Fasting in civilizations and religions... Buddhists abstain from food from sunrise to sunset
Muslims around the world celebrate the advent of the blessed month of Ramadan, as the holy month witnesses the performance of the obligation of fasting, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. However, fasting is not a special Islamic ritual. Humans have known it since the beginning of creation, and many different civilizations and cultures have known it. It is also an obligation for all... The Abrahamic religions, and some ancient Eastern religions also knew it, including Buddhism.
Fasting in Buddhism is based on the lunar month, as they fast four days at the beginning of each lunar month, called “Yobuddhana” days, during which they confess their sins and ask for forgiveness. Fasting includes abstaining from food as well as working from sunrise until sunset.
There are no general rules of fasting in Buddhism. Buddhists celebrate the most important day of fasting on the “Vaisakh” holiday. On the first full moon day in May or June, the anniversary of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death is celebrated. The forms of celebration range from meditative rest, fasting, and carnival-like celebrations. Sex, alcohol and eating meat are prohibited on this day.
In the first place is the belief in “karma,” which is an ethical concept that refers to the principle of causality and that any action results in a similar result in this life as in the afterlife, and it is related to “reminding oneself that existence in life is nothing but suffering, and that by following rituals... One's karma can be improved on Earth,” explains Thomas Lemmen.
In general, it is observed in European countries that are predominantly secular, such as Germany, that even people without religious belief take advantage of most of the periods of fasting as an occasion for abstinence in eating, and the boundaries between diet and fasting have become intertwined.
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