Today marks the first day of my Ramadan fasting. Most sources simply state that I cannot eat or drink from sunrise to sunset, but seeing as it's been a very warm summer, and I still have to go to work, I've decided to exclude the drinking of water from those stipulations. No need to kill myself for a blog project.
I was going to get up early this morning before sun-up to eat something, but slept about 10 minutes too late for that. Maybe this whole project will get me used to rising and shining a bit earlier than normal. Anyway, no food for me until around 9:15 tonight... it's going to be a long first day.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calender. It's a time to purify the soul, practice self sacrifice, and refocus attention on God. More than just fasting, Muslims will abstain from all physical needs this month, purifying their bodies as well as their souls. Charitable work during this month is said to bring multiplied rewards in heaven, and prayer is observed more frequently and for longer periods of time.
My observation will be along these lines as well. This blog is a non-denominational, and doesn't focus on any single religion, so I don't feel comfortable throwing myself whole heartedly into the Muslim faith... that wouldn't be fair or respectful to them, and it wouldn't be honest of me at all.
As an experience project, I will abstain from physical needs and wants, fast during the daylight hours, work to purify my body and I will meditate every day to calm and purify my mind, and focus on my own spirituality. Is practicing Zen Meditation a conflict of interest? Well, I do it in a non-religious manner and use it mostly as a focusing tool, so no, I don't think it will be a problem.
So those are my ground rules. As I move forward with this lunar month, I'll post more information on what Ramadan actually is, where it comes from, and how different Muslim cultures observe it. Stay tuned, and I'll post more soon.
I was going to get up early this morning before sun-up to eat something, but slept about 10 minutes too late for that. Maybe this whole project will get me used to rising and shining a bit earlier than normal. Anyway, no food for me until around 9:15 tonight... it's going to be a long first day.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calender. It's a time to purify the soul, practice self sacrifice, and refocus attention on God. More than just fasting, Muslims will abstain from all physical needs this month, purifying their bodies as well as their souls. Charitable work during this month is said to bring multiplied rewards in heaven, and prayer is observed more frequently and for longer periods of time.
My observation will be along these lines as well. This blog is a non-denominational, and doesn't focus on any single religion, so I don't feel comfortable throwing myself whole heartedly into the Muslim faith... that wouldn't be fair or respectful to them, and it wouldn't be honest of me at all.
As an experience project, I will abstain from physical needs and wants, fast during the daylight hours, work to purify my body and I will meditate every day to calm and purify my mind, and focus on my own spirituality. Is practicing Zen Meditation a conflict of interest? Well, I do it in a non-religious manner and use it mostly as a focusing tool, so no, I don't think it will be a problem.
So those are my ground rules. As I move forward with this lunar month, I'll post more information on what Ramadan actually is, where it comes from, and how different Muslim cultures observe it. Stay tuned, and I'll post more soon.
"abstain from physical needs and wants" really?
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