Regarding the merits of fasting, Father Dharma said in his Theory of Deformity: "A fasting person should be conscious, and it is useless to be unreasonable. Vegetarians are also neat, and the so-called physical and mental cleanliness is not messy. Those who hold it protect themselves. The so-called precepts, such as protecting the law, must ban six emotions outside, control three poisons inside, and be diligent in feeling clean in body and mind. If it is right, it is called fasting. There are five kinds of food: one likes to eat according to the law, and the so-called obedience to the law is followed by joy; Both of them are happy to eat, so-called internal and external peace, physical and mental pleasure; Three people read food, and the so-called constant thoughts of Buddhas correspond to their hearts; Four wishes to eat, the so-called walking, living, sitting and lying, often seeking good thoughts; The five have no food, and the so-called heart is always clean and does not touch secular dust. These five foods are called fasting. If there are people, if they don't eat, it's like five clean foods. It's no use saying you fast. The only thing out of ignorance is food, which is called fasting when touched. If there is also a break, how can the cloud be blessed? The world is charming, ignorant and carefree, all evil, greedy, unrestrained, not ashamed, only eating out, fasting for themselves, and nowhere to live. "
According to the Buddhist system, monks in Zhaopuchu don't eat food in the afternoon. There are two reasons: 1. The monk's meal is provided by the layman, and only one bowl is eaten a day, which can reduce the burden of the layman; 2, don't eat after noon, help get it done. This system is still widely practiced in southern countries. The strictest drink only white water, not even milk, tea or coconut water. But ordinary monks can drink tea, soda, juice and sugar in the afternoon. China Han Zen monks have their own farming habits since ancient times. Because of work, they have to eat at night. Therefore, in most temples, it is forbidden to eat in the afternoon, but it is regarded as a' medicinal diet', but there are still many monks who hold the ban on eating in the afternoon.
For example, the master wrote in the Buddhist question and answer: There are many benefits to not eating in the afternoon, so the Buddha made:
1. Eating less can reduce the lust of men and women.
Second, you can get a relaxed body and mind and give your stomach a proper rest.
3. Easy to enter meditation (Sanskrit Zen).
4. Have more time to practice enlightenment.
5. If you want to be liberated (Sanskrit vimokso), your appetite will be purified.
6. All Buddhists in the third world don't eat after noon.