Today I went surfing the internet again. By surfing, I mean reading articles that come my way; while reading topics that catch my interest, I read a few articles about disciplining the ego (nafs). Then, while I was looking at articles related to the hunger or fasting aspect of it, I came across a short text that I really liked. I wanted to share this with you as well. Enjoy reading.
Whoever always pursues the thought of eating enslaves their mind to the ego. Being a prisoner to the stomach takes away reason and consciousness. Whoever competes in eating less joins the ranks of the saints. He who eats too much becomes a glutton, and the house of his heart becomes a grave. Eat enough food to carry you; do not eat an amount that you will have to carry! Know this well: you should eat the food, the food shouldn’t eat you! If you eat it, it all becomes a cure; if the food eats you, it all becomes sorrow and ruin. One should say, “I am human,” and should not live to eat, but eat to live. Fasting is the zakat (alms) of the body; the one who eats too much ruins their health, their compassion diminishes, their energy gets exhausted. Eating less is the rest of the body; sleeping less is the comfort of the soul.
Do not kill your heart by eating too much; do not make the devil laugh at you! Eating too much makes the organs overwork and wears them out, making one seek a doctor for treatment. He who eats too much cannot see the truth, cannot refrain from the forbidden (haram). The affairs of the one who eats haram turn towards haram; every trouble comes from haram. The words of the one who eats too much, even of the permissible (halal), become inappropriate, and their eyes look without taking a lesson. Do not say that much food means much fuel; the one who eats too much has limited understanding.
The worship of the one who eats too much is little; they miss out on eternal happiness. The eyes of the one who eats too much are never satisfied; they do not find joy in worship. Eating too much is the seed of every affliction; eating less is the medicine of every individual.
Eat less, sleep less, speak less; this is how one attains blessings. The ego of the one who eats too much is alive, their heart sleeps and cannot make a sound. To awaken the heart, one must heed this word, and put the ego to sleep by eating less. The one who eats too much harbors bad thoughts, inclining towards sin at any moment. If you want heedlessness, don’t stop, fill your stomach; for the one who goes to bed full sleeps a lot. One must forget about eating too much and should fast frequently.
