting In Hinduism Fasting in Hinduism is is not an obligation, but a moral and spiritual act where the aim is to purify the body and mind and acquire divine grace. Individuals observe different kinds of fasts based on personal beliefs and local customs. Some are listed below. Some Hindus...
Bigu (grain avoidance) Bigu (辟谷; 辟穀; bìgǔ; pi-ku; ‘avoiding grains’) is a Daoist fasting technique associated with achieving xian “transcendence; immortality”. Grain avoidance is related to multifaceted Chinese cultural beliefs. For instance, bigu fasting was the common medical cure for expelling the sanshi 三尸 “Three Corpses“, the malevolent, grain-eating spirits that live in the...
Nineteen Day Fast (Fasting in Baha’i Faith) The Nineteen-Day Fast (2 March–20 March) is a nineteen-day period of the year, during which members of the Bahá’í Faith adhere to a sunrise-to-sunset fast. Along with obligatory prayer, it is one of the greatest obligations of a Bahá’í, and its chief purpose...
![Vrata may be observed as a silent private rite, or be more elaborate with activities such as vrata mandalas design such as kolam, rangoli or mehndi.[28][13]](https://slife.org/wp-content/uploads/Colorful_Kolam-520x390.jpg)
What Is Vrata? In the context of Hinduism and Hindu mythology, the term vrata (pronunciation: vrat or brat) denotes a religious practice to carry out certain obligations with a view to achieve divine blessing for fulfillment of one or several desires. Etymologically, vrata, a Sanskrit word (and also used in...
Fasting And Abstinence In The Catholic Church This article covers Fasting and Abstinence in The Catholic Church. The Catholic Church historically observes the disciplines of fasting and abstinence at various times each year. For Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one’s intake of food, while abstinence refers to refraining from...
Jain Festivals Jain festivals occur on designated days of the year. Jain festivals are either related to life events of Tirthankara or they are performed with intention of purification of soul. See also: Jainism, Jain Philosophy Festivals There are many religious festivals in Jainism. Some of them are associated with five auspicious...
