Each of the Four Methods has an Anti-method which opposes it. Fasting is opposed by consumerism. There’s a tug-o-war happening between these two principles. Babylon has consumerism, but the Kingdom of God has fasting. Fasting leads to life, but consumerism leads to death.

The question becomes: What defines you? Fasting or consumerism? Life or death? In your day-to-day activities, what do you show more of: Fasting or consumerism? It’s not “Oh, I do those things sometimes” but “what describes me more accurately as a whole?” Not only you as an individual, but what defines the culture around you more? What is the world that you’re creating? Does it lead to the Kingdom of God?

So what does the person defined by fasting look like? On some days they eat, and on some days they fast. They get the things that they need, and leave the rest. They engage the world, but don’t take it as an end-goal. Their bodies are healthy, and their minds are clear. When they gather together, they encourage each other through difficulties. When they pray, they dedicate their hearts to God, instead of the world. Their hearts can concentrate on God, since they’re not following their every impulse. When they give, they have plenty left to give. They haven’t consumed everything in their possession. They aren’t compelled by their desires, but have the control to follow the best path. When they desire someone, they can pause and look at their qualities. When an impulse comes to their head, they can sit with it. Babylon tells them that they’re too removed, and that they should have fun. Their hearts, however, have delighted in joining to God. And in their joining to God, they find life.

So what does the person defined by consumerism look like? They’re always eating. Stuffing their mouths and their hearts, they convince themselves that whatever they do is necessary. When they see something they like, they buy it. Do they need it? They don’t care. They bow down to the world, and take momentary pleasures as an end-goal. Their bodies suffer from the constant consumption. Their minds are jumbled, because they haven’t cleared any space. If they gather together, they consume everything in their path. They encourage each other towards all sorts of unnecessary things. If they pray, their mind is distracted by the world. If they give, look at how little it is. They’ve consumed everything, and have nothing left to give. They’re compelled by whatever appears before them. Whether it’s good or bad, they can’t resist it. The minute they desire someone, they chase them. When an impulse comes into their head, they pursue it immediately. They themselves become Babylon, and are never satisfied with anything they consume. And since they never left space for God in their hearts, they die a bit, day by day.

But not all staying away from food is fasting. Have you seen those who stay away from food, but can’t stop themselves from insulting others? Or who can’t stop themselves from arguing with others? Or from oppressing them? Yes, they’ve kept themselves from those things which God allows, and called it a fast. What does it matter, though? They haven’t kept themselves from those things which God doesn’t allow. Is this a fast? Their hearts are as cluttered as before. Therefore, their fasts become not-fasts. Their stomachs have fasted, but their hearts are still consumerists.

With fasting, you join yourself to life. With consumerism, you scatter yourself towards death. God is the life of the world, and the consciousness of all consciousness. Fast, and be fed by the life of the world. Make room in your heart for the One.