When a man fasts, it is not the gallons of water he drinks that sustains him, but God.
This quote suggests that during a fast, it’s not just the physical act of drinking water that sustains a person, but rather something more spiritual or divine. In other words, Gandhi was emphasizing the importance of faith and spirituality in enduring hardships and challenges. He implied that when one is devoid of physical nourishment (as in fasting), it is their spiritual strength or connection with God that helps them persevere.
The gallons of water symbolize the physical needs or materialistic wants humans typically rely on for survival and satisfaction. By stating “but God,” Gandhi highlights the power of faith, inner strength, resilience, and belief in a higher power to provide sustenance beyond mere physical needs.
In today’s world, this idea can be applied to various situations where people might feel deprived or in need. It encourages reliance on inner strength and spirituality as sources for endurance rather than external factors alone.
In personal development terms, this quote could inspire individuals to cultivate internal resources like resilience, patience and faith. It suggests that even when one feels they lack external resources (symbolized by food), they can still find sustenance within themselves through their beliefs (symbolized by God). This perspective could encourage individuals not to feel limited by their circumstances but empowered by their ability to endure through inner strength and faith.
It also promotes mindfulness about our consumption habits – both materialistically (food) but also metaphorically (like over-reliance on technology). Fasting from these things can help us realize what truly sustains us – our values, our relationships with others & ourselves – which are often neglected aspects of modern living.
