The Buddha deemed that one leaving home to practice no longer
commits to work around the house but, turning to live on offerings and
aid from others and hence absolutely not looking for extravagances in life
or anything excessive, stops asking for food past noon each day so as not
to add to the burden of givers and, meanwhile, being enabled to make
more time for practice. That is what the practice of no eating past noon
is all about.
ext-�� sap� �� no intended viewing or attendance as such.
Gate implies prohibition, disallowing and putting a stop to eight
behaviors, to destruction and violation. Cultivation and keeping of
these eight precepts enable closing of all doors that open to the evil
destinies of the hells, hungry ghosts, and animals.
Fasting, its Chinese character constituting two parts, of one and
mind, connotes inner cleansing and purifying to become adorned and
impeccable. As Buddhism stresses on assumption of the middle path,
the stipulation of no eating past noon does tally with practicing the
method of exit from the world as a whole. Such is the meaning of
the eight-gate precepts and fasting.
Observation of the eight-gate precepts and fasting usually runs for
seven days. But in this day and age when everyone has own work
schedule and tight routine, it does come down to three days or
two days and one night.
