Comment by asdff
5 days ago
I think you are right that I just don't think I will ever have a concept for it. For me I can easily skip an entire day of meals. I can be hungry. I've gone to bed hungry plenty of times in my life. I remember reading some Herman Hesse, Siddartha actually considers it a skill that he knows how to fast and be content.
Cigarette addiction is even more perplexing for me. I've had nicotine addiction before in college, quit, got the headaches and nausea and all that but IMO having the flu is worse, I just rode it out then it was done. I don't understand what goes on for someone who say wants to quit cigarettes, is trying to quit, is aware of the health issues, but still makes the very conscious dozen plus decisions that have to take place in sequence to get that next pack of cigarettes. I think deep down there is a side of them that is maybe extremely depressed, and self loathing, and maybe wants them to fail to quit because that would satisfy their own internal working model of themselves being a failure, too weak to ever quit. Something that goes beyond any one vice and is a general phenomenon, but unfortunately might never be appreciated with so many targeted vice-specific efforts vs understanding the wider whole.
> For me I can easily skip an entire day of meals.
I was like that earlier in life. It didn't last forever.
Why can't you fast? People of all ages do it for Ramadan.
I'm sure I could fast, but that's actually a separate issue from what you previously wrote:
> For me I can easily skip an entire day of meals.
You mentioned fasting during Ramadan. I had to look it up, it apparently allows a predawn meal and another meal after sunset, which can include meat and a dessert. Hardly skipping an entire day of meals! (and also rather less rigorous than the fasting rituals of some other faiths as well, although perhaps Islamic different sects have different takes on this)