Abstinence as a form of spiritual service

[oragold]

I had said at a meeting that I viewed abstinence as a form of spiritual service and another member asked if I could explain how, so here goes!

First, my passion right now is meditation. The kind I do is a concentration meditation where I sit and pay attention to my breath. This meditation helps me know that I’m not in control of anything, not even my breath. The other kind I do is insight meditation where I am mindful of my thoughts, feelings, emotions and sensations as they pass through me. This meditation helps me know that everything in my life is impermanent. I find that the practices of abstinence fall right in with these meditations. As I plan, prepare, weight and measure my food, these activities bring me back to myself and keep me grounded and calm, just like my other meditation practices. They take a great deal of devotion and commitment and are practiced daily.

Another form of spiritual service I do is self-development. My belief is that by healing myself and reaching my potential I have the most to give to help raise the consciousness in the world. I find that abstinence helps develop many qualities that enhance my self-development. For one thing, I am calmer and my emotional state is more balanced. Secondly, I have to show a great deal of commitment and effort. I learn patience. I learn to trust myself and be confident. I learn to rely on others for support. I probably could list about 100 other things but those are a few off the top of my head.

Lastly, since I am a complex spiritual being, I am also Jewish. At first, I was concerned that abstinence would be a conflict with Jewish practice. That is because every week we sit and drink grape juice or wine and eat bread to sanctify the Sabbath. There are also various holidays where non-abstinent food plays a role. However, right before starting my abstinence I was reminded of a story in the Jewish holy book about a particular type of person who would make a vow to God for a special kind of spiritual service. That person was called a Nazerite. They abstained from grape juice/wine, cutting their hair and contact with the dead. When I read that, I decided that I was called to a form of service called abstinence and mine was from sugar, wheat, flour, and other trigger foods. So I offered that commitment to whatever higher power or life force is out there. That ties the abstinence in with my religion, even though sometimes I am doubtful about religion at all!

All the best,

Ora a recovering food addict from CO

[arleneh8745]

So true Ora.. abstinence is the highest form of self love..I can only feel spiritual when I am not into sugar flour and wheat..I keep coming back..Miracles do happen in this program..

[Abinsten08]

Your post was very interesting Ora. As a practising catholic I have similar situation with bread and wine at mass. I usually abstain from receiving at mass and because i have a faith in Jesus i pray that he will unite himself with me spiritually instead. To my mind it doesn't say anywhere that you have to receive more than twice a year - Easter and Christmas. Having said that i never felt myself triggered by holy communion but then who knows because if wheat is in my system it might trigger me after a couple of days.

I used to feel very guilty of the sin of gluttony before I found FAA and even my priest in confession said he was fed up of hearing about it! Since i found FAA I can work towards being abstinent and staying there and I find much more peace since the binges have stopped. :D I asked God to come powerfully into my life on a regular basis in the beginning but now I feel as if he is always there because things seem easier now apart from the odd thing. I see my abstinence as something that helps me stay sane and don't really see it as a way of being 'holy'. I believe God alone is holy and us humans can only try their best! I don't think my head could stick the height if i thought i was holy! But i love praying and sometimes say prayers for the willlingness to stay abstinent. Its my fellow FAA members who have really guided me and would remind me to do the next right thing if i have a relapse.